Microsoft XBOX 360 HD DVD Player

When Microsoft announced the XBOX 360 HD Player, gamers could not help think back to the days when SEGA sold peripheral add-ons to their Genesis system that were complete flops.  What gamers need to realize is that the XBOX 360 HD DVD Player is that it's a device created solely for playing HD DVD video, and according to Microsoft the format will not be used for gaming.  This extra component is to give the consumer the choice if they want to watch HD content.  This device is not just another add-on on meant for failure, it give the option to XBOX 360 owners to step up to 6x the resolution of DVD.

Let us begin by touching on HD (high definition) for a second.  HD is the buzz topic right now in TV buying.  It is important to remember that your TV is only as good as your signal.  With HD-TV only being available in 1080i and 720p (as of the date of this article), there are very few sources that use 1080p besides Blu-Ray players and HD DVD players.  1080p HDTV's deliver more detail, which can enhance the viewing experience for more attentive visual persons, but it takes the right distance from the TV and a fine eye to truly appreciate it.  The most important factor is to view the color, how the TV handles black coloring, the contrast, and most importantly, what you will mainly use the TV for before you make a judgment.  Unless you buy a TV that is 50 inches or more and at the right distance, it will be difficult to distinguish a difference in quality between 1080p, 1080i, and 720p, but you will be able to distinguish it in price.  Now back to the XBOX 360 HD DVD Player.

For only $199.99 you get the HD DVD Player, a USB cable to hook it up to the XBOX 360, a Universal Media Remote, and for a limited time a copy of Peter Jackson's King Kong.  Just to reiterate, the price is only $199.99; that makes it the cheapest option (if you already have an XBOX 360) for an HD DVD player.
 
The unit matches, and takes the elegant design of the XBOX 360 console, and is just as impressive. Situated flat or on its side, the HD DVD Player is approximately a quarter of the size of the XBOX 360 - certainly a whole lot smaller than a standalone HD DVD player which resemble the early days of VHS.

Although not quite plug and play, the player is extremely straightforward to install. A small external power supply connects to the rear of the player, and a USB cable provides the connection to the XBOX 360. Do not worry about loosing a USB connection though, the HD DVD player has two additional USB ports on the back for your wireless adapter and your vision camera.

You don't have any audio and video cables to worry about - all this is handled on the XBOX 360 - with the player simply pumping the HD DVD data through to the console. You do, however, have some audio and visual decisions to make. To experience HD resolution video you'll need to connect your XBOX 360 to a capable display using Component or VGA cables. To obtain the full 1080p that HD DVD can deliver you'll need a VGA cable, with Component limiting your options to 720p and 1080i.
Although capable of delivering the full resolution video of HD DVD, the XBOX 360 HD DVD Player lacks the versatility in the audio scheme of things.  The player does not offer Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD decoding, nor is it able to pass through the required high definition audio format to an external decoder.  Audiophiles will certainly lament its absence, but the player does down convert Dolby TrueHD to a high quality 1.5mbps Dolby Digital track.

Other than the eject button, there are no controls.  Nothing.  So it is necessary that you do not loose the supplied Universal Media Remote for ease of use.  The remote fits nicely in the hand and for ease of use in a dark room features back-lit buttons. The player can also be controlled with the XBOX 360 controller should you misplace your remote, though it not quite as convenient.

Once you get down to watching an HD DVD you'll notice that the add-on is no slouch. Compared to other HD DVD players on the market, the XBOX 360 is able to load up a disc quicker – up to a minute faster when compared to first generation HD DVD stand alone players. Menu speeds are also impressive, and were improved with the Microsoft update.

Having tested a variety of HD DVD movies, the XBOX 360 HD DVD Player is nothing to scoff at.  As a viewer, if you are able to look past the technical shortcomings such as no HDMI and lack of HD audio, you will enjoy the movie experience, especially for the price.

There is one area in which the XBOX 360 does falter though, and for some it could be a deal breaker. When playing a game, the XBOX 360 produces a lot of noise. This comes from the cooling inside the console and the DVD drive when a disc is spinning. Thankfully, the noise when playing a movie is much less than when playing a game. It's hard to say precisely, but the noise level is slightly greater than when using the XBOX 360 Dashboard. It depends on your tolerance for the noise, but is more noticeable than with a standalone player and certainly something which will be heard during quiet parts of a movie during those dramatic one-on-one scenes, though not at all during the explosions.

 
Unlike DVDs, the HD DVD format does not currently feature region coding, meaning you can playback HD DVDs from all over the world using the XBOX 360 HD DVD Player. The HD DVD Player is also able to play standard DVDs, but carries the same region coding as the built-in XBOX 360 DVD drive.
For those who have already invested in an XBOX 360, the leap to high definition video can be had for only $199.99, and you can catch it cheaper here on eBay or with a coupon at your favorite electronics store.