12-20-07: JdodmeadIn mid-2000 when DVD was already 2-3 years on the market, I bought a $1000 1999 Pioneer Elite on end-of-year closeout for $500 to make way for the new progressive scan models. It could *read* DD 5.1 and DTS off the disc, but couldn't process it internally. In another couple of years progressive scan DVD players with internal DD and DTS processors were $99 at warehouse stores. Now they're $39; $59 if you want one that upsamples via HDMI as well.
Just remember that when the 1st progressive scan players came out, they were very expensive also. Now you can get them for under $100. Hd and Blu Ray players will be dropping steadily and will probably end up down to what std players sell for now. Shortly most std players will be collecting dust in the corner, just like our VHS players are today.
Around 1986, VHS Hi-Fi machines came out at around $1000 and were still $350-500 four years later. They were still around $250 in 1998. Now you can't even FIND one unless is also has a DVD drive.
But HD DVD came out in April 2006 at $800; Blu-ray in June/July at $800-1000, and today, 1-1/2 years later, you can get HD DVD players for $199 and 1080p Blu-ray players with 5.1 analog audio outputs for $280.
The hi-def player prices are dropping at a faster rate than anything ever before, but there is also plenty of room for features that should be added. For one thing, you can't get the hi-rez audio off most of the players unless you have a digital processor that handles the audio portion of HDMI, at least HDMI 1.1 as multi-channel uncompressed PCM. Otherwise, you're listening to some kind of downmix. It's my understanding that the Sony BDP 300 doesn't internally process TrueHD, so the 5.1 analog output is actually a downconversion.
So unless we go out and buy AV receivers and Pre/Pros that do HDMI audio, most of us won't hear TrueHD or lossless DTS until these players have hi-rez internal processors to put out hi-rez uncompressed analog audio via the 5.1 or 7.1 outputs.
