Toshiba HD-XA2 1080p HD-DVD Player by Toshiba
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Digital camera reviews of Toshiba HD-XA2 1080p HD-DVD Player
Digital camera Review: Still the best HD player available
Summary: 5 Stars
This player is still the undisputed champ of Hi-def players! I like it so much I picked up a second XA2. Just make sure you update the firmware to version 2.7, which will give you the ability to bitstream all the audio formats to your audio receiver and also provides stunning 1080p 24fps playback.
BTW, that last poster should try a standard DVD lens cleaner if they keep getting disc unreadable error codes (I would hope they tried that, but the post didn't make mention). A simple Google search will reveal that the quality control on these units is very good. In fact, the only real issue that some people talk about is fan noise, which I've never heard on my two XA2's...that may be because my units are not enclosed within cabinets and thus don't get very hot.
Digital camera Review: Awful
Summary: 1 Stars
Were it possible I would give this 0 stars.
The player started off well back in Feb 2007 using version 1.0 of the firmware and the first generation of HD disks, but over the past three months I have been getting the infamous and cryptic error code 408bc504 popping up with newer HD disks....why, I have no idea, but it's a problem that has been discussed on many AV forums, and one that renders the machine effectively useless.
Nothing to do but apply the latest firmware upgrade (the Toshiba website now has v2.7), so I went to the time and expense of downloading the latest version, burning it onto a CD-R, and updating the player. I'm not sure when consumers suddenly became testers and fixers for what are supposed to be working goods at the point of sale, but in any case, the problem still remains.
I have tried playing many HD-DVD disks, all brand-spanking new, dust and scratch free, and untouched by human hand up to the point of inserting the disk into the player - and the problem remains. It may happen an hour or two into a disk, it may not happen for a whole day, but it does, eventually, rear its ugly head. The player then remains unusable for all HD disks until, again apparently randomly, it decides once more to recognise and play them again.
Do not touch this hardware with a bargepole, unless becoming an unpaid hardware/firmware tester for Toshiba is your calling in life.
Digital camera Review: I love this player
Summary: 5 Stars
I was so frustrated with my XA2 when I tried to watch Bourne Ultimatum and it froze an hour into the movie... That was when I learned about the firmware updates that I wasn't getting (I was still at firmware 1.5) Apparently I was so far behind in firmware updates that I couldn't do it via the internet anymore. Oops!
Called Toshiba and they sent me a disc (in just 3 days and for free!) that would get me up to Firmware 2.7. Have not experienced a problem since. HD Movies look great. Most importantly, I couldn't care less about Disney only going with Blu-Ray for its HD movies, because when I put my standard DVDs in the XA2 (especially animated movies) they look like they might as well be in HD... they look awesome!
Now I just wish they would give 5 free movies to the folks that spent $600+ for the XA2 this past year instead of the folks that are spending $200 for the newer models.
Digital camera Review: Excellent picture BUT
Summary: 3 Stars
The Toshiba HD-XA2 is a product in progress. The picture quality is fantastic. The features available are very good. The play back of standard DVDs is the big reason I selected this player, and it does not disappoint.
The disappointing part is this player freezes on play of HD DVDs. It seams to do this every time I start an HD DVD and varies where and when it happens. This requires a complete shutdown of the player to get out of the freeze. On restart the HD DVD will play all the way through without any problem. I have updated the player to the latest firmware version with no discernable difference, it still freezes. If Toshiba can solve this problem they have a great player. On browsing the internet I find this is a fairly common complaint. So far I am willing to put up with this aggravation but many of you might not.
Digital camera Review: The BEST HD player on the market
Summary: 5 Stars
Top quality worksmanship for the build of this player. Works flawless with firware updrage 2.7. Bitstreams the newest HD audio codecs direct to your new 1.3 hdmi receivers. SOunds great, looks fantastic.
Excellent reference quality HD-DVD player. A must own for every movie enthusiast with an HDTV.