Sigma chip-set Information - High Def

[SeeMoreDigital]

The idea behind this thread is to compile a list of all the stand-alone players known to use high-def/res Sigma chip-sets.

As you can see there's hardly any information here at all. But with your help... hopefully things will improve...

Please note:
The information listed below identifies the known "maximum" capabilities of the chip-set and has been compiled from various sources. It therefore does not necessarily mean that your player will be able to support all of them.

Here is what is known so far: -

SIGMA EM862xL CHIP-SET RANGE



Web site link: http://www.sigmadesigns.com/products/em8620Lseries.htm


EM8620L Networked DVD Player Development Kit

Web site link: http://www.sigmadesigns.com/products/DVD8620LNET.htm


Basic (Non MPEG-2/DVD) Player Functionality
Supports: - 
Video Decs: MPEG-4 with B-VOP (with/without packed bit-stream), 1 warp-point GMC, Qpel
Video Decs: WMV9 (Windows Media® Video 9)
Audio Decs: MP3 (MPEG-1/2 Layers 1, 2 and 3), AC3 (Dolby® Digital)
            MPEG-2 (BC multi-channel Layers 1, 2 and 3), AAC-LC (MPEG-2/4), WAV
Audio Decs: WMA9 (Windows Media® Audio 9), WMA9 Pro. 
Containers: AVI and MP4 (Audio: MP3, M4A, WAV, AC3 and WMA)
Various:    PAR/DAR signalling MPEG-4 within .AVI and .MP4 container.

Does not support: -
Video Decs: 3 warp-point GMC

* Based on using the DivX codec. Confirmation with other codecs is required. 


Players/Model Numbers using this Chip-Set
Look here

Players/Devices using Sigma's EM8620L Chip-set
Look here


Cheers

[AllTimeSToneD]

Here's another one.

http://www.iodata.com/usa/products/p...=AVLP2%2FDVDLA

and guess what

[SeeMoreDigital]

From the information provided by IO DATA. At least we now know that an HD Mpeg4 encoded stream tops out with an pixel frame size of 1280x720.

However, there does not seem to be any information regarding maximum Mpeg1/2 or WMV9 pixel frame sizes.

There also appears to be some conflicting info. The IO DATA spec sheet it gives the following information: -



Note that Mpeg4 (DivX and XviD) bitrate speeds are limited to just 1.5Mbps (1536Kbps). This is far too low for high-def (1280x720) content, which requires a min of 3000-3500Kbps.

Also, the 2GB AVI file limitation is still there!

And if my eyes deceive me... there's no mention of MP4 container support. Plus the DVI output and 6Ch analogue audio outputs have been removed


Cheers

[Soulhunter]

What, 1280x720 @ 1.5Mbps and 2GB limitation ???

If this is true, its imo a unusable piece of crap...


Bye

[castellanos]

Agree! I don't see any good improvement on that chipset.

[LordRPI]

Hey, just so you guys know... I've seen DivX HD certified players play at bitrates much higher than that. I'm going to check up on this because it doesn't seem completely kosher.

[LordRPI]

Sorry for the double post.

We tested at least 8Mbps DivX HD and have had no problems at all; We require that SD players are able to play back files at 4Mbps.

We're working with IO-Data to clarify this.

[Soulhunter]

Sounds better, nevertheless it should support UDF/4GB+ content !!!

-> And does 8Mbps mean "short peaks" or "static bitrate" ???

[LordRPI]

Average bitrate.

We've had no problems playing back DivX HD trailers have around 4Mbps average bitrate, and has a peak of 30Mbps over three seconds.

Don't worry, I've seen these in action. They're pretty sweet

[Soulhunter]

Hmm, 8Mbps static bitrate sounds damn good...


Remains:

- No UDF support

- The 2GB limitation

- Whats with mp4 support...

- Does it support HE-AAC ???

- Only 192kbps for audio streams...


EDIT: Hey, you have changed 8Mbps into 4Mbps !?!

Some of my 1024x576 encodes are "slightly" over 4000kbps...


Bye

[SeeMoreDigital]

I agree with you Soulhunter,

It's pretty piss poor... lets hope it's just a big typo!


Cheers

[SeeMoreDigital]

There also appears to be a "wireless" version of the IO DATA player - the: I-O DATA AVLP2/DVDG.

And this one contains an DVI output connector: -




Cheers

[manono]

Here's some more information on the I/O Data player(s). I asked them some questions a while back and got an e-mail reply today:

We are planning to release the English one (AVLP2/DVDLA) in Nov 2004
(USA/Canada) by below USD249.00 as MSPR. For EU market, we are
planning to release it after USA/Canada/Korea.

> Where will I be able to buy it? Only directly through you,
You can buy it from our web site.

> perhaps also in stores, such as Best Buy or Circuit City?
Also you can do at these retail shops.

> Related to that, will it be region-free, or can it be made region-free?
Sorry... Our USA version is "1" fixed.
> And will it be able to play both NTSC and PAL DVDs?
Our EU version can support it, but not USA one.

> Will it have external subtitle support for MPEG-4? And if so, for what formats? SRT only?
Sure. We checked SRT and DivX Subtitle. If you want more information,
please let me know what file you are interesting.

> And the information isn't clear on this.
> I think it will support XviD and DivX, but will it also support DivX 3.11?

XViD is supported.
DivX3.11, 4, 5, and HD are supported.

> If you are interested in promoting the Linkplayer2,

Yes, I'm interesting. If you need more infromation, please don't
hesitate to ask me. Well, now too early, but after I update any, let you
know absolutely. We'll appreciate you will keep in touch with I-O DATA.
Thank you so much.

1. I wonder why the US version won't be region free with the ability to play PAL DVDs, since this ability is built into the chipset.

2. Anyone know what a DivX subtitle is? idx/sub?

3. Where he quoted the first part of a longer paragraph from me, "> If you are interested in promoting the Linkplayer2,", I was inviting him to come to this forum to provide information and to field questions. I couldn't make much sense of his reply, though. But he seemed a friendly enough chap. Maybe I'll try again. Or maybe some others interested in the player can drop them an e-mail.

[Wilbert]

> Will it have external subtitle support for MPEG-4? And if so, for what formats? SRT only?
Sure. We checked SRT and DivX Subtitle. If you want more information,
please let me know what file you are interesting.

I see something very interesting. Subtitle support I guess this will be the first one with subtitle support!

Perhaps you can ask those guys the following:

0) What's DivX Subtitle?

1) Does it support OpenDML avi (avi>2gig / as questioned here)? (I guess not)

2) Does it support AVI + AC3? (I guess not)

3) Does it support AVI + AAC? (I guess not)

4) Does it support MPEG2 + AAC? (I guess so)

5) Does it support OGM (DivX/XviD with 5.1 ogg)? (I guess so)

6) Does it support OGM (DivX/XviD with 5.1 AAC)? (I guess so)

7) Does it support OGM (DivX/XviD with 5.1 ogg/AAC and srt)? (I guess so)


I have to admit that the spec sheet SMD posted is very clear

[SeeMoreDigital]

Originally posted by Wilbert
...I have to admit that the spec sheet SMD posted is very clear

Yes, the information is very disappointing!

You would think by now the manufacturers could present their player specifications in a more detailed and user friendly way!

This thing about "so called" DivX subtitles, has also appeared in some Philips DVP6xx player documentation: -



Maybe those kindly people over at DivX have "offered" to put their name to all .sub, .srt and .smi subtitle formats... You know, to avoid confusion


Cheers

[Karyudo]

I have contacts in Japan (family and friends) that could almost certainly secure some Japanese-spec AVLP1 and AVLP2 players. Reading the Japanese page, it seems to suggest the Japanese version can be made region-free (?). The AVLP2 also features wireless LAN capabilities.

Anyone (besides me) interested?

No, I wouldn't be price gouging, but yes, it would cost somewhat more than waiting around for IOData US or EU to get stock in (shipping ain't cheap).

Just an idea...

[Wilbert]

@SMD and others,

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...9&pagenumber=4

scroll down to my post. Could anyone of you provide TUFU (who has the player) a bunch of samples? I don't have much time to do it myself ...

[SeeMoreDigital]

I'll see what I can do!


Cheers

[SeeMoreDigital]

Just to let you guys know, I've just made some high-def "Test Cards" files available.

Here's a copy of what I posted on the AVS forum: -

Hello everyone,

As promised I have managed to generate some high-def "Test Cards" for you to try.

This first batch of 3No files are as follows: -

1280x720 PAL Mpeg4 + 6Ch AC3 in AVI
1280x720 PAL Mpeg4 + 6Ch AAC in AVI
1280x720 PAL Mpeg4 + 6Ch AAC in MP4

All of which can be downloaded here.

Cheers

[Wilbert]

Great work! (Only the first one '1280x720 PAL Mpeg4 + 6Ch AC3 in AVI' is working ...)

AAC is LC? Please, don't forget the OGM/srt and OGM/ogg5.1