Wednesday, April 4th 2007

Even Xbox 360 Elite lacks HDMI 1.3

Apr 4th, 2007 16:41 Discuss (26 Comments)

With the recent launch of Microsofts Xbox 360 Elite and the release its HD-DVD drive last November the hopes were high it will support the latest HDMI profile. But obviously Microsoft decided not to stay on the same step as Sony with their HDMI 1.3 compatible PlayStation 3. For the end-user it means there is no support for:

· non-interlaced fps higher then 60 at 1920x1080 (1080p/xx) and 1280x720 (720p/xx); up to 120fps is possible with HDMI 1.3
· no Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD or TrueHD audio bitstreams (specifically for the Xbox 360 and Elite: no 5.1 PCM output in general, just Stereo)
· lower maximum bandwidth: 4.95 GBit/s vs. 10.2 GBit/s
· lower maximum resolution: 1920x1080 vs. 2560x1440
· lower maximum color depth: 24 bit sRGB or YCbCr vs. 48-bit xvYCC (1.8 times the amount of colors)
· no advanced audio syncing (Lip-Sync) function
· no support for the newly developed mini connector

In general that makes the Xbox 360 far less attractive for the cineasts among us who intended to use console as their favorite HD-DVD player.

Source: Semi Official AVS Forums Entry

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26 Comments on Even Xbox 360 Elite lacks HDMI 1.3

freaksavior

To infinity ... and beyond!

it's official M$ is RETARDED!!!

why even offer blu-ray or hd-dvd unless your going to support the hd audio!

overcast

Anyone that serious about the latest HD video and audio standards will have a proper standalone player in the first place. For 99.99% of the people with an xbox360, they will neither have the hardware to support those audio bitstreams, nor will they care. Upgrading to a preamp/processor capable of decoding those codecs is certainly the last on the list for the majority of people. This issue is way overblown, as most things are on AVS forum. Obviously because they ARE the audio/videophiles.

Bastieeeh

Sure, it will take some time for these nice benefits to become widely used. But when there's no support from the multi-purpose consoles where from should the end user get the idea of what he's missing? The PS3 clearly shows that it's possible to integrate HDMI 1.3 into consoles. I just came across an article that covered the whole NTSC stuttering issue and the conclusion was that only HDMI 1.3 will bring a real solution for that. With that and the knowledge about usual lifecycles in the industry in mind I can't understand Microsoft's move (or lack of move).

HookeyStreet

Eat, sleep, game!

It seems M$ have slipped up here :(

But from the audio POV, can you really tell the difference between standard DD 5.1/DTS and DD +/DTS-HD anyway???

HaZe303

freaksaviorit's official M$ is RETARDED!!!

Word!!

Whilhelm

@ HookeyStreet. With a good home theatre setup the difference between Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS is very noticable. DTS is hands down better then DD. I am not an audiophile but DTS just sounds a lot more real to me. as for DD +/DTS-HD I have yet to find out as I don't feel like tossing my money away until the format war settles down.

vipercrazy

freaksaviorit's official M$ is RETARDED!!!

why even offer blu-ray or hd-dvd unless your going to support the hd audio!

no they are even smarter than you and me, they will re-re-release xbox 360 with hdmi 1.3 and call it xbox "insert sad name here"

overcast

HookeyStreetIt seems M$ have slipped up here :(

But from the audio POV, can you really tell the difference between standard DD 5.1/DTS and DD +/DTS-HD anyway???

Yes, very much so. Of course if you consider Best Buy and Circuit City a source for speakers and stereo equipment. The answer is most likely no. DD+ is VERY noticeable over DD and DTS and TrueHD is even more so. Lossless audio - yum.

freaksavior

To infinity ... and beyond!

HookeyStreetIt seems M$ have slipped up here :(

But from the audio POV, can you really tell the difference between standard DD 5.1/DTS and DD +/DTS-HD anyway???

YES!!! i watched my x-men 3 dvd in 5.1 dd and then i watched it the next day in DTS 6.1 es and it made SOOOO much difference! (it shook the floor and knocked stuff off my wall!) :rockout:

and btw I care about the 7.1 and hdmi 1.3 although i can't support it, i would like it if M$ would have included it, if i later upgrade my reciever i would want DTS-HD and the DD + so hdmi 1.3 would be essential to a ht setup!

thats my 2 cents!

#10

Wile E

Power User

Yeah, but for those of us that can only afford DD and DTS compatible hardware, this isn't a big issue. I have 720p and DD/DTS. HDMI 1.0 vs HDMI 1.3 is a non issue for me, and many others like me. Which I assume is the majority of Xbox 360 owners, anyway. Even if I could afford the top quality hardware needed to play DD+/DTS HD/True HD, I surely wouldn't use a gaming console for my HD DVD player, I'd have a high quality stand alone.

#11

overcast

freaksaviorYES!!! i watched my x-men 3 dvd in 5.1 dd and then i watched it the next day in DTS 6.1 es and it made SOOOO much difference! (it shook the floor and knocked stuff off my wall!) :rockout:

The OP is talking about comparing DD/DTS to their present day HD formats. Not DD to DTS, which is barely comparable. What you are describing is directly related to volume, and too much gain on the sub. The DD level was just lower than the DTS one.

#12

overcast

Wile EYeah, but for those of us that can only afford DD and DTS compatible hardware, this isn't a big issue. I have 720p and DD/DTS. HDMI 1.0 vs HDMI 1.3 is a non issue for me, and many others like me. Which I assume is the majority of Xbox 360 owners, anyway. Even if I could afford the top quality hardware needed to play DD+/DTS HD/True HD, I surely wouldn't use a gaming console for my HD DVD player, I'd have a high quality stand alone.

Exaaaactly.

#13

overcast

freaksaviorand btw I care about the 7.1 and hdmi 1.3 although i can't support it, i would like it if M$ would have included it, if i later upgrade my reciever i would want DTS-HD and the DD + so hdmi 1.3 would be essential to a ht setup!

thats my 2 cents!

What do you care about 7.1 for? NOTHING is mastered in 7.1 or even 6.1 for that matter. Those extra channels are just matrixed hocus pocus from the rear left and right channels.

#14

freaksavior

To infinity ... and beyond!

have you watched x-men 3 in dts-es? and then dd?

ok, as for as comparing the DD with DD+ unless there coded in 7.1 then no, you can't tell....is that a better answer?

nothing is mastered in 6.1? not true! although alot is recoded in 6.1 there are some that released with 6.1 like x-men!

#15

overcast

freaksaviorhave you watched x-men 3 in dts-es? and then dd?

ok, as for as comparing the DD with DD+ unless there coded in 7.1 then no, you can't tell....is that a better answer?

You don't know what you are talking about. What does 7.1 have to do with anything. There is NOTHING mastered in 7.1. Do you own an HD-DVD player? Have you actually listened to DD+ on a decent stereo system. I'm pretty positive from you answers you have not.

#16

overcast

freaksaviornothing is mastered in 6.1? not true! although alot is recoded in 6.1 there are some that released with 6.1 like x-men!

6.1 is a matrixed 5.1 master - stop arguing with me. What do you think the EX bit stands for?

#17

freaksavior

To infinity ... and beyond!

no, i haven't heard DD+ because NOTHING supports it....and why is that? Hmm cause it doens't sound any better!

From what i have read from the AVS forum, the DD+ is only a higher bitrate audio stream, which can produce higher quality sound! but no, i haven't heard it....

btw if something supports DD+ right now......post a link!

#18

overcast

freaksaviorno, i haven't heard DD+ because NOTHING supports it....and why is that? Hmm cause it doens't sound any better!

From what i have read from the AVS forum, the DD+ is only a higher bitrate audio stream, which can produce higher quality sound! but no, i haven't heard it....

btw if something supports DD+ right now......post a link!

What are you joking? Every HD-DVD movie and player supports DD+. Many movies even support lossless TrueHD. My first generation Toshiba HD-A1 has supported it from the beginning. It's required by standard.

no, i haven't heard DD+ because NOTHING supports it....and why is that? Hmm cause it doens't sound any better!

What the hell does that mean? You haven't heard it at all but you can conclude that it doesn't sound any better? In the first sentence you say it doesn't sound any better, in the second sentence you say it can produce a higher sound quality. Which is it?

www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16882116085&ATT=82-116-085

#19

Azn Tr14dZ

I'm just wondering here...if I intend to use optical audio instead HDMI (just for video, not audio), will it make a difference at all if the HDMI was 1.3 or not?

#20

Wile E

Power User

No difference, Azn.

#21

overcast

Azn Tr14dZI'm just wondering here...if I intend to use optical audio instead HDMI (just for video, not audio), will it make a difference at all if the HDMI was 1.3 or not?

No. You nor anyone else will be concerned with "deep color" for a long long period of time.

#22

Azn Tr14dZ

Alright, because I keep hearing news about HDMI 1.3 having "Lossless Audio" (which Xbox 360 doesn't have), but I only plan on using HDMI for video, not audio.

Thanks for clearing that up.

#23

kakazza

Btw, wouldn't I need one of those fancy new 120Hz LCDs for 120fps?

#24

overcast

kakazzaBtw, wouldn't I need one of those fancy new 120Hz LCDs for 120fps?

You along with the rest of everyone running 60hz televisions.

#25

kakazza

Well, I run a 100Hz CRT

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Even Xbox 360 Elite lacks HDMI 1.3

26 Comments on Even Xbox 360 Elite lacks HDMI 1.3

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