Hi-Fi maker ONKYO has joined Toshiba's HD DVD camp with the launch of its first HD DVD Player in the US.

The new player, called the DV-HD805 is one of the first HD DVD players to take advantage of high-bit-rate audio streaming via HDMI version 1.3a.

The DV-HD805 is designed to partner with Onkyo’s 2007 A/V receiver line-up. Both the HD DVD player and the A/V receivers feature HDMI version 1.3a connections.

The Onkyo DV-HD805 has the capability to support different frame rates, including playback at 24 frames per second and 1080p support.

Audio is catered for with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound codecs as well as Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio.

According to Onkyo the DV-HD805’s onboard HQV Reon VX video processing chipset provides exceptionally precise video scaling (to 720p, 1080i or 1080p).

The DV-HD805 will be available in time for Christmas and will cost $899, no word on a UK price point as yet.