Toshiba HDA1 HD-DVD Player

MPN: HDA1

Description: Toshiba's HD-A1 is the world's first HD DVD player. It produces the sharpest, cleanest high-definition images yet seen, and raises home theater realism and impact to a whole level.Sure, regular DVDs look good on an HDTV, but DVDs can't deliver true high-definition video, ev... read more

Toshiba's HD-A1 is the world's first HD DVD player. It produces the sharpest, cleanest high-definition images yet seen, and raises home theater realism and impact to a whole level.Sure, regular DVDs look good on an HDTV, but DVDs can't deliver true high-definition video, even if you're using an "upconverting" DVD player. As TV screens have grown bigger and better, DVD's limitations have become more noticeable ? especially on the 1080p displays. HD DVD discs are designed to be viewed on an HDTV. Every aspect of this format has been carefully engineered to maximize your home theater experience.The HD DVD advantage starts with the discs themselves. High-definition video takes up much more disc space than standard video. An HD DVD disc can hold three times as much data as a DVD ? enough for several hours of HD-quality video. Along with much better picture quality, HD DVD's increased disc capacity allows for higher-definition sound, too. To ensure backward-compatibility with your existing DVD and CD collections, the HD-A1 actually uses a dual-laser mechanism: a blue laser for playing high-definition HD DVD discs, and a conventional red laser for playing DVDs and audio CDs. The HD-A1 can also improve the look of all your DVDs by upconverting the video signal to better match your HDTV's high-resolution screen.In addition to truly stunning picture and sound quality, the HD-A1's advanced design includes polished on-screen menus and graphics. With HD DVD, Toshiba lets you experience the look, sound, and feel of the future. minimize

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cmndrjamesbo...

Member Since
Sep 2006

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Exceeds expectations for a first-gen product

Strengths:

Picture quality, upconverting DVD player, analog audio inputs, nice appearance.

Weaknesses:

Long load times, no resume play function, remote.

Posted Oct 17, 2006 - Gorgeous picture! While the player doesn't support 1080p, inverse 3:2 pulldown means that there is no difference between 1080p/30 and 1080i/60. The analog audio inputs are essential for TrueHD audio. The long load times are annoying, but tolerable. So far, the resume play function doesn't work, but to my understanding the discs are to blame for this, and future titles will support this option. Lastly, the remote control is hard to read, and lacks backlighting. I imagine all of these flaws will be addressed with the A2, so if you're can hold off, I would recommend waiting. Overall, an excellent value.

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BSalita from CA

Member Since
Oct 2002

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Thoroughly Reviewed Product

Strengths:

Images

Weaknesses:

Expensive, slow, some fan noise

Posted Sep 11, 2006 - The Toshiba HD-A1 is a very thoroughly reviewed product at Amazon. You won't get any suprises. This is an excellent first generation player (after firmware upgrades) but will surely be uninteresting when compared to future generations. I agree with all the positive and negative reviews. The main positive is that the images look great and it works well. I'm not so bothered by the negatives of slowness, uninteresting remote, audible fan noise, or non-1080p limit. However, I will welcome the future HD-DVD generations into my home. Expect smaller, lighter, quicker, smarter, cheaper and 1080p units early next year. Mine came with a 6 foot HDMI male-male cable.

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FranticInFre... from CA

Member Since
Sep 2005

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User has 1 Months of experience with this product

Some fine eye candy at a reasonable price

Strengths:

GREAT PICTURE! Pure eye candy. Picked up Serenity, Swordfish, and Constantine all in HD-DVD the vibrant colors blaze on the screen. The finest details and textures are clear as day in 1080i format.

Weaknesses:

SLOW load times. Maybe a minute before the system finishes powering/booting up. Ocassional SLOW response to remote control input. Remote control difficut to read. sDVD upconvert only works on HDMI

Posted Jul 22, 2006 - Having a TV without an HDMI interface made my decision easier. My 3 year old 55" Mitsubishi projection HDTV only has component inputs. From what I have read of the Blu-Ray deck tech specs it ONLY has HDMI (this may or may not be true, since none were in stock to look at in my area, this comment is based on reviews/spec I HAVE READ), while the Toshiba HD-DVD supports multiple types of Monitor input (Component, HDMI, Video and S-Video) . So I sprang $499 at my local dealer.~~~ A couple of USB ports on the front are listed for use with game controllers. Could be useful in the future.~~~ The new HD-DVD features are innovative/progressive. Being able to pop up a transparent user menu while the movie is running is useful. ~~~ Having an Ethernet jack that allows HD-DVDs to poll the internet for streaming video of coming attractions is nice, and the same internet connection can be used to update firmware as new options become available. ~~~ All in all, at near half the price of Blu-Ray, a great value for the investment. I give it 4 stars, taking away one for the slow response times.

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DJS334

Member Since
Aug 2006

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User has 2 Weeks of experience with this product

NEW TECHNOLOGY AT ITS BEST !!!

Strengths:

UNBEATABLE PICTURE AND SOUND QUALITY! AN EXCELLENT BUY EVEN AT THE M.S.R.P.!

Weaknesses:

NONE!

Posted Sep 12, 2006 - I struggled with HD DVD vs Blu Ray but in the end the price and the technology being compatible with standard DVD was a big factor in my decision to go with Toshiba. Having owned the player (over a week now) I can confidently say nothing on HDTV air/cable compares with the picture quality of this player which should be set to 1080i no matter what HDTV you own. Although it is at its best with HD-DVD's the picture quality that it has with regular DVD's is amazing. I was very impressed with how Toshiba has constantly upgraded the firmware on this player which now with 2.0 gives you full Dolby True HD and DTS HD support. This player is a steal at current prices which is cheaper than some standard DVD players. Highly recommended.

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Altersounds

Member Since
Jun 2006

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User has 2 Months of experience with this product

Good for now ... Until ( Someone comes out with a better unit )

Strengths:

Great sound in DTS playback . Nice upconverting . Nice HD picture but sometimes can look normal as a standard player .

Weaknesses:

Flaw in the audio section. Especially when skipping to the next scene... get a hum and then finally the sound comes on. Very slow in start-up compare to standard players. Kinda like your first comp.

Posted Jul 25, 2006 - Ok ... I got the software from Toshiba and loaded in the player but still didn't solve the player's flaw in the audio section playback . I would like to know why I get the hum at times when skipping to the next scene or when switching to another audio format (i.e. Dolby Dig. to DTS) . It's just so irritating considering for what people have to pay for . I have a standard player with upconvertion and I never once had this problem ( stupid HUM ) . If only the audio did not have a flaw , I would have given it another star . I guess we're stuck with it until a new one comes along . Hope for the better or best .

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ooobob from TX

Member Since
Sep 2001

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User has 2 Weeks of experience with this product

HORRIBLE REMOTE, SLOW player and NOISEY FAN

Strengths:

Great picture BUT...

Weaknesses:

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 i

Posted Sep 2, 2006 - 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.

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skanknpunx from VA

Member Since
Jan 2005

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User has 5 Days of experience with this product

Great DVD

Strengths:

Wonderful!

Weaknesses:

Size

Posted Jun 11, 2007 - Unit is a little bulky if you are used to haveing a nice slim DVD player. Quite motor/fan. I have not heard anything when it starts up. DVD's are Awesome! can't beat it! Wonderful. Remote is basic and easy to use. I would reccomend switching over to a universal remote though.

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