DVD player bitsteam input - whats that?

The local electrical store had Toshiba portable DVD players at around 150
pounds had 'bitstream' input in addition to the normal AV inputs.
What format is this bitstream input?

The connectors were miniature jacks of some kind, rather than any of the
usual suspects like USB or DV.

Roger

Roger R wrote:
The local electrical store had Toshiba portable DVD players at around
150 pounds had 'bitstream' input in addition to the normal AV inputs.
What format is this bitstream input?

The connectors were miniature jacks of some kind, rather than any of
the usual suspects like USB or DV.

Do you mean output rather than input? For a DVD *player*, there could well
be an S/PDIF optical output to enable you to connect to an external AV
amplifier. These can come in miniature jack form. I suppose it *could* be an
optical input, so you can use the onboard amplifier and speakers with an
external digital source, though that seems a bit unlikely.

If it's an output, you would normally be able to select between PCM (stereo)
and surround encoded outputs (either Dolby Digital or DTS).

"Roger R" wrote in message
...
The local electrical store had Toshiba portable DVD players at around 150
pounds had 'bitstream' input in addition to the normal AV inputs.
What format is this bitstream input?

Bitstream is a method of doing digital to analogue conversion.
It was developed as a cheaper way of decoding digital CD audio (by removing
most of the expensive hardware).

As such there is no such thing as a bitstream input or output.

"Roger R" wrote in message
...
The local electrical store had Toshiba portable DVD players at around 150
pounds had 'bitstream' input in addition to the normal AV inputs.
What format is this bitstream input?

The connectors were miniature jacks of some kind, rather than any of the
usual suspects like USB or DV.

Roger


I think you will find it was labelled Bitstream/PCM, and its an *output* for
an audio amplifier. If the socket was not optical, then it probably would be
RCA (Phono) rather than 3.5mm Jacks.
Pretty standard stuff on most players
--

Graham.
%Profound observation%

"Pyriform" wrote in message
...
Roger R wrote:
The local electrical store had Toshiba portable DVD players at around
150 pounds had 'bitstream' input in addition to the normal AV inputs.
What format is this bitstream input?

The connectors were miniature jacks of some kind, rather than any of
the usual suspects like USB or DV.

Do you mean output rather than input? For a DVD *player*, there could well
be an S/PDIF optical output to enable you to connect to an external AV
amplifier. These can come in miniature jack form. I suppose it *could* be
an
optical input, so you can use the onboard amplifier and speakers with an
external digital source, though that seems a bit unlikely.

If it's an output, you would normally be able to select between PCM
(stereo)
and surround encoded outputs (either Dolby Digital or DTS).

Returned to the store for a closer look.
It's labelled 'Bitstream/PCM', so audio as you identified.
It doesn't say whether its 'in' or 'out', but it's probably out.
Its a round mini jack size, but could be the same as the optical connector
on the Sony set top box.

Incidently looking at the others on the shelf, the Ferguson models had an
unusual flat connector called 'E-port' that is for connecting to a TV.

The e-port socket looks like a thinner version of the HDMI connector. I
asked the assistant if a connector lead for it was included in the box. The
answer was negative and they didn't sell them separately.

Roger

"Graham" wrote in message
...

"Roger R" wrote in message
...
The local electrical store had Toshiba portable DVD players at around 150
pounds had 'bitstream' input in addition to the normal AV inputs.
What format is this bitstream input?

The connectors were miniature jacks of some kind, rather than any of the
usual suspects like USB or DV.

Roger


I think you will find it was labelled Bitstream/PCM, and its an *output*
for an audio amplifier. If the socket was not optical, then it probably
would be RCA (Phono) rather than 3.5mm Jacks.
Pretty standard stuff on most players
--
It was labelled as you say. Thanks for the info.
The connector was definately not RCA (phono), but may be optical, same as on
the Sony set top box.

Perhaps you can say something the e-port connector on the Ferguson portable
DVD players, looking like thin version of an HDMI connector and used to
connect to a TV. Is this just a composite video/audio link with couple of
RCA phono plugs on the TV end, or could it be RGB with a scart plug on the
TV end? The assistant in the'superstore' had no idea and said it did not
come with one.

Roger

In message ,
"[email protected]" writes

"Roger R" wrote in message
...
The local electrical store had Toshiba portable DVD players at around 150
pounds had 'bitstream' input in addition to the normal AV inputs.
What format is this bitstream input?

Bitstream is a method of doing digital to analogue conversion.
It was developed as a cheaper way of decoding digital CD audio (by removing
most of the expensive hardware).

Close, but no cigar.
http://www.promastering.com/pages/te.../tt-1_mac.html

As such there is no such thing as a bitstream input or output.

Wrong.
--
Kevin Seal (at home)
F800ST
{kevin at the hyphen seal hyphen house dot freeserve dot co dot uk}

"Kevin Seal" wrote in message
...
In message ,
"[email protected]" writes

"Roger R" wrote in message
...
The local electrical store had Toshiba portable DVD players at around
150
pounds had 'bitstream' input in addition to the normal AV inputs.
What format is this bitstream input?

Bitstream is a method of doing digital to analogue conversion.
It was developed as a cheaper way of decoding digital CD audio (by
removing
most of the expensive hardware).

Close, but no cigar.
http://www.promastering.com/pages/te.../tt-1_mac.html

Close to what?
Bitstream is what I described.
It was developed by Philips years ago.
Sony? had a a different version but they didn't call that Bitstream as
Philips had the name.

It is also a font technology but I doubt if that is relevent here.

Then of course there is the generic term bitstream which refers to any
stream of bits, audio, video, etc. which also has no relevence here.


As such there is no such thing as a bitstream input or output.

Wrong.

So what is a Bitstream input then?
Like some definition of the signal properties, the connector type, etc.
would be useful.

Perhaps you can say something the e-port connector on the Ferguson
portable
DVD players, looking like thin version of an HDMI connector and used to
connect to a TV. Is this just a composite video/audio link with couple
of
RCA phono plugs on the TV end, or could it be RGB with a scart plug on the
TV end? The assistant in the'superstore' had no idea and said it did
not
come with one.

Roger


Not heard of an e-port but I will take an educated guess.

Could be a proprietary interconnect system to link the

DVD to a TV and maybe an amp (all devices would need to be equipped with the
same port)

Main advantage, everything works together with a common handset.





Hi-fi separates usually use such a system.

--



Graham.

%Profound_observation%

Close to what?
Bitstream is what I described.
It was developed by Philips years ago.

I have no reason to doubt you if you say so, but the word bitstream, (small
b)
is in everyday use in electronics, telecomms and computing; and simply means
the passage of digital data from one place to annother.

Graham.

%Profound_observation%