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Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player


List Price: $499.99
Now Only: $199.99
You Save: $ 300.00 ( 60% )
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Average Customer Rating:
Manufacturer: Toshiba


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Brand: Toshiba
EAN: 0022265412107
Label: Toshiba
Manufacturer: Toshiba
Model: HD-A1
Warranty: 1 Year Parts, 90 Day Labor Limited Warranty

Features
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

Accessories
Monster Cable MP HTS 3600 Home Theatre Reference PowerCenter HTS 3600 with Clean Power Stage 3 v2.0
Monster Cable ULT I1000FO-4 THX Ultra 1000 Fiber Optic Digital Interconnect
Monster Cable ULT I1000-4 THX Ultra 1000 Audio Interconnect
Monster Cable HDMI 400 High Resolution A/V Cable - 4 Meters
Monster Cable MV3CV-1M Monster Video 3 High-Resolution Component-Video Cable

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Editorial Reviews:

High Definition DVD video recordings are becoming available. Until now pre-recorded DVD were widescreen but not HD. The Toshiba HD-A1 is among the first to be capable of playing these at resolutions of 720p or 1080i on compatible HDTV TV monitors. HD DVD not only provides a deliverable HD media format to the home, but does so with the potential of greater performance than you have experienced with HDTV. The HD-A1 disc drive has an astounding 36.55Mb per second transfer rate. To put that in perspective, standard DVD has an average bit rate of less than 10Mbps and HDTV's maximum rate is 24Mbps. HDMI is the first industry-supported all digital Audio/video connection providing the transmission of uncompressed digital video and multichannel audio on a single cable. When matched with a compatible HDTV, this single cable connection ensures that all signals remain in their pure digital form. The HD-A1 will output HD content through the HDMI interface in the native format of the HD DVD disc content of either 720p or 1080i. It is backward compatible to virtually all DVD formats in non-HD mode CD including MP3 file CDR. Built-in multichannel decoders for a range of sound formats ensures improved fidelity and sonic realism Four 32-bit floating-point signal processors deliver a soundstage with incredible depth and detail Onboard Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD (2-ch), DTS and DTS-HD Decoding with 5.1 Analog Audio outputs Multi-Channel 24-Bit/192kHz audio DACs Preprogrammed remote control with TV functions centralizes remote operation Parental lock mode Other connections - 1 set of A/V outputs (composite, S-video, component video); Stereo and 5.1-channel audio out; coax and optical digital out; RJ45 Ethernet and 2 front USB Unit Size 17W x 4H x 14D


User Comments about the Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player

a LOT of freezing, especially rentals. It will upconvert regular discs to their highest resolution. You can go to the bathroom and come back by the time the system is ready. You can get the A20/A30 for a similar price.2.


When you push a button, WAIT. 1080p is the highest resolution.


So why not buy this model.1. I don't have many problems with DVDs I own, but rentals freeze 95% of the time.3.


VERY SLOW. This is a very good machine.


Only plays at 1080i. It works great with a HDTV and a HDMI cable.


I bought mine when it first hit the market, so the prices are fabulous. 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.



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. HD DVD is a dead format. 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. Warner Brothers is going to stop producing HD DVD discs soon. You've been warned.



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. 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. 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. It still does this but I have figured out what to do. I am a big movie buff and love watching them, so take it from me when I say that this is a perfect buy. Even tho it is technically "playing" I have to push the play button to get it to play on the video.


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. 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 got this product for christmas and have been very satisfied with it since then. Transformers looks incredible and Planet Earth is just something else. 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.


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


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. Why on earth Toshiba didn't include a firmware upgrade CD with a currently shipping unit is beyond comprehension. The issue, however, comes when you try to actually install the new firmware. 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). 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. 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. It gets very confused as to what resolution it really should run in when playing regular dvd's. Toshiba should be ashamed that they have released a product so poorly designed, supported, and un-updatable.



the other comments listed under 1 star are correct, it is a waste of money






 


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