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.

 

[j_garcia]

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

 

[Johnd]

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

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 ) 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 ), 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!

 

[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).

 

[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).

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?

 

[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. (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. Let's us know of your results David. Cheers.

 

[Gasman]

Dying??? Whatever that means.

EXCELLENT post, I also am tired of the whiners......

Exactly as you stated, there are even MORE discs coming out.
Heck, HD is a niche market.
But hearing someone say, Oh I'll pass on a dying format... (sounds fanboism)

I guess SACD is all but dead, same with other formats.

Great post John, way to put some of these people in their place.

I agree with it 1,000%.

(and for the record, I am format neutral by having both, but have the preference for HD DVD)

Sadly, I will have to pass on the A35 deal (to many purchases lately)

 

[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?

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.

 

[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.

 

[Gasman]

However, due to recent events, the A35 can be had for under $150.00.

Where for that price?
That is an excellent price, I could cancel my order, but I just ordered the HD-A35 last night for 179.99 shipped (NEW with the 2 spare movies).
That was ordered from Datavision.com (they have it for 199 but I found a on-line coupon that brought it to 20.00 off)

LOL, but now my HD-XA1 is for sale, (still under warranty), I would sell it for 80.00 plus whatever the exact shipping is....
It is in 100% perfect condition and does have the analog outs.
The XA1 blows away my A2 for picture quality, but I figured for 179.00 it was worth the upgrade.

Please share, where this can be picked up new for 150.00 (I would love to save 30.00)