| Reviews : Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player |
Technical Details
- Plays high-def HD DVD discs for sharper, more detailed picture performance than standard DVD discs ; measures 17.7 x 4.3 x 13.4 inches (WxHxD)
- Backwards compatible with current DVD and CD formats; upconverts DVD movie discs to near high-definition
- Ethernet port for upgrades; USB port on front; compatible with MP3, WMA, and JPEG files
- Connections: composite (1 out), S-Video (1 out), component (1 out), HDMI (1 out), USB, Ethernet
- DVD offer Dolby True HD/Dolby Digital/DTS decoding; coaxial and optical digital audio outputs
Product Description
HD DVD, DVD, CD PLAYER W/HDMIAmazon.com Product Description
Get ready for the next generation of DVD entertainment with the Toshiba HD-A1 DVD player, which is compatible with the new HD DVD format. It combines the superior image and sound quality of high-definition images and multichannel surround sound with the convenience of DVD disc playback. In addition to the new HD DVD format, you'll also enjoy backward compatibility with your current DVD movie CD audio libraries, as well as content burned onto DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R/RW. The HD-A1 also scales standard definition DVD output via the HDMI connection to a resolution of 720p or 1080i to match your HDTV's performance. And because the conversion takes place in the player, the signal remains free from excessive digital-to-analog conversion artifacts. High definition output is only available from the HD-A1 via an HDMI connection. To get the most out of this player, you'll want to connect it to an HDMI compatible HDTV.HD DVD movie discs provide the ability to search the on-screen menu, make changes to set-up options or access other menu functions while the movie is playing. Scene searching is facilitated with thumbnail images on the TV screen that allow you to use the cursor to go directly to a specific scene. You can even access bonus material like directorÕs comments while the movie is playing without going back to the discÕs menu. DVD playback features include fast forward/reverse, slow play, step play, time search, and parental lock.
The HD-A1 has built-in processors to handle the multi-channel decoders for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD (2 channel), DTS, and DTSHD. It employs the use of four DSPs to decode the multi-channel streams of the wide array of audio formats. These 32-bit floating-point DSPs are world renown for their high accuracy and are employed in many high quality audio solutions in the home theater market.
This DVD player includes a USB interface on the front panel, enabling you to connect "mass storage classification devices"--i.e., external hard drives, portable thumb drives, and compatible MP3 players/digital cameras--and play JPEG, WMA, and MP3 files. You can also connect the player to the Internet via an always-on broadband connection using the Ethernet port in the rear. In addition to accessing special HD DVD sites, this function can be used to access firmware updates when available. Here's the full listing of video and audio connections:
- Composite A/V: 1 out
- S-Video: 1 out
- Component Video: 1 out
- HDMI: 1 out
- USB: 1
- Digital audio: 1 coaxial, 1 optical
HD DVD Disc Format
Officially endorsed by the DVD Forum industry organization as the next high-capacity DVD disc, the HD DVD format delivers sharper, more detailed picture performance than standard DVD discs. Moreover, the HD DVD format opens new avenues of interactivity including enhanced on-screen menus, scene searching, directorsÕ commentaries and the potential for online shopping. HD DVD discs can offer both the current DVD and HD DVD formats on one disc, which means that special HD DVD discs will play in older DVD players as well as new high definition players.
Tech Talk
HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver) with your TV--all over a single cable. HDMI supports standard, enhanced or high definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It supports all ATSC formats--standard (SDTV), enhanced (EDTV), and high (HDTV).
Component video (also called Y/Pb/Pr) features a three-jack video input, which provides separate connections for luminance (Y), blue color difference (PB) and red color difference (PR). This results in increased bandwidth for color information, resulting in a more accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding than you would get with S-Video or composite (RCA yellow video plug) connections. You will need a separate RCA left/right audio cable for sound.
DVD-RAM is the most flexible of the recordable DVD formats when it comes to recording, editing and playback. With a DVD-RAM disc, you'll be able re-record content approximately 100,000 times.
What's in the Box
HD DVD player, remote control (with batteries), printed operating instructions
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Customer Reviews
By A. Ray Sr. (chicago, IL)
This is a very good machine. It will upconvert regular discs to their highest resolution. It works great with a HDTV and a HDMI cable. I bought mine when it first hit the market, so the prices are fabulous. So why not buy this model?
1. Only plays at 1080i. 1080p is the highest resolution. You can get the A20/A30 for a similar price.
2. a LOT of freezing, especially rentals. I don't have many problems with DVDs I own, but rentals freeze 95% of the time.
3. VERY SLOW. You can go to the bathroom and come back by the time the system is ready. When you push a button, WAIT. It recogninzed the command, but it needs a few minutes to think.
If you don't have a HD player (blu-ray or HD-DVD) then I would by the better model or a PS3.
By T. Hendrix
HD DVD is a dead format! Warner Brothers is going to stop producing HD DVD discs soon. Do a search and you will see many articles about this. The only studios that will be making HD DVD's are Paramount/Dreamworks and Universal. Disney, Buena Vista, Sony, Warner Brothers, New Line, MGM, and Lionsgate all release movies exclusively on Blu-ray.
Do yourself a favor and avoid HD DVD players. The reason the prices are so cheap is that Toshiba knows it is dead and is probably clearing out remaining inventory. You've been warned!
By J. Berger (NC)
I got this product for christmas and have been very satisfied with it since then. I have a 720p Optoma HD70 projector (100") that I use with the hddvd player, so I know I am not seeing the entire capacity of the HDDVD player, but let me tell you... going from a regular phillips dvd player with an "upconvert" to this... wow.
I am a college student and have movie nights every sunday night with my friends and they have all noticed a significant difference. The upconvert is slightly better, I would say probably at 15% at best, and seeing the few HDDVDs that I have bought since I got this have shown me how great it is. Transformers looks incredible and Planet Earth is just something else. I am sure that it looks even better on a real 1080p and will probably give it a look whenever I go back home, since my dad has a 57" 1080p TV at the house.
Pros:
-Price
-Fantastic Quality
-Better upconvert (you will never get HDDVD quality with regular DVD, but it does a good job of making it the best it can be)
Cons:
-Size (kinda big)
-When I first tried using this product, I got sound with no video and was very confused. It still does this but I have figured out what to do. Even tho it is technically "playing" I have to push the play button to get it to play on the video. Minor inconvenience but whatever... I bought it refurbished and thats probably the reason.
Conclusion:
I want to give this 4.5 stars not 4, it is a great product, especially with the price. I just didnt like how big it was and that I had to make adjustments to get it to play, but I am sure no one else has this problem so I only mention it in the event someone does and goes WTF?! I am a big movie buff and love watching them, so take it from me when I say that this is a perfect buy. I doubt you need the newer more expensive products that are out unless you really need it to be smaller.
Equipment:
Optoma HD70 Projector (720p 100") ~ am using about 85"
The wall (no projector screen)
RCA HDMI Link Cable
By S. Burden (Minnnesota)
I have to say - I have been awaiting my first HD-DVD player for some time with great expectation, and this past Xmas my girlfriend bought this player for me.
The first experiences I have had have been really disapointing.
The unit constantly locks up for seemingly no reason requiring hard power downs (yank the plug). It gets very confused as to what resolution it really should run in when playing regular dvd's. The HDMI function is not really usable as it is (I ended up running component through my Denon to upscale because I could not get the player to work correctly with HDMI).
It will not play any of the new HD-DVD's like The Bourne Ultimatum, or Transofrmers without a firmware upgrade, which seems to be impossible to install. Why on earth Toshiba didn't include a firmware upgrade CD with a currently shipping unit is beyond comprehension. I can only assume that they expect the internet upgrade to actually works, however it does not.
On the bright side Toshiba makes the firmware easy to find on google. The issue, however, comes when you try to actually install the new firmware. After a frustrating weekend trying both the internet upgrade (which just flat out seems to not work at all - I suspect that Toshiba changed the name of the server it is supposed to use to download the firmware and it just can't locate the server), and trying three different computers, 3 different ISO CD Writers, and close to a dozen CD-R's - the firmware remains stubornly un-updatable.
I'd have to say that this is one of the worst hardware experiences I have ever had. Toshiba should be ashamed that they have released a product so poorly designed, supported, and un-updatable.
By Eric S. Sandler (new jersey)
the other comments listed under 1 star are correct, it is a waste of money
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