Bought an HD-a35 and don't want to replace Yamaha RX-V659

[publicspirit]

I just replaced my old player with a new A35 bought on Amazon for $199. Seemed like a good deal as I will be replacing my 50" Hitachi UltraVision as soon as I can figure out what to do with it-try to sell or donate it somewhere. Probably not worth more that a few hundred after 10 years or so. I figured to use the A35 with a new plasma or lcd, but don't want to replace my Yamaha 659 at this point. Can anyone suggest best and simplest way to connect this set up for the next month or two? It will be here in about a week and I want to have whatever cables I need when it arrives.
Component/analog??

Thanks for any help.
__________________
Yamaha RX-V659, Paradigm Monitor 3s,Paradigm CC370,Paradigm PDR 10,
Axiom QS 8 surrounds. Hitachi UltraVision 50"

 

[croseiv]

Blu-ray won.

 

[PENG]

Blu-ray won.

May be he got the player with a ton of discs or he has tons of them already for little money.

 

[PENG]

I just replaced my old player with a new A35 bought on Amazon for $199. Seemed like a good deal as I will be replacing my 50" Hitachi UltraVision as soon as I can figure out what to do with it-try to sell or donate it somewhere. Probably not worth more that a few hundred after 10 years or so. I figured to use the A35 with a new plasma or lcd, but don't want to replace my Yamaha 659 at this point. Can anyone suggest best and simplest way to connect this set up for the next month or two? It will be here in about a week and I want to have whatever cables I need when it arrives.
Component/analog??



Thanks for any help.
__________________
Yamaha RX-V659, Paradigm Monitor 3s,Paradigm CC370,Paradigm PDR 10,
Axiom QS 8 surrounds. Hitachi UltraVision 50"

Why not just hook up the A35 to the 659 via CV?

 

[allargon]

Why not just hook up the A35 to the 659 via CV?

Exactamundo!

Publicspirit, Hitachi doesn't support 1080p24, so you don't need HDMI for video. Your RX-V659 doesn't support high res codecs (or HDMI), so you don't need to worry aobut bitstreaming. You can use component from the HD-A35 to one of the component inputs on the RX-V659. For audio, the multichannel analog inputs of the RX-V659 will allow you to hear Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD as well as the variants of Dolby Digital and DTS. You won't be able to hear anything other than the 1.5 Mbps DTS core of DTS-HD HR and DTS-HD MA tracks as the HD-A35 doesn't internally decode these codecs. (They're relatively rare on HD DVD anyway.)

 

[j_garcia]

Blu-ray won.

Yep, and you could have come really close on price for a BD player brand new also, that has the same capabilities as what you got with a much larger (and still growing because it isn't dead) movie selection. Granted HD DVDs are cheap as dirt now, they won't be around for the long haul.

 

[publicspirit]

Yes, I do have a number of HD dvds and plan to buy a few more that are still available. I do plan to go to BluRay after I move up to either plasma or lcd. I know that I could have spent a little more and bought a BD player, but would have to replace a good portion of my dvd library and won't be buying the new tv for a few months. My intention is to buy the cheaper HD dvdsthat are still around and to buy BluRay dvds that are not on HD. I can live with any difference in picture quality between the two formats.

I appreciate everyone's comments and hope I don't sound like a complete idiot. I'm just a simple (really) guy retired from Red Cross Disaster Services who found out years ago that just connecting a cheap pair of external speakers to the tv made a big difference. No fancy Home Theater set-up, just affordable equipment that makes movies and tv more pleasurable.

 

[Seth=L]

I know that I could have spent a little more and bought a BD player, but would have to replace a good portion of my dvd library and won't be buying the new tv for a few months.

You could have spent less and got a Blu-ray player. Wal-Mart had the Magnavox one for $128 on Black friday.

Standard DVDs play in Blu-ray players, and their won't be much difference in PQ between HD DVD and Blu-ray. Toshiba's HD DVD players are slow and frequently glitchy. If you have the option to return it I would and just wait and see if one pops up on craigslist or ebay for less than $50 (because in reality that's all they're worth spending on). My HD-A3 stops in the middle of HD DVDs at times, and my friend's HD-A2 doesn't play DVDs now for some odd reason.

 

[PENG]

My HD-A3 stops in the middle of HD DVDs at times, and my friend's HD-A2 doesn't play DVDs now for some odd reason.

Have you updated to firmware 4.0 yet? Try it if you haven't yet. After the update, my C$69 Venturer (=A3) can even play Bourne Ultimatum from beginning to end without problem.

 

[Seth=L]

Have you updated to firmware 4.0 yet? Try it if you haven't yet. After the update, my C$69 Venturer (=A3) can even play Bourne Ultimatum from beginning to end without problem.

LOL, how do you do the firmware? You connect the system to the internet? Does it do it automatically? I am going to guess none of the above and I have to burn a disk, which I have never done in my life. Nearly forgot, it's got USB ports on the front. I take it that's how it's done properly.

I would really appreciate if you could tell me how to do it.

 

[jostenmeat]

LOL, how do you do the firmware? You connect the system to the internet? Does it do it automatically? I am going to guess none of the above and I have to burn a disk, which I have never done in my life. Nearly forgot, it's got USB ports on the front. I take it that's how it's done properly.

I would really appreciate if you could tell me how to do it.

You can do it by internet or by asking Toshiba for the FW disc. It will take a little while to get to you, but you'll get it. Its free.

 

[publicspirit]

Have considered all the responses and reconsidered my rationale for buying the hd-a35 and decided I could have been wrong in my reasoning. I called the company and canceled my order without any problems. Now what to buy? Will have to go back to the drawing board and see if there is a BD I can use now and be ready for the HD set I am buying in a month or so. I will spend a little more than the $199 I spent for the A35 and be current.

Thanks.

 

[PENG]

LOL, how do you do the firmware?

Here it tells you how to get the firmware.

http://tacp.toshiba.com/resource.asp?resourceid=71

It may be easier to use a firmware update disc that you can request from Toshiba but obviously it is quicker to do it online. If I remember correctly, the process takes 15 to 20 minutes, may be faster if you have a fast connection.

You can also download the file (ISO format) from here:

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/customersupport/model_firmware.asp?model=hd-a3

The file is in ISO format so you have to use an ISO burner to burn a CD.

I highly recommend you take advantage of the Ethernet port and just do it online. If you follow the instruction manual page 22 to setup the network configuration and then page 35 to start the update, you cannot go wrong.

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/tacpassets-images/models/hd-a3/docs/HD-A3_om_E.pdf

Caution: Do not bother updating to any of the firmware versions 1.3, 2.0 & 3.0 as they don't seem to do much. Go straight to 4.0 and you won't regret. Let us know if you need more help. Other more knowledgeable HD DVD owner (e.g. allargon) may be able to explain things better than I can.

 

[PENG]

Have considered all the responses and reconsidered my rationale for buying the hd-a35 and decided I could have been wrong in my reasoning. I called the company and canceled my order without any problems. Now what to buy? Will have to go back to the drawing board and see if there is a BD I can use now and be ready for the HD set I am buying in a month or so. I will spend a little more than the $199 I spent for the A35 and be current.

Thanks.

You made the right decision. The A35 is not worth $199 ($99 would have been a fair price). If you wait another month there is a good chance you can get the Panny DMP-BD35 for under $200 or the Sony BDP-S550 for $100 more. The Sony may be better if you are not going to keep your RX-V659 because if I am not mistaken the Sony can output 1080i via component via and has multichannel analog outputs so you can enjoy Dolby TruHD using the 659 multichannel analog inputs.

 

[publicspirit]

Reconsidered my rationale for buying the A35 and after reading all the responses, decided I MIGHT have been wrong. Hard to admit it. I called the company and they canceled my order without any problem whatsoever. Now more research for a BluRay that I can use now with my current tv until I decide on the new set--Plasma or LCD and 50" or 46/47". Will probably spend a little more for something like the Panasonic BD35 or BD55 that will go well with new HD.

Thanks to all. Good input from everyone.

 

[publicspirit]

You made the right decision. The A35 is not worth $199 ($99 would have been a fair price). If you wait another month there is a good chance you can get the Panny DMP-BD35 for under $200 or the Sony BDP-S550 for $100 more. The Sony may be better if you are not going to keep your RX-V659 because if I am not mistaken the Sony can output 1080i via component via and has multichannel analog outputs so you can enjoy Dolby TruHD using the 659 multichannel analog inputs.

Good suggestion. I can always bring out the old jvc player from the bedroom to tide me over. Seems worth it if price comes down on the pan. I will take a look at both sets. I am feeling pretty good about canceling my order.

Thanks again.

 

[jostenmeat]

The BD-35 is $231, and for a while has been offered with $100 rebate if buying 4 warner titles. That means roughly $200-210 with 4 titles in hand. I don't see it up anymore! And I swear it was up just earlier today, and for the last week. And I thought it was good for all of December. Hm...

Still, the BD-35 is a very fine player. I have the BD-30 and HDA35, and have setup my friend's BD-35. The Panas load a heckuva lot faster than the HDA35.

 

[allargon]

That A35 will is an excellent upscaler as well. There's nothing wrong with your decision. You may have slightly overpaid. Whatever. You may have been better off getting a cheaper (but much slooooower) HD-XA1, A1 or RCA (all 1st generation players). You would've only had 1080i out but would still have multichannel analog outputs. The A35 and XA2 are the only Toshiba players that bitstream. (The other four HD DVD players that do so are not Toshiba badged.) No HD DVD player internally decodes DTS-HD. Therefore, the players that bitstream are in higher demand. The A35's stopped being $99 five months ago. They're not going to be as cheap as the $40 A3 on E-bay.

I wouldn't recommend that Magnavox player to anyone with a display bigger than 32". Those Funai players don't upscale well. They don't have multichannel analog outs for legacy players. They don't recode the high res codecs to DTS or DD. Multichannel PCM goes out of SPDIF as 2 channel. They have ZERO firmware updates so far. (Okay, maybe that's a plus.)

Publicspirit, when you go Blu, your best bet is a Panny DMP-BD55 as you need multichannel analog outputs for your receiver.

 

[publicspirit]

That A35 will is an excellent upscaler as well. There's nothing wrong with your decision. You may have slightly overpaid. Whatever. You may have been better off getting a cheaper (but much slooooower) HD-XA1, A1 or RCA (all 1st generation players). You would've only had 1080i out but would still have multichannel analog outputs. The A35 and XA2 are the only Toshiba players that bitstream. (The other four HD DVD players that do so are not Toshiba badged.) No HD DVD player internally decodes DTS-HD. Therefore, the players that bitstream are in higher demand. The A35's stopped being $99 five months ago. They're not going to be as cheap as the $40 A3 on E-bay.

I wouldn't recommend that Magnavox player to anyone with a display bigger than 32". Those Funai players don't upscale well. They don't have multichannel analog outs for legacy players. They don't recode the high res codecs to DTS or DD. Multichannel PCM goes out of SPDIF as 2 channel. They have ZERO firmware updates so far. (Okay, maybe that's a plus.)

Publicspirit, when you go Blu, your best bet is a Panny DMP-BD55 as you need multichannel analog outputs for your receiver.

I am leaning to the BD55. As I have said, I'm not into all the technical stuff, just someone that enjoys something more than a tv set off the store shelf. Fox News even sounds better coming over my Paradigms, etc. I watch a lot of movies mostly action, thriller, old musicals like Show Boat, Singing In The Rain, Brigadoon, and police or crime movies so I do want good audio and video. Love the old Miami Vice shows on dvd. Never considered anything like the Magnavox. I'll pay more for more quality as long as it's within my means.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[MatthewB.]

I have four HD-DVD players (XA-1, two A2's and one A3) and I love em, but i also own a PS3 and a Sony S350 Bluray player. I bough the HD-DVD players at a great discount and bought two extra players in storage in case any of the two hooked up ones ever die. I am buying HD-DVD movies in mass for around 5.00/ea at places like Fry's and Amazon (hey they still play HD and lossless audio) and always wondered why people who bought them sold them after it was announced they lost the war. The HD VD players are top notch upconverting players and also play HD-DVD's which can be pought for pennies on the dollar now. I realize Bluray won but if given the choice to pay 30.00 fora Bluray or 5.00 for HD-DVD and get the same audio and video quality, I'm gonna pay the 5.00. Sure the format may be dead (hence why I have back up players) but considering formats faze out about every 10 years, even Bluray will be gone in about that time too. So if you can still find a great deal (sub 100.00 mind you) on a HD-DVD player, you may want to consider this, considering great upconverting players are still going for 80.00-100.00