- Plays high-def HD DVD discs for sharper, more detailed picture performance than standard DVD discs ; measures 17.7 x 4.3 x 13.4 inches (WxHxD)
- Backwards compatible with current DVD and CD formats; upconverts DVD movie discs to near high-definition
- Ethernet port for upgrades; USB port on front; compatible with MP3, WMA, and JPEG files
- Connections: composite (1 out), S-Video (1 out), component (1 out), HDMI (1 out), USB, Ethernet
- DVD offer Dolby True HD/Dolby Digital/DTS decoding; coaxial and optical digital audio outputs
HD DVD, DVD, CD PLAYER W/HDMIGet ready for the next generation of DVD entertainment with the Toshiba HD-A1 DVD player, which is compatible with the new HD DVD format. It combines the superior image and sound quality of high-definition images and multichannel surround sound with the convenience of DVD disc playback. In addition to the new HD DVD format, you’ll also enjoy backward compatibility with your current DVD movie CD audio libraries, as well as content burned onto DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R/RW. The HD-A1 also scales standard definition DVD output via the HDMI connection to a resolution of 720p or 1080i to match your HDTV’s performance. And because the conversion takes place in the player, the signal remains free from excessive digital-to-analog conversion artifacts. High definition output is only available from the HD-A1 via an HDMI connection. To get the most out of this player, you’ll want to connect it to an HDMI compatible HDTV.
HD DVD movie discs provide the ability to search the on-screen menu, make changes to set-up options or access other menu functions while the movie is playing. Scene searching is facilitated with thumbnail images on the TV screen that allow you to use the cursor to go directly to a specific scene. You can even access bonus material like directorÕs comments while the movie is playing without going back to the discÕs menu. DVD playback features include fast forward/reverse, slow play, step play, time search, and parental lock.
The HD-A1 has built-in processors to handle the multi-channel decoders for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD (2 channel), DTS, and DTSHD. It employs the use of four DSPs to decode the multi-channel streams of the wide array of audio formats. These 32-bit floating-point DSPs are world renown for their high accuracy and are employed in many high quality audio solutions in the home theater market.
This DVD player includes a USB interface on the front panel, enabling you to connect “mass storage classification devices”–i.e., external hard drives, portable thumb drives, and compatible MP3 players/digital cameras–and play JPEG, WMA, and MP3 files. You can also connect the player to the Internet via an always-on broadband connection using the Ethernet port in the rear. In addition to accessing special HD DVD sites, this function can be used to access firmware updates when available. Here’s the full listing of video and audio connections:
- Composite A/V: 1 out
- S-Video: 1 out
- Component Video: 1 out
- HDMI: 1 out
- USB: 1
- Digital audio: 1 coaxial, 1 optical
HD DVD Disc Format
Officially endorsed by the DVD Forum industry organization as the next high-capacity DVD disc, the HD DVD format delivers sharper, more detailed picture performance than standard DVD discs. Moreover, the HD DVD format opens new avenues of interactivity including enhanced on-screen menus, scene searching, directorsÕ commentaries and the potential for online shopping. HD DVD discs can offer both the current DVD and HD DVD formats on one disc, which means that special HD DVD discs will play in older DVD players as well as new high definition players.
Tech Talk
HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver) with your TV–all over a single cable. HDMI supports standard, enhanced or high definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It supports all ATSC formats–standard (SDTV), enhanced (EDTV), and high (HDTV).
Component video (also called Y/Pb/Pr) features a three-jack video input, which provides separate connections for luminance (Y), blue color difference (PB) and red color difference (PR). This results in increased bandwidth for color information, resulting in a more accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding than you would get with S-Video or composite (RCA yellow video plug) connections. You will need a separate RCA left/right audio cable for sound.
DVD-RAM is the most flexible of the recordable DVD formats when it comes to recording, editing and playback. With a DVD-RAM disc, you’ll be able re-record content approximately 100,000 times.
What’s in the Box
HD DVD player, remote control (with batteries), printed operating instructions
Buy “Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player” For Only $407.99
March 5, 2010
#1
I chose Blu-ray after experiencing the poor performance of the Toshiba player. More of the major electronics manufacturers are supporting Blu-ray over HD DVD (same as the movie studios). That alone is reason enough not to spend your hard-earned bucks on this first-generation dud.
March 5, 2010
#2
CONS:
REMOTE CONTROL: Very poorly designed remote! Impossible to read labels on the buttons in a dimly lit room with out a flashlight (and a magnifying glass)! The buttons all look the same. The remote is too long, too heavy, is not ergonomic and it is made of metal which feels cold in your hand.
COOLING FAN: The cooling fan is loud. This unit is as loud as some desktop PCs!
SLOW: Overall the player is very slow… When stopping, starting, exiting setup mode, ejecting or inserting a disk the player may take up to one or two minutes!
CONCLUSION: I am returning this player to BestBuy on Monday and I will wait to buy the new Sony Blu-ray BDP-S1 player when it becomes available.
SUGGESTION: Wait for the Sony Blu-ray BDP-S1 player.
March 5, 2010
#3
I returned this player because of frequent lock ups and other technical limitations. I saw what I wanted to see: a few nice pictures here and there when the player didn’t take almost 2 minutes to load the movie. Some of the HD-DVD movies weren’t noticeably better than the DVD. I just couldn’t see keeping this player when the format is doomed to die. I don’t feel like making two different collections of incompatable movies also!!
I’m going with Blu Ray since Blu Ray is not only superior, Blu Ray has the support of 90% of the studios and soon 100% of the studios, plus 50GB Blu Ray discs will ensure the highest quality on long movies such as Lord of the Rings. Blu Ray has more bandwidth, much more storage (will have 100 and 200 GB discs in a couple years). There are also other technical advantages in terms of bandwidth available to both audio and video. Further, the Blu Ray players are coming in at 2.0X with further increases coming. HD-DVD is just too limited and already had shortcomings that cannot be overcome in the future. HD-DVD is DOA!!
I urge early adopters to have self control and support only one format. Blu Ray will win, and rightfully so, it is the superior quality format.
March 5, 2010
#4
Going in I knew it was slow to load/eject and that the remote was difficult to use but I bought it anyway. Without a magnifying glass and a flashlight to read the remote, you’ll need to rely on memory for what button does what … they all look the same. I’d like to meet the mental midget that designed it.
Picture quality wasn’t much better than my Denon non-HD.
Wait for something better.
March 5, 2010
#5
Finally got it to work after an hour on the phone with Toshiba. Watched 2 HD DVDs over the next week, then began getting errors that it could not read the disks. Downloaded new firmware and now nothing plays. Sending it back. This is a piece of junk!! Note: Picture was awesome when it worked.