Articles and whitepapers

Multiformat players (8/6/2004)

By Brian Morris

The opportunity to have just one AV source component for music and movie entertainment regardless of disc format is very appealing, especially if performance meets or exceeds expectations. Functionally, a multi-format or universal disc player should be capable of optically recognising and decoding each disc format, automatically select the appropriate two-channel or multichannel audio programme, and offer other integration features relating to stand-alone two-channel and multichannel systems, in addition to integration with multiroom systems.

The terms multi-format player or universal disc player are therefore synonymous with a relatively new type of AV source component designed to play any 12cm optical digital silver disc. This means one player for all major disc formats, regardless of disc format - such as Super Audio CD (SACD), DVD-Audio (DVD-A), DVD-Video (DVD-V), and of course, the standard compact disc (CD).

Disc formats

For some ten years, we have experienced the benefit of DVD movies with multichannel soundtracks. Now, SACD and DVD-A discs offer two-channel and multi-channel music with very high quality audio resolution. Multi-format players first appeared about two years ago at a time when the new major audio disc formats began to gain early market prominence. Today, some 2000 SACD titles and approximately 1000 DVD-Audio titles are available with new releases or re-issues becoming available each week on either format. These are therefore, the main formats that multi-format players should be able to recognise and play, and are summarised as follows:

CD - currently remains the format of choice for most people. Increasingly, early adopters seek multi-format players that play CD and the other new formats.

SACD - offers high quality stereo audio (two-channel audio), and in some cases, also high-quality multichannel audio. SACD discs can also be hybrid, whereby they include a CD audio layer which will play on normal CD players, at CD quality.

DVD-V - offers high-quality video and also compressed multichannel audio (neither of which is available on a CD). DVD-V however, cannot equal the audio quality available from SACD or DVD-A.

DVD-A - offers high-quality multichannel sound, plus additional video menu features. In addition DVD-A can accommodate the same audio encoded as Dolby Digital for playing on existing DVD-V players.

True universality

As the options for disc-based entertainment software increased, manufacturers (initially, predominantly major far-eastern multi-nationals) began to look at a 'one player does all" approach. This new technology is also licensed or sold to other mass-market manufacturers as well as to some specialist brands - meaning in most cases, that there is little to differentiate most multi-format players currently available. Most multi-format players also use common decoding circuitry for each format, which can be something of a performance compromise.

The Linn UNIDISK 1.1 universal disc player

While this article is not a vehicle to promote any one company (i.e. the company I work for), uniquely, amongst the so-called 'universal' solutions, the Linn-designed and manufactured Silver Disk Engine, used in Linn Unidisk products, identifies source material and outputs signals in their native format. This means that CD, SACD, DVD-V and DVD-A are handled independently and optimised with the precise decoding solution for which they were designed. As the only multi-format technology platform to do this, the Silver Disc Engine is an alternative highest quality solution, also available from Linn as an OEM solution to other manufacturers.

Choosing a multiformat player

At the very least, a multiformat/universal player should be capable of good playback of music and movies. In either case, you can buy the cheapest or the best and you will get what you pay for.

In choosing or specifying a multi-format/universal disc player, be clear about what it is the product has to do. Will you or your client be happy with the same decoding for each format, or will you demand the highest level of audio performance with a product that offers format-specific audio and video decoding? Essentially, this is like understanding the capabilities of a computer - this is what the best universal disc player actually is, but in the guise of an advanced AV source component. Remember also, standard CD is not dead! A good universal player should also accommodate CD with the best attention to CD playback built-in, and not added as an afterthought.

Here are some of the disc formats to consider when thinking about a multi-format or universal player, and whether various players support them: CD, SACD, DVD-Audio DVD-Video, VCD, SVCD, MP3 and MPEG Data Disks, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW - the latter being important for the playback of own-use compilations derived perhaps from a CD or DVD drive in a PC.

For analogue audio decoding, it is important to check the specifications. Does the universal player offer stereo and multichannel SACD, stereo and multichannel DVD-A, DVD-V multichannel processing of 5.1, CD (stereo) as well as left and right channel downmix of Dolby Digital and DTS audio streams? For digital audio decoding, does the player provide concurrent CD S/PDIF digital output and concurrent DVD-V RAW S/PDIF digital audio output?

A multi-format player must also interface with a display device, so what are the considerations here? Video outputs can include RGB, interlaced and progressive, S-Video and composite. More recent players will also include HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) which is the future for higher definition playback from DVD. Also, will it operate with the various broadcast standards throughout the world, such as PAL, NTSC North America, and NTSC World?

Does the player support multiroom operation, and is it upgradeable? Most mass-market products and some specialist products feature generic parts, while some specialist products do not. Linn for example, provides disc-based or downloadable software upgrades for the Unidisk range of universal players to accommodate format or operational revisions, or enhancements as formats evolve, or to accommodate some disks that are not to red-book standard, or some now, with copy protection that make some them unreadable.

Conclusion

In considering a multi-format or universal player, the range of options and performance possibilities should be carefully assessed. If sound and picture quality is vitally important, then arrange for a demonstration. See and hear the options for yourself before you decide which is best for you or your client.

Brian Morris is the PR Manager for Linn. Linn designs, manufactures and markets pitch-accurate sound reproduction entertainment systems that are installed throughout the world in some royal residences, luxury homes, performance motorcars and superyachts.

www.linn.co.uk