Neudigits new DVD players?

[Mr Whippy]

Anyone used the new DVD players from Neudigits?


http://www.neodigits.com/products/DVD/hddvd_feature.asp
http://www.neodigits.com/products/DVD/mp4dvd_feature.asp

It's a shame the scaler DVD player doesn't playback Mpeg-IV, nor has it a better quality loader compared to the Mpeg-IV player.

One person on the Neu forums was disappointed with the picture quality on the Mpeg-IV player, but I can't seem to find it (been removed?)

What's the consensus these two units will receive firmware/codec support?

[jntaylor63]

A little info on the 3rd generation player:

It uses Amlogic 3285 chipset ( 3295 is the same chipset without VGA output). The
reason we choose the new Amlogic chipset is it seems fixed a lot annoying bug of
the MTK1389 based player, in addition, it also supports DivX pro (and all the
new 5.1 and up codec's) and passed all DivX certified 2.0 tests ( see Amlogic
web site @ www.amlogic.com for further information ). We want to bring something
"new" and "different" (the ESS 6688 and MTK1389 chipset just seems a little bit
"outdated) into the market:)

It is region code free, plays PAL and NSTC on either type of display.

Plays DivX Pro files.

The power supply is 100-240V auto-switch, means you can use it in anywhere int
he world.

[Mr Whippy]

That's all very good, but what's it like in-use? Does it have lip sync problems compared to my MTK 1389 GE player with certain Mpeg-IV files? Will it crash on some original DVD-Video discs also?

[jntaylor63]

Can't say yet, its on order and will reply when I get and test

[bond]

Originally posted by jntaylor63
It uses Amlogic 3285 chipset ( 3295 is the same chipset without VGA output). it also supports DivX pro (and all the
new 5.1 and up codec's) and passed all DivX certified 2.0 testscool a new chip used

still, as the divx certification is pretty useless in telling much about the chip, does it support qpel, gmc (if yes how many warppoints?), mpeg/custom quants, does it support multiple b-frames with/without packed bitstream?
does it support the .mp4 container, does it handle aac? (if not what else does the "new 5.1 and up codec's" refer to? dts? wma? (which btw provides even lower quality than mp3 on 128kbps))

i really dont like this industry focus on the divx certification, i mean its the lowest level of quality you can expect and excludes other mpeg-4 implementations than divx...

[Mr Whippy]

Just ordered one myself- £75. It should be here next week. I know OGG won't play, but I have some Mpeg-IV files & original DVD-Video discs that have caused problems with the MTK 1389 GE & DE player, so I'll try them first.

1) lip-sync problems, same file is ok on PC.
2) Incompatibility with some discs; either refuses to load, or kicks back to main menu. Fine on other machines/PC.
3) juddery motion, same file is OK on PC.

Overall the MTK GE was very good; not many files had lip-sync problems, and fewer still with judders.

[Doom9]

hmm, the amlogic website links to a dxn website that has quite a number of chipsets now - but with such a large number of chipsets just knowing if it passed a certification or not becomes more and more useless. I wonder when DXN will take their certification one step further (at the end of last year they hinted they might do so in time).

[SeeMoreDigital]

Originally posted by Doom9
...I wonder when DXN will take their certification one step further (at the end of last year they hinted they might do so in time). DivX certification... What a load of tosh!

Talk about putting a noose around their own necks... let alone Mpeg4's :(


Cheers

[Doom9]

unfortunately, the competition isn't doing any better. What about ND support in the Vibratto II ? That's a very old chipset, ages behind MTK, so it doesn't really support NeroDigital properly (since ND has QPel and 3 warp point GMC).

[SeeMoreDigital]

Agreed,

Although it would be nice to think that the ESS Vibratto II chip-set has some "hidden" gold locked inside it...

...it's another one of those, "wait-and-see" games!


Cheers

[InsulinJunkie]

Originally posted by Doom9
What about ND support in the Vibratto II ?

Here in the US, the units you can actually go into a retail store and buy (without resorting to mail order or importing), typically use that chipset.
The Phillips 642, for instance, is available from Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and Kmart (although they sell out pretty quickly in many locations), and has the advantage of the lowest price point, to boot.

If Ahead wants to make inroads in the US with Nero Digital, capability of the chipset aside, it's understandable.
The ESS is the main game in town (the US) at the moment.

[Mr Whippy]

I got the DV308. Overall disappointed. Some problems (and with latest firmware).

Problem with my Lexicon MC-1 locking onto the Dolby Digital bitstream. I've had to use one digital output for Dolby Digital, the other for DTS (it dislikes Automatic setting on the Lexicon)
Click whilst the initial PCM stream is locked on (fine with other CD & DVD players)
Possible lip-sync with original DVD-Video's
White or Green line stretching horizontally across the screen on certain Mpeg-IV files.
A small black square appears on the bottom right of the image on some Mpeg-IV files (didn't on 2nd gen Neuneo player or HTPC)
Refuses to play certain MPEG-IV files which play fine on MTK 1389 GE player (Blue Planet, Life of Mammals)

Pros of this player
Better quality loader, much quieter spinning. But quite loud head access.
Better compatibility with original DVD-Videos compared to the MTK (which some refuse to load or return to main menu)