DVD Progressive Scan In The Mainstream

With the recent announcement by Panasonic that it will introduce its first progressive scan DVD player, the DVD-H1000, in October, progressive scan DVD image performance appears to be finally a reality. (See Todayís News Archive dated August 20, 1999 ""Panasonic Introduces Progressive Scan DVD Player With 480p Picture Quality"")Progressive scan DVD players were first unveiled by Toshiba in May 1998, but howls from Hollywood, in which Toshiba has ownership interests and as well Sony and Panasonic, stopped this technology dead in its tracks. The studios feared (and still do) unauthorized copying of their works. As a result, Toshiba and later Panasonic held off introducing the players.But the studio howls didnít stop those manufacturers, namely RKR Video and NetTV, two leading edge computer manufacturers, from forging ahead with 480 progressive DVD-ROM drive-based set-top DVD players. These players function just like a regular DVD-Video player, but in addition, have full PC functionality for computing, games, and the Internet, plus are built for upgrading.Panasonic reportedly now says, ""all the issues have been resolved"" pertaining to Macrovision and copy protection on DVD-Video players with 480p capability. While the stand-alone progressive scan computer-based machines are priced as low at $800 and as high as $2,999 with a full 600MHz Pentium III processor on board, Panasonic will introduce its progressive scan DVD-H1000 DVD-Video player nationwide in October at a list price of $2,999. The Panasonic unit has no computer, line scaling or DVD-Audio capability. The Panasonic player is being positioned, however, as an ultra-high-quality component priced in the Meridian and Faroudja price class. Thus, the DVD-H1000 is being designated as a ""videophile-grade"" machine, though Panasonic is not usually noted for ultra-high-quality-grade consumer products. This unit, however, is built to the standards upheld by Panasonicís professional broadcast high-definition gear.The Panasonic DVD-H1000 was shown at the recent DVD Forum Conference. The unit has two sets of component video outs, one for 480 interlaced and a second for 480 progressive. It also has a pair of S-video outs, as well as composite video, digital optical and a pair of coaxial outputs.To see the picture improvements that 480p can deliver, you need a display device with progressive scan component inputs and the scanning frequency capability to handle the image. Panasonic has a number of TVs with the necessary capability, but not 720p, the next big step-up in performance. Seven-twenty progressive scan technology will be introduced at the CEDIA Expo, September 24-26, 1999. One monitor, in particular, is the 34-inch widescreen model reviewed in the next Issue 34 of Widescreen Review. Toshiba, Mitsubishi and Sony also offer sets that are 480p capable, but not 720p. The H1000's progressive-scan outputs will work with any display device capable of at least 480p resolution. Presently, only Princeton Graphicsí AF3.OHD (All Format 30-inch Viewable High Definition) model is capable of 720p performance (as well as most high-end projectors). At CEDIA, Princeton will be introducing two direct view CRTs capable of 720p, one a larger widescreen HDTV monitor, plus a 720p progressive scan DVD-ROM-based standalone player that is capable of multiple line rate output including 480p, 720p and 960p. This first generation player will be compatible with 480I and 480p native DVDs only. The second generation will accommodate the 720p native DVDs Widescreen Reviewís Joe Kane will be releasing.What about Toshiba, the company that introduced the 480p DVD-Video player in 1998? It has seven TVs (forthcoming) with ColorStream HD inputs that accept the signal from a set-top HDTV converter box or a DVD player with progressive scan outs. Toshiba's original progressive scan DVD player, the SD7108, was announced in May 1998 for $799. Then in January of this year, it introduced the SD5109, also for $799. Toshiba never released either unit. At the DVD Forum Conference Toshiba showcased the SD5109 and a new ready-to-go progressive scan DVD-Video player, the SD9100. The high-end SD9100 is based on the SD9000 with the addition of 480p progressive scan output. No pricing or specific date of release was announced, though the expectation is that the two models will be introduced at the CEDIA Expo. Pricing is expected to be drastically less than the Panasonic player and even less than the RKR Video and NetTV units.Further, Pioneer has announced a combination progressive scan DVD-Video and DVD-Audio player, which is scheduled to be demonstrated at the CEDIA Expo, but delivery plans and pricing have yet to be disclosed.Other details (as released by Panasonic) about the DVD-H1000:Both progressive scan and interlaced output capabilities are supported. The player converts film source signals to 480p and, as well, the processor can convert from interlaced to a progressive scan 480p signal.Panasonic has developed a new 10-bit, ""4:4:4"" signal processor. This chip not only converts the recorded luminance and color difference (Y, Pb Pr) portions of the video signal from eight to 10 bits, but also upsamples the color signal data. Interpolation of Pb and Pr color difference data doubles the 6.75 MHz sampling frequencies to match the luminance signal's 13.5 MHz frequency.There is a provision for users to choose from adjustable Gamma correction settings, determined by the source material and viewing environment, to bring out more detail in dark scenes.The DVD-H1000 has the latest audio circuit technologies and audiophile-grade components, such as a 96 kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC).Structurally, the DVD-H1000 aluminum die-cast chassis is reinforced with a steel top and floor, housing direct-mounted circuit boards and mechanical parts in an 8-block independent construction figuration. The drive assembly, audio circuit board, video circuit board, power supply transformer and other vital components are housed in their own compartments. This unique 8-block design reduces the mechanical and electrical interference.The DVD-H1000 is equipped with an illuminated universal remote control with a joystick.