My Toshiba hd-dvd player dilema

Buffalo Bill · 04-10-2008, 12:08 AM

Okay, November 2, 2007 I bought the hd-a2 for $99 from Wal Mart which is a superb upconverter (all I use it for). I was considering buying an hd-a3 from CC tomorrow for $99.99 with a $15 off $100 coupon as a backup. But, today Wal Mart has offered full money back for any hd-dvd player purchased from Nov. 1, 2007 on (offer good until April 30). If the a3 is a better player I can get 2 from CC and get a full refund from WM (& had the use of it for 6 months). I'm planning on getting a smaller hdtv for my bedroom which I can hook up the second a3 to also. I've got a standard dvd/vhs player hooked up in the bedroom & also to my Samsung dlp which I owned before I bought the a2 & use mainly for the vcrs to tape tv shows. Would you keep the a2 or go for the a3? I'll also spend $30 apiece for the 3 year CC extended warranty (but I'll get back the $20 for the 2 year WM EW). If the a3 is as good or better at upconverting as the a2 I can get 2 for $261 with tax & free shipping plus get about $120 + tax back from WM. I'll only be out of pocket about $130. What should I do? I'm a ways from going blu ray. I like my 700 or so dvds upconverted & plan on waiting for prices to drop substantially & then I'll probably only get new discs in bd format, keeping my dvds. Help me out hi def folks.

ganthc · 04-10-2008, 12:24 AM

The hd-a2 has been extremely reliable for me. I don't know if the 3rd gen Toshiba players were as good as the 2nd gen. Everything should be the same between the two players. I would say that if you need two players, to go ahead and get the a3's. I think you should be all right with the warranty plans. And getting 2 for 1 would be a good deal, no matter how you cut it.

Buffalo Bill · 04-10-2008, 12:47 AM

Okay, I just got a second $15 off $100 coupon. I could make 2 orders with a penny item to get it to $100 & get each a3 for $85 apiece with free shipping. Only extra cost is the extended warranties. I've had very good luck with the a2 so I could keep the a2 and get an a3 or take it back & get 2 a3s. They'll both be covered for 3 years & I'd be getting two fresh machines whereas this machine has been used a lot for almost 6 solid months. I just don't know enough about the a2 a3 differences & if the a3 is better being a next gen machine. What would you do Ganthc? and anyone else out there?

Ruined · 04-10-2008, 03:12 AM

I'd keep the HD-A2 over the HD-A3. It is overall a tiny bit better player (faster, DTS1536 transcoding instead of DD640)

***chlngr1970*** · 04-10-2008, 05:19 AM

If you can swing it, I'd keep them all

it's good to have a backup if your other players fail down the line...

j

ganthc · 04-10-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffalo Bill

Okay, I just got a second $15 off $100 coupon. I could make 2 orders with a penny item to get it to $100 & get each a3 for $85 apiece with free shipping. Only extra cost is the extended warranties. I've had very good luck with the a2 so I could keep the a2 and get an a3 or take it back & get 2 a3s. They'll both be covered for 3 years & I'd be getting two fresh machines whereas this machine has been used a lot for almost 6 solid months. I just don't know enough about the a2 a3 differences & if the a3 is better being a next gen machine. What would you do Ganthc? and anyone else out there?

I would keep the hd-a2 and get an a3 for cheap. The hda2 has been really reliable and performed well. The a3 should be very similar, but I haven't had any experience with it, so I can't necessarily recommend it. However, for that low a price, getting a spare is worth it.

Buffalo Bill · 04-10-2008, 03:24 PM

Thanks. I went with your recommendations & ordered one hd-a3 & am keeping the hd-a2 (which has been totally glitchfree & upconverts beautifully). I appreciate the help.

ganthc · 04-10-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffalo Bill

Thanks. I went with your recommendations & ordered one hd-a3 & am keeping the hd-a2 (which has been totally glitchfree & upconverts beautifully). I appreciate the help.

Great, give us some feedback on the hd-a3. I haven't really heard a lot about it.

biglyle · 04-10-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganthc

Great, give us some feedback on the hd-a3. I haven't really heard a lot about it.

I have had an HD-A3 since it first came out. Seems like a good enough player. Plays HD DVD discs very well. It is a very slow machine though, loads times are long. I am not sure if they are longer than my A2's was, but they were close for sure. Its about the same for upscaling as the PS3, I really cant tell the 2 apart with a standard DVD.

ganthc · 04-10-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biglyle

I have had an HD-A3 since it first came out. Seems like a good enough player. Plays HD DVD discs very well. It is a very slow machine though, loads times are long. I am not sure if they are longer than my A2's was, but they were close for sure. Its about the same for upscaling as the PS3, I really cant tell the 2 apart with a standard DVD.

Well that's good to hear about the a3. I wasn't sure about if it had any real differences except maybe the placement of the disc tray. I know the hd-a35 has it on the right hand side, which does make it a big awkward on opening, because the button is on the left hand side of the tray and not the right hand side. so you have to reach over the open tray if you want to close the tray.

I also haven't noticed a huge difference between the upconversion of the ps3 and the a2. They both do a decent job and it looks better than on my old dvd player.

Buffalo Bill · 04-11-2008, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganthc

Great, give us some feedback on the hd-a3. I haven't really heard a lot about it.

Will do. I ordered it from cc.com & it was supposed to be here by APril 25. I didn't order it until about 1am Eastern. It already shipped via FedEx ground & the tracking info estimates arrival time at TOMORROW!!! Damn, that's fast.

Now I have to get my new hdtv for the bedroom to hook it up to. I'm getting the Samsung 32" LCD HDTV (LN32A450) tomorrow or Saturday.

billnye97 · 04-12-2008, 02:42 PM

I just bought an A3 for really cheap from eBay. New for 65 with shipping. I was just using my Xbox 360 AO for my HD player and I figured for that price it would be nice to get a stand alone player. Should I notice any difference on the upconversion between the HDAO and the A3?

Ruined · 04-12-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billnye97

I just bought an A3 for really cheap from eBay. New for 65 with shipping. I was just using my Xbox 360 AO for my HD player and I figured for that price it would be nice to get a stand alone player. Should I notice any difference on the upconversion between the HDAO and the A3?

Yeah, the A3 is a far better upconverter than the 360/HDAO.

04-10-2008, 12:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Buffalo Bill Hapless Actor Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Walden Puddle.	My Toshiba hd-dvd player dilema Okay, November 2, 2007 I bought the hd-a2 for $99 from Wal Mart which is a superb upconverter (all I use it for). I was considering buying an hd-a3 from CC tomorrow for $99.99 with a $15 off $100 coupon as a backup. But, today Wal Mart has offered full money back for any hd-dvd player purchased from Nov. 1, 2007 on (offer good until April 30). If the a3 is a better player I can get 2 from CC and get a full refund from WM (& had the use of it for 6 months). I'm planning on getting a smaller hdtv for my bedroom which I can hook up the second a3 to also. I've got a standard dvd/vhs player hooked up in the bedroom & also to my Samsung dlp which I owned before I bought the a2 & use mainly for the vcrs to tape tv shows. Would you keep the a2 or go for the a3? I'll also spend $30 apiece for the 3 year CC extended warranty (but I'll get back the $20 for the 2 year WM EW). If the a3 is as good or better at upconverting as the a2 I can get 2 for $261 with tax & free shipping plus get about $120 + tax back from WM. I'll only be out of pocket about $130. What should I do? I'm a ways from going blu ray. I like my 700 or so dvds upconverted & plan on waiting for prices to drop substantially & then I'll probably only get new discs in bd format, keeping my dvds. Help me out hi def folks. __________________ "Brick Tamland is married with 11 children and is one of the top political advisors to the Bush White House." (now everything makes sense) Spring 2009 Fahrenheit 9/11 part deux debuts!!!

04-10-2008, 12:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
ganthc Actor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: "Vyenna", VA	The hd-a2 has been extremely reliable for me. I don't know if the 3rd gen Toshiba players were as good as the 2nd gen. Everything should be the same between the two players. I would say that if you need two players, to go ahead and get the a3's. I think you should be all right with the warranty plans. And getting 2 for 1 would be a good deal, no matter how you cut it. __________________ HOOK'EM!!! UT LONGHORNS - National Champs 2005-2006!!! http://ganthc.youaremighty.com

04-10-2008, 12:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Buffalo Bill Hapless Actor Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Walden Puddle.	Okay, I just got a second $15 off $100 coupon. I could make 2 orders with a penny item to get it to $100 & get each a3 for $85 apiece with free shipping. Only extra cost is the extended warranties. I've had very good luck with the a2 so I could keep the a2 and get an a3 or take it back & get 2 a3s. They'll both be covered for 3 years & I'd be getting two fresh machines whereas this machine has been used a lot for almost 6 solid months. I just don't know enough about the a2 a3 differences & if the a3 is better being a next gen machine. What would you do Ganthc? and anyone else out there? __________________ "Brick Tamland is married with 11 children and is one of the top political advisors to the Bush White House." (now everything makes sense) Spring 2009 Fahrenheit 9/11 part deux debuts!!!

04-10-2008, 03:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ruined It's Good to Play Together Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: NJ, USA	I'd keep the HD-A2 over the HD-A3. It is overall a tiny bit better player (faster, DTS1536 transcoding instead of DD640) __________________ For every shadow, no matter how deep, is threatened by morning light.

04-10-2008, 05:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
*chlngr1970* Producer/Admin Tenacious "OB" Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Spanaway Washington	If you can swing it, I'd keep them all it's good to have a backup if your other players fail down the line... j __________________ "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return" Christian, Moulin Rouge

04-10-2008, 03:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Buffalo Bill Hapless Actor Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Walden Puddle.	Thanks. I went with your recommendations & ordered one hd-a3 & am keeping the hd-a2 (which has been totally glitchfree & upconverts beautifully). I appreciate the help. __________________ "Brick Tamland is married with 11 children and is one of the top political advisors to the Bush White House." (now everything makes sense) Spring 2009 Fahrenheit 9/11 part deux debuts!!!

04-12-2008, 02:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
billnye97 Actor Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: In a van down by the river	I just bought an A3 for really cheap from eBay. New for 65 with shipping. I was just using my Xbox 360 AO for my HD player and I figured for that price it would be nice to get a stand alone player. Should I notice any difference on the upconversion between the HDAO and the A3? __________________ "I don't drink coffee, sir. I don't drink hot liquids of any kind. That's the devil's temperature." ~ Kenneth the Page. 30 Rock

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode