HD DVD for 299.00

[stratman]

Any of you guys waiting for a deal on a high def player? Listen up. On May 20th Toshiba will offering a 100.00 instant rebate on the HD-A2 , cutting it to 299.00. It'll be available at BB, CC, Amazon.com, HH Greg and other participating dealers.

Stating June 16th Toshiba will also knock off 100.00 of the HD-A20. And through July 31 purchasers of any of the above machines will get 5 free HD DVD movies.

Panasonic is knocking off a bundle of their Blu-ray Disc player, its down to 599.00 plus 5 free movies. This will take effect towards end of May or early June. Originally this player went for 1200.00 then 799.00.

The times, they are a changin'.........

Plus remember that the new Samsung dualy will be out by years end and LG is revamping their dualy.

 

[Reorx]

Wow. that is great.
I just had $27k fall into my lap, so I am looking at HDDVD/Blueray now, along with a 46-50" HDTV (I got the Wife approval).

I still need to keep the cost down, cause of my wife's tight grip.

Reorx

 

[j_garcia]

Great news because I will need to pick up a player and was hoping to go cheap for a few titles that are not getting dual release on Blu Ray...

 

[mtrycrafts]

Any of you guys waiting for a deal on a high def player? Listen up. On May 20th Toshiba will offering a 100.00 instant rebate on the HD-A2 , cutting it to 299.00. It'll be available at BB, CC, Amazon.com, HH Greg and other participating dealers.

Stating June 16th Toshiba will also knock off 100.00 of the HD-A20. And through July 31 purchasers of any of the above machines will get 5 free HD DVD movies.

Panasonic is knocking off a bundle of their Blu-ray Disc player, its down to 599.00 plus 5 free movies. This will take effect towards end of May or early June. Originally this player went for 1200.00 then 799.00.

The times, they are a changin'.........

Plus remember that the new Samsung dualy will be out by years end and LG is revamping their dualy.

AVS has the dates of May 20-Jun9 for the A2 and Jun 10- Jun 16, any HD player, not just the A20. But, AVS could be mistaken.

 

[Matt34]

Is that a typo or are the HD-A2 and HD-A20 really two different models?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Is that a typo or are the HD-A2 and HD-A20 really two different models?

They are two different players; not sure what the differences are right now. Could be processors or 1080i vs 1080p perhaps.

 

[aarond]

walmart has the A2 for $299 today so if the $100 instant rebate rumor is true does that mean on sunday it will be $199 and 5 free movies?
that woud make it basically a sub $100 player!
hard to pass on that!

 

[j_garcia]

I hate walmart, but I might have to hit up that deal if it is true...

 

[Matt34]

They are two different players; not sure what the differences are right now. Could be processors or 1080i vs 1080p perhaps.

Thanks, I'll look into it.

walmart has the A2 for $299 today so if the $100 instant rebate rumor is true does that mean on sunday it will be $199 and 5 free movies?
that woud make it basically a sub $100 player!
hard to pass on that!

I hate walmart, but I might have to hit up that deal if it is true...

x2

 

[avaserfi]

For those kind of prices its hard not to take it up. Especially with the matrix just getting released on HD-DVD.

Looked into it. Seems the A20 supports 1080p while the A2 only hits 1080i. Just a heads up to everyone

Toshiba's site with specs: http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/hddvd/

 

[adk highlander]

The big bummer about these players is that they do NOT have 5.1 or 7.1 analog outs. So if your receiver does not support True HD or the DTS HD version I don't think you will be able to decode it.

The Panasonic has the 7.1 outs which I believe is the only one of all the new players.

The first Toshiba's had the 5.1 outs but neither of these has them. My reciever is only HDMI 1.1 with the firmware fix so I have to have the analog outs.

 

[j_garcia]

Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD can pass the 5.1 core via standard digtial, you will just miss out on the additional channels and the higher resolution I think. The thing that doesn't work for me is that I don't have an additional HDMI port on my set, so I will have to get a switch box...or buy a new receiver sooner.

 

[MACCA350]

The big bummer about these players is that they do NOT have 5.1 or 7.1 analog outs. So if your receiver does not support True HD or the DTS HD version I don't think you will be able to decode it.

The Panasonic has the 7.1 outs which I believe is the only one of all the new players.

The first Toshiba's had the 5.1 outs but neither of these has them. My receiver is only HDMI 1.1 with the firmware fix so I have to have the analog outs.

If the player can decode it you can send it over HDMI(any version) as decoded uncompressed multichannel PCM(up to 24/196kHz) at no quality loss, and this allows the receiver to perform all bass management and post processing in the digital realm without having to perform A/D conversion. This is the best option to use as you get all the benefits of the new audio formats without the need to upgrade your receiver(if you already have a HDMI receiver). You may have to check how your receiver handles multichannel PCM.

Not just that but any 'Advanced Content' HD DVD and 'Player Profile 1.1(or higher)' Blu-ray won't allow the player to output the RAW Data stream(eg. Dolby TruHD, DTS-HDma) to a receiver even with HDMI 1.3, this is due to the fact they may need to mix audio tracks depending on the directors/artist intentions.

For more info see here and here

cheers

 

[j_garcia]

One more thing to note for those of you who might be looking to pick up on this deal in store today, not all Walmarts carry the players or even the discs, however you can order online and get free shipping to any store.

Edit - I just checked and Amazon has the A2 for $267 and Gizmodo said Amazon would be honoring the deal too...but shipping is not free if that is all you are ordering.

 

[j_garcia]

Just saw this on HTF, so it looks like the deal may not be as sweet as first thought:

There is some speculation that the rebate will only be enough to get the price down to $299. For instance if a dealer is selling it for MSRP ($399) the rebate will be $100. If someone is selling it for $325, the rebate will be $26, getting the price down to $299. No word on if this is true or if it is $100 off your best price (like we are hoping). We will have to see what VE does as they will be participating, but the HTF price is already $299...

The response from that retailer appears to support the fact that the rebate does, in fact, work like this

 

[adk highlander]

Well I did it. I made the purchase of the A2. I know it is only 1080i but my HDMI receiver will not pass 1080p anyway so why spend the extra cash. I had a credit with BB for 100 bucks so it did only cost me 199 which was just too good to pass up. I've fought with too many inept installers at Dtv and cannot get HD TV so this is my only hope.

I bought Serenity to have something to watch and it is nice to see what my display can do with a HD source.

I do have one comment/question and that is on the audio. Now I have read all the treads and I am passing it as PCM to the receiver and it see's the PCM signal and I can add DD or PLIIx. The volume levels are MUCH lower is this normal? Now I know that louder does not mean better it was just rather dramatic and kind of surprising.

 

[mtrycrafts]

walmart has the A2 for $299 today so if the $100 instant rebate rumor is true does that mean on sunday it will be $199 and 5 free movies?
that woud make it basically a sub $100 player!
hard to pass on that!

I bet that $299 is the price after the $100 instant rebate.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I hate walmart, but I might have to hit up that deal if it is true...

If you belong to Costco, check out their D2 for $249.

 

[Haoleb]

If you belong to Costco, check out their D2 for $249.

Yup just saw that there today. Almost impulse bought the dang thing until i came back to my senses.

 

[j_garcia]

I have held out too. IF, and that is a big if at this point, I am going to do it, I am going with the A20 instead...