Ask questions to Sigma Designs insider "kjack"

[iceman]

This thread is dedicated to asking questions of industry insider "kjack" (Sigma Designs) who has graciously taken the time to participate here. kjack and all our insiders do this out of their free time and to try to keep us informed to their best abilities, and therefore are to be treated with respect and courtesy.

Before asking a question, please skim at least the last weeks worth of posts in order to make sure that the question hasn't already been asked or answered. Using the search function is also always a good idea. Please conduct your inquiries in a professional manner and avoid asking "chicken little" questions or asking when unannounced titles will come out.

kjack - Sigma Designs - Intro - Track posts

[aygie]

Hi Keith

Do you know if the Marantz player will be upgradable to profile 2.0?

Thanks

[desmond]

Hi Keith,

will new samsung player use sigma's chip?

Thanks.

[blitz6speed]

Will we ever see a Hollywood + card type device for Blu-Ray at any point for HTPCs?

[jason_grumpy]

Keith,

With BD-Live on the horizon, do you see any future Blu players that will incorporate 802.11G (other than the PS3)? If not, could you suggest this to the CE's?

This would make since, as many people rely on wireless access and do not wish to spend the money or time running wired connections through walls.

[scott1256ca]

I think I like this format. Your posts won't get lost.

Keith:
There has been a lot of talk about DTS HDMA and passing it bitstream to a receiver for decode there. My understanding was the the Sigma Designs chips have been able to support this for a while. So why are so few designs seeming to want to do this? Are they using IC's from you that don't support it?

Second, more to HDMI 1.3 spec. My understanding was that if you advertised HDMI 1.3, that you basically had to be capable of passing bitstream for DTS HDMA. Is that not the case?

Thanks.

[Neo65]

Keith,

a. Any update of a public announcement by chinese manufacturer(s) would be interesting.
b. Does the sigma chip in the shipping players send out native 1080p24?

[phloyd]

Not Keith, but I heard that one of the Chinese manufacturers was doing an 'invitation only' presentation of their player at CES.

I didn't see any press release or manufacturer name mentioned, though it is said to be a licensed player so that narrows down the field somewhat for the latter...

[kjack]

Sorry, I just discovered my own thread...

[kjack]

Originally Posted by Aygie

Do you know if the Marantz player will be upgradable to profile 2.0?

Sorry, but I cannot comment on specific upcoming BD players regarding features, price, etc.

[kjack]

Originally Posted by desmond

will new samsung player use sigma's chip?

Sorry, but I can't comment on who is using our chip in what until it has become public knowledge.

[kjack]

Originally Posted by blitz6speed

Will we ever see a Hollywood + card type device for Blu-Ray at any point for HTPCs?

Not from Sigma. We looked at doing one a couple of years ago, but there were too many issues interfacing to the graphics card and too much potential liability from the content protection viewpoint.

[kjack]

Originally Posted by scott1256ca

There has been a lot of talk about DTS HDMA and passing it bitstream to a receiver for decode there. My understanding was the the Sigma Designs chips have been able to support this for a while. So why are so few designs seeming to want to do this? Are they using IC's from you that don't support it?

It requires the latest revision of our chip, and specific HDMI transmitter chips, which some BD player manufacturers have not yet upgraded to.

Second, more to HDMI 1.3 spec. My understanding was that if you advertised HDMI 1.3, that you basically had to be capable of passing bitstream for DTS HDMA. Is that not the case?

No, a box may or may not pass an DTS-HD MA bitstream even though it has HDMI 1.3.
Just like a box may not support xvYCC or deep color even though it has HDMI 1.3. Very confusing to consumers.

[kjack]

Originally Posted by jason_grumpy

With BD-Live on the horizon, do you see any future Blu players that will incorporate 802.11G (other than the PS3)? If not, could you suggest this to the CE's? This would make since, as many people rely on wireless access and do not wish to spend the money or time running wired connections through walls.

I got a quote not too long ago for running wired connections through my walls at home...

Using 802.11g/n makes sense, and I can see it happening. One question I'll have to investigate is whether protected content (downloaded subtitles, audio tracks, previews, etc.) can be sent over it or not. But for general internet access it makes sense.

CE companies would also like to get rid of the wired connection to the TV by eventually going wireless for that.

[kjack]

Originally Posted by Neo65

Any update of a public announcement by chinese manufacturer(s) would be interesting.

Yes, it would. I'll see if something can be done.

Does the sigma chip in the shipping players send out native 1080p24?

Yes, unless the player manufacturer adds a post processing chip that doesn't support it. So almost all do native 1080p24.

[CAB]

Do the Sigma chips perform DSD to PCM processing? If so what bitrate options. If not, are there plans within plans?

Edit: And thanks so much for your time and knowledge.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by kjack

Not from Sigma. We looked at doing one a couple of years ago, but there were too many issues interfacing to the graphics card and too much potential liability from the content protection viewpoint.

Wow, blast from the past. I think I remember you commenting on this in late 2005, about the same time Microsoft decided it wouldn't try an HD DVD player for XP.

A very wise decision for Sigma, I think. Especially in retrospect.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by kjack

Yes, unless the player manufacturer adds a post processing chip that doesn't support it. So almost all do native 1080p24.

Is that end-to-end 24p? Do you decode 24p, mix PiP, etc. Or do you go to a common (like 60i for video) and then recover for 24p material?

Gary

[kjack]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Is that end-to-end 24p? Do you decode 24p, mix PiP, etc. Or do you go to a common (like 60i for video) and then recover for 24p material?

24p end-to-end. Unlike HD DVD, BD keeps the same frame rates for primary video, secondary video, etc. Makes processing and mixing better, easier and lower cost. That was my little contribution to the BD spec.

[kjack]

Originally Posted by CAB

Do the Sigma chips perform DSD to PCM processing?

No support for DSD to PCM, sorry. A separate controller chip and select audio DACs that accept DSD bitstream directly are typically used, so no DSD to PCM conversion is done. Did look at doing it though...