Onkyo unveils its first HD-DVD player

Onkyo USA has has launched its first HD-DVD player, the DV-HD805, which takes advantage of high-bit-rate audio streaming via an HDMI version 1.3a connection that matches Onkyo's line of A/V receivers. HDMI version 1.3a enables "Deep Color" technology, which is purported to improve color tones and achieve finer color gradation. Other features include support of variable frame rates, including playback at 24 frames per second, which is the native frame rate of original sources for most HD content. There's also an Ethernet port that allows access to HD-DVD spec network capabilities and the ability to download any future firmware updates.

The DV-HD805 makes use of Onkyo's HQV Reon VX video processing, which performs video scaling duties (to 720p, 1080i or 1080p), and enhances the quality of native-resolution DVDs. It also supports the lossless surround sound formats, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, as well as two lossy formats, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio. The DV-HD805 will be available in the fall of 2007 for a price of $900.