Samsung has introduced their second generation HD DVD-Blu Ray combo player, the Samsung BD-UP5500.

 

The Samsung BD-UP5500 will carry the same feature set as the fourth generation Samsung Blu Ray players. Onboard decoding of all advanced audio codecs is featured, as is output of an uncompressed bitstream for decoding by AV receiver or pre/pro. The BD-UP5500 is 1080p via HDMI 1.3, features 7.1 channel audio, and is Profile 1.1.

 

The Samsung BD-UP5500 is slated to hit stores in May, just three months on the heels of their first combo player, the Samsung BD-UP5000. The BD-UP5500 will list at $599.

Pioneer unveiled four new AV receivers on the eve of CES 2008, only one of which has support for advanced audio codecs.

 

The 130 watt per channel Pioneer VSX-1018TXH-K features Pioneer's Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration, three HDMI 1.3 inputs, video upscaling to 1080p over HDMI and auto-level control for equalizing volume between sources. The VSX-1018TXH-K decodes all currently available flavors of Dolby and DTS, so HD DVD and Blu Ray owners will be able to between letting their player or the VSX-1018TXH-K do the heavy lifting.

 

The Pioneer VSX-1018TXH-K is scheduled for a June 2008 release, and will retail for the wallet-friendly price of $599.

British loudspeaker maker Arcaydis has revamped their line of loudspeakers, adding some ribbon tweeter models to their lineup.

 

The new Arcaydis Cobalt is a 3 way design with an enclosure that features a sloped back to reduce standing waves. Bass duties are handled by a 10" Seas driver with copper phase plug, which covers from 20 Hz to 550 Hz.  Not specified is whether the unit features a magnesium or aluminum cone, just that it's metal. Midrange is handled by a 7" paper cone whose internal enclosure is sealed, separating it from the waves produced by the bass unit. At 7500 Hz the midrange driver hands off to a Visaton ribbon, which extends the frequency range up to 30,000 Hz. The 37.5" Arcaydis Cobalts tip the scales at 88 pounds apiece, and will set you back just under $24,000 a pair.

 

Also new is the Arcaydis AKR (pictured), a 2 way design utilizing a 6.5" mid-bass coupled with a ribbon tweeter in an inverted arrangement aimed at improving the dispersion of the ribbon tweeter and creating a wider "sweet spot". The 31" tall AKR is rated 88dB at 8 ohms, and presents an amplifier load that will accomodate tube or solid state power. The AKR sells for about $2700/pair at today's exchange rate. 

 

Also fresh to the line is the Arcaydis Excelsior, details of which are not yet available, and the Arcaydis 200T, a 96dB 8 ohm single driver model that will apeal to fans of SET tube amps. Arcaydis claims 40-20,000 Hz frequency response from the 200T.

 

 

More fallout from Warner Bros. announcement that they are going Blu Ray exclusive: the HD DVD Promotional Group has cancelled their CES conference that was scheduled for the eve of the show on January 6.

 

The following was sent to press and invited guests of the conference via email late Friday (thanks to High Def Digest for posting the text):

 

Toshiba has made a terse press release regarding Warner Bros. announcement that they will be going Blu Ray exclusive.

 

Toshiba expressed surprise at the move, and one must wonder if talks had been taking place between the three parties in the weeks leading up to CES. They cite contracts that exist between the two parties, and it is unclear at this time if this will be the beginning of a legal skirmish between Toshiba and Warner Bros. if that is the case, or if Warner will have to buy their way out of whatever arrangement they may have with Toshiba. Note that this is speculation, and more details will become clear as this story continues to develop. Toshiba goes on to say that they are disappointed, and cites that HD DVD player and HD DVD-equipped  personal computers outsold rival Blu Ray in 2007.

 

Toshiba seems genuinely shocked by this development, and I would love to be a fly on the wall for some of the conference calls that are taking place regarding this situation. It's hard to imagine HD DVD will have anything that looks positive at CES in light of this, but we'll find out soon enough.

Warner Bros. has made the press release that will end the Format War: they are going Blu Ray exclusive.

 

The press release speaks for itself, and can be read by following the Read more link. While I know that picking a side, any side was the right thing for them to do, it's sad that it marks the beginning of the end for what I still feel is the superior format. While my preference for HD DVD was always firm, ultimately it's about the movies and I will be buying a Blu Ray player sooner rather than later.

 

Blu Ray fanboys: go ahead and gloat, this is the end for HD DVD.