Toshiba HD-A3 720p/1080i HD DVD Player

Manufacturer: Toshiba Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours List Price:$149.99 Our Price:$119.77 Features: HD DVD Playback DVD/CD Playback. Does not support MP3/WMA Upconversion for SD 720p/1080i resolution Includes Warner Bros' 300 HD DVD and Universal's The Bourne Identity HD DVD (packaged inside) Description: caption {series-family: Verdana, neue helvetica, Arial, serif; series-format: 10px; series-weight: GRASSETTO; series-style: italics; } ul.indent {list-style: inner disc; text-it res-enter: -15px; } the player of Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD allows all in the game of HD DVD with one modification much buyable one of prices. Not lasci the fool of prices you, however; they offer to many characteristics and one excellent quality of configuration. A refined and thinner look the HD-A3' s has refined the design -- with the edges it rounds off to you, a thin chassis and a slab of black face high-gloss, levantesi in feet less than the two-and-a-half it moves slowly high -- sembr polishes and elegant in your domestic system of the theatre without to take real estate too much. Toshiba HD-A3 has an orifice of Ethernet in order to support the titles them of HD DVD with the interactive characteristics online, like also maintaining the player refreshed with the modernizations of firmware. Greater sight. Beyond that HD DVD, the A3 can also play the sight of DVDs, DVD-R/Ws, DVD-VRs, CDs, CD-Rs and larger CD-RWs.. The exceptional performances all of the players of HD DVD of the Toshiba support the characteristics increased of the disposition of HD DVD, comprised the video of the image-in-image, the audio comment and Fotoricettore- have allowed the possibilities of the net. With an orifice of Ethernet, the HD-A3 can connect to the Internet affinchè the modernizations of firmware maintains the player modernized on the characteristic new and in order to support the number to grow of tito them of HD DVD with the interactive characteristics and satisfying online you of ndemnity. The HD-A3 characterizes a HDMI interface that transports is a video that marks them audio in a cable for the highest quality and the convenience. The A3 produces the video to 720p and 1080i for a detailed and cutting image. The HD-A3 has progressive possibility of exploration, than means it eliminates the esplor-lines of the interlaced video and produces to a clean image without distortion and the manufatti ones of movement. Sparking it encircles the sound the circuits incorporates you of HD-A3' s proceeds the decodification multichannel of TrueHD dolby, Digital dolby, Digital dolby more, than DTS and of DTS-HD (nucleus only). A variety of dispositions plays that the HD-A3 is backward-compatible with your accumulation of DVD: DVDs to the HD resolution can play and upconvert that it is producing. It can also play the dispositions of DVD-R/W, DVD-R, DVD-VR, the CD, the CD-R and CD-RW, so as to you do not have need of the additional players who take the space. The HD-A3 is supported from one guarantee of a limited year. More resolution that normal DVD (until 1080i). Upconverts DVDs standard to the resolution of the escape. Tons of new characteristics and to satisfy you of ndemnity interactive. That what is in the player of the box it HD-A3 HD DVD, in the remote control and the cable electrical worker.

Reviews:

HD DVD is Dead, but the Upconvert LIVES!!!
OK, I know that HD DVD has lost the war to Blu-Ray. However, the upconvert for my regular DVDs is awesome on my 50" Pioneer Plasma TV. I don't claim to know anything about the technical aspects of this stuff, and I'm sure the Blu-Ray is every bit as good at upconverting the old DVD's. But, I could not find a Blu-Ray player or PS3 for less than $350. I got the Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD player and 2 free HD-DVD's (300 & Bourne Identity) in the box for $127 delivered! Also, I will get another 5 HD-DVD's from the mail-in offer sometime before July. I consider this a terrific value and I will say again that the picture quality of the HD DVD's and the upconvert of my regular DVD's is very impressive. Finally, I have seen this same HD DVD player even cheaper since I purchased mine. I don't know if it still has the HD-DVD mail-in offer, though.

I would definitely recommend the Toshiba HD-A3 player for anyone who is looking for an inexpensive upconverter for their regular DVD collection. When the Blu-Ray or PS3 players are selling for less than $200 next year, I might consider buying one, but until then, I will continue to buy most regular DVDs for $5 - $20 each while enjoying the quality images of the $25 - $40 HD DVDs or Blu-Ray discs.


Would have been great but.........................
Has not worked properly since the day we got it. 60% of the time can't get it to get past the welcome screen on the display. Have to unplug and replug to attempt again. Had to finally call Toshiba to get it replaced.


HiDef for cheap
I have bought this when the price has gone down to watch the documentaries of HD more than for films. Eventhough HD-DVD had lost the war, still has lotteries of good titles them to watch. If wished to have a HD player affortable in order to watch HD to align for hour, why it does not try this while waiting for the players of Blu-Raggio for falling considerable and it to the modernization in order to outline 2.0. Moreover this player is a good ones upconverter so as to is still later profit and hour the price has fallen considerable in the same range of all the good ones upconverter.


Great Plater! Great Format!
I own players for both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray.

Both are great! This one loads faster than the Sony.




A good deal for the cautious, despite the obsolete format
Bought a HD TV and soon you will have need hello-def of a DVD player. The greater part of the videos that you will still watch on it will be def standard, but nevertheless, you will wish a player that it can upconvert they so as to they observe good like possible on that new to regulate itself. A player of disc of Blu-Raggio them will regulate behind the others $400 approximately: Ouch, particularly if already you have sgranato towards the outside that one a lot for a Tivo HD. Moreover, there are voices that the disposition in if of Blu-Raggio is due for an important modernization and that the prices on the players of disc will come down hour that the wars of ended disposition. Which thing fairies? It buys this player of disc in order around $100. Still you will be able to observe all the current and DVDs future standard-def in all theirs upconverted the glory and is still many disc of disposition of HD-DVD outside if wished here to see that what high-def DVDs can make. One what you will not be able to observe you are next DVDs in the disposition of Blu-Raggio (however the greater part of these disc moreover includes the version standard of the def of the film). If you can make less than that secondary advantage for a brace of the years, you can probably buy more subsequently a player of Blu-Raggio in the disposition modernized to a price more little expensive, or can find you at all do not have them need of a DVD player because commutato to the transfers from the system centers them towards the digital satellites them. Assigned, this program it would not satisfy the collector of hardcore DVD to that he wished possessed the continuation following of the spiderman in the better disposition, but to the how much new film they are enough good that really wished to possesses the thing? Between the excellent characteristic of the list of desire of the Tivo allowing that you record the new releases in HD outside of cable and the option of Unbox of the Amazon, have.got a perfectly sufficient solution for the medium visore of which the binder already it has been exausted evil from a modernization of HD TV.


great player they practically give away
I have this player of Toshiba HD-A3 coupled until 1080i to a tube HDTV Toshiba 30HF66 via the HDMI cable and the quality of the image is simply sbalorditiva. 2 free HD-DVDs have included both of which they were the good films and 5 freer for 2/28/08 mail if bought before that it was a brainer not for the 100 bucks of under. Making to work last version 2,0 of firmware it has come loaded with 1.3 and all it works very well. The time startup is approximately a minute or therefore but the player loaded reasonably quickly the films and the drawer with the disc opens itself quickly without ago to delay. Some other critics have said us that it has occorr 45 sec in order to open itself but this is for nothing the case with my player. Up to now not there is no practically free problems and it when considered all the films that free you can obtain with it. Moreover upconversion of DVD the standard he is excellent and a lot has been made an impression with the quality of image to 1080i against. 480p that my previous player could make. The upconversion alone he is worth the cost of the imo of admission.


Great player!
I have bought hardly two of these and the quality of the image is excellent, for $200 of under freight included, cannot go badly. Too much defective this disposition is all the fact but the new films usciranno however for some more months. Eventually the blue-beam obtains it is wrong impulses repairs some day to you because the hd-dvd it is the better thing by far.


HD DVD player
The product is large but the HD DVDs promises beyond a month hour and still are not transport to you.


works great but........
works great its just sad that right after i purchased this HD player i found out its going to be irrelevant soon, as bluetooth has won the high def battle. Some company's say they will continue to support HD but seriously for how long and whats the point of buying new movies for it when a blueray player is going to be in every home soon. How many peices of equipment do you really want in your tv room? other than that it works fine.


toshiba hd
this is a great hd dvd player for the money, right out of the box it was easy to set up and performs great. upscaling is nice ...came with 2 free dvds. and a mail in for 5 more for free. so the dvds paid for the unit, ive watched 10 or so movies in the first week we've had this and am amazed at the difference vs. the old dvd player.


Good deal for the price.
I have bought this player for $127 approximately 2 weeks before that Toshiba gave in on the HD-DVD battle. I have given and only $99 expenses on my first player of DVD the years ago I have decided that this was a lot. Still creed that one. In spite of the demise of this player of calm HD-DVD in on-they convert older DVD, I have watched the open range 2 nights ago and has seemed large on my DLP of 42in Samsung. The player in if he is much thin one, no problems that couple it until my TV. He does not include a HDMI cable, I have bought on Amazon for $7 of under and works large. Mine only problem was with the modernization of firmware, I could not convince it in order to play more in order than 20 minuteren after the modernization and have had to call the service of customer of Toshiba the next morning. They have made me to restore the player and has worked very well from then. Inferior line IMO if you are not disposed to spend the moneies on a blue player of the beam or on a PS3 and has one probability to seize a sure HD-DVD little expensive film return one look to this unit. To the going rate it is worthy in order hardly a player in on-convertentesi. They are not to go not to think to buy a blue player of the beam until that they do not hit $100 and is sure this player obtains it through until then.


Great job Toshiba
Excellent player. I have bought this sense after toshiba decided more long in order to make them. I love with unconcern and the 7 free films have not damaged. Large Upscaling of my old shunting line standard-dvd' s. HD DVD cannot more made being, but they have made this good ones cursed a graceful one!


Can I pick 'em or what?
How it is this for the synchronization? The day after that ordered my Toshiba HD-A3, Netflix it has announced it more was not buying discs of disposition of HD DVD., the day the player has arrived, Toshiba has announced it was to exit of the commerce of HD DVD. That although, this is a solid product that transports a great image. Upconvert di normal DVDs to 1080i seems large on a screen of the SONY 50-inch, much best of a Samsung that replaces, therefore I' m not entire unfortunate approximately the purchase of the player of HD DVD. However, once that you have seen means of HD, it is hard to go behind. Moreover I have 50 tito them in the disposition of LaserDisc. I can select ' the em or that what?


Great player, I got a bad one :(
I have had problems with mines that freeze on in order beginning on in on to right from the otten going. I have dawned newest firmware 2,0, disconnected it night of the surplus, have restored the numerous times of the every clock and other trick that I could find in the tribunes. It has had worked that they would have maintained it just for the beautiful job has made the modernization of the normal DVDs. After a week to try all I have given back it for a reimbursement. As all the electronic device you obtain occasionally defective.


Bummer they are going the way of the Dodo
I knew that HD DVD was going to be on the losing end of the format war but purchased the player anyway when the price point hit what a good up converting player would cost. It is hooked up in my bedroom to a 37" LG 720p LCD Television and looks beautiful. The picture is fantastic, I would say about 20% better than the HD I receive from the cable company, and the sound is superior as well. I will need to purchase a Blu-Ray for my main family room system in the near future but will enjoy burning through the remaining HD DVDs on Netfilx in the coming months before they are discontinued.


Toshiba HD-A3 HD-DVD Player
Great product for their low end model in Hd Players. I knew that this HD format was going to lose out to the Blue-ray format when I purchased this Player, but what do you have to lose when you get a dvd player that upscales your old dvds to 1080i it's a no-brainer must have. I will get a Blue-ray some day when Sony comes down to earth in their pricing. For now I can sit back and watch some old classic movies on this fine quality unit.


A GREAT DEAL
It is like obtaining a free player. You obtain 2 free films of HD and transmit within for 5 more. Easy to connect and easy to use.


great dvd player
they are a lot pleased with the player of dvd. ago the dvds normal to seem better and the dvds of the hd they are large relative Badly that the dvds of the hd they will not be produced other but to I am still happy with it and the price was much reasonable one considering the options and the connections that the only thing has that I do not appreciate is that not there is input so as to the satellites or other devices you cannot work through it to your TV that would render easier does not give it the duty to change the input on the TV.


Incredible Up-Conversion
I have bought the HD-A3 pricipalmente like player of in on-conversion for DVDs standard. The quality of the image of HD DVDs is perfect but varied remarkablly for DVDs standard: In essentially perfect on-conversion (looks appreciate HDTV of speed of transfer of full bit): - over the barrier - Ratatouille (the interview of the director is crystal even glade) - story of the squalo - in just on-conversion of Shrek (resembles the definition standard TV): - finding Nemo - free Willy - Poor in on-conversion of Grinch (the film analog converted in digita them): - flight of the navigator I know that Blu-Raggio has gained the disposition war but practically they are giving this way and us they would have to be good sales of space a lot on the existing inventory of HD DVD. For me, this was too much good of a transaction to only pass in on.


My A3 was bug free. Works great!
I have bought my posterior part of A3 sense November in ' 07 when they have made liberations to deal otten the 10. I am using my RCA HDV5000 like my player of HD and was conserving the A3 like support unit but after to have seen much history of horror I have obtained here taken care so as to I open the box it and I have it resumption to one house of the companions in order to watch new RUNNER HD of the LAMIERINA regulated on its 37 inches HDTV. All that had to make it had to insert it and to connect a HDMI cable. It has ignited the feeding. 45 second ones after the hatch of the open disc. I have put in the disc and I was watching second film 15 after. RUNNER HD of the LAMIERINA played without a wrong impulse. Not there was no to firmware be necessary in order to expel express and the following disc has occorr approximately 15 second ones to the cargo. In the country I have exchanged the A3 for RCA 5000. I have watched both the 300


Toshiba HDDVD



DVD Player without a format
The quality of the picture produced by this HD DVD player is great. Unfortunately, I bought the player about 3 weeks before Netflix and everyone else in the business announced that they are dropping the HD DVD format. Then Toshiba announced that they will not manufacture any more HD DVD players. Now I have a DVD player which won't play the only remaining HD format for DVD - Blu Ray. Kind of like having a fancy electronic paperweight! Toshiba needs to step up to the plate for customers like myself who supported their format.


excellent upconversion
My player older than Toshiba makes a fantastic job with upconverting the shunting line DVDs standard and is cercandogli a backup/replacement for, since is beginning to obtain quirky after use a lot. I have tried the players of the SONY and of Philips but nobody of they they have come close to that what the oldest Toshiba (both have difficulty with noise, carrying out sharpness and good dynamics range). Today I have given back the SONY and the warehouse has had this player of Toshiba HD DVD to a great price. It makes a job masterful of upconverting my DVDs, as good or improves that my older Toshiba. It has come with 2 HD DVDs, one of which I it has played this evening and he seems incredible. For the price this player of DVD is an excellent purchase. Really happy I have found a player that ago the justice to my accumulation of DVD.


HD DVD



Great player without a format future
I bought an HD-A3 before Christmas, knowing that the format war could go either way. But my existing DVD player was dying. And it never worked well with our HD TV in the first place. Now we know how the format war will end: Toshiba has pulled the plug on future HD-DVD production, although it will support its existing products.

The deal on the Toshiba was good enough to entice me. I got a total of nine (!) free movies with the player (2 in the box, 5 from Toshiba, and 2 from Amazon).

The player works well. There is a slight delay when it's first powered up while it boots. That's about 15 seconds. That aside, HD-DVD and DVD load times are no different than any other DVD player I've ever used. I updated the firmware on the player, and I've never had a hang up or an error of any kind. It's a solid platform in my experience.

It does a great job upconverting our extensive DVD collection. And the HD-DVDs generate a picture that is incredible to look at. I have some small regrets, merely because this is a decent format. Too bad Warner decided to bolt.

So, if you're in the market for an upconverting player, I think this is a solid choice. You can get some free HD movies with it to boot. Not bad for the current price.

Blu-Ray will continue to be more expensive for awhile. In addition, Blu-Ray players aren't even in their final hardware version yet: from what I understand, all Blu-Ray players, aside from PS3s, are not higher than Profile 1.1. That means that any standalone Blu-Ray player for sale now is already obsolete -- it won't play back all features on future Blu-Ray discs. Their firmware cannot be upgraded to the new Profile 2.0. Only the PS3 can be modified. So don't buy that Blu-Ray standalone player just yet. Run some research.

In short, here's a good player that will handle your existing DVD collection well and will give you a few free HD discs to play around with. Otherwise, if you're in the market for a hi-def player, wait until Blu-Ray gets its act together and releases its Profile 2.0 machines.


Great Product!!!! Great Price!!!!
Even though HD-DVD is going under, this is a great product. If it wasn't for such the limited titles available on HD-DVD this product will be soaring. None the less, you get 7 free movies and others are very low. Disappointed that HD-DVD is losing ground but at least it will up-convert other movies to HD quality.


even if the format dies..
They are happy that I have bought the A3, the relative one in on-conversion are the better thing has never seen. The critics us were not joking when they say close ' to quality of HD '! that because Above all relative to before go to be for a po' that blue he never comes down to a buyable price to buy in. And as well as less he has all their characteristics that job like HD already makes. The OH well, the bully has gained this time. Still I have one of the better players on the market.


Still best deal
Great deal.I dont plan on buying a hundred movies ,only the ones that make sense for me.Upconverts beautifully & with over 400 titles ,plenty for me.$119 & 7 free movies, buy it.You cant go wrong.


Dead format and a dead end player
I made the mistake of buying one of these for Christmas, only to have Toshiba and the rest of the industry declare the HD format dead weeks later.

What a waste of money for myself and the others who poured cash down the HD-DVD money drain. I should have known better than to spend my cash before the format war ended.

Toshiba has announced that they are getting out of the next generation DVD player business. Get a conventional DVD player or a Blu-Ray, not one of these dogs.


At under $125 - Highly Recommended
It has bought a A3 before Been born them for $200, obtained a reimbursement ($68)from Amazon towards the January end in which the price it has fallen. Amazon is narcotic. Therefore HD DVD is dying. Therefore that what! More less to than $125 for a HD


Great Hardware
The Toshiba HD-A3 hd dvd player Toshiba HD-A3 720p/1080i HD DVD Player is a great addition to my home entertainment system. At the price offered it seemed too hard to pass up, especially considering the 2 + 5 movies included in the purchase price. Also the hardware, from everything I read is superior to the current generation of blu-ray players available at the moment. It looks great on my 50" plasma TV, and even improves the look of my current standard def DVDs.

Since my 7.1 tuner system has component switching I chose to use the component output as the primary viewing method. Out of curiosity, I also purchased a HDMI cable to see if I could tell the difference. As a video production professional for the last 25 years I am used to looking for minute differences in detail. To my eyes at about 12' from the screen I could not discern any difference between the two. One thing that I did discover though while playing one of my standard DVDs though is that some discs are programmed not to show up on the component outputs! The video would only appear on the HDMI output of the unit. After this experience I looked it up in the manual and found this is a "feature" programmed into the disc to deter copying of the material.

Purchased right after CES in January 2008 and Toshiba's announcement to fight back against futher blu-ray studio announcements with low prices this player seemed like a good bet. Since that time Best Buy and Walmart have annouced the phase out of hd-dvd; yet another nail in the coffin for the format. Perhaps the inclusion of the movie 300 is a little too prophetic for the player. It seems that the determined supporters of hd dvd are becoming like the 300 valiant Spartans in the movie who fought valiantly, but in the end were crushed by the magnitude of the forces against them.

All of that said, I still believe that my purchase was the best decision I could make at this time and would do the same again. If you add it up; better hardware, much better price, seven "free" movies, plus HD up-conversion of my existing DVDs it is still a great buy.




Incredible!!!
That is my first player of HD DVD and is lovin it. I have thrown "in 300" of right outside of the block and have been jumped absent. I have 2 insiemi of HD in my place (a DLP and LCD), is which it has had they players of upconvert the DVD that the picure was not defective. The hadnt it has decided of a disposition to select then and it has attended in order to see it outside who would win. Relative the obvious one that the blue beam is going to be the due winner the support of the study and because of that one has gone with HD like my first chosen. The price was skillful and some of my favorite films from 2007 were on HD (transformers, the ultimatum of the Bourne, 300-which have come impaccato with the HD player). Moreover, inasmuch as the support lack that HD is obtaining hour, it is the perfect moment to buy. The only one with is the beginning on time. It takes a small more long than a normal player to it begins in on, but that it hopes that me HD I am worth supplement 10 sec is necessary to fire in on.


Excellent starter unit!
This unit really has all the characteristics of that you have need. Simple to install, it even renders simple to modernize it firmware in order to continue with changing requirement of the software of new tito them of the release. All the characteristics are simple to your tips of the fingers with conveniently graded the external resumption. Dò to this product the large inches in on!


Best Upconverting Dvd Player I've Seen
I have bought this player because of all the reviews that of the steller I have read on Amazon. COM. I was trying a player that upconvert Dvd standard from 480P to 1080I. Mine 5 years SONY still were working very well but I have wished to increase the examination in order to introduce films in more film-as the detailed sense. I have a projection TV of 5 years that cannot visualize 1080P so as to this player measure hardly the invoice. My TV moreover is too much old in order to support HDMI so as to they have been interested that I could not at all observe through the connections members of the escape upconverted the material. But I have found a sense. Just Ustione whichever Film trades them of Dvd that you possess using a calculating and the shrink of program DVD. Once that the posterior part of the game copied yours dvd possessed using this method all through the video connections members of the escape. Moreover I have appreciate to convince seven free films of HD-DVD more ulteriorly in order to sweeten the transaction. I do not take care myself for "Guerra-de-$$$-DISPOSIZIONI", I was right trying a player upconverting decent that it costs less than other players and supports HD-DVD also.


Toshiba HD at a Great Price
The huge price drop is due to the HD vs Blu ray battle being at least for the time being won by Blu ray. That said paying $130 and change for the player getting 2 HD movies enclosed with the player and 5 more once you send in the movies you select from their list you have little bit of nothing money wise wrapped up in a very nice player.


Amazing quality
This player almost pays for itself with the promotions, and the quality backs it up. If you buy it only to upscale dvd's it will do an excellent job not to mention the many HD-DVD titles you can buy.


Toshiba HD-A3 OK!
After I ordered this, the price dropped because of the publicity around the decline of HDDVD format. I asked for and recieved a price reduction. This is a very good DVD player - it upscales standard DVD so that it almost looks like HD.


amazing value
Perfect upgrade for my system. My 1080i 48" Mitsubishi rear projection has a DVI connection that works great with HDMI to DVI cable.

My Denon 3801 receiver, which doesn't support HDMI, works great with the optical connection and the A3 also converts the TrueHD into dolby digital.

The 1080i upvert is amazing for regular DVDs

Great transition purchase for those without full HDMI/TrueHD audio support


Great player
I have bought this player in December and no problems beginning from still. As I have seen in other reviews with this and other players, to obtain the time andante of the returns of things and this is the case with this player. But I do not find it too much important. I hit the feeding key hardly and then I obtain any from the kitchen. For the moment in which it is aspects in order to watch something, the player is waits for in order to go. For how much the quality of HD goes, I personally do not see too much of an improvement in DVDs standard. But the HD DVDs go sense beyond the quality standard of DVD. In particular he is national the geographic enemies relentless (approximately the lions). That has jumped it absent and on not-therefore-large a posterior projection the LCD has bought in 2005. I have used the HDMI cable, that I have found are important to describe the quality. And the external resumption is difettando of but sufficient. _ ricapitolando this player up to now have come to contact (and have ecceduto) of the my expectation. Naturally it is for those who does not have an part-extremity TV. If recently you have spold the moneies a lot on declaring-of-the-art TV then this will of the improbable player it comes to contact of the relative one upgrades them. If, however, you have a TV that is lle braces of years or a model of the half of-degree then this player of DVD is good-perceives the purchase. And with the five DVDs that free "you can" obtain with the transaction, it really seems too much good to pass in on.


Better than I expected, actually
I've had this player for like a month now, and so far so good. After I ordered it I got scared because I started reading all of the 2 and 1 star reviews. A lot of people complained about the player not reading any kind of HD DVD's (wich makes it pretty useless), that it was slow and unresponsive and that it took a whole lot of time to boot up. Even some 4 stars reviews complained about this stuff and pretty much every review mentioned what a pain in the neck it was to update the firmware. I was bummed because I had already ordered it (it was so cheap, I coud'nt resist!)

I've had none of the awful problems, luckily (I hope I don't jinx my equipment with this!). I didn't bother updating the firmware because one of the amazon reviews speculated this may be the source of the trouble, so I took note. It does take like a minute to boot up, but since I was expecting this, it doesn't really bother me. It's like waiting for 'loading' time on a Playstation game (which bothers some people, actually). The player has read all the HD movies i've rented and the two brand new ones that it came with. The dreaded '408bc504' message that has plagued so many people only appeared with one movie; the movie was rented and very scratched and at some specific points in the movie it would jitter and stop and the message would appear, but once I pressed play again it would run correctly. I skipped the faulty parts and the rest of the movie played well. I haven't bought any HD movies yet, but I guess since it's doing OK with the rented ones it should do OK with the new ones. It is more sensitive at scratches with HD movies and it is slower and less responsive('subtitles' button particularly). DVD's, on the other hand, it handles really well. Reads all of them, even the heavily scratched ones. It's fast and responsive with them and behaves pretty top notch, as one would expect from technology as well-known as DVD, with the added bonus of the upconverting. The upconverting isn't anything too magical, it's basically like a stretch, but it's convenient when you have a 16:9 screen. It only upconverts with HDMI so take notice if you only have composite. I don't know about the sound since my home teather system is pretty old and doesn't read any of the new formats. But i suppose the SPIDF should work as expected.

Overall, it's really cheap (it's even cheaper now, I'm so mad!) and I guess it's a risk taking in account all the bad experiences for some people. So read the amazon return policies carefully should you have any trouble with the system.

I only gave it four stars because it's a bit slow and because I'm still a bit scared it may screw up. But really, for the price, the player is killer. The image outputs beautifully at 1080i and it's a cheap way of enjoying your HDTV. The format war is still going on so nobody wants to end with up with an obsolete system in their hands. It's a chance buy, but at $150, i'll take my chances and watch beautiful HD until the format war is over. Then we'll see what happens.


Awesome HD DVD player
This is really an awesome DVD player! Great output, easy setup, works well with both my DVI & HDMI connections! I love the network connection allowing for easy upgrades over the internet.


Excellent Entry-Level Player for a Excellent price
Excellent player for the buck. The players of Toshiba HD-A3 are saettando up outside of the cars to this level of prices. I have had as soon as to replace my player of the dvd and to find this unit. He was really less than the cost than a player standard of DVD. The image is run of excellent..of. Easy to install, easy to use, just thorn it within and enjoying. With the players to this price finally it will obtain the public of the Joe in the HD-DVD market and at the same time it will put a new nail in the coffin of Blu-Raggio (you can still say Betamax, the pleasant test...... SONY). The only one downside to the game is 1080P support, this is not one characteristic that I could use however.


Toshiba HD-A3 excellent purchase
More than buy the best one for the moneies... they have connected and playing in HD in 30 minuteren. They have not been never disappointed with continuous Toshiba and seems that their annotation.


Too bad HD is dying
Large product decent for upconverting your old DVD. Moreover a player much pleasant one of HD-DVD for the dying disposition. If been going to buy them, he can also obtain this from it you play the large HD and is selling under cost.


best hd value out there!
I love this player and the transactions on hd-dvds the hour are to eliminate irreale all my old ones dvds.


Good HD player for the money
I needed a new player to match my new HD TV and wanted to see just how clear movies can really be. I was pleasanly surprised.

Pros:

* Crisp, clear picture
* Will attempt to upscale standard movies to 1080i quality.
* Relatively cheap for a repectable company
* Shiny black casing, so it will look good against any color of furniture
* Came with 2 actually good HD Movies (300 & Bourne Identity)


Cons:
* The DVD door on powerup takes on average 20 seconds to open. If you are an impatient person, then you should seriously take this into consideration.

* Does not come with HDMI cable.

* highest quality is 1080i.


Conclusion

The Cons did not matter much to me because I am pretty patient, already had an HDMI cable and the highest output on my TV was 1080i. If you are looking for the best HD DVD player for your money I would definetely buy this one.

My .02

HOWEVER, fewer people are in markets for HD DVD players nowadays. Warner Bros signed over their contract to Blu Ray so expect HD to go down in price but also popularity. I would either invest in a Blu ray or wait for the combo players to become cheaper


Excellent product
Worked right out of the box with a simple installation. Thanks for the sample HD-DVD's as well.




Good bang for the buck
Unit tried with the floodlight of AND (480p) with advanced discs rated. I have not seen improvement real. I have given back the unit since the disposition war is still on going and has still to convince a higher exposure of the def in order to draw more advantage from highest rez. Excellent value however for those who can hour to enjoy it.


dvd player review
The dvd is pretty good for the money.The only fault I find is the responce from the remote control to the main unit.Very slow .


Excellent upconverter
This HDDVD player is an amazing SD up-converter but I was displeased when I found out that it doesn't handle TrueHD and DTS MA. Apart from that , its a good HDDVD player.


GREAT PICTURE
We love this player of HD DVD. The only thing that I do not appreciate is that it is necessary a moment to it begins in on and it loads. Just they are used to that one and could be that sense with all the players of HD DVD. They are felt to me that the blue beam takes still more long so as to fortune teller that I would have to be happy - of right!


Well worth the cost just as an upscaler for regular DVDs
Very happy with this machine in the 3 weeks I've been using it. The HD discs included in box are astounding in clarity and features, but my main reason for buying was to upscale my standard def DVDs to 1080i for my HD television. And what a difference it makes! Must use an HDMI cable to get full upscale, only goes to 480 with component cables (another lame copyright protection scheme--we're all assumed to be criminals). Am thinking of buying another HD-A3 for my downstairs plasma.


Great Unit
One of the purchases that better make, no you protest with this playback at all large player of HD-DVD on my DLP of Samsung 50". You fastly delay a po' when they load the system until the playback with dvd the 30 second ones or therefore... but alot of the players of Blu-Raggio. Upconversion the standard of DVD on this player is one of the better thing that it has seen.


Fantastic HD-DVD Player w/Outstanding Upconversion of SD DVDs
This is an awesome player at a incredible price. Seriously, what do you have to lose with a sub $150 HD-DVD player that upconverts DVDs nicely. I have the Xbox add on HD-DVD drive, but this player is much crisper. Yes, it is "only" 1080i, but that suits me fine with my Samsung 40" 1080i HD-TV. So far I have had no issues with this player and I am really excited to see what all my other HD-DVDs look like through this player. I don't want to get into the "war", but I am very happy with HD-DVD whether it is here for long or not..I will be enjoying my HD-DVDs for years to come!

[update: And 7 Free HD-DVDs isn't bad either]


very nice
even if the hd-dvd not hard, to the price it is going for hour, it is like the purchase of the normal player of the dvd of the upconvert and indovinando that the price is only going to fall suggests this highly less that you wish to attend ' to work it you fall inferior to $100. I can obtain a day blueray, but to $399, task that can only attend to 1080i for hour however: The ram of Panasonic TH-50px75u Toshiba HD-A3 Samsung DVD proscrive the NHT loudspeakers audio


Affordable yet simple HD DVD Player
I have bought two A3 unit for a birthday of the friends and my own ones. We have played the identity of the Bourne on its plasma of Philips of 50 inches and is we have been astonished in the quality that in the sound of the image. I have this coupled until to a Samsung 23in. Lcd. The A3 is much easy one to install and has an orifice of Ethernet for the modernizations of the player and the interattività of HD if the film has that characteristic. The only editions that I have are the loading of the system on time. Of the minute returns nearly half one. The remote control is sensible to react to the orders. No 1080i has produced but for the eye knot it is hard to say to the difference between 1080i and 1080p. In my opinion the player of A3 HD DVD works large and is therefore much more little expensive one than other high players of definition outside here. Up to now I have bought 3 HD-A3' s for my sister, its boyfriend and my friend and a HD-A35 for me. For: Buyable, sembr large and easy to use against: The loading of the system on time is a po' along, no escape 1080p.


Great product
I have to say, HD DVD has changed my viewing of movies all together. Easy instillation out of the box and I was ready to go with full HD picture that looked and sounded amazing. I played the 300 disc that came in the box and found it to be amazing. A couple parts were a smidget pixely, but then i read the back of the box on the dvd and it said it was partially 1080i. I then played the dvd, four brothers, and the clarity really took me back. I suggest this product for anybdy who wants to step up their movie viewing pleasure


HD Performance is Fantastic - Controls are Quirky
I have bought this player of Toshiba HD DVD in order to go with a Samsung HDTV that recently I have bought. The putting to point was a breeze and the quality of playback for both normal DVD and HD DVD is impressive. This normal unit "upconverts" DVD to game to resolution 1080p. Really I appreciate the fact that material of filling of HD DVD entire screen (56 "on my Samsung) and that the quality is really a lot impressive. However, there are some whims with this together. To feed in on is express but after that one it seems that the unit is on valium. It is extremely slow to answer nearly qualche.cosa that you try to make from the external resumption. The opening of the tray in order to put in a DVD is necessary at least 30 second ones. Passing around from one voice of menu to the returns following for a po' also. I have thought that perhaps my unit was defective but after to have made a search of Google on this model I have found that the lotteries of people have had the same problem. I am hoping that Toshiba decoy with a modernization of firmware soon. Otherwise, they are happy with the quality and the price was not defective neanche.


Great Bang for the Buck
It has assigned the player is little a slow one to load the system in on, but in the general outline of the things, that it is a nit. After that one, all it works as it would have and the quality of playback is definitively 1080i and definitively large. Good interface of customer and excellent characteristics. Upconverting normal DVDs works well. If wished 1080p, you must buy a different player.


SIMPLY STUNNING !
This player is exceptional quality and is extraordinary value. The quality of the image and the audio quality are an enormous jump of gone and for the price an absolute transaction! One makes sure that used a HDMI cable in order to connect to the TV, the jump in the quality you are narcotic. If been using a domestic system of the theatre in that it does not have "HDMI", assured to connect to you with a cable ' of Toslink ' and not used supplied cables audio of base, it turns out to you with a little ' tweaking ' are astounding and good worthy the effort. Moreover, upscaled the return of DVDs to a new entire level of quality that is narcotic moreover. It buys this player, not outcomes, the blue players of the beam are specific and much more expensive a lot and any thing the final result of the disposition war, this player HD DVD/DVD is a transaction.


Very good player
Player much good ones. Digiunano enough, good the image and sound. Yes, it is 720p/1080i, not 1080p, but you will not notice it less that you put to fire on the conteggio of the sheets on the trees instead watching the film. The greater part of films is po' however sfuocato and a zumerà camera within if there are of the particular to see. I do not know who is going to gain the war: HD-DVD or Blu-Raggio. Even if HD-DVD still loses has a large player of DVD for a good ones to estimate.


Toshiba Rock's
I have bought hardly the HD-A30 for $153 from amazon. The price was to the inside of $25 of the HD-A3 so as to I have calculated that I would obtain the ability to cast in 1080P. My TV are only 720P but calculation that I will modernize a sure day and I will be already prepared. Before what that has been put "in conteggio of Mount the Christ" a dvd that I love but a lot of the low light has the scenes and therefore ruvidità degree a lot. Moreover the color has observed little diminished me when using my Panasonic S52 that upconverting the player of DVD or my Samsung that upconverting the DVD player. But when I observe this film with my new HD-A30 observes as it has been talked nonsense in HD. The colors are 10 times more vibrant, I can see more structure in order to object in the film and definition more makes them and color the much most natural one. They are so as to made an impression with this player of the dvd. Really ago it resembles it of your old ones dvd here the dvd of HD. Also but "in maze" with David Bowie. It is an old film of years 80 that I have bought to Circuitcity for $5. On mine two players who upconverting of DVD the film is extremely granular like it have been transferred from an old VHS to dvd. But when I have put that the same movement in my HD-A30 it pleasantly cleans up it in on. The greater part of the ruvidità degree has gone and the colors a lot are improve to you. It has come with dvd "of 300" HD in the box it. I must confess it I was not that one impressed. It has observed a small more better of the version standard of DVD that already I have but only of a small. A lot more is impressed with this ability of the players to the dvd of champion of the upconvert. Moreover I have put in "transformers" DVD standard. It seems impressive. I could see the particular that other players upconverting of DVD were not visible with mine. I have order the version of HD "of the transformers" from amazon but it has still not arrived. I am wondering if I have wasted my moneies. Who has need of the blue beam of HD-DVD' s(or) when you can upconvert DVD good standard therefore that is hard to say to the difference. They are felt to me that this is not upconverter better of the toshiba not even. The new HD-XA2($383 refurbished/$850) is supposed much more better for being. I cannot not imagine to obtain it more best than this. They are therefore happy I have bought this. I am thinking to obtain other for my living room. Once that my kidskin seem this here is sense will wish to watch the dvd with my old players upconverting of the dvd. In my opinion even if already you have a player upconverting of dvd the this is worth the investment. It is like obtaining one of those expensive players of the dvd of Denon for the price of a normal player of the dvd.


Overall pleased, but a few issues



Full Screen and Wide Screen auto detection.
Great DVD Player. (compared to my 4 year old Toshiba DVD player)
Likes:
- Automatic detection of Full-screen and Widescreen movies, this is just what I was looking for.
- Sound quality settings are amazing
* Enhanced center speaker volume.
* Enhanced surround speaker volume.
Dislikes:
- Slow startup speed, about 20 seconds. I was expecting the same as my older Toshiba DVD player.
- Fast Forward is awkward since it does not specify the speed, and
- Missing settings option to start a movie automatically by skipping previews and menus (compared to my current DVD Player)
- Missing Menu bottoms on the player (compared to my current DVD Player)


I Love It...
This product is great.. And for the price WOW!!!.. I Can Access Dvd web features and it also upscales all my old standard dvd's to 1080i... This Is A Must Buy For Any One Looking To Go HI-DEF.. FORGET THE OVERPRICED COMPETITION THAT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND YOU WONT GET HALF THE FEATURES... this player is GREAT!!!!!!!


Good Player
To start with this is an amazing player. I actually have the A2, which is exactly the same as the A3 but the A3 is newer, loads faster, and is just better. I have a 720p Plama HDTV, and the picture is amazing, sa goodbye to SD. Also this does an amazing job at upconverting standard DVDs,a upconverting DVD player costs arounf $100, for $25 you can play HD DVD too!

**Just to all of those out there that say it doesn't have 1080p output, It DOES NOT MATTER. 1080i, is 1080p but only shows half of the frames in the same time as 1080p because it has to make two passes, and good news! All HD movies are shot at 24FPS(Frames Per Second)which is less frames per second then 1080i does which means 1080i wont have ANY effect on the image.
Also to those worried about the format war, blu ray may have more movies being sold, but there are more standalone HD DVD players out there then there are Blu Ray players(PS3s account for most of the blu ray player numbers and over 60% who own a PS3 dont know it players blu rays!), and remember it all comes down to the consumers decision. Do you want a $125 HD DVD player or a $400 Blu ray player? Be smart andmake the right decision, especially since all blu ray players will be absolete within a year since they wont be compatible with newer blu ray 2.0 disks.


Disappointed
Perhaps I have obtained a defective unit, but I have found it insensitive on the departure and has blocked in on while it watched ' the earth of the planet '


Well Done!
Well short and sweet. This DVD player is a great piece of equipment. I realize with Warner Bros decision that HD DVD may not make it in the long run, but for $126 you cannot go wrong because it also upconverts standard DVD's to near HD quality. I was shocked at how well it upconverts. I have 3 HDTV's and even if HD DVD goes to the way side, this will be a great addition to any of them. HD DVD quality is leaps above Blu Ray. I think it's ridiculous that the Blu Ray format will probably win the war when the players they have put out have gotten pretty bad reviews and they've had widespread issues with not being upgradeable and such. Either way, you can't go wrong with this player the picture quality and interactivity are second to none.


Incredible Picture - DVI , A real Wow unit for little $$



Good entry level HD DVD player
I got this DVD player about a month ago. It has worked well so far. It upconverts my standard def DVDs well enough - at least comparable to my Oppo upconverting DVD player. The HD DVDs look great, of course. The only limiting factor for me is lack of multi-channel analog audio output. Unfortunately, my receiver (Onkyo HT-SR800) doesn't decode audio over HDMI, so without multi-channel audio I cannot experience "TrueHD." This seems to be the case with most DVD players in this class - you need to double or triple the price to find either an HD DVD player or BluRay that has multichannel outputs.

Otherwise, I have had no problems. Boot up time is acceptable, lack of playback from where you stopped is annoying but manageable, and the only HD DVD that gave me trouble is "The Bourne Ultimatum," which is probably more to do with the disc than the player (several people have commented on this). Very good player for the money.


Happy with purchase
It has bought this while on the sale for the $109,75 because my moglie and I they have wished a player upconverting and they have calculated for the price, why not to go ahead and not rendergli HD, also? More we are ottenendogli 7 free films with (obtained to transmit in how much the abatement and the wait like two years I is felt, but they are still free). We love. In order to use simply, the HDMI escape takes the cure of all a (cable!) and absolutely we can say to one difference in the quality of the image. Perhaps we do not know a lot approximately HD, but also when it says to us that that is to satisfy "forbidden" (meant upconvert) the image still does not seem narcotic. Difference the much largest one that those I was purchase from Magnavox and "phillips". Four stars because the beam is slow to load the system with up/open. Technology that this quality would have to more fastly move in my opinion weak person, but is probably wrong. With HD that sbiad in the distance behind Blu-Raggio, I would have also to be able to obtain the tons of little expensive films in the next few months.


Best HD Player for the money
I already have a Toshiba X2 1080p player and was so impressed with it's performance that I decided to buy the HD-A3 for Christmas and once again I was immediately pleased by this players video output. I coupled it with my 1080i Panasonic Plasma and the picture was brilliant! I read one review giving this player low marks but the person didn't realize that to take advantage of the players superior picture he would have to buy an HDMI cable. Once you do that the upscaling is better than any Blu Ray player could ever do - not to mention the stunning crystal clear picture in 1080i. I highly recommend it especially for the new price. If you are not yet into HD video at a bare bones minimum you will get the best-up conversion player available on the planet. But be warned once you see how standard DVDs look you will run out and get HD DVDs and when that happens you will be hooked on this player and it's superb performance and wonder why anyone would spend more on a Blu Ray player.


Excellent Value
This player is an incredible deal -- especially with the latest price drops. I've been playing HD movies with no issues and the quality is great on my 1080p TV, as is to be expected. Startup times are a bit longer than DVD players, but it's not a problem really.

I just want to point out to people that the lack of a 1080p output is not as significant as you might think. If you have a 1080p TV, it will deinterlace the 1080i signal and create the exact same picture you would get from a 1080p output. In most cases, there is NO quality reduction. It's the same picture -- just a different processing path.

There only two cases where you might get improvement from a 1080p output.

1.) Your TV has a 72Hz or 120Hz refresh rate and can accept 1080p/24 as input. In this case, 3:2 pulldown is avoided, potentially reducing some "judder".

2.) Your TV has a deinterlacer that doesn't work properly, which might be true on a few older/value sets.

Bottom line: Don't buy into the marketing nonsense surrounding 1080p outputs. The HD-A3 is a great player even for those of us who have 1080p TVs.


It's a real shame about Warner
That is a large player and even before that the defection of the Warner it could incredibly be bought for a price low. There was every reason for which HD DVD it would have to transformarsi in in the choice standard of the consumer, but the large companies with the lotteries of moneies have eliminated that choice. Sink of the OH. Still I have an excellent player of HD and a film bunch (many of they have been taken place for free with the player, or two-in order to-a direct Amazon!) that I can enjoy. On purpose, all the hubbub approximately the modernizations of firmware he is debatable to this point - the players hour are sending with firmware modernize you for a sure time. Council to all buying one. Who knows? Perhaps there is calm time to choose for same we.


Item Works Great
Received my HD-DVD player in a timely manner. Took it out of the box, read the manual, plugged everything in and worked great right from the start. The firmware was up to date according to Toshiba and it has played everything that I have given it so far. That includes HD-DVD movies, regular DVD's I have rented, music DVDs and regular music CDs. I have received no error messages. The start time for set-up on each disc is not really a problem in that I am not in that big of a hurry. I think, at least so far, that it is a very good product especially for the price. My LCD flat screen is only a 720p so this product is just right for me. Even though it appears that the HD war is not over I don't think that you will go wrong on this product while you are waiting. I notice that now the price is even lower than when I bought mine a month ago. I really recommend this unit unless you must have 1080p.


Good Introductory HiDef Player if You Don't Need 1080p
I have bought poichè is player of definition of outside name-marks of lower prices the high one here, poichè I am beginning to make just high mine definition DVD and I have not wished to spend mólto for something with one limited library. This player of HD-DVD has surprises it with the relative performances for therefore low price. Yeah does not make 1080p, but then I have still a older SONY HD-CRT that ago only however 1080i, so as to I will not lack that characteristic. The connection of Ethernet was perfect in order to leave to transfer it the modernization from the system centers them towards the satellites of HDMI 1,3 that many discs of HD-DVD hour demand for true the high definition. Mine router it is near so as to the connection was not a problem, but a lack of all the orificii of the USB renders this inopportune one for those who is not enough close to a router to use Cat5. However less that you are playing a DVD with the fotoricettore is connected, you only must use this characteristic in order to transfer the modernizations from the system centers them towards the satellites of firmware. As soon as a brace of disturbs secondary: 1. Various of a normal player of DVD, it takes in order always to ignites. I suggest to leave it over always. 2. The external resumption is TERRIBLE. Much ONU-ERGONOMICO in the relative design, particularly after having a TiVo for several years.


This is a must have!
I have owned and thoroughly enjoyed the Toshiba HD-A2 HD-DVD player for a full year now. It was and continues to be worth every penny of the $400 I paid for it. With its successor, the HD-A3, now selling for only $125 on Amazon, I couldn't resist. I was in the market for a second DVD player - one that would equal the HD-A2 in playing standard DVD's and at the same time provide the novelty of the occasional full HD experience.

I am happy to report that the HD-A3 is every bit as good as the phenomenal HD-A2. In fact, it just struck me tonight in watching a standard DVD why Sony and Warner Brothers have conspired to tank HD-DVD and specifically the incredible players from Toshiba. Both the HD-A2 and A3 produce a picture from standard DVD that surpasses anything you will see at your local multiplex - a picture extremely close to full HD. When you think of the number of standard DVD movies available though Netflix, movies that will never be transferred to HD, especially Blu-Ray given its extra production costs, then getting a Toshiba HD-A3 is the way to go. Based on everything I have read, absolutely no Blu-Ray player can upscale standard DVD's like these Toshiba machines. Is this perhaps because Blu-Ray is so radically different from DVD that the players are at a disadvantage in even playing DVD's let alone upscaling them?

HD-DVD players from Toshiba upscale standard DVD movies effortlessly. I am using an Optoma projector and seven foot wide screen and getting spectacular results. The sound is also amazing. So if you like movies - I mean really like movies - then what are you waiting for? Get a Toshiba HD-DVD player for its ability to bring you the over 90,000 movie titles at Netflix with virtual HD quality. It is certainly a great way to wait out the format wars and growing pains of HD and the ever changing specifications of Blu-Ray, giving you time to see if even Blu-Ray makes it in the market place. After all, whatever happened to DVD-Audio and SACD which were supposed to replace the CD? They both failed, and even the CD is being replaced by MP3 files and the Ipod. It is very likely that both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray will go the same way. In the meantime, you can enjoy the HD-A3 and send a message to Warner and Sony in the process.




Trust Me
If you are in the market for a DVD player upconverting, this is your better bet. I have one the not ago machine "phillips" of upconverter and near job therefore like this Toshiba. The HD-DVD disposition can die, but therefore that what; you will have one of outside blots some upconverting better here.


Plays HD content burned onto standard DVDs!
I would guess that Toshiba is losing its shirt now that these fine players are selling for $[...] on Amazon. My advice would be to snatch one up now; this price war is probably about over. The HD-A3 is the same unit as the HD-D3KU sold at Costco. This latest price drop was precipitated by the announcement of another major movie studio that they are dumping HD-DVD for Blu-Ray.

A high-definition DVD player is not like a standard stand-alone DVD player. Inside the case there is a powerful linux computer, along with the actual player. That is why once the price war has ended, these things will cost considerably more than a standeard player for some time. There is a good chance these HD-DVD players won't even be available much longer. So why buy one?

I bought this player because we have a high definition camcorder. It records video in 1080i format. Previously, I had to burn DVD's made from the tapes in standard 480p, a huge hit in quality. Now following the directions at [...], [...], I don't have to re-encode and the videos play in glorious high-definition the way they were recorded. Previously, we had to plug the camcorder into the HDMI and play back from the tapes to watch our videos in hi-def.

But wait! There is another reason for buying one of these players. It is probably one of the reasons movie studio execs don't want you to buy into HD-DVD. My cable box has a firewire out port. I have recorded a bunch of hi-def television from that. I also have an over the air hi-def tuner that I have recorded TV shows from. I have even downloaded some hi-def content from the internet. Up until now I had to play these back by hooking my laptop computer up to the VGA port on my hi-def Television. Not every television has a VGA port. In addition this content takes up tons of hard drive space. All of this hi-def content can be burned to standard DVD's and played in hi-def from the Toshiba. There is only one caveat. You can only fit up to about an hour of hi-def content on a dvd blank.

I guess I should thank those studio executives. Without them the price of these fine HD-DVD players wouldn't have dropped to these bargain basement prices. Oh, and Blu-Ray... good luck playing any hi-def content from a standard DVD. I haven't been able to find any guides at this time that tell how to do this. Affordable DVD authoring packages don't appear to support Blu-Ray at this time either. Do studio execs call this security? That could be one of the reasons studios are backing blu-ray. HD-DVD has been the format of choice for hackers... er... home video enthusiasts.

A year or two down the road hi-def burners and blanks will become affordable, blu-ray authoring packages will become available and all of this will be a mute argument. At this time however, I am very happy to have an affordable player that will play hi-def content from a standard DVD-R . Thank you Toshiba.


The Best DVD Player I Have Ever Owened
I have ordered to the HD-A3 last friday and has arrived tuesday. The visual quality of films of HD DVD is sbalorditiva. For the price of a player upconverting of DVD, the HD-A3 he is the player who of better DVD has never possessed. Like skeptic "of upconverting," I have had to eat the crow because my normal DVDs has not never observed therefore good. The HD-A3 makes a job the much best one of the images upscaling that mine with of HDTV. The greater challenge for SONY and Toshiba in this "war of disposition" is fighting the excellent quality of DVDs curent. While a blue disc of the beam "the Incredibles" probably will seem incredible, the upconversion via the HD-A3 it renders of sembr normal of DVD "of Incredibles" the incredible hour. Like technology dice, I can appreciate the improvements in the video and determined audio quality from the programming to high definition. Poichè a Joe worker, however, I does not see some reason in order to spend the hundreds of the dollars on one machine of the HD disc. Estimated under the bucks of $[...] (even more than less to [... ]) with seven free films, the HD-A3 is a RISK option in order not to enter in the consumed part of the HD disc. Even if the tanks of HD DVD, you will possess a large player of DVD and a bunch of HD DVDs in order to enjoy affinchè the years comes. Considering that payed $450 for my first player of RCA DVD, I can suggest of all heart to buy this player. It is not I am strange if Toshiba sells a ton of these things and designs the support of the study to the relative side. Anybdoy is remembered of DVD against Divx? The studies LOVED Divx, but tanked because the relative nature to throw has served the needs rather than the offer consumers of the studies control and property of films of Hollywood. The studies will follow the moneies. They always have.


Great value for the price.. highly recommend
Admittedly I havent had this for more than a week, so I cant really commment on the reliability, but thus far, this is a great product.

Pros:
- Price, paid the same price as a normal (decent quality and functionality) DVD player.
- Upconverts standard DVDs as well and does it very well.
- Includes 2 HD DVDs (though not advertised these days on the box) plus offer for 5 more.
- Looks sleek and has all the basic connectors - HDMI, component, optical

Limitations:
- No 1080p, not really an issue for me as I dont have a 1080p TV
- Boot times (though not as bad as some people have reported ~30+ sec). I did the firmware update asap. Burned a CD from the ISO image downloaded from the website. I wouldnt recommend messing with the ethernet port.
- Does not play SACD / DVD Audio and other music oriented formats

Overall a great buy for less than $130.


Wonderful player, very happy with my purchase!
I have had no problems with my A3 (I updated the firmware by downloading it and burning it to a cd-r and everything went smoothly with no problems). The upconversion is wonderful--good enough that it would seem silly to buy an upconverting DVD player when you can get this for a similar price and get the ability to play HD-DVDs as well!
I also have a playstation 3 so I do have the ability to play blu-rays and I can say that there is no difference in picture quality between the two. While blu-ray may have slightly more room, HD-DVD has all the room you need for a film in the highest quality and if all the special features can't fit they can always release a 2-disc version... this has worked fine for DVDs! In fact, I always preferred 2-disc special editions. HD-DVD has some significant advantages over blu-ray (like finalized specs from the start.. blu-ray is still waiting for version 2.0 with internet support). HD-DVD is region free and you can import many films on HD-DVD that are only available on Blu-ray in the US... you can't do that on Blu-ray. Blu does have the advantage of greater studio support, but considering how well this player is selling, I wonder if some studios may switch and start supporting hd-dvd. I personally think that hi-def could be more like the video game area with two viable platforms existing side-by-side with most titles released for both (and each getting their "exclusives" with true film fans owning both platforms). I am in this position and I find myself buying more HD-DVDs than blu-rays. For this price especially this is a great way to get started in hi-def.


but in 6 months it might be free when you buy a TV
Bought this before the january anouncement that Blu Ray would be the studios' favorite. Price dropped $80 on Amazon overnight. Way it goes. Player is a bit loud and is quite sensitive, which makes rental HD DVDs an occassional pain to watch (so far 1 in 3 skip without a good cleaning). But I give it 5 stars for when it does work and because I think it's worth the 129 now being asked - if you search around you'll also find a rebate form giving you 5 free HD DVDs, which given one was Full Metal Jacket, i thought was a bit of a bonus.

If you have the eyes of a hawk, you'll be able to spot the difference between HD and blu ray in terms of quality. HD is about as much of one actors complexion as I can take, though I suppose for those celebrity obsessives, talking about the severity of an actor's acne scars might make for some kind of Blu Ray water cooler chat. Personally, I find watching movies with that much clarity makes them lose a bit of their magical unreality. I don't want my movies to be more like real life thanks. I have quite enough real life in my life already, though you might not think it given the length of this review.


Toshiba HD A3
I have bought this player of DVD because of the reviews of the visore that he has produced close to quality of HD for normal CD' s. I have found this declaration for being to align. That is a large player of DVD. I would suggest to all.


excellent product
this is a great dvd player. it has great hd resolution and it makes regular dvd's look outstanding.


Works great
The system is a little slow starting up but works great. We love it and would recomend to anyone looking for a great HD player.


Exceptional Player. Great Value. Highest Quality Out There
I'm not an early adopter, but I do know quite alot about High Def and all the technology involved. I have been on the fence for so long, waiting for the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray war to be over, so I wouldn't buy into the losing format. But, after recently getting an Plasma HDTV, I felt it was time to jump in.

I purchased this on 12/27/07, which was right before Warner Bros defected over to the Blu-ray side, producing movies exclusively for Blu-Ray. My first thought was to return the player. But the more and more I thought about it, there was no reason to return this. Here are some reasons why, and why you should NOT believe all the hype about Blu-Ray:

It is a fantastic player. Very very well-built, great features, high quality, and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice a player this is. I look at details, finish work, etc. For example: take a look at the many lower cost DVD players, and when their trays open up. Many are flimsy, open fast then slow down, or even open up shaky. Not the Toshiba A3. When the tray opens, it pushes the front door down as it slides open. No flimsyness, the tray speed is consistent from open to close, doesn't clunk, etc. Fit and finish is tight. The metal cabinet and the front panel are nearly seamless and very consistent.

As with all HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players, the HD-A3 does take some time to "boot up". These devices are not mearly "fancy DVD players". Rather, they're more like computers, so they do take some time to come up. From the time you press the power button, and the movie starts playing, is about a minute or so. The slowness is way over-hyped. Turn it on, pop the movie in, and go grab your popcorn. Before you even get back, the movie is all set. It's really not much slower than regular DVD; just takes a little bit to get accustomed to.

Toshiba is now touting the Upconvert ability this player has to upconvert all of your existing DVD movies to near HD quality. Well, no HD-DVD (or Blu-Ray) player will make ANY DVD look like HD, but depending on the type of player you have, the quality of the upconvert varies greatly. The HD-A3 upconverts DVDs EXCEPTIONALLY. It is truly amazing the difference. The only one superior to these (the A3, A30, A35) is Toshiba's own HD-XA2, which has a different chip inside, and, as such, is far more expensive.

To see the difference, I compared my Daewoo DVD player to a Panasonic DVD-S53K I had (before returning it), to the Toshiba HD-A3. I used "Finding Nemo" and "The Wild". On the Daewoo, both movies looked fine, which means it was what I've been used to seeing on my TV for months now. Nice. The Panasonic is a dedicated upconvert DVD player, and I definitely noticed an improvement. But when I tried it on the HD-A3, the difference was phenomenal. Both movies were so so close to looking like they were HD movies, that I was shocked!! Keep this in mind as Blu-ray players don't upconvert nearly as well as HD-DVD players.

As for actual HD-DVD movies, the picture and audio quality are nothing short of stunning!!! The tiniest of details are shown in such great detail, its like you're watching the movie for the first time again. Do yourself a favor and purchase the Planet Earth series on HD-DVD, and watch you and all your friends/family's jaws drop !!! The same can be said with all the other HD-DVD's I've purchased so far...with Transformers also being a totally stunning viewing.

Toshiba HD-DVD players are FAR less expensive than Blu-ray players. Currently, the cheapest Blu-ray is more than twice the price of the HD-A3. To some, they might perceive this as proving that HD-DVD is less quality. This is not true for the general consumer. True...the HD-A3 is only 720p/1080i, but if you really want a 1080p player, then get the HD-A30 or HD-A35. Most people have a 720p/1080i HDTV, so you won't get any benefit in purchasing a 1080p player, but if you do have a 1080p HDTV, then the A30 or A35 will be your better option. Either way, only a diehard Video junkie will ever notice the difference. Trust me on this one. I can go into audio codecs and Dolby Digital/DTS, audio sampling rates, bit rate conversion, etc, but honestly the general consumer will never notice the difference.

Also don't believe the hype about Blu-ray discs having more capacity than HD-DVD. OK...currently they do: Blu-ray has 50Gb discs where HD-DVD has 30Gb. However, Toshiba and the HD-DVD group recently approved a triple-layer 51Gb disc. These will work flawlessly in any HD-DVD player, and upcoming movies will take full advantage of this extra space. And to me, isn't 51 > 50?

Speaking about compatibility, what the Blu-ray group and Sony "forgot" to mention to the consumer is that Blu-Ray has 3 different formats/profiles/specs. Yes, they released their technology before it was completed in order to compete with HD-DVD, and as such, they have 1.0 players, 1.1 players, and eventually, 2.0 players. Well guess what...if you just went out and bought a Blu-ray player, and it's a version 1.0, you are pretty much out of luck when it comes time to play the bonus features available on 1.1 discs (and eventually, when they come out, 2.0 discs). This means, many of the bonus features like extra scenes, menu interactivity, additional footage, picture-in-picture commentary, multiple viewing angles, raw footage, and web-enabled features won't be accessible to you. And 1.0 players can NOT be upgraded. To some people, they can care less about the bonus features. But why buy a movie that when you put it in your profile 1.0 or 1.1 player, 1/2 the menu options are greyed out and not accessible? Did Sony tell you about that?

As for HD-DVD, they had a finished spec since Day 1. All HD-DVD players have USB and Ethernet ports. Upgrading is as simple as connecting your Cat-5 cable to the back of the player. When I got my HD-A3, I needed to upgrade the firmware to version 1.3. I plugged the Cat-5 cable, went into the settings, and the player did the rest. The upgrade was flawless and simple. In addition, only HD-DVD players can take advantage of this internet connection, and download new content, movie trailers, and tons of additional features. All something that Blu-ray can't do currently, and won't be able to until profile 2.0 comes out for them (late Fall 2008).

Another feature only available for HD-DVD players are the COMBO movies. These are movies that have HD-DVD on one side of the disc and standard DVD on the other side. What better way to move into the HD world by having both formats on 1 disc. Advantages of this? You can watch the HD-DVD version on your TV, and if your friend/relative wants to borrow the movie to watch it on their standard DVD player, they can do so. Or think about the typical American family road trip. The kids can watch Shrek the Third at home on their stunning HDTV, and when it comes time to pack up, they can bring the movie with them and watch it in the car. No need to buy both versions. And your right....Sony and Blu-ray can NOT do this.

Add to the fact that when buying this player you get 2 free movies (Bourne Identity and 300) right in the box, as well as 5 free movies by mail, and you can not beat this deal.

To those worried about this being a dying format, here's a few things to think about: If HD-DVD were to die, it's not like these HD-DVD players will all of a sudden stop working. There are well over 600 HD-DVD movies currently out, with many more to come. HD-DVD is region-free encoding, meaning, you can purchase HD-DVDs anywhere in the world, and they will work fine on your player. Not so with Blu-Ray. HD-DVD has the exclusive support of Paramount, Dreamworks SKG, and Universal, all major movie studios. Plus you can play ALL of your regular DVD's in stunning near HD upconvertability. Finally, with the recent price drop on all the Toshiba players, many many more people are jumping on the bandwagon. Do you honestly think all the other Blu-ray exclusive studios are going to continue supporting only Blu-ray with such a large number of HD-DVD players out there? As for sales, just look at Amazon's consistent ranking of the HD-A3 player in the top 10 in ALL of Electronics. The closest Blu-ray player? A paltry #68.

Do yourself a favor and puchase this player. You will not have any regrets.

My apologies for this review being so long, but I hope I have provided you with a wealth of information, and that you now have the facts between what you hear about Blu-ray being superior, and what's actually true.


Great high-definition player for a great price!!
I have bought this player little weeks ago. Easy to connect from the box it and the putting to point it is much easy one. I have not had problems to shape the image, the sound, or the options of the net. The modernization of firmware completed without whichever editions - version 1,1 was on my player and has dawned to 1.3. I have watched up to now nearly 20 different DVDs, is champion that HD DVD, on this player without editions. The player is in some slow way to begin in on and the characteristic that car of the game I could make without. General and large player for $125.


Outstanding player!
Extremely they have been satisfied with this player, obtaining it. I am using it on mine 720P/1080i LCD and is to resolve large and the image is sbalorditiva. I have watched 3 films and the enemies relentless are IMPRESSIVE. For the price and the characteristics, REALLY you cannot badly go to select this player for your needs of HD.


Not for OLD TVs.
I have bought this player of $30 HD DVD in order to replace a little expensive player of Sanyo DVD that has had a hatch working incorrectly after one brace of the years. I do not have a HD TV... i to have an OLD TV... but I have thought that sterà being intelligent to buy a HD-DVD player so that during the years of the brace when I have obtained a HD TV, already it has had the HD player..... it was counting on the fact on a comparativily expensive player of HD-DVD which this Toshiba... doesnt that a sense affinchè me connected to a TV that has only a VHF/UHF/CATV orifice. Hour, they are supposed to spend $20 in order to give back it, or $20 in order to buy a modulator of rf and a tricolour connector. When I have called Toshiba, pleasantly they have said to me that all be necessary in order to buy was the modulator of rf and the $30 connector... I is not successful to ask it that then why mine little expensive player of Sanyo DVD has this possibility, but the more expensive Toshiba not. Angry. Typical incubus of electronics.


Excellent picture when it works
I've owned this unit for about a month, HD quality and up conversion is beautiful. But the problem is when I power up the unit 95% of the time it freezes and I have to unplug the unit sometimes 2-3 times. I've been searching around and this is a common problem. I'm a fan of HD DVD and refuse to buy Sony because of their arrogant business practices like putting root kits on their media. So this is a huge disappointment, I'm going to be more careful with my next player


It comes with the latest firmware.
Ordered it 15 18 January and obtained it January with free transport. It is necessary greater time little to load disk(around the 20 second ones), I have read the handbook and I have found that it seems to be a calculating with the kernel of Linux. Here why it has need of the greater time to load the disc, really it has need of the time to load the OS initially. It comes with the last ones to firmware. Upcoverting is decent and the quality of the image depends on the quality of DVD. A sure connection of need HDMI of DVDs for upconverting. I have ordered the cable of HDMI from Amazon for approximately $2 and works very well.


Great DVD and HD-DVD player
This player is more little expensive than a lot the players upconverting of the high extremity, like Oppo and others. It makes a job much good ones while a player and it in on-convertentesi moreover plays HD-DVDs and you conclude yourselves on obtaining 7 HD-DVDs after the in-abatement of the mail. Therefore they are enough pleased with it, even if HD-DVD does not gain the disposition war, I will not be disappointed with this purchase. But eventually with the lotteries of people to buy these players the studies will obtain on-edge behind:)


Nice Machine
I bought this player a few months back and must say I'm very pleased with it! My collection is small but growing! BTW - Don't worry about the HD format war. It will drag on for some time.

This player upconverts standard DVD's so they actually look much better on this player. Just make sure you buy an HDMI cable to go with it! With the number of DVD's they are giving away, this player pays for itself. Also, Netflix allows you to receive HD DVD's if available in your movie.

People, if you want HD DVD to win the format war, you need to buy HD DVD movies! Today I just bought Purple Rain, Constantine, and Shaun of the Dead. Did you buy any?


Got this on Black Friday
This is a great player 1080i is its only setback but I knew that when I purchased it (my tv is only 1080i) The price now is the same price I had to get up at 4am for on Black Friday. You cant go wrong with this product.Fully satisfied.


An exceptional value for the price...
While I won't go as in-depth as many others here, I can say this: I was in desperate need of a new DVD player, and was looking for a quiet machine that would upscale standard DVDs as well. Regardless of whatever happens in the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray war, I now own a quiet quality player that plays CDs, upscales regular DVDs, and also plays HD-DVDs. The quick start-up time and excellent picture quality are of course a given as well. Considering the player + 7 free movies is available for $130, no tax, and free shipping, I got more than my money's worth, and will enjoy the player for (hopefully) years to come.


Safe bet for HiDef movies...
For the moneies, you cannot strike this player. Therefore why it is a sure bet? I have bought that I know the complete good decision of the Warner Bros and that I know that HD DVD could go belly in on. Enough frank, so as to BluRay could and they are not disposed to play the alot of moneies earns to you hard on the $400 players and $25 films. But a player $130 is one different history. I have had need however of a player upconverting and those they make to work $60-80 with those best ones typically that they make to work $100. Therefore why not as soon as to obtain one of those? Since all the reviews that I have read have put the better image and the upconverters you heal to approximately $100 and the quality was a lot employee of marks. Not there was consistancy through the edge as far as the image and the sound for the upconverters poichè was to this. Therefore preferibilmente, I have paid to some dollars more and have obtained a heap of films and, the OH on purpose, of the added ndemnity of HD films. In the first place to the upconvert - it is a lot, much pleasant one, but species of depends on the films that you have bought in the first place. My older DVDs does not observe enough good how much those newest ones. As an example, Goodfellas that I have bought in 2000, looks marginally improves only on my A3 that ago on the old SONY that I have had. However, the pirati ones of the caraibico (bought in ' 03) seem... the sparkling glade and of phenomenal crystal - much neighbor to quality of HD. Also all the date Sunday (arrest that laughs, I have appreciate it) has bought in 2000 graceful bonds seems to you, considering. Basically, the roba of the bucket of the bargin to walmart it does not seem to be cut (Wallstreet, bought 2 years ago for $5 has observed only marginally more best pure). It seems to depend on the DVD in if and while you can preview more than some miracles with your accumulation standard of DVD, it is not going to be aces through the edge with the your oldest ones. And therefore via to the HD - SPEED DISTORTION. Since they are not interested in the investment of the entire bunch of moneies on that what could be a dying disposition, we still do not have dice gone with the purchase of the HD DVDs. But splurged and bought the transformers and it has seemed beautiful. As other critics have noticed us, you obtain the 300 and identities of the Bourne in the box it... that they seem beautiful pure. Poichè a divagazione, was HD to fold itself, indovinando that you probably can obtain these beautiful films to a price much bottom and that one really decomposed in my decision. A roba of refusal of the man, as they say... The films that you obtain for free permission to one aim small to want in the selection unit and it will apparently be necessary they approximately 2 months affinchè obtains here. Therefore tasks not to obtain it quickly and will be hardly "an pleasant NATO them in March" when they come. Passing towards the unit it is car - I have worked in ABSOLUTELY NO of the problems that the critics us that star has given to this unit one appraisal of one. That does not have to say that it is not possible you not - someone can obtain a lemon. But the pixelation and to freeze it has been an not-edition and I have not modernized firmware or null. As soon as I have taken from the box it to it and I have inserted it my TV and via it has gone. The times of cargo are absolutely different that a normal player of DVD for me. When the feedings of the machine over and you in the first place press "the opened" key, it will be necessary to the player approximately 15-20 second in order obtaining andante and the drawer has ago to delay here but that one has been that only one. And this is when the player goes feeding outside feeding over, not when is just commutation DVDs within here. He more simply puts an anchor a little small one, it is not something that the troublesome ones in minimal. I have noticed editions of playback (when the arrested ones, it I do not resume the scene) but that one is hardly an edition for me. I have not once noticed the fan noise and the not enough sure one that what the gripe is here. Therefore why this a safe is bet for films of HiDef? It is because of the moneies. $130 obtain a small taste much pleasant one of high experience of the def and in my opinion, it was completely worthy. If you possess a player who appreciate, this probably is not for you. But if you are one of those lucky people like me that it has obtained a HD TV for the festivities and wished to be useful for the image, I would take a blow to this player. If you were watching a player of the upconvert, you would really give a glance near this. Nonla buys that it thinks that HD is going "to win" because they could not. If wished your accumulation of DVD to have packing consistant through the edge, does not buy this player because you could be concluded on the purchase of the BluRay. In fact, I will for sure when the players have hit approximately $150. Until then, no probability. Moreover they continue to speak about one sure absurdity with BluRay as far as different editions of profile, versions, this, that, any. Personally, really I do not take care myself in order to obtain completely to the current of all that BS. If you are therefore inclined, then through all means... eventually you have taken that this is not a technical review and I do not presume to be the wizard of avoirdupois of the resident. That has been understanding hardly for being "a normal type" prepares. Therefore if wished a player of HD to the tide you surplus while this absurdity of disposition war is deposited and not wished to put in a meaningful investment financial, task that this choice is exceptional. The greater part of your DVDs champion will seem fantastic and the HD that you decide to invest within is only sbalorditivo. All in all a, sure purchase if watched a determined sense.


Warning - Poor Movie Selection
It is of primary importance to check your movie selection first, before buying a player to play them.

My girlfriend bought me one of these, knowing that I wanted to purchase new films in high definition. Unfortunately though, this player uses Toshiba's own high definition format, and cannot play most of the high definition movies found in stores. Most are instead on Blu-ray, which this player does not support. The fact that there is a SAVE HD DVD petition going on in these Amazon forums is a clue as to how bad things are, and explains the low price.

I also hope Amazon can make it more clear that this player is not a "dual" player, and cannot play Blu-ray, to save other people from making a mistake.


Best Deal!!
Despite the recent Warner Bros. decision, this is an awesome deal. Especially with the 5 free DVD deal and the 2 that comes with it. That's 7 HD DVDs total. Who cares if WB has decided to go over to the Blu ray camp. They haven't yet and won't until May so they will still put out HD DVD until then. Who knows what will happen until then... really.. The player upconverts regular DVDs to near HD quality and for most that is good enough. Also there are many movies to still enjoy that are on HD DVD. Finally, the price point is the clincher. At 131.99, it's an investment that will let you ride out all the Blu ray problems and keep you in HD or Near HD viewing until the price goes down.

UPDATE: The player is even less now and AMAZON refunded me the difference. Great Customer service.


Outstanding, well polished product, even given latest WB switch.
Right now, there continues to be quite a number of exclusive HD DVD only titles. It looks like its going to remain that way. That said, at the prices this player is selling for, its a outstanding buy for those people on a budget with a HD display, or already blu thinking about purple. For those people without an upscaling DVD player, and a HD display its a no brainier. The price difference between this player and a name brand mid range up-scaler is non existent.



Mine arrived ready to go with the latest firmware installed. There is a delay ( >10 seconds) while the machine boots, but that is about the only user interface glitch I've seen. I've had it for about a month now, under heavy use and I haven't seen it lockup, hiccup or behave strangely. In that regard its been better than the majority of other audio/video hardware I've owned which has exhibited assorted strange behaviors.

This product (and HD DVD in general) is extraordinarily well polished, as you would expect, from a 3rd generation device. The player setup screens are well laid out, and easy to understand. Others have talked about the features of this player so I won't repeat them. The player responds instantly to user commands, even during playback, about the only delays I've seen are switching between rewind and play on some disks where its generally less than 1 second or so. The disk specific menu's pop-up smoothly even when they are being transparently rendered over a playing video streams.

As someone who is purple and owns a player from the other camp i can say: The best way to describe this machine, compared with the products from the competing camp is like the difference you feel driving a quality performance sedan vs a low end American "sports car". It can do everything the competing camp can (and more), but it does it without the bumpy ride, loud motor, and plastic interior.





No obvious difference from HD-A2, worse?
I could not not see obvious difference from my HD-A2 but that when I have played the reduction of activity in the A3 it has jumped badly during "obtains via from me the scene of the monkey". In the A2 the scene plays the free error. 10 hd-dvds free they had hard passing in on however.


WOW.
my regular dvds looks great with the HD-A3. the rest of my hd dvd collection jus looks amazing. i guess ill be stickin with regular dvds when they stop releasing movies on this format because its cheap and the regular dvds just looks like "WOW".
the cheapest, decent blu-ray player out there almost costs as much as my philips 1080i 32" lcd hdtv.
For $130, this gets the job done incredibly well-and with better features than the competition. Highly Recommended.


Great HD system works wonders on regular/Standard DVD!!!
My husband and I have this system set up on our new Sharp Aquos 46" 1080P w/ an 1.3 HDMI cable and the picture is just amazing!!! It just blows every HD picture I've seen on our Comcast HD programming!!! This player just perfoms that good. Also, it makes watching our old DVD disc more enjoyable to watch by upconverting them close to an HD signal and providing a crystal clear picture that's nearly identical to the HD DVD movies themselves. We also have another upconverting HDMI DVD player a Sony one we got at Costco, but the A3 is just so much better. Our amazon.com deal was $[...] after price match with 10 free movies. This player is an excellent value for it's price even if your not planning to buy anymore HD DVD disc; as this provides the best upconverting system in the market right now for all your regular DVD disc!


Beautiful Picture Quality, Highly Recommended!!
I was very impressed with the picture quality of the HD DVDs that we watched on this player, but I was even more impressed at how great the picture was with regular DVDs as well. I am very happy with the Toshiba, and the price was definitely right. The only downfall is that most of the new movies released are either Blu-Ray or HD DVD, not both. so the selections are limited for now.


Works great and the 30 day price guarantee is helping with Warner Decision
The HD-A3 has been to work large for is HD-DVDs that burnt and normal upconverted DVDs. I have ordered the unit on Dec.28th and have had to modernize firmware (via the method of iso of the CD) like has come with oldest version 1.1. I have not had editions of playback of HD (except it can be fussy approximately the digital prints them). The price has fallen $48 from the new year and the guarantee of prices of 30 days is in effects so that aids with the decision of the Warner since I console myself in the fact that this player is a upconverter pleasant also. I have a new plasma of Samsung 5054 and the upconversion on HDMI really the screen to 720p compiles very more best that my old progressive player of exploration DVD to 480i. The look of HD DVDs and the healthy impressive and even if the future releases will be limit to you, seem here to be an pleasant catalogue of the favorites that I mean to enjoy. The slow operation or the little expensive external resumptions really not the troublesome one. In a generalized manner, except the announcement of the Warner a week after that my purchase, I just am satisfied.


Awsome Player
I have had this player for a week and it is WOW!!! I just bought Transformers and Polar Express and I was Blown away...I also have watched the Mummy on a regular dvd and it upconverted it to 1080i and it looked just as good as the other 2 movies....Its a steal!!


Great UPCONVERTING dvd player :) plays hd dvd's too!
If you are like me, you have million dvd. personal Love the this player because he plays the dvd of the hd therefore like the dvd normal of upconverts to a worthy good high def 1080i. the moneies, still characteristic better than blue beam!


Awesome HD Player!



Good buy with high performance!
We found the Toshiba HD-A3 DVD player to be a great adjunct to our new Toshiba HDTV. The 1080i resolution is great and much crisper than viewing HDTV via satelite. It was cheaper than blu-ray HD-DVD players that we priced by about $100.


Nobody told me about the limited selection!



very good for the money
As greater part of people already has said, it is much bond for the moneies - $80 have cost me, comprised 7 free HD-DVD. Even if the disposition will go some day via, this unit is large in order remarkablly to improve normal DVDs also (if you have 1080P a HDTV).


great buy
This is a great hd dvd player. Setup was a snap. I did not upgrade the firmwire. Hookup to my receiver was very simple. It plays all dvds.


Great Product
Much more better of the Blue-beam. I can still watch my old accumulation of DVD on this player and seem large. To this price you cannot pass this in on. It seems narcotic on my new inch LCD of Samsung 40. They wish HD in tension DVD!!!


Great player for a great price
Amazing picture and sound quality. Upconverts DVDs really well, which is what we usually use it for, and HD-DVDs look even better. Only had a few problems with netflix discs, but no more often than normal DVDs we rent from them. Only took a few minutes to set-up, including connecting it to the internet for online content. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an HD-DVD player or just a great upconverting DVD player, which the HD-A3 does a better job at than any of the other upconverting only DVD players I have seen.


Excellent HD player!!
The player works large!, it has made a great job that upscaling my DVDs standard and the image and the sound for HD DVD is formidable!!, the times of cargo are fast (after the modernization of firmware), no freezes or the problems still, my A3 is connects to cutting LCD 42"(lc42d43u) and receiving of pioneer VSX 1015TX a/v (optical towards the outside the cable of toshlink for the digital sound them 5,1)


Buy An HD-DVD Player , Studios will have to follow
I have the A1 and its been a great player .
The studios will have to release on hd-dvd if the mass buyers have the players ...
Hd-dvd has delivered what wAs promised , Blu-Ray has NOT !!
Blu-ray players are more expensive plus do not look or play better the HD-DVD
Bob



Rock Solid
Recieved HD-A3 for B-day. I must say this is the best $200 CE device I have ever owned. Upscaling of DVD's is amazing and HD-DVD's picture and audio are breath taking. I wish the power on to play time was a bit shorter, averaging about 45 seconds for HD-DVD's and 35 for regular DVD's.


What's the hurry?
This player makes all that he is supposed to make, no freezes (has not tried discs locati you of HD however), no problems, beautiful image. I could preoccuparsi more than less that it is necessary 30 second ones to the cargo and some more in order answering to the orders. Therefore that what? Hour is even 30 bucks less than paid the 3 weeks ago, benchè Amazon has fallen 3 free films outside of the transaction. The units that bought hour have loaded version already 1,3, so as to no Ethernet or to burn itself of the disc makes to delay. You can also control the version that your unit has during the putting to point: setup/general/maintenance/update and the software version it is visualized under the modernization of word like 1,3/.... if the wished ones, the bought hour with a cable of HDMI and leaf through your nose to SONY.


It's an awesome player if there's no playback problem. Unfortunately, this player has tons of it.
I'm trying to be neutral even though I know that my PS3 is a far more better player than this one.

Picture quality wise, this player gives out a very good picture. It smooths everything out, even the jagged pixels on the regular DVD playback. Picture quality is about the same quality as the PS3. IMO, HD-DVD picture is smoother, while the bluray is sharper (sometimes looks very grainy which is bad). Based on my observation, some movies are better on HD-DVD and some are better on the Bluray.

However, this player is very far from perfect. The marketing campaign of Toshiba about "the look and sound of perfect" is misleading and very far fetched.

Playback is the number one nuisance. Many HD-DVD discs that I rented from Blockbuster didn't work at all. Most of them are usually scratched up really bad, thus making this player unable to read it.

The worst thing is that this player would just freeze up if a scratched up HD-DVD disc is inserted. No button is responsive, except the power button (and you'll have to hold it down).

Here's the painful procedure to take the "bad" HD-DVD out if this player fails to read it: press the power button down (about 1 min), then turn on the player again (about 1 min again to warm it up), then pop the bad HD-DVD disc out (that if you are quick enough before it tries to read the disc again), otherwise the cycle repeats again.

In addition to the playback problems, even some of the new HD-DVD discs couldn't play correctly. I got playback problems with Blades of Glory and Bourne Ultimatum (and yes, I bought them brand new). For regular DVD playback, it also has major playback issues when playing burned DVDs.

How much do you think this player worth? IMHO, I don't think this player worth anything until Toshiba fixes all the problems (I've been checking for a new firmware but to no avail at this point)and until I got all my 5 HD-DVD in the mail (I've been waiting for 4 months now).


excellent product, extraordinary value
Naturally, the sound and the image are large. Speaking to the differences between this and the inferior competition: * Price: * This A3 modernizes firmware from himself (using the enclosed connection of net) * it plays ALL the HD DVDs freed (picked some starter shafts approximately BluRay and you it will see that this is more than to than Toshiba) * confronts the customer interface. NO COMPARISON!! A3 is polishes, intuitivo, cutting, modern. Too much defective it seems that SONY is winning in the unit of propanda of sale for hour. Toshiba has better, a stable one clearly, plus product first-Time-to wait for. It is HD-DVD to remain here? Who takes care itself!! In order more less than $200, I have a heap of films of HD and an exceptional player upconverting of DVD that will entertain for the years.


Wow!
Beautiful High Def picture, great sound, great price, NO PROFILES! What's not to love? :-)


Wonderful Upscaling DVD Player / Great HD-DVD Player
I have possessed a HD-A3 for several months, obtaining above all like DVD player upscaling. It does good that operation remarkablly, rivaling with $1000 units. While not ago 1080p, those in the knowledge already know that it is an insignificant difference for 24 films of the fps, where 1080p and 1080i they are identical. Moreover great selection of HD-DVDs seems to play one shiningly. The ultimatum of the Bourne plays wonderful, with every interactive element allowed and that it works in this little expensive player. The transformers, in spite of the protests of the bay of Michael, are shining -- the interactive functionality of HEAD-UP DISPLAY, with the image in image and sovvrapposizioni, is narcotic. Mine only claim is that it takes long eternally to it begins in on and it has some difficulties on some CDs burnt with MP3s.


Wow!
I'd give this five stars if it weren't for the 15-second startup time and the initial picture quality (though not bad, and a firmware update settles the issue) but the picture quality is stellar and it just works, as any consumer product should. Plus the picture quality is excellent on standard DVDs (comparable to good quality upscaling DVD players.) I haven't run across any discs that won't play.

So even if you're nervous about getting in on what currently looks like the losing side of the HD format war, if you're in the market for a DVD player and don't want to buy a BD player until BD 2.0 players are out, you can do far worse than the HD-A3. If you need, however, Divx, SVCD, and other such niceties, for now I'd recommend getting an Oppo unit, the closest comparable SD DVD player right now.


Player fine, but ordering process and customer service poor
For those of you that are considering ordering this HD-DVD player, by all means, order it and enjoy it. We are. For $[...] and 2 free movies in the box and a few more from Amazon, it's even a pretty good deal, especially when you add in a rebate for 5 more movies for free. The machine works fine and was easy to set-up. It's easy to use and compared to the Sony-BDP 300 Blu-Ray player we also bought in the past 6 weeks, it loads faster and even looks a little better than the Sony. It has great sound and can handle Dolby HD (something the Sony BDP-300 can't do). It can be connected to the internet (so you can access stuff more "stuff" about the movies you watch, but I prefer NOT to have it connected all the time).

For those of you that paid more than you should have on Amazon for this obsolete player, I know how you feel, because that's exactly what I did. Between the time I first signed on to Amazon to buy this player and the time I finally ordered it--about 3 hours one afternoon just before Thanksgiving--the price changed three times and not in my favor. The worst jump in price was when I was in the middle of the order and signed up for Amazon Prime (big mistake as at this point the free movies that they had offered with the player were now charged at full price). I had to call customer service and was told to place the order with Amazon Prime as is and the movies would be credited on the invoice, but they weren't. I called customer service again and had to repeatedly request that Amazon Prime be cancelled immediately. I eventually cancelled Amazon Prime, cancelled the order, cleaned out my computer's browser cache, sign on to Amazon as a guest (rather than with my account), found the player for more than $20 less than what it was on the order I cancelled an hour earlier AND with the two free movies. (This is not the first time I've run into Amazon's lovely "dynamic pricing" and had the price of an item shoot up once I sign on to Amazon and try to buy something I've looked previously.)

Here it is 6 weeks later... and the price is a full $48 less than what I paid. I am still within the return period (which lasts until the end of January so I have two more weeks to do this). I would prefer not to have to go to the hassle of returning and re-ordering the player (to save $48 or over 1/3 of the price), so I requested a price adjustment from customer service. Since it has been over 30 days since I placed the order, customer service would not grant a price adjustment, but they WILL pay for shipping for the return and to have the new player shipped out with free Super-saver shipping. Seems to me someone at Amazon could figure out that it would be in everyone's best interest(and save them labor and shipping) to just give me the price adjustment, but that would make sense so they wouldn't do it. Now I'm wondering if I should just return this player all together and NOT order a replacement (or get it from somewhere else), especially since Warner will no longer back the HD-DVD format.


For the price, a great bargain
In the first place a diniego: I have bought this with complete sideboard that Blu-Raggio "would gain" the disposition war. You know that what however, I is not taken care. Sure, the relative one only 1080i/720p, but therefore is my TV. For $130 I obtain a large player upconverting of DVD that happens to game HD-DVDs (OH yeah and 10 free HD-DVDs to load the system). These films seem large and are sure that I will have they approached for a enough sure time, even if the selection more is limited of the crowd of the BR. And the ya it wishes to know qualcos' the other? When/if that begins to suck that I cannot watch qualche.cosa hello-def in a disposition since all is Blu-Raggio, I as soon as I will go obtain a PS3 or something (than to that point they are mólto more little expensive). The people who write here on the things as "HD-DVD is OUT OF ORDER!" she does not seem to obtain it. Not all necessarily cures.


Great Player
Great player and with 10 free HD-DVDs, it was a great bargain. I wish I would have waited to get the better price, but certainly am glad I bought it. In some of the review I read that it was a hassle to upgrade the firmware, I burned it to a cd and the disk popped out in 15 minutes....no problem. The other thing that baffles me in reviews are the comments of slow start up or slow initialization when a disk is put in, 20-25 seconds tops, some peoples may find that unacceptable, in the context of a two hour movie its nothing.

As far as the format war goes, if it goes BR, I still have a great player that I can use for the movies I own and rent that is also a great upconverter for my SD movies. That certainly buys me time to enjoy HD content until BR players drop to $100 and then I might invest in one to have with, not in place of this unit.


What happened to all the reviews?
As soon as a short while ago, this product has had approximately 196 reviews with one medium appraisal of four stars. Where all have gone? Which thing is happened? Why?


Outstanding picture quality



An Inexpensive HD Upgrade
A DVD acquired standard sink mastery is therefore good that I have thought that it has been little reason to dawn to HD-DVD. A generous member of the family, however, the felt to the contrary and has given a Toshiba to me HD-A3 like gift of festivity with approximately films a dozen. Maledizione! Hour they are coupled; -) ~ my video, a pioneering posterior-floodlight of elite 65' HD, is quality much high one, but not completely in how much it is the input ' modernizes you ' of the advanced quality are componant. Inserted that sense the images from normal the DVDs wide-screen and particularly sembr of HD-DVDs superb. A lot the film appreciate. But non-widescreen the presentations - if they are old films or pre-HD TV - cannot be observed correct disposition once via a input componant. These would pass In the best one of the cases through a cable of the S-video, but alas the A3 does not have one such escape. Only the other option available is vintage year "composed" of the VCR - obviously not the connection of the choice for normal DVD much little HD. I have obtained around to this limitation of the system using my player older than Denon DVD through the S-video in order to play not widescreen the material of DVD program. Therefore, they have installed this sense, as the images observe? It has occorr a sure time to me in order to answer to this for me because ' the thorn and the play' use you were initially, franc, rather disappointing. The reason? In one word: Regulations. I had spold the considerable time that calibrates the black level, the brightness, the color, the ink and the sharpness of my system for my normal player of DVD using the disc of Aviation. Toshiba HD-A3, I have found, the regulations a lot different demands. Not still having a version of HD of the disc of Aviation I have used the normal version of DVD and then ' tweeked ' the regulations with mine (have spold many years like toner professional) eye rather with experience. The putting to point the image of a normal DVD acquired sink mastery is correctly nearly good how much on my Denon (one limitation comparitive is that Toshiba HD-A3 difetta of the range control - something that probably it has meant small to the enthusiastic mean) and a HD-DVD acquired mastery well of observes absolutely FANTASTIC. Nearly three-dimentional. As other critics have pointed out us player HD-A3 is slow to accept the orders. The start-up it is excruciatingly slow. He learns himself to feed in on the player in the first place and then he chooses the disc and he turns over the rest of the system later on. Moreover he learns himself to only use the feeding key. Other orders as "they open the draft" and "the game" do not have effect until completing the beginning sequence. To get annoyed itself? One heads. But once that the image comes on the screen the aforesaid claim becomes insignificant. Highly I suggest the HD-DVD system. And Toshiba HD-A3 is a good and relatively economic sense to make the conversion. But it is perceived: Once that you have seen HD-DVD there will be puttinges outside of the normal bucket of transaction of DVD and all that beautiful saving. Yes, really it observes that good ones.)


Excellent HDDVD player
This 1080i HDDVD player is producing excellent picture for HDDVD disks as well as perfect up convertion for standard region 1 (NTSC) DVD-s.

In my opinion Warner chose Blue ray not because of lower HD DVD quality, but because of other issues, not connected with the quality of HD DVD disks.

Pros: Excellent and smooth picture quality, great up conversion for regular region 1 DVD-s.
HD-A3 is playing back in excellent way all my mini HD DVD movies (I own Canon HV20 and Panasonic HDLCD 1080i, and I'm getting unbelievable clear, crisp and smooth HD picture (1080i) when burning on regular DVD and playing back on Toshiba HD-A3).

Cons: Refuses to play my regular PAL DVD-s (intented for NTSC region 1 DVD's only).

I recommend this excellent and elegant high definition player.


GREAT player, even if you only use it to upconvert
I've owned it for a month, and...
This player plays HD DVD titles flawlessly.
My DVD collection looks great on an HDTV, much better then the 360 was doing and much much better than my old DVD player.
At the new prices I highly recommend this player.


Great piece of equipment.
I've just received this player and would highly recommend it to anybody who doesn't need a 1080P player. Complete set up took about 15 minutes, including the firmware update download and I haven't had 1 problem to date.


Not a bad purchase for under $200
Really when thoughts to a market that is sovrasaturato in the promotions of Blu-Raggio, I have given to the other types an extremity of jolt of test HD DVD. The disposition in if it is perfect and the game behind are exceptional. Also for the shunting line titles them standard. I am going to attack with this, until that someone you do not strike on the hatch in order to buy it in order commutare the dispositions.


Great player, great price
I am very happy wit this player and the overall value. I have used the 30-day price proctection bring down my total to $135 and 10 movies. The picture on Transformers and The Kingdom are amazing. I own a 7 year old 57 inch Toshiba HDTV and it looks great. I don't have HDMI, so many of my DVD's don't upconvert to HD. Overall picture is still very good on standard discs. I have a 5.1 DTS surround sound system and that is working great with all of my movies.

I'm not worried about format war at this point, since I'm spending so little for a high def player and Netflix has a great supply of HD-DVD's. I won't invest on many movies until things settle in a bit more or until I pick up a Blu-Ray player also.


Best upconverting player I've ever seen
Yeah, I know. Warner is going BD exclusive. However, for less than $150 you can get the best upconverting DVD player I've ever owned, and 7 free HD-DVD movies. Not to mention you can pick up HD DVD movies for as little as $14.99. There are hundreds of movies already released on HD DVD, so even if no studios come out with another movie, you can still upconvert all of your existing DVDs to 1080i, and enjoy the huge library of HD DVD movies already released for a fraction of the cost of a BD player. This deal is too good to pass up.


Think before buying
I have this player at home and it really is great. No problems whatsoever. the upscaling is a surprise. My regular dvd's look better now with this Toshiba player. Sometimes I would forget that I am watching a regular dvd since its close to the HD-dvd version. But as you know the HD-DVD's are spectacular. You would be proud to show off your tv and your entertainmnet system to your friends and family ( especially on holidays , they would insist to come over to our house instead ).

The thing to look out for is that HD-DVD is a "dying" format. Only 2 big name movie companies are still supporting this format and that almost all of them are switching to BLU-RAY. Which means that if you buy this now , you will only be able to play a few selected contents now and in the future. I was disappointed when I learned about this since I started collecting HD-dvd already. If you noticed they slashed the price of the player already...I paid almost $500 for this before... I think that only proves to me even more that they are trying to get rid of this player.
Now I have to re-buy all my Hd-dvd's to Blu-ray when I get a Playstation 3 next month.

Excellent player for the price..( especially now) but wary about future use. So if you have money to gamble on the HD-DVD format then done even think about it and get now!


Good Value
The HD-A3 is a good value for the price. It has the greater part of the base characteristics the expensive versions to have without the price and the added functionality;) The HD-DVD disposition is little a annoying and it has only been bought because some films that I have wished do not come in the blue-beam. One what that I have noticed is that the cargo of the slower player of HD-DVD of my player of blue-beam PS3. Really many of the functions on the Toshiba are more disc of a valve of the traditional players therefore the removal of 1 star. If it were fast would' ve be good. The quality of the image is excellent therefore as the upconversion. It makes that what I have had it need to make, plays HD-DVD that I have received as they give and the additional films have made the purchase that the much most justifiable one. Even if the films are not much new or all that popular, are that it enjoys and worthy it for me. One what to the famous one is that this player does not support 1080p, that is right for me but cannot be for those with the hdtv able 1080p.


Great picture and sound for the price, poorly designed otherwise<