LG BH100 Blu-ray/HD-DVD Combo Player

The BH100 is the new hybrid Blu-ray Disc / HD-DVD combo player from LG. Dubbed "Super Multi-Blue", the BH100 plays both Blu-ray Discs and HD-DVDs at full 720p, 1080i, or 1080p resolution via its HDMI output. In addition, the BH100 is playback compatible with standard DVDs and the DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW recordable formats, but is not compatible with standard audio CD playback. In addition, standard DVDs are upscaled to 720p or 1080i via the HDMI output. To find out more about the BH100, and whether it might be right for you, check out the rest my Review.

Introduction:

The Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD FormatsThe Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD are the two competing high-definition DVD formats that are available to consumers. Both systems utilize new Blue Laser and video compression technology to achieve high definition video playback on the same size disc as a standard DVD. However, neither format is compatible with other. In other words, you cannot play a Blu-ray Disc in an HD-DVD player, or vice versa. However, LG is introducing a possible solution, what they have dubbed, "the Super Multi-Blue Hybrid Player".

LG BH100 - Product Overview

1. The BH100 plays Blu-ray Discs and HD-DVDs, and is compatible with standard DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW playback as well. Via the BH100's HDMI output, Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs can be played at full 1080p resolution on HDTVs that accept a 1080p/24 input signal. Also, standard DVDs can be upscaled to match the 720p or 1080i native resolution of HDTVs. NOTE: Whether consumers have access to high-definition output from a Blu-ray, HD-DVD, or Combo player via both the HDMI and Component Video outputs is determined by each studio on a case-by-case basis.

2. Standard DVD playback is limited to the DVD region where the unit is purchased (Region 1 for Canada and the U.S.). There is Region Coding for Blu-ray Discs, but, so far, there is no Region Coding for HD-DVDs.

3.The BH100 also features the new surround sound and two-channel audio processing formats: Dolby® Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD lossless (2-ch.), DTS® and DTS-HD lossless as well as standard Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1.

4.The BH100 has a full complement of audio and video connection options. High definition outputs include: HDMI (hi-def video and uncompressed digital audio), DVI-HDCP video output with adapter.
Standard definition video outputs include: Component Video (progressive or interlaced), and standard composite video. There is no S-Video output on the BH100.

Audio outputs include: 5.1 channel analog (for access to the BH100's built-in surround decoders), two channel analog, digital optical, and digital coaxial outputs.

5. The BH100 has control, via wireless remote, over all content and features of Blu-ray Discs. However, LG has chosen to lay over its own software menu nagivation system for HD-DVDs, rather than accessing the direct menus on the HD-DVDs. This means that although most of the common features on HD-DVDs, such as commentaries, deleted scenes, or added documentaries may be accessible via LG's menu system, more sophisticated interactive and internet features may not be. For this reason, LG cannot use the official HD-DVD symbol on the BH100.

6. Included in the box: BH100 Super Multi Blue Player, Remote (batteries included), Component video cable, Composite Video/Analog Stereo cables, User Manual, and Registration Card.

Setup - Blu-ray/HD-DVD/DVD Hardware:

Additional components used in this review included a Yamaha HTR-5490 6.1 Channel AV receiver, Outlaw Audio Model 950 paired with a Butler Audio 5150 5-channel power amplifier.
Video displays used: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor, Syntax LT-32HV 32-inch LCD TV, and Samsung LN-R238W 23-inch LCD TV.

Comparison LCD TV/Monitors are HD-compatible. The Westinghouse LVM-37w3 (1080p) and Samsung LN-R238W (720p) both have HDMI input; the Syntax Olevia LT-32HV (720p) has a DVI-HDCP input. The Syntax was connected to the LG BH100 via HDMI-to-DVI Connection adapter. All LCD units have progressive scan HD-Component inputs as well. All Displays were calibrated using SpyderTV Software.

Loudspeakers used, included: Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2, Optimus LX-5IIs, Klipsch Quintet III 5-channel speaker system, and Klipsch Synergy Sub10 and Yamaha YST-SW205 Powered Subwoofers.

Comparison Blu-ray players included the Samsung BD-P1000, and Sony BDP-S1.
The comparison HD-DVD player used was a Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player.

In addition, for comparison with standard DVD playback and upscaling performance, a Samsung DVD-HD931 DVD player with 720p/1080i upscaling (DVI-HDCP output) was also used.

DVD-Rs and DVD+RWs used were made on the following DVD recorders: Sony RDR-HX900, Philips DVDR985, and a Presidian PDR-3222.

All connections between components were made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables.

Setup - Blu-ray/HD-DVD/DVD Software

LG BH100 Blu-ray/HD-DVD Combo Player - Remote Control

Photo (c) 2007 - Robert Silva - Licensed to About.comBlu-ray Discs used included: The Italian Job, Superman Returns, Into The Blue, Stealth, and Mission Impossible III. HD-DVD Discs used included: The Italian Job, Heart - Live In Seattle, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Batman Begins, and Serenity

DVDs used included: The Italian Job, Serenity, Aeon Flux, The Cave, Kill Bill - Vol1/2, Pirates Of The Caribbean - Curse of the Black Pearl/Dead Man's Chest, Moulin Rouge, V For Vendetta, and The Promise, In addition, video content recorded on DVD-R and DVD+RW discs were also used.
For further audio evaluation, the DTS-HD Master Audio Presentation Demonstration Discs for Blu-ray and HD-DVD were used.

The Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD video test disc was also used for more precise video performance measurements.

Video Playback PerformanceThe BH100 was able to play all the Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs used for this review. The actual video quality differences between the Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs were very minor and would probably not be noticeable by most viewers.

When comparing both the Blu-ray and HD-DVD video performance against the Sony BDP-S1 and Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Players and the Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player - using the Blu-ray, HD-DVD, and DVD versions of the film The Italian Job - the Blu-ray performance seemed to be on par with the Sony, but more consistent than the Samsung. On the other hand, the HD-DVD performance of the Toshiba HD-XA1 was noticeably better than both the Blu-ray and HD-DVD performance of the BH100 and the other test players.