Toshiba HD-A30 1080p HD DVD Player by Toshiba
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Our Price: $399.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $79.00 (click here) Category: Home Theater See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Toshiba HD-A30 1080p HD DVD Player
Digital camera Review: A great bang for the buck while waiting for enhanced Blu-Ray players.
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this player fairly recently and find it to be an exceptional upscaling dvd player. I have also found tremendous bargains on HD DVDs and have built a nice collection.
Setup was super easy, unhooked my old player, slid in the A-30 connected Audio and HDMI cables and poof - everything worked correctly.
HD DVDs are fantastic, and upscaling of regular DVDs is impressive.
A great bang for the buck while waiting for enhanced Blu-Ray players.
Digital camera Review: A30 with 5087S
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read mixed reviews on this product. With the recent price drops I decided to give it a try. It seems the HD format has lost the format war, but the recent price drop makes this product the same or less than most of the upconverting players I was considering. Plus it has the added bonus of playing HD DVDs.
I am using mine with a Samsung 5087S and am very pleased. I have yet to understand the negative reviews as I have yet to experience any negatives. Mine came flashed with the latest firmware and configuration was simple. Picture and sound for HD is great and the upconverting capabilities are just beautiful. For HD I tested Batman Begins and was impressed. For SD upconverted to 1080P I used The Fellowship of the Ring and was even more impressed.
I have read numerous complaints about startup time. Maybe I am lucky or more patient because I do not experience anything unacceptable. If my biggest complaint is a couple minutes startup time in order to watch a movie a couples in length, then maybe I am doing pretty well. I am not understanding the need to be able to start watching it any faster. I turn the player on and go to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Then I take my dog out for a bathroom break and the player is ready when I get back.
Overall I am very pleased with my purchase. And after comparing true HD DVD and BlueRay both I wish the format war would have turned out differently. Cheaper player with equal quality sounds better to me.
Digital camera Review: ATTENTION: PLEASE DO NOT BUY ANY HD DVD PLAYER
Summary: 1 Stars
In a few moments, Toshiba corporation is pulling the plug on all HD DVD players. This means that they will stop selling any HD DVD players. This news comes as a result of the dominant Blu Ray players, lead by Sony corp. Toshiba HD DVD players have been struggling to compete with Sony, especially in the recent months. Since last month's Warner Bros. announcement that they will only distribute in the Blu Ray format starting this May 2008 during the CES 2008 convention, it has become a domino effect. Just last week, Netflix, Best Buy and Wal-Mart have pledge allegiance to only go Blu Ray exclusive, following the footsteps of other vendors such as Target and Blockbuster to mention a few. Most major studios are only supporting Blu Ray exclusively. Only Paramount and Universal are the ones that are exclusive to HD DVD. By Toshiba having the official announcement in a few hours, Paramount and Universal can start publishing to Blu Ray format as this action from Toshiba will be a reason to pull out of their contract.
Bottom line is please do not purchase any HD DVD players. It is now an obsolete player.
Digital camera Review: All This "BLUE" Ray Advice !!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
Okay, I've read enough from all these naysayers, warning IN BOLD TYPE EVEN that HD DVD is dead. You can check it out on Google even, they SAY. If they are so savvy, why do they spell Blu Ray, "BLUE RAY" ? (We call it "Blah Ray"
at my house, but that's obviously for purposes of derision and beside the point).
Yes, dear harbingers of doom, anyone even vaguely connected to electronic technology knows that Toshiba has thrown in the towel after being starved out of the HD optical disc business by movie studios and retailers, courtesy of Sony $$$ incentives.
I doubt anyone is buying HD DVD nowadays unaware of the format's demise.
So, STOP SHOUTING THE OBVIOUS AT US ALREADY !!! There's a disclaimer on every retailer's HD DVD selling page disclosing the facts, for Pete's sake !
That off my chest, now to the purpose of this review area in the first place. ( Those who want to SCREAM ill-timed warnings, please review/comment on the "SCREAMIN' Ill -Timed Warnings" review section).
I very recently ( since the announced demise of HD DVD ) purchased a Toshiba HD-A30 as a back-up player. I already own an HD-A20 and 100+ HD DVD movies ( Imagine that...I'm such a dumb loser !!!) and I would like to be able to enjoy my HD DVD collection for years to come. The HD-A30 will take over when, and if my older unit fails. That way, my movie collection is indeed viewable for the foreseeable future.
I've tried the HD-A30 out and have found it to be a very nice player. I can't put my finger on it, but I still prefer my HD-A20. The build quality seems a bit better on the 20 maybe.
Picture and sound wise the A30 is an excellent performer. Its video performance is exactly equal to the higher dollar A35. The extra money in the former unit goes toward more advanced audio options, which I don't need, as I only have a 5.1 audio setup. Don't fret, the sound through my humble system is superb !
The A30 is also a superior upconverting player, allowing me to view my standard DVD collection at near HD resolution. This player is on par with the A20 in this respect. In my opinion, its upscaling capabilities exceed the performance of any dedicated upconverting player I have seen. Given the "sell off" pricing of these machines, this capability alone suggests consideration of the A30.
While future development of HD DVD and subsequent movie releases may have come to an abrupt stop, there are still 500+ HD DVDs out there to be had, in some cases for less than I might pay for the same title in standard DVD.
So, for now, naive little ol' me, will enjoy 1080p High Resolution movies with back-up peace of mind. I'll collect wonderful Hi Def discs for a fraction of what the victorious Blu boys will be paying. And I will view my trusty old DVDs in the best possible resolution.
And, you soothsayers of devastation can just go SHOUT YOUR DIRE WARNINGS ELSEWHERE !!!
Digital camera Review: Allen's a bit sensitive, yet better than Toshiba
Summary: 5 Stars
I received a fully functioning HDDVD W/O the remote. Allen didn't like the criticism, yet quickly remedied the error.