Blu-ray — The Next-Generation Optical Disc Format
Blu-ray Disc® — Same Size, Larger Capacity
Blu-ray Discs are the latest and most advanced optical disc technology. Pioneer is
one of the companies that helped create this new disc format, which is expected to replace
DVD as a major source of audio-visual content. Despite a similar look and size, Blu-ray Discs boast much larger capacity and higher audio and video quality than CD and even DVD.
As the name "Blu-ray" indicates, the new technology uses a blue-violet laser, while current optical disc technologies
— such as DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM — use a red laser to read and write data. The benefit of using a blue-violet laser (405 nm*) is that it has a shorter wavelength than a red laser (650 nm), which makes it possible to focus the laser with even greater precision. This allows data to be packed more tightly and stored in a smaller space, fitting more data than a CD/DVD, even though they are the same size. A single Blu-ray Disc can store 25 GB of data per layer, allowing 50 GB of data on a dual layer Blu-ray Disc. This means a single-layer disc can contain five times more information than a DVD**, enabling movie studios to include more information for superb picture and sound quality. For TV programs, one Blu-ray disc can hold up to two hours of HDTV material (or eleven hours of SDTV material)***.
Blu-ray Discs support:
-1920 x 1080 HD (50i, 60i, and 24p)
-1280 x 720 HD (50p, 60p, and 24p)
-720 x 576 / 480 SD (50i or 60i)
*nm = 1 / 1 000 000 000th of a meter (a meter is about 3.281 feet).
**Based on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray disc versus a 4.7 GB single layer DVD disc.
***Recording capacity based on average pressed DVD-Video bit rates.
Note: Blu-ray Disc and the Blu-ray Disc logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.
Specifications: Blu-ray vs. DVD
4-3/4"
(120 mm)
1/16"
(1.2 mm)
thick
Lasers and Beam Spots — CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc
Label Side | Label Side | 0.1 mm | Label Side |
mm0.1 | 0.6mm | mm1.2(Total) |
| | | optical |
| | | properties |
| | | irrelevant |
| | | | | | Blu-ray | |
| | | | | | |
| CD | | DVD | | |
| | | Disc | |
| 780 nm | | 650 nm | | 405 nm | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | ROM/ Writable |
1 layer 700 MB | 4.7 GB | | 25 GB |
2 layers | 8.5 GB | | 50 GB |
Note: Comparison of single-layer discs. | * nm=1 / 1 000 000 000th of a meter |
| | | | * 1 inch=25.4 mm |
Superb Audio
In addition to excellent pictures, the large capacity and data transfer rate of Blu-ray Discs permit extremely high-quality audio (up to 8 channels) to accompany HD video. Final audio specifications include DTS (core format), Dolby Digital, and Linear PCM (up to 96/24). As options, the format is expected to support Linear PCM 192/24 6.
technology, which permits the following features:
- Picture-in-picture display
-Changing the point of view — You can watch a game from the field or the point of view of the players, or get on the stage at a concert.
-Changing camera angles — You can even move the camera angle to different areas of the screen in real time.
*Java and all JAVA-based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. ©2006 Esmertec AG
1080p Home Theater from Pioneer
Create a 1080p Home Theater System with Pioneer Elite Components
For the first time in the world, a comprehensive range of components for creating a 1080p home theater system is now available — thanks to Pioneer. These innovative products are composed of the latest Elite audio-video components, one of which is the BDP-HD1 Blu-ray Disc Player.
Connect the system directly with the PRO-FHD1 Elite Plasma Display Panel (PDP) or Elite A/V receiver, via an HDMI terminal. With its ability to play HD content from Blu-ray Discs, and precise all-digital signal transmission, the BDP-HD1 lets you take full advantage of the PDP's 1080p resolution. In addition, the Elite player can even upscale the resolution of your standard DVD collection, so that all your movies look better than ever.
The BDP-HD1 Blu-ray Disc Player also delivers 1080p movie sources without changing their original 24 frames per second (fps) to an unsynchronized 60fps. Then the PRO-FHD1 changes them to 72fps (Advanced PureCinema with 3-3 Pull Down) — creating three copies for every frame. This means that output pictures perfectly synchronize with the original film. You can enjoy movies with real-theater quality while sitting in your living room.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
those messy cables. Other new Elite Plasma Display Panels — PRO-1540HD, PRO-1140HD, and PRO-940HD — also come with HDMI terminals.
Advanced Devices and Constructions
Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit Audio D/A Converter
The BDP-HD1 uses a high-performance 192 kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter (Burr-Brown PCM1738) for each of the 6 channels. This ensures superior-quality multi-channel sound.
For more accurate sound, the symmetrically-placed circuits of the front L/R channels work in synergy with this superb performance. In addition, the converter uses an exclusive power supply for the DAC to reduce interference from other circuits. The output from the DAC is a differential-current configuration to suppress common-mode noise.
Advanced Construction
The internal construction of the BDP-HD1 features a unique layout of blocks and wiring that ensures mechanical strength and better heat radiation efficiency. This improves video and sound quality.
Multi-Faceted Internal Construction
Disc Drive Unit
Power Supply | Audio Circuit Block |
BD/DVD
Main Circuit
The BDP-HD1 also features a dual-layered chassis. The
1.0 mm-thick* chassis base is reinforced with a 1.6mm-thick |
plate. This improves strength and stability, to eliminate |
Parameters | Blu-ray | DVD |
Storage Capacity | 25 GB (single-layer) | 4.7 GB (single-layer) |
| 50 GB (dual-layer) | 8.5 GB (dual-layer) |
| | |
Laser Wavelength | 405 nm (blue laser) | 650 nm (red laser) |
Numerical Aperture (NA) | 0.85 | 0.60 |
| | |
Disc Diameter | 4-3/4" (120 mm) | 4-3/4" (120 mm) |
Disc Thickness | 1/16" (1.2 mm) | 1/16" (1.2 mm) |
| | |
Protection Layer | 1/192" (0.1 mm) | 1/32" (0.6 mm) |
Hard Coating | Yes | No |
| | |
Track Pitch | 0.32 µm | 0.74 µm |
Data Transfer Rate (Data) | 36.0 Mbps (1x) | 11.08 Mbps (1x) |
| | |
Data Transfer Rate (Video/Audio) | 54.0 Mbps (1.5x) | 10.08 Mbps (<1x) |
Max. Video Resolution | 1920 x1080 (1080p) | 720 x 480 / 720 x 576 (480i / 576i) |
| | |
Max Video Bit Rate | 40.0 Mbps | 9.8 Mbps |
Video Codecs | MPEG-2 | MPEG-2 |
| MPEG-4 AVC | – |
| SMPTE VC-1 | – |
Audio Codecs | Linear PCM | Linear PCM |
| Dolby Digital | Dolby Digital |
| DTS Digital Surround | DTS Digital Surround |
Interactivity | BD-Java | DVD-Video |
The BDP-HD1 comes with an HDMI
terminal — a key element of Pioneer's 
1080p home theater system. HDMI boasts a high bit rate of up to 2.2 Gbps for HD content and can process large amounts of uncompressed, high-quality data. As a result, it can transmit high definition signals, including 720p, 1080i, and 1080p, as well as standard definition signals. This ensures compatibility with a variety of sizes, resolutions, and formats.
HDMI also transmits the signal to the display in a pure digital state — without D/A or A/D conversion — and eliminates loss of video (and audio) quality.
In addition, HDMI combines video and multi-channel audio into a single cable, and connects to any other devices with an HDMI output.
spurious vibrations. The result is better signal readout accuracy |
and superior video and audio quality. |
*1 inch = 25.4 mm
Dual-Layered Chassis
1.0 mm-Thick 
Chassis Base
1.6 mm-Thick Plate 
Blu-ray
DISC
PLAYER
