Onkyo, priced out of HD DVD, discontinues its HD805 HD DVD player

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by bferr1

They have. Early spin is that this news, along with the XA2 going MIA on The Look and Sound of Perfect website, must mean an XA3 is coming soon!

So the only company with a decent name in AV dumps the HD-DVD player and they see it as positive. lol. WOW.

[CptGreedle]

Originally Posted by Zinn

Translation:

Onkyo DV-HD805, the phantom HD DVD

By: Gian Luca Di Felice

The first Onkyo HD DVD player has been available in Italy for a few days now, but it can already be considered as a collector's item, because there are very few units in existence, and Onkyo has stopped its production.

We were waiting for a unit of the first Onkyo HD DVD player, the DV-HD805, for review on the pages of AV Magazine. After a conversation with Tecnofuturo, the Brescia-based Italian distributor of the Japanese manufacturer, we decided in mutual agreement that it was not worth the trouble. The reasons are quickly explained: the DV-HD805 is no other than a rebranded Toshiba HD-XE1 HD DVD player, which is already compatible with streaming of all lossless multichannel HD codecs via HDMI 1.3, and there are only few units of it available.

In view of the new marketing policy being applied by Toshiba, consisting of sinking the price of its own players, Onkyo has difficulty in positioning its own player (the Europe list price is 899 euros) and has therefore decided to stop production. The scarce units produced have been redistributed in varios markets. It has been known that barely 11 units arrived in Italy, and no others will come. Germany has been more fortunate, with 20 units, and Spain will receive none.

As to why it was decided not to review such a product, apart from its being a clone, it won't be effectively be available on the market (the 11 Italian units are already sold). We thank Tecnofuturo for such a quick communication and we apologize to the enthusiasts. Onkyo is already working actively on a new player and according to tidbits it could be this time a Blu-ray player or a hybrid player. We'll have other news and more confirmation during the upcoming CES at Las Vegas.

Source: Avmagazine.it

HA! i KNEW this would happen!
toshiba is killing HD-DVD with the cheap ass players!

HA!

[gandley]

well Onkyo would of needed to sell well over the toshiba price to make money (which indeed it was going to by the euro pricing), more so when you consider the small amount of cash they would make from a tiny install base.

With the tosh model being upgraded to what the Onkyo was to offer over the XA2 features, it looks like tosh kinda knutted onkyo on the nose.

And they reckon other CEs want to get into the HD DVD game?? this if true would suggest every over CE, will see whats happened to Onkyo and think, SOD THAT.

So clear now that tosh just aint makin money on these players, or else why cant Onkyo just match the price??.

[Go Blu]

This is good news for HD-DVD!

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by gandley

And they reckon over CEs want to get into the HD DVD game?? this if true would suggest every over CE, will see whats happened to Onkyo and think, SOD THAT.

So clear now that tosh just aint makin money on these players, or else why cant Onkyo just match the price??.

Where did you read that?

[dobyblue]

I have already sent Onkyo an e-amil telling them how interested I would be in a Blu-ray player from them and whether or not they have any plans to introduce one soon.

I suggest you all take 5 minutes out of your day to do the same.

www.onkyo.com

[WickyWoo]

I'm holding out for the Meridian HD DVD unit priced at $X,000. Amir said "Bob Meridian" promised this was coming so it must be true

I wouldn't doubt for a second that Meridian will make a combo player. Their customers are primarily professional installations, and the rather trivial additional cost of HD DVD licensing, and the potential need for the near future to play both in those settings would make a lot of sense

[haushausman]

At least they're going down with the ship they sunk... oh, and Venturer. Only a crap company like Venturer would make such a stupid decision.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

I wouldn't doubt for a second that Meridian will make a combo player. Their customers are primarily professional installations, and the rather trivial additional cost of HD DVD licensing, and the potential need for the near future to play both in those settings would make a lot of sense

"But Amir said it was an HD DVD player, and that we'd have choices in players all the way up to the high end?"

Don't disagree with you Wicky. But of course, my recollection is that Amir left out the fact that it was to be a combo player. Technically, it would be an HD DVD player, so technically he wasn't lying. But of course, he was misleading as usual if your scenario plays out.

[gandley]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Where did you read that?

its a general FUD claim of the HD DVD fanboys. Obviously the reality is a little different.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

I have already sent Onkyo an e-amil telling them how interested I would be in a Blu-ray player from them and whether or not they have any plans to introduce one soon.

I suggest you all take 5 minutes out of your day to do the same.

www.onkyo.com

Kickin' HD DVD while they are down, eh Dobby?

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Esox50

I'm holding out for the Meridian HD DVD unit priced at $X,000. Amir said "Bob Meridian" promised this was coming so it must be true.

He said his "good friend" "Bob Meridian" promised.

He'll never live that one down.

[Sling]

AVS needs help understanding.Start at post #569
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...857650&page=19

[Zinn]

Yep, it's no longer here: thelookandsoundofperfect.com

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

He said his "good friend" "Bob Meridian" promised.

He'll never live that one down.

Yep, and then someone joined up there at AVS with the name "Bob Meridian". While immature, it was quite funny and I was surprised how long that account was allowed to stay active.

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

So the only company with a decent name in AV dumps the HD-DVD player and they see it as positive. lol. WOW.

Well, not quite positive. Definitely reading the tea leaves and trying to make something positive out of it, though. See here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...&postcount=570

Also, this one says it's no big loss since it was just a rebadged XA2: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...&postcount=585

What happened to Onkyo being their savior?

[Esox50]

Just off the press...all 100 Onkyo HD DVD players ever made are going to be closed out at Wal-Mart for $98 on Xmas eve. If only Walmart counted in the Nielson #'s, as this is sure to move a lot of software at Wal-Mart too.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

I wouldn't doubt for a second that Meridian will make a combo player. Their customers are primarily professional installations, and the rather trivial additional cost of HD DVD licensing, and the potential need for the near future to play both in those settings would make a lot of sense

Imagine what it's like for these companies nowdays. They used to be able to bring out a piece of analog equipment that people would gush over as being the finest piece of engineering on the planet.

The digital world makes standing out as significantly extremely difficult. Especially when a great deal of what is the product is actually in SOFTWARE and key components like the VLSI and the drive are impossible for smaller companies to consider manufacturing.

The same Sigma Designs decoder chip can be in a Blu-ray player, and a Microsoft platform IPTV box.

Gary

[TruBlu2]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

Exactly.....

This is bad news for HD-DVD and this is a good lesson for those people who thinks that the BDA should lower their prices.

Well, they will be lowering prices, but they need to be agreed upon pricing by all the CE's. That way you will not price anyone out like Toshiba has done.

The CE's are behind Blu-ray pretty much because the pricing fits their appetite.

If the CE's aren't making a profit then they will not be making players. plain and simple

This fact alone could be the deciding factor (i'm sorry-1 of many) that pull the plug on hddud!!!

[Luis_A51]

I posted this news on another forum, but a mod quickly chimed in

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=74845

Is this player actually easily available in north america? I dont trust him.