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I have tested the 3 Blu-ray output versions of 1080p24fps film content (as 1080i,
1080p60fps, and direct 1080p24fps) and there is a clear difference between them,
easier to recognize in large screens, and it is detectable in casual viewing not just in
lab type conditions.
Because most of the TV consumer market does not have a way to handle 24fps
without video processing conversions, the HD DVD market might be putting its bets
on the logic that consumers will "keep on upgrading to the next model".
High quality HT enthusiasts have waited very long for pre-recorded Hi-Def media,
and would appreciate the 24fps feature. They most probably are the early adopters
paying the first players at high prices ($1000+) so a format can be established and
the R&D bills can be paid for newer and better models.
However, Toshiba has apparently stop implementing heavy subsidizing on their
stand-alone players to kill the price and establish their format based on volume,
because it has introduced a player with the $1000 price point similar to Blu-ray.
Toshiba is showing the real price of this technology in 2006/7.
Unfortunately, even at the high price, Toshiba still ignores the quality 1080p24fps
feature on their hi-end player. The true war begins now. A war of quality and merits
without free lunches.
I am not including the video game consoles on these comments because both
formats have killed the prices to compete in that world. This is about stand-alone
players.
If you have a front projector, a large screen, and a quality HT that handles 1080p
24fps properly, you owe it to yourself to get a 24fps capable player.
If you do not, or you do not have a scaler dealing with 24fps at higher quality
processing than the player, you probably would never notice a difference and might
ignore my comments in making your selection based on that feature.
Audio Claims
Players on both formats claimed different capabilities regarding optional multichannel
audio internal decoders, some do DTS-HD but no Dolby TrueHD, and some
do Dolby TrueHD but only as two-channel, the minimum HD DVD standard
requirement.
Some are suited with HDMI 1.3 for streaming out the new hi-bit DTS/Dolby multichannel
soundtrack for external decoding using a suited A/V receiver (when they are
introduced in the near future).
Some are suited with just HDMI 1.1 or 1.2, which would only be able to stream out
DTS HD, but not DTS Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, or Dolby True-HD. Those can
only be transported over HDMI 1.3 version that can handle the higher bit/protocol
requirements.
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