How is Blu-ray audio better than HD-DVD?

[Zaphod]

Four words:

Uncompressed Pulse-Code Modulation...

[iaacp]

Thanks guys!

[Merrick]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

Four words:

Uncompressed Pulse-Code Modulation...

Careful there....

Lossless-compression Pulse-code Modulation

All audio and video (at least that I've seen) are compressed. The video *HAS* to be done with some level of lossy compression because the amount of information is simply too large in general AND because of the effective bandwidth limit between the player and monitor. Both the bandwidth (bit rate) and storage space for BD are greater than for HD DVD, so we get a better picture. The audio can be compressed either by lossless or lossy algorithms. BD *has* used lossless compression more frequently (also, again, because BD has more storage space) than HD DVD so we usually get better audio as well. But HD DVD audio *can* be quite good.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Merrick

Careful there....

Lossless-compression Pulse-code Modulation

All audio and video (at least that I've seen) are compressed. The video *HAS* to be done with some level of lossy compression because the amount of information is simply too large in general AND because of the effective bandwidth limit between the player and monitor. Both the bandwidth (bit rate) and storage space for BD are greater than for HD DVD, so we get a better picture. The audio can be compressed either by lossless or lossy algorithms. BD *has* used lossless compression more frequently (also, again, because BD has more storage space) than HD DVD so we usually get better audio as well. But HD DVD audio *can* be quite good.

Uncompressed PCM has no compression...hence the 'Uncompressed'

[crackinhedz]

PCM is the alpha and the omega

...when you do 'compress' the Master PCM audio, you do it by way of 'Lossless' compression aka Dolby True-HD,Dts-HD Master...or 'lossy' compression aka DD+,Dts-HD High Resolution,DD5.1,Dts5.1 etc. techniques. Weather its decoded in the player or in the receiver, the final result is PCM.

So an Uncompressed PCM track is literally straight from the Master, nothing more nothing less. Its absolute.