Toshiba A35 for $234.00 shipped!

[Johnd]

Toshiba A35 for $234.00 shipped! (w/ 5 free mail in):

http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=TBHDA35

[Halon451]

Dying format... I think I'll pass. :D

[j_garcia]

Would have been a good deal last year...not so much now :)

[Johnd]

Dying format... I think I'll pass. :D

Ahhh...to each his own.

1) It's a phenomenal upconverter for sd's...so unless those are dying as well...
2) It does analog multi channel, and there are those that have gotten DD+ over analog on this player.
3) it comes with 5 free dvd's (mail in).

Etc., etc., etc.

Hell, there are still plenty of people playeing laser disc. Dying??? Whatever that means.

I still have 150 Lps and my B&O tt...would I throw it out because it's dying?

There are over 500 titles on HD...and still more coming out. How many titles does one need?

And I finally got HD over my 8 year old pj with my A3...it's truly a phenomenal picture..on a 100" screen. I'm loving it. I'm thinking of getting the A35 for my other system. That way if either one fails, I still have a player.

I also still have my El Cassette with about 300 tapes. Dying? I've got some phenomenal music there...would I throw it out because it's "dead"? I think not.

I truly don't get all these whiners (not you Halon :D) that say "Ahh, do I get HD or BD, or do I wait til the war is over, or do I wait til the prices come down even further? Etc., etc., etc.

After having a DVD player(s) for 8 years now (A Toshiba, btw...and it still works flawlessly :D), I have only amassed about 160 DVD titles. Those movies are all pretty much good ones (I've bought only a couple of crappy titles). I now have ten HD titles...if I get 50..100...150 over the next year, with the price point being $12.50-$17.00, which is what they are currently saled priced at...color me one happy camper. HD rocks! :D

[Johnd]

Would have been a good deal last year...not so much now :)

J...I really don't want to hear anything out of you! You're the one that talked me into buying the 2900 last summer for $300.00!!! (Actually, I'm quite happy with it). :D

[Davidt1]

I have a 720p projector. If hooked up to my projector, does a 1080p hd dvd player down convert the signal to 720p? That's better than a standard dvd being upconverted to 720p, right? Thanks.

[j_garcia]

J...I really don't want to hear anything out of you! You're the one that talked me into buying the 2900 last summer for $300.00!!! (Actually, I'm quite happy with it). :D

LOL! Yeah, I've been using mine quite a bit lately. Actually had some time to sit and listen to music :)

I agree it is a good upscaling player and it can play HD-DVD too, but if the media goes away this year, then all it has is upscaling and Oppo can do that as well or better for $169 right now. If it were also $169 or less, I would say no brainer... I wouldn't even have a HD DVD player right now if I didn't get it so cheap.

Interested in some used HD DVDs? :D

[Johnd]

I have a 720p projector. If hooked up to my projector, does a 1080p hd dvd player down convert the signal to 720p? That's better than a standard dvd being upconverted to 720p, right? Thanks.

Yes, it does. You are sometimes better sending a 720 p signal rather than a 1080i or a 1080p signal though David, so play with each signal to see which gives the best pq. Cheers.

[j_garcia]

Yep, it depends on the scaler in question - I have heard the same thing that some 720p displays look better when fed 1080i and others are better when they don't have to do anything because they are already getting a 720p signal.

[allargon]

Congrats on your purchase.

Seriously, if someone wants to buy a HD DVD that's his or her choice. I didn't interject when dude opened a Sony credit card account to get $100 off a PS3. :rolleyes: (I knew about the deal.) The talk about it being a dead format makes sense in the general forum but not in the deals forum.

Congrats again on your deal. $150 would be ideal for my 3rd player.

[Davidt1]

Yes, it does. You are sometimes better sending a 720 p signal rather than a 1080i or a 1080p signal though David, so play with each signal to see which gives the best pq. Cheers.

Sorry for being off topic with this topic, but I want to make sure I understand everything (never owned a 1080P HD dvd player).

1. The player either down convert to 720p automatically, or I can set it to do that, correct?

2. Is the picture quality of a 1080P content being down converted to 720P better than the picture quality of standard dvd being up converted to 720p?

Same question as 2, just asked another way. I have an Optoma HD70 projector and an Oppo 970HD dvd player. Would the picture quality of a 1080p movie played through this Toshiba player (being down converted to 720p) be better than standard dvds played (being up converted to 720p) on my Oppo 970? Thank you.

[j_garcia]

1) Yes, you set it to output 720p.

2) Unless you have a very large screen, I don't think you will notice a huge difference between 1080p and 720p.

3) Yes, well done 1080p material will look better than upscaled 480i/p. My A2 and 980 make DVDs look good, but the difference between that and the best Blu-ray titles is still quite large.

[Johnd]

Ditto to what j wrote...and:

1) The pj will automatically downconvert any high res material down to it's native resolution. So that is what I meant by "playing" with the resolutions in the player, try 1080i, 1080p and 720p. My pj's native is 768, and I've found1080i is the best signal for it to downconvert.

2) Almost invariably, absolutely, and indubitably.

3) Yes. But you are now entering the realm of the quest for the perfect picture, mostly done by those of us with pj's (sticking a BD into a 42" 1080p is and entirely deifferent matter, and much simpler). For SD, I have moved through one non-progressive sd player (progressive scan was not yet available), two progressive SD players, I now have my first HD player, and am ready to pull the trigger on a second (the A35). The upscaling is phenomenal with the A35 (better than the A3), and the pq is sharper than XA2, (so it's been repeatedly reported on other forums).

Additionally the A35 has been reported to be the high def player of the year at Secrets, though I don't know if that came from Chris Deering or not, and I can't find their review of it. Either way, I've been scanning other forums as well, and at about $200 w/ 5 movies, analog out (I need for my 5803 for DD+ and True), better pq, better management, etc., etc., etc., the A35 is a good buy for me. Scratch that...a phenomenal buy. Understand that it was only a few years ago wher guys were modding their Denon 5901 for their pj's to the tune of $5-$6k, and as phenomenal as the colors are in that player, and as well buit as it is, the A35 with HD and SD will knock it's socks off for 1/30th the price (and 5 free movies). Some guys just don't get it...or are too spoiled. :p Let's us know of your results David. Cheers.

[Davidt1]

Amazon has it for $230 shipped. I will definitely buy it when it drops below $200. Main reasons: a nice upconvert dvd player, cd player and HD dvd player.

[dnice555]

It's a good hd dvd player also... I have about 50 hd dvds that I will enjoy from paramount and univeral for many years to come. I don't want to wait another 2 years for them to come out on blu ray. Might as well enjoy them for 2 years for 230 dollars!

[mtrycrafts]

There are over 500 titles on HD...and still more coming out. How many titles does one need?

:D

And that is not counting the HDs available overseas that are not available here, like Equilibrium and a number of other good ones. Apparently they that marketplace has different rules for pressing. Good thing the HD will play anywhere, no region coding. :D

[gotchaforce]

does this have the reon scaler? i could have sworn they got rid of the reon scaler in the A35 and it was only in the XA2.

if it had the reon it would be worth picking up for that alone.

[Johnd]

does this have the reon scaler? i could have sworn they got rid of the reon scaler in the A35 and it was only in the XA2.

if it had the reon it would be worth picking up for that alone.

No. It does not have the Reon, it has the ABT processor. It is a second best to the XA2. However, due to recent events, the A35 can be had for under $150.00.

[Johnd]

A35 for $169 at Tiger Direct...with four movies included! Let the deals continue with this phenomenal player and upscaler!

[PhillyDan1969]

This is a player I am considering picking up since it has 5.1 analog inputs!!!

[Johnd]

And that is not counting the HDs available overseas that are not available here, like Equilibrium and a number of other good ones. Apparently they that marketplace has different rules for pressing. Good thing the HD will play anywhere, no region coding. :D

Yes mtry. This fact is/was not pronounced enough (perhaps yet another snafu by the HD camp). The lack of region coding on HD players make them pseudo BD players...in that those movies that are exclusively BD here in the US can be had on HD overseas, and play flawlessly in the HD player without any hacks. Thanks. :)

[mtrycrafts]

..., and play flawlessly in the HD player without any hacks. Thanks. :)

That Equilibrium is really nice, once you go through all the menu options in Japanese to figure out how to turn off the subtitles:D

[Davidt1]

It's on sale for $170 now. Is that a good price? Prices are falling already.

Never mind. The new price was already posted here. Think it will falling to maybe $120?

[Johnd]

That Equilibrium is really nice, once you go through all the menu options in Japanese to figure out how to turn off the subtitles:D

Yeah, you're right. Going into the language menu is so laborious! I wish they would design these damn machines so I could just think the setup menu into my personal preferences. :D

[Johnd]

It's on sale for $170 now. Is that a good price? Prices are falling already.

Never mind. The new price was already posted here. Think it will falling to maybe $120?

You're kidding right? I've been on the fence with the XA2 for the past week. The lowest I've seen it is $425.00. The A35 was initially a $699 player, then $599, etc. and you're questioning the purchase at $169 with four free movies, and five more mail in? I've done quite a bit of research on these two players, and I believe the A35 is a very close second to the XA2. Most say the pq is indistinquishable between the two. If you are [still doubting], then this doesn't sound like it's the player for you. It is, after all, a dead, or soon to be dead format. Never mind that is one of the best upscalers available for SD. BTW, there's only a few days left for the five free mail in offer

[Johnd]

That Equilibrium is really nice

Don't have it mtry, but you've piqued my interest. What is a good source for Japanese and or European HD DVD's? Thanks, John

[Davidt1]

I was right. The price went down even further at $135 at BB, not only I missed it. Someone at Fatwallet posted the deal and it was sold out quickly. :mad:

[dtaylor0319]

I'm new here and live in Canada, up here we have Future Shop, and i already have a Toshiba HD A2 and i own a PS3. Either way the format war was going to go i was ready. Anyways i was looking in the store and came across a Toshiba HD A3 it was an open box sale for $74.89 it came with 300 and The Bourne Identity. The player runs gr8!!!! hell of a deal!!!

[Davidt1]

OK, I got the last A35 for $150 at a local store. They have the A30 and A20 for $99 and the A3 for $80. Each comes with 2 free movies. Since I don't have a 1080p display, I wonder if I should get the A3 instead. Subtracting the cost of the movies, the A3 cost something like $50. Also, does anyone know if I am qualified for 5 free movies? Thanks. By the way, Vanns has it for $189 shipped and no tax.