DVD playback issues, Should I get a decoder card?

[sergeremi]

Hi, I'm a newbie and I'm building my first system. I'm a little confused about what to do about my DVD capabilities. I was wondering, do i need to get a DVD decoder card everyone is talking about (RealMagic Hollywood)? I plan to have a P3 866, running a soundblaster live platinum card and whaterver Geforce 2 card I can get (64MB if I'm lucky) for my video. I don't know the DVD-Rom drive I will get (i could use some suggestions there, too), but anyway, would I need to get the decoder card?
Also, I was wondering about the sound. I plan to get the Klipsch Pro Medias, does anyone know how they would compare to the Cambridge Desktop Theater 5.1 DDT? Would I discern the difference in raw power vs digital quality? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've been working for for 6 months to put together a kick-ass system (paychecks don't quite add up fast when paying off school loans). I just want to make sure I get it right!

 

[Comp10]

For your system a software decoder such as PowerDVD would be best. Software decoders provide much better image quality than hardware decoders under most conditions. As for the DVD drive, I believe Pioneer drives are generaly considered among the best.

 

[Erasmus-X]

The Pioneer 303S is a pretty decent 6x DVD-ROM. It can be modified to be region-free. However, it is a SCSI-2 drive so you'll need an adapter card.

 

[Sephy]

Klipsch offer better quality in generally everything...except they don't offer digital.
If you're really into PC-DVD, go for the DTT2500's...otherwise, go Klipsch

 

[overnewbie]

You can get the Pioneer 115 which is the latest tray drive from them. Add the Hollywood card and you are set, both should run you a little over $200.00. Enjoy..The Promedias go great with this system...

 

[John]

Sergeremi, no need for a decoder card unless you want to output to a TV. With the components you list as a "planned system" you can use WinDVD or PowerDVD as a software decoder. I have a P3 882 / 384MB PC100 / SB Live! (not value) / Gladiac GF2 / Pioneer 303s (scsi DVDROM) / DTT 2500's and use WinDVD 2.1 which is the primo player on the market right now IMHO. In Win98SE I am getting AC-3 which adds to the "home theater" experience. Also the picture quality is simply amazing on a Trinitron monitor.

If you apt for a decoder card, get the Hollywod+

 

[Pariah]

Personally speaking, even with the speed of your system, I would still recommend getting a hardware kit, the CL DXR3 kit in particular. Your system is certainly fast enough to use software, but software lacks a few features that you may desire. Comparing picture quality, software tends to have better color saturation and be slightly sharper, while hardware is completely smooth under all conditions, and doesn't artifact as much. With tweaking, you can usually get the hardware color pretty close to software. If you plan to output to TV, you may not have a choice but use a hardware card if your video card doesn't have TV out. No matter which option you choose, DVD's on TV's look much better than on a monitor.

As for audio, hardware is far superior to software. No software player I have seen properly implements dolby digital. The SB Live! can not pass the DD stream anyway, which eliminates the option all together. With the DXR3 and DDT2500 speakers the DD stream is digitally sent straight to the speakers' DD decoder, and it sounds fantastic. The difference between true 5.1 and 4 speaker downmix is pretty dramatic.

So basically, if you want the loudest speakers on the block and don't care about DD, go with the Klipsch. If you choose to go software decoder, you should definitely go Klipsch. If you want the benefits that hardware decoding give you, you should go DTT2500. If you don't like the DVD drive that comes with the DXR3 kit, I believe you can buy the decoder card seperately (I know you used to be able to anyway), directly from CL, and then pick up a Pioneer drive.

 

[AMB]

I would see no need to get a HW+ for your system, the video pass-thru would ruin any monitor's quality above 800x600 unless you get a new cable. I only use my HW+ for output to my TV. Power DVD 2.55 does a very good job, if you want to go one better get Cinemaster 2000 which is meant to have very good picture quality.

With your Sb Live Platinum you already have AC-3 pass-thru with the Live Drive I, I would recommend connecting this to a Videologic DigiTheatre, I have recommended this is many posts before.

For thr DVD ROM, defintly Pioneer, make sure that you get a slot loading version, I have the 104S which I am happy with, that is 10x DVD and 40x CD.

 

[Pariah]

The pass through cable on hardware decoders definitely degrades desktop picture quality, which is why you should only plug it in if you plan on watching a movie. Ideally, you should just hook it up to the TV like I do. It looks much better on TV anyway, which is what I stated in my previous post.

Read the other thread on Dolby Digital. AMB does not know what he is talking about.

 

[AMB]

You can get AC-3 pass-thru on an Sb Live Platinum, I am certain, just use that AC3 test file

 

[Comp10]

AMB is correct, you can get true dolby digital and DTS by using your soundcards digital out. I have my DTS/Dolby digital reciever hooked up to my soundcards digital out and the reciever always reconizes dolby digital/DTS sources and decodes them pefectly. Getting good sound from a software decoder is not a problem.

 

[Pariah]

Not all digital out's can pass AC3 streams.

Let's visit Creative Lab's site again:

SPDIF does support 4 channels. Are all 4 channels sent out across the SPDIF connector?

Sound Blaster Live! supports only Stereo PCM Audio Format in the SPDIF output.

There are different versions of Dolby Digital, everything from Dolby Digital Mono up to 5.1. Just because your system is recognizing a Dolby Digital stream, doesn't mean it is 5.1.

The TOS on the Live! Drive II, might very well pass the AC3 stream, but considering it will cost around $300 for the sound card and LD II, for anyone outside of Europe, you're far better off just getting a hardware decoder.

 

[Comp10]

Just about every digital out can output AC-3 (Not sure about all the no-name cards, but the Live certainly can). The following link from a PC-DVD site clearly says how to get Dobly digital from the Live card.
http://www.inmatrix.com/sbspdif.html

Secondly, I AM hearing full 5.1 dolby digital. I know this for two reasons, first, ive run a test program which plays ALL the channels including the .1 LFE channel. They all play pefectly. And secondly, I can hear all the channels in movies.


And finaly, it does not take the $300 live platinum to get this sound. My Aureal Superquad can be bought for only $50 and as stated above, it outputs pefect Dobly Digital.

 

[AMB]

You do not need the LIve Drive II, just version I with a coax SP/DIF.

Yes, I have read somewhere on how to make even a SB16 output DD 5.1, and also the Live.

 

[sergeremi]

Thanks Pariah, AMB and everyone else for the advice!! I think I have decided to go with the Klipsch speakers and save the 'real' DVD madness for when I set up my own theater in the living room (34in HDTV (Sony KW-34HD1), mad crazy Sony surround sound speakers (SA-VA700) and a Sony DVD player (DVP-S7700). Wiping drool . . . The comp will hold me over till I can build my own mini-theater. I got a taste of what the Klipsches could do at a local computer store. They are simply amazing, hell, they beat my bookshelf system I've got right now. Plus, playing 'Return to Castle Wolfenstien' ought to be a blast with the Klipshes at full throttle!! Anyways, Any more suggestions on a software DVD decoder?

 

[Mday]

no matter how fast your processor is, a hardware decoder rocks.

 

[AMB]

Get Power DVD 2.55 from http://dvd2k_3k.tripod.com/

An alternative is Cinemaster 2000 which you can get from thr link abouve, but you need DVD Genie to allow Hardware assist and AC-3 pass-thru.

I think you can go to http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/downloads/ for this.

 

[Martijnos]

Don't take the hardware decoder. You should be fine with a Geforce in combination with a software decoder. According to the real audio/video freaks at http://www.avsforum.com/ubbcgi/Ultimate.cgi the Geforce is the best solution for VGA output on your computer montinor. Also If you plan to go for a big screen the Geforce will have a superior image quality.
For normal analog TV's the Hollywood plus in combination with S-video is a good solution.
I have also a question. I'm planning on buying a 22" monitor. I already have a dolby digital receiver. How will the dvd experience be in a small room? Is it necesssary to save up for a high quality TV or will the big monitor be sufficient?

 

[AMB]

You should be OK, my 19" monitor and DD setup works fine