Toshiba vs upscaling dvd player

[BMW]

My dvd player died. I was looking at the Pioneer dv79av1 or possibly the Oppo 981. These players do a multitude of things from playing dvds, cds, dvda upscaling etc. A friend of mine recommended the old Toshiba A1 for now. But while reading reviews it seems like it may have a great picture and sound but it actually functions rather poorly. It also cannot play cds. Should I buy a good upscaling player like the Pioneer and maybe just wait for a good reasonably priced dual format player?
Bmw

 

[Leprkon]

BMW, I don't know if you're talking about home CDs, but the HD-A1 (I think that's what you mean) has no trouble at all with CDs... It actually displays "CD" in the menu and cuts to a 2.1 output through the externals. It will even play the one DVD-audio I have (Riding With The King).

If that's your hold-up, I'd jump on it, especially if your video display is only capable of 720P or 1080i. It does a fantastic job upscaling normal DVDs.

It takes a while to load. The remote is a little flakey, but nothing compared to, say, a Samsung HD-950 remote.

I believe you are thinking of Blue-Ray, of which the Sony's at least, DO NOT play CDs.

 

[Seth=L]

It will even play the one DVD-audio I have (Riding With The King).

Does it play the Lossless or just the Dolby 5.1 on the DVD-Audio? I was under the impression that no HD-DVD player has yet had the ability to decode DVD-Audio internally. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the only way to utilize DVD-audio on the player is through the HDMI output, so the lossless track would remain bitstream until the receiver or external processor decoded it. (I am not ever sure that works, again correct me if I am wrong)

 

[Leprkon]

Does it play the Lossless or just the Dolby 5.1 on the DVD-Audio?

I can confirm it will play either the DTS or DD 5.1 tracks using the 5.1 analog external outputs from the DVD player. I'll check in the morning to see if I can access the advanced audio tracks.

 

[Seth=L]

I can confirm it will play either the DTS or DD 5.1 tracks using the 5.1 analog external outputs from the DVD player. I'll check in the morning to see if I can access the advanced audio tracks.

It may work over HDMI, but most players I have seen (DVD players) that aren't DVD-Audio compatible won't even recognize the Lossless tracks, meaning they are in the menu but you can't access them or they don't appear in the list at all. The Dolby and DTS tracks are just standard DVD requirements and have nothing to do with DVD-Audio, they are just there so you can get music surround sound without the extra player, or player with better features.

 

[MDS]

The fact that a DVD-Audio disc can be played in a normal DVD player (except for the high-resolution tracks) is one reason I thought DVD-A may just win the format war with SACD.

 

[Leprkon]

OK. Loaded it up this morning and Seth is right. The advanced audio does not come up on the menu. I assume that the Dolby Digital is the default when you don't turn on the TV to start the CD.

Although, I am curious that the player does identify the disk as a CD, and not as a DVD, which would make alot more sense for the DTS and Dolby tracks.

 

[j_garcia]

The fact that a DVD-Audio disc can be played in a normal DVD player (except for the high-resolution tracks) is one reason I thought DVD-A may just win the format war with SACD.

Hybrid SACDs can be played on ANY player, since the hybrid layer is redbook CD

 

[Seth=L]

OK. Loaded it up this morning and Seth is right. The advanced audio does not come up on the menu. I assume that the Dolby Digital is the default when you don't turn on the TV to start the CD.

Although, I am curious that the player does identify the disk as a CD, and not as a DVD, which would make alot more sense for the DTS and Dolby tracks.

Well, they did make some DTS CDs for a little while too. I would still find it quite strange for the HD-A1 to recognize DVD-Audio discs as CDs.

Hybrid SACDs can be played on ANY player, since the hybrid layer is redbook CD

True, but not in 5.1.