DVD vs Blu-ray vs HD DVD
Want to see at a glance what each format has to offer? Check our table below for more information.
As you can see below, while both Blu-ray and HD DVD offer much more than plain old DVDs, the differences between the two technologies aren't that pronounced. In terms of technology, Blu-ray can currently store more on a single side of a disc than HD DVD -- although double-sided, dual-layer and even other disc combinations coming in the future could see that storage difference become academic. Blu-ray can also currently output to 1080p -- most HD DVD units now output at 1080i, but the latest Toshiba HD-XE1 is able to display 1080p.
| Feature | DVD | Blu-ray | HD DVD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum native resolutions supported via HDMI | 576p | HDTV (720p, 1080i, 1080p) | HDTV (720p, 1080i, 1080p) |
| Maximum image-constrained native resolutions supported via component video 1 | 576p | 960x540 | 960x540 |
| Disc capacity | 4.7GB (single layer) 8.5GB (dual layer) |
25GB (single layer) 50GB (dual layer) 100GB (prototype quad layer) |
15GB (single layer) 30GB (dual layer) 45GB (prototype triple layer) |
| Video capacity (per dual-layer disc) 2 | SD: approximately 3 hours HD: n/a |
SD: approximately 23 hours HD: approximately 9 hours |
SD: approximately 24 hours HD: approximately 8 hours |
| Audio soundtracks 3 | Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES | Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS-ES | Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS-ES |
| Manufacturer support (home theatre) 4 | All | LG, Thomson/RCA, Hitachi, TEAC, Kenwood, Onkyo, Fujitsu, Samsung, Sanyo, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, LG, Sharp, Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, Philips, Thomson/RCA, Sharp, TDK | Toshiba, LG, Thomson/RCA, Hitachi, TEAC, Kenwood, Onkyo, Fujitsu, Samsung, Sanyo |
| Manufacturer support (PC storage) 4 | All | Apple, Dell, Benq, HP, LG, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sony, TDK | Microsoft, Intel, HP, NEC, Toshiba, Canon, Ricoh, Maxell, Acer, Lenovo, Imation |
| Studio support 4 | All | Sony Pictures (including MGM/Columbia TriStar), Disney (including Touchstone, Miramax), Fox, Paramount (Steven Spielberg titles only), Warner, Lions Gate | Paramount, Studio Canal, Universal, Warner, The Weinstein Company, Dreamworks, New Line |
| Compatible video game consoles | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo Revolution | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 (via external HD DVD accessory, sold separately) |
| Player prices | AU$150 and less | From AU$999 | From AU$899 |
| Movie prices | AU$10 and more (retail) | AU$29.95 to AU$39.95 | AU$25.00 to |
| Number of titles available in the US by the end of 2006 | 50,000-plus | Dozens to hundreds | Dozens to hundreds |
| Players are backward compatible with existing DVD videos | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Can record high-def at full resolution (eventually) 5 | No | Yes | Yes |
| "Managed copy" option 6 | No | Yes | Yes |
| Copy protection/digital rights management 7 | Macrovision, CSS | AACS, BD+, BD-ROM Mark | AACS |
| Region-coded discs and players 8 | Yes | Yes | No (currently; could change in future) |
Sources include: thedigitalbits.com, dvdfile.com, blu-ray.com, Toshiba HD DVD, Blu-ray Disc Association, CNET News.com, Business Week, HDbeat.com, About.com, and Wikipedia.
Notes
1. Each movie studio may choose to implement the image-constraint flag (HDCP)on a disc-by-disc basis, which constrains or down-converts the movie's resolution to 960x540 via the component outputs (HDMI output remains at full resolution). However, most major studios -- Sony (Columbia/Tri-Star/MGM), Fox, Disney, Paramount, and Universal -- have publicly stated that they will not make use of the image-constraint flag, at least initially. If true, movies from those studios will display at full resolution via the component outputs.
2. Video capacity will vary depending upon the type of encoding used. Discs encoded with MPEG-4 or VC-1 offer better compression and, therefore, more video per gigabyte (standard-definition or high-definition) than those encoded with the older, less efficient MPEG-2 codec.
3. All HD DVD and Blu-ray players should incorporate built-in audio decoding and analog audio outputs. Those features should enable the newer Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD surround formats to be heard by using existing A/V receivers and audio equipment -- but the resulting soundtrack may be a down-mixed Dolby Digital or DTS-EX version that lacks the theoretically better audio fidelity that's encoded on the disc.
4. Manufacturer and studio support is subject to change. With the exception of Sony's devotion to Blu-ray and Toshiba's to HD DVD, other manufacturers and studios can (and already have) switch sides, or they can support both formats. Also, the depth of support for companies aside from Sony and Toshiba has yet to be determined; while some have already released single-format players, "support" for both formats has largely been limited to press releases or future product schedules and remain theoretical until they are available for purchase.
5. Early-generation set-top (non-PC) HD DVD and Blu-ray players are players only, with no recording capabilities. Future set-top recorders are expected to become available in both formats in 2008 or later, but look for copy-protection and digital rights issues to severely restrict the HD programming you'll be able to record from TV.
6. Managed copy refers to the ability to make an HD DVD or Blu-ray movie viewable via a home network or a portable video device. The details haven't been worked out yet, leaving managed copy as more of a theoretical option than a usable feature for the foreseeable future.
7. It is likely that HD DVD and Blu-ray will feature additional copy-protection methods (including Macrovision or other protections for analog outputs) than the ones listed here.
8. As of autumn 2006, HD DVD discs and players are not region-coded, but that could be changed at any point in the future -- for example, the appearance of region-coded discs and a firmware upgrade for the hardware needed in order to play them. Blu-ray discs are coded to three regions (roughly, the Americas and Japan; Europe and Africa; and China, Russia, and everywhere else not included in the previous two regions) that are far more streamlined than the nine-region DVD system. That said, HD DVD and Blu-ray players should honour the nine-region system when playing standard DVDs -- so don't expect to play out-of-region discs.
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