HD-DVD Firmware Thread

[Derb]

Originally Posted by zepherman

Sorry if this has been mentioned already. But I just learned that the XA2 has a new update to allow all the new audio codecs (lossy and lossless)to be sent via bitstream over HDMI 1.3.

This is great news for XA2 owners that want to be able to let their receiver/pre-pro do the decoding. Apparently it works great and sounds phenomenal!

So if you don't have a receiver that sports TrueHD decoders, than it doesn't really matter to apply this update? Well, people who do have older receivers will no longer have bass issues with DD+

[zepherman]

Originally Posted by Derb

So if you don't have a receiver that sports TrueHD decoders, than it doesn't really matter to apply this update? Well, people who do have older receivers will no longer have bass issues with DD+

That's correct. If you don't have a receiver/pre-pro with all the newest decoding then there is no need to install it. For me, right now I also have no use for that capability, but once I replace my Sunfire TGIII pre/pro with a Denon AVP-A1HD pre/pro, then I will be able to enjoy it. So I feel that at least I will have it in place and ready for when I do get the Denon. But the update isn't a necessity unless you plan to get a new receiver.

Now for people who own TV's/projectors with 1080p/24 capability then this update is an important one as it also addresses certain issues for that.

But it's great to know that Toshiba is standing behind their products and offering useful updates for people who want them.



Seth

[sub780lime]

Interesting problem with my A2 update. Twice the disc would not complete the burn (think it was a hardware issue, not the iso), but it was annoying to go through 3 discs to get a good one. Well, either way, my player is all updated.

[SilentBob]

HD-A1/XA1 Update 2.4 is now out according to the AVSForum. No idea on what it does with the player yet.

[Ruined]

HD-A3/A30/A35 - 1.3 is the latest version; currently only available via player download. Its a critical update too as it fixes some compatibility issues that the A3/A30/A35 had on release.

Also, link to A2 2.7 firmware in OP is messed up:
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/tacpasse...d2firmware.asp

[Iguana Man]

Will firmware still be updated? I suppose so but for how long?

"How long?" <--- Idiot! Only as long as you can hold your breath!

Wow...I goats to go eats!

[chlngr1970]

Just found out about a 2.0 for the A3/A30/A35/D3 models. I just downloaded it and will be trying it on my HD-A35/30 in a few minutes.

j

[esc]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

Just found out about a 2.0 for the A3/A30/A35/D3 models. I just downloaded it and will be trying it on my HD-A35/30 in a few minutes.

I was going to download this and burn it to a CD for a client that I put a theater room together for (he lives in the middle of nowhere so an update via high speed isn't going to work), but I may leave his firmware at 1.3 for a while since there are reports at AVS forum of 2.0 causing jaggies when viewing HD content at 1080/24

[billnye97]

Well I just got my A3 in the mail today. When I get home I'm unsure about updating the firmware to 2.0. I've read that jaggies are rampant with mpeg encoded discs. I have a tv that only goes up to 1080i so I don't know if that makes a difference or not. Any help would be appreciated. Also can I just upgrade to 1.3 if there are problems or do I have to go all the way to 2.0?

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by billnye97

Well I just got my A3 in the mail today. When I get home I'm unsure about updating the firmware to 2.0. I've read that jaggies are rampant with mpeg encoded discs. I have a tv that only goes up to 1080i so I don't know if that makes a difference or not. Any help would be appreciated. Also can I just upgrade to 1.3 if there are problems or do I have to go all the way to 2.0?

At least with the hd-a35, when I did the upgrade via the ethernet port, I was able to go to 1.3 first. I didn't upgrade to 2.0, because I did experience problems with my last player and returned it. Perhaps the player wasn't the problem, and it was the 2.0 firmware. Regardless, the 1.3 firmware has been fine so far. I haven't had any issues at all (except for a few instances where dvds get stuck when using the clunky ffwd and rewind functions) to speak of, and so I believe if you use the internet to upgrade, you can just upgrade to 1.3 only. The Toshiba site may still have the old version of the firmware on its site though.

[billnye97]

Originally Posted by ganthc

At least with the hd-a35, when I did the upgrade via the ethernet port, I was able to go to 1.3 first. I didn't upgrade to 2.0, because I did experience problems with my last player and returned it. Perhaps the player wasn't the problem, and it was the 2.0 firmware. Regardless, the 1.3 firmware has been fine so far. I haven't had any issues at all (except for a few instances where dvds get stuck when using the clunky ffwd and rewind functions) to speak of, and so I believe if you use the internet to upgrade, you can just upgrade to 1.3 only. The Toshiba site may still have the old version of the firmware on its site though.

Did it just automatically upgrade to 1.3 and then you had to upgrade to 2.0 or was there a selection first? Granted I only spent 65 bucks on the player but I don't want to take a step back in terms of PQ with a crappy firmware update.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by billnye97

Did it just automatically upgrade to 1.3 and then you had to upgrade to 2.0 or was there a selection first? Granted I only spent 65 bucks on the player but I don't want to take a step back in terms of PQ with a crappy firmware update.

For the hd-a35, it first prompted an upgrade to 1.3. When that was done, it prompted an update to 2.0. In my last player I did that upgrade, and in my current player I stopped at 1.3. It won't install 2.0 until 1.3 is installed. 2.0 didn't affect PQ necessarily. I was having problems with glitches, but the PQ was always good. I am doing a test to see whether the 2.0 upgrade is even necessary. I'll hold on to it as long as possible.

[billnye97]

Thanks, Ganthic for all the info. I'm updating now to 1.3 I think I'll wait to see if I have any problems before I update to 2.0. Although it has been about 30 minutes and it is sitting on Step 4/4.

[chlngr1970]

I received a 2.0 update disc from Toshiba the other day. I took my A3 down to my dads place cause his Pioneer Elite DV 45 was just randomly stopping durning plaback. I left it there as a stand in till the 45 comes back. I had an issue with 300 stopping, and it has the 2.0 firmware. I might just take my extra A35 down instead.

j

[dugpa]

Well how about that, I just got a 3.0 firmware update disc in the mail for my HD-A1. It says it addresses hdmi/dvi issues. I haven't bothered updating since I don't use dvi, but it's nice to see Toshiba still supporting their players even after the format's death, and on a 1st gen player no less!

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by dugpa

Well how about that, I just got a 3.0 firmware update disc in the mail for my HD-A1. It says it addresses hdmi/dvi issues. I haven't bothered updating since I don't use dvi, but it's nice to see Toshiba still supporting their players even after the format's death, and on a 1st gen player no less!

I bought two players from them and never got one update disc. Go figure! That said, I was able to easily update the firmware on both machines.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

I had an issue with 300 stopping, and it has the 2.0 firmware.

Probably a defective disc, there was a fairly sizable bad run of 300 discs which locked up halfway through the movie.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

I received a 2.0 update disc from Toshiba the other day. I took my A3 down to my dads place cause his Pioneer Elite DV 45 was just randomly stopping durning plaback. I left it there as a stand in till the 45 comes back. I had an issue with 300 stopping, and it has the 2.0 firmware. I might just take my extra A35 down instead.

j

J, if you have "Brokeback Mountain" try using that with the player. I think it will be a good indicator of whether it's the disc or not. Or try playing that 300 disc in your hd-a2 and see if it works better.

[Buffalo Bill]

Just installed the 3.0 update disc I received from Tosiba in the mail today for my hd-a2. Don't see any difference but I've read on highdefdigest that it's supposed to deal with the jaggie issues caused by the last update.

[ganthc]

I have three hd-dvd players, and have never received an update disc from Toshiba. I gave up on trying to get one from them.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by ganthc

I have three hd-dvd players, and have never received an update disc from Toshiba. I gave up on trying to get one from them.

You did register with them for updates, right? I mean, they don't have PI's scouring the country trying to figure out who has a player on their own. You do have to tell them.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by dugpa

You did register with them for updates, right? I mean, they don't have PI's scouring the country trying to figure out who has a player on their own. You do have to tell them.

I got update discs from them for my registered A1 but after the first 2 or 3, they stopped sending me updates for that player. NO real biggie as it easy to just download & burn a ISO file from their website.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by dugpa

You did register with them for updates, right? I mean, they don't have PI's scouring the country trying to figure out who has a player on their own. You do have to tell them.

Yeah, I sent in firmware disc requests for both my hd-a2 and my hd-a35. Never got a disc from Toshiba for either of them. My hd-xa2 was used, so obviously I wouldn't have gotten the firmware discs for that one.

[Buffalo Bill]

Just installed the 3.0 update in my hd-a3 which arrived today from Toshiba. ganthc, I don't think they like you.

[ganthc]

I guess not. But since all they will be putting out now are SUC players, I think it won't really matter. The xa2 is doing fine for me now, as is the trusty hd-a2 on my other TV. The hd-a35 is taking a siesta and will be called into duty if a player breaks down.

[Botch]

I just got 3.0 for my A2 and was wondering if anyone has hear of any problems with it like the last version 2.8 I think it was

[ganthc]

I haven't heard anything, but considering my players work right now with the firmware they have, I see no reason to upgrade. I still wonder whether firmware jacked up my first hd-a35.

[Buffalo Bill]

Just got the mail in. I've got a 4.0 upgrade disc for my HD-A3. Not sure what it's supposed to do but I guess I'll pop it in now. Did you get yours, Ganthc?

[dugpa]

I just got a 4.0 firmware disc in the mail today for my A1. Guess they're just jumping to whole numbers for everything now. According to the notes with the disc it addresses DVI to HDMI issues. Don't know if I'll bother installing it since I don't use DVI. Gotta give Toshiba credit, they're still supporting a dead format for free.

[Derb]

WoW. Toshiba Canada stopped sending me update discs for, dunno a long time. I think I received maybe 3 for the A1, last one being early 2007.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Derb

WoW. Toshiba Canada stopped sending me update discs for, dunno a long time. I think I received maybe 3 for the A1, last one being early 2007.

Canadians don't get updates because they hate our freedoms.

I think I've gotten about 7 update discs from Toshiba since I've had my player. They've pretty much sent me a disc for every update, except for a couple of ones where the updates came really close together.

[Buffalo Bill]

Got my 4.0 update for my hd-a2 in today's mail. Usually get the hd-a2 before the a3 but they reversed 'em this time.

[yinkey98]

The upgrade follows on the heels of Version 1.3, which the company issued only just issued this past February. This new download first appeared this week on Toshiba's official support site, and according to the documentation from Toshiba, does not offer any new features or enhancements. However, it does fix certain The-Sopranos-Seasons-1-6 connectivity and playback issues, according to this statement:

"As part of our commitment to provide world-class service to our customers, Toshiba is supplying this firmware update for use by purchasers of Toshiba HD DVD Player models HD-XA2, HD-A20, HD-A2, HD-A2W and HD-D2. This firmware update addresses certain The-X-Files-Seasons-1-9 disc playback and HDMI/DVI related problems identified by Toshiba."