At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere.
That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box,
verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs.
We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.
Features
Remote Control
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Features
HD DVD Overview:
HD DVD is
a new high-definition disc format designed from the ground up to maximize
the viewing experience available from today's HDTVs. HD DVD discs and
players offer several advantages over the standard DVD format:
- Better picture quality:
HD DVD is a true high-definition format offering video at 1080i or 720p
resolution. While standard DVDs look very good on an HDTV, they don't
provide a high-definition signal (not even when you use an "upconverting"
DVD player). HD DVD delivers an extraordinarily sharp, clean, detailed
picture, with deeper, richer colors.
- Better sound quality:
HD DVD offers the same multichannel sound formats - Dolby Digital and
DTS - you're accustomed to with DVD. But HD DVD goes further, offering
advanced new versions of Dolby Digital and DTS decoding that will give
soundtracks startling clarity and dimensionality.
- Much greater storage capacity:
What makes HD DVD's superior picture and sound possible is the much
higher storage capacity of HD DVD discs. A single-layer HD DVD can hold
15 gigabytes of data, which is over three times the amount a standard
DVD can hold. (Dual-layer HD DVDs hold 30 gigabytes.) This increased
storage capacity allows HD DVD to fit several hours of high-definition
video and high-resolution multichannel audio, plus the added features
and material that require multiple discs with standard DVD.
- Compatibility with your current disc
collections: To ensure
backward-compatibility with your existing library of discs, HD DVD
players actually use a dual-laser mechanism: a blue laser for
playing high-definition HD DVD discs, and a conventional red laser for
playing DVDs and audio CDs.
- Internet access:
HD DVD players include an Ethernet jack for use with a high-speed
Internet connection.
Construction:
A double chassis construction is employed to add strength and rigidity to the
unit, guarding against unwanted vibrations that could interfere with the reading
of the disc. To further stabilize the HD-A1, large insulated stabilizing feet
are used, providing a rock solid foundation for the device.
Built-in Decoders:
The HD-A1 has built-in multi-channel decoders for Dolby
Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD lossless (2-ch.), DTS and DTS-HD
lossless.
Video
Upconversion: The HD-A1 has the ability to upconvert a standard DVD signal
to HD-compatible 720p or 1080i and pass it through the HDMI and component video
outputs. If the DVD includes copy protection, the upconverted signal will not be
not passed by the component video output. In this case, the component video
output will pass a 480i or 480p signal.
MP3/WMA Playback: This unit
will play MP3/WMA audio files recorded onto CD-R or CD-RW discs using the ISO
9660 Level 1 format. Compatible bit rates include 32-320 kbps for MP3 and 48-192
kbps for WMA.
Resume Play: Resume
play allows you to resume playback of a disc from the point where you last
stopped. The stopping point is cleared when the Stop button is pressed more than
once or the disc tray is opened.
Extension Ports: Depending on
the features of the disc you are using, you may be able to connect USB game
controllers to the two Extension ports to use some interactive features.
Additional features may be supported in the future.
Cursor Function: Some
commercial HD DVD discs will include game software and drawing software. This
function lets you use the Cursor button on the remote to move the onscreen
cursor, allowing you to interact with the software.
Internet Connection: By
utilizing the rear-panel Ethernet port, you connect the player to the Internet
via an always-on broadband connection. Some HD DVD discs enable you to access
special HD DVD sites. If an HD DVD site includes content such as movie trailers,
you can watch the content on the player via the Internet if your internet
connection provides sufficient bandwidth. You may also use the Internet
connection feature to update the player's firmware.
Bass Management: To tailor the output of the 5.1-channel jacks, this unit has
built-in bass management that allows you to adjust the speaker size, distance to
each speaker, and the crossover frequency.
Digital Audio Output: The Audio
menu allows you to select the digital audio format that is passed through the
optical, coaxial, and HDMI outputs.
- Digital out SPDIF: This
allows you to choose the digital audio format that is passed through the
optical and coaxial outputs. You can choose from the following:
- Bitstream: Select this
when an amplifier equipped with built-in Dolby Digital, DTS or MPEG
decoder is connected to this player. When you play a standard DVD
recorded in Dolby Digital or DTS format, digital audio signal (bitstream
audio) is output. When you play an HD DVD, the player decodes the Dolby Digital off the
disc, then re-encodes it as DTS 5.1.
- Note: When you play an HD DVD, the
audio will always be output as DTS 5.1, even if the disc is recorded
in Dolby Digital Plus.
- PCM: Select this when
a 2 channel digital stereo amplifier is connected to this player. When
you play an HD DVD or DVD video disc recorded in Dolby Digital, Dolby
Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS or DTS-HD format, sound is converted into
PCM (2 channel) format and then passed through the optical and coaxial
digital outputs.
- Digital out HDMI: This
allows you to choose the digital audio format that is passed through the
HDMI output. You can choose from the following:
- Auto: Select this when
an HDMI device equipped with built-in Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG or linear
PCM decoder is connected to this player. When you play a standard DVD
recorded in Dolby Digital or DTS format, digital audio signal (bitstream
audio) is output. When you play an HD DVD, the player decodes the Dolby Digital off the
disc, then re-encodes it as DTS 5.1. If a connected HDMI device does
not support Dolby Digital, DTS or MPEG, sound is converted into linear
PCM to output.
- Bitstream: Select this
when an HDMI device equipped with built-in Dolby Digital, DTS or MPEG
decoder is connected to this player. When you play a standard DVD
recorded in Dolby Digital, DTS or MPEG format, digital audio signal (bitstream
audio) is output. When you play an HD DVD, the player decodes the Dolby Digital off the
disc, then re-encodes it as DTS 5.1.
- Note: When you play an HD DVD, the
audio will always be output as DTS 5.1, even if the disc is recorded
in Dolby Digital Plus.
- PCM: Select this when
an HDMI device that has multi-channel output is connected to this
player. When you play an HD DVD or DVD video disc recorded in
multi-channel in Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS or
DTS-HD format, the sound is decoded and output in multi-channel in
linear PCM format.
- Downmixed
PCM: Select this when a 2 channel digital stereo amplifier is
connected to this player. When you play a disc recorded in Dolby
Digital, DTS, MPEG1 or MPEG2 format, sound is converted into PCM (2
channel) format to output.
Remote Control
Multibrand Remote: The supplied
remote is pre-programmed to operate this unit and a number of functions on other
brands of TVs.
Inputs and Outputs
Notes
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia
Interface): The unit's HDMI simplifies A/V connections by carrying video and
digital audio all in one cable. This unit features HDCP copyright protection
technology, and must be connected to an HDCP-compliant device. If your TV has a
DVI input instead of an HDMI input, you can connect this unit to your TV using
an HDMI-to-DVI adapter. You will also need to connect audio cables to the player
because DVI is a video only cable.
Extension Ports: The HD-A1 has
two front-panel USB Extension ports for use with compatible USB game
controllers.
LAN: The rear-panel Ethernet
port gives you access to Internet-based content on some HD DVDs.
