Is Toshiba HD A35 the player for me

[NapaDRB]

I've been doing my research and want to get some opinions here.

Looking to buy an HD DVD player and I think the A35 is the one to get. I need the 5.1 analogue outputs for my Rotel RSX-1057 receiver (need to update sig.) I will also be buying the Pioneer PDP-4280HD soon which is only 720P so video wise the A35 will be overkill.

Right now Amazon has the A35 for $399 with free shipping. Anyone seen a better deal?

Any comments or suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance

 

[mtrycrafts]

I've been doing my research and want to get some opinions here.

Looking to buy an HD DVD player and I think the A35 is the one to get. I need the 5.1 analogue outputs for my Rotel RSX-1057 receiver (need to update sig.) I will also be buying the Pioneer PDP-4280HD soon which is only 720P so video wise the A35 will be overkill.

Right now Amazon has the A35 for $399 with free shipping. Anyone seen a better deal?

Any comments or suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance

What is the outlook for getting a larger 1080p TV in the next few years?
If close not likely, why not just get a 720p player?

 

[zumbo]

Why spend all that money.

1080i up-convert for $64.98 with free shipping:
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/486774875

1080p up-convert for $69.98 with free shipping:
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/486699600

Wait it out, while coucnting your money.

 

[zumbo]

Why do you need 5.1 outputs? That isn't a dvd-a or sacd player.

 

[NapaDRB]

Thanks for the replies.

TV can't be any bigger than the pioneer 42" because it physically won't fit in the only spot it has to go. I'm going with the 720P TV because at my seating distance (13') I've read that I will not be able to see the difference in 1080.

I have looked at the upscaling players (oppo) but that doesn't get me HD or the new audio formats

 

[NapaDRB]

Zumbo,

No HDMI audio on the Rotel receiver.

 

[zumbo]

Zumbo,

No HDMI audio on the Rotel receiver.

All players that are multi-channel should offer optical, or digital audio-out. Or, both.

 

[zumbo]

Also, HD is 1080p. Why would someone tell you not to get a 1080p monitor if you want an HD player?

 

[zumbo]

Zumbo,

No HDMI audio on the Rotel receiver.

That just doesn't make sense. HDMI caries audio and video.

 

[zumbo]

Also, your receiver doesn't support the new audio formats. Not sure if this matters, but I would imagine it does.

 

[NapaDRB]

Zumbo,

I thought I had this semi figured out but know I'm really confused.

Reply to your questions;

Yes it has optical or digital but neither of those will carry the new audio formats, correct?

You do not consider 720P HD?

Yes HDMI carries audio but my receiver will not accept it.

 

[zumbo]

If you are not dead set on the Pioneer, let me suggest an alternative. While it may not be the best, it is a smoking deal.

Toshiba 42" 1080p LCD for $1299.99 shipped. Price in cart:
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=86542

I just ordered one on Black Friday.

 

[zumbo]

Yes it has optical or digital but neither of those will carry the new audio formats, correct?

I would imagine they do. I am not up on TRUEHD, or DTSHD. But, if they will not output through optical or digital, they certainly will not output through analog.

You do not consider 720P HD?

No. You are looking at a HD-DVD player. HD-DVD is 1080p.

Yes HDMI carries audio but my receiver will not accept it.

That just doesn't make sense. The receiver doesn't display a picture, it processes audio.

I am going to have to read that for myself. Anyway, if it truly doesn't, then I would go HDMI straight to the TV, and digital audio(or optical) to the receiver.

I still don't see how you are going to get the new audio formats if your receiver doesn't have them.

 

[zumbo]

DTS-HD
I just read it. Like I said, I am not up on the new audio formats. It will either output through HDMI, or analog(If the player will do the decoding).
http://www.dtsonline.com/dts-hd/dtshd-master-audio-with-existing-receiver.php

Digital-out works as well.
http://www.dtsonline.com/dts-hd/dtshd-high-resolution-audio.php

 

[zumbo]

True-HD will output through any of them as well.

 

[zumbo]

The player states (core only) for the new audio formats. I would imagine this means it does not decode the signal. If it doesn't decode the audio, your receiver can't use it. Again, I am not up on the two new formats.

You want to do your homework, and be sure this player decodes these formats. Otherwise, you are paying for DTS-HD and True-hd that you can't use. Not to mention, paying for 1080pHD to be displayed on a 720p TV.

As far as your receiver not accepting audio throug it's HDMI input, that just doesn't make sense.

 

[gus6464]

Zumbo,

What you are telling him absolutely makes no sense. HD is not only 1080p. 720p and 1080i are HD. Just because his TV does not support 1080p does not mean that he will see difference with 720p. I have a 50" 768p plasma with a PS3 and an A3 and believe me you can tell the difference between a BD or HD DVD when compared to an SD DVD. Who cares if the tv downconverts the signal, there will still be a huge difference. You can't just make up the detail that is not there to begin with in the resolution.

To the OP,

Yes you will not get the high res sound formats with the A35 (TrueHD, DD+, DTS-HD/MA) since the receiver has no hdmi. But you can still greatly benefit from the PQ. At 13' you can still notice the difference between 720p and 480p with your screen size. It might not be insanely huge, but there will still be a difference. What I suggest since your receiver has optical inputs is to go for an A3 instead instead of the A35. That way you will still enjoy the the hd dvds and still have surround like Dolby Digital and DTS-Core.

 

[zumbo]

Zumbo,

What you are telling him absolutely makes no sense. HD is not only 1080p. 720p and 1080i are HD. Just because his TV does not support 1080p does not mean that he will see difference with 720p. I have a 50" 768p plasma with a PS3 and an A3 and believe me you can tell the difference between a BD or HD DVD when compared to an SD DVD. Who cares if the tv downconverts the signal, there will still be a huge difference. You can't just make up the detail that is not there to begin with in the resolution.

Someone told him he didn't want a 1080p monitor. I told him he certainly would, seeing as how he is considering a HD-DVD player. It makes plenty of sense.

To the OP,

Yes you will not get the high res sound formats with the A35 (TrueHD, DD+, DTS-HD/MA) since the receiver has no hdmi. But you can still greatly benefit from the PQ. At 13' you can still notice the difference between 720p and 480p with your screen size. It might not be insanely huge, but there will still be a difference. What I suggest since your receiver has optical inputs is to go for an A3 instead instead of the A35. That way you will still enjoy the the hd dvds and still have surround like Dolby Digital and DTS-Core.

The receiver has HDMI. For some reason, he thinks it doesn't support audio through it.

Please read an entire thread, and research products, before jumping the gun.

 

[zumbo]

The TV has not been purchased.

A HD-DVD is being considered.

Why pay $399 for a player, when a $69 player will do all the TV in question needs? That's all I am saying.

So I am recommending to buy a 1080p TV instead.

Or, buy the inexpensive player if the other TV is the one desired.

 

[zumbo]

Either way, it has been determined that the dts-hd or true-hd audio from the HD-DVD player can be sent to the receiver one way or another. What hasn't been determined, is if the audio can be decoded by the player in question. It is questionable.
It has also been determined that the receiver in use can't decode dts-hd or true-hd.