Toshiba HD-A2 VS Marantz DV-8300
Bill Ayotte
Posts: 1,860
I am doing a A/B comparison using Batman Begins on DVD, then Batman Begins on HD-DVD compared to the same on DVD on the DV-8300...I am using Signal Component cables on the DV-8300, and a NX? (don't remember, it was free) HDMI cable for video on the HD-A2...Both are using Signal Analog II's for sound....I am running 2ch. with a Sunfire Super Junior...
My first impression of the HD-A2 is a little salty...I thought the DV-8300 had a long load time...This thing takes about 25-30 seconds longer to load a normal DVD...I attribute this to the HD-A2 needing to ID the format...Although the DV-8300 is a universal player, the load times are within a few seconds of each other...Eh, semantics....
While playing a normal DVD on the A2, the picture is a little more crisp due to the upscaling, but the sound is somewhat veiled compared to the DV-8300...Basically, whatever I gained in picture quality, I lost in sound quality...IMO, unless you plan on buying HD format from now on out, I wouldn't do it...
Now on to the HD-DVD.....There is a noticeable difference in picture quality, everything is much more crisp and the colors are more vibrant as well..The sound is better than a normal DVD, but still not quite up to par with the DV-8300 IMO....I am not surprised by the lack of audio quality, I am comparing a $1800 MSRP DVD player to a base HD-DVD player....I still thought it would be in the neighborhood somewhere....
Overall, I wouldn't buy this player if it cost me more than $99....The picture is nice, but I will still be watching DVDs on the DV-8300 for a while.....Maybe after the technology progresses farther, the SQ will get to the same point, maybe beyond the Marantz.....
My first impression of the HD-A2 is a little salty...I thought the DV-8300 had a long load time...This thing takes about 25-30 seconds longer to load a normal DVD...I attribute this to the HD-A2 needing to ID the format...Although the DV-8300 is a universal player, the load times are within a few seconds of each other...Eh, semantics....
While playing a normal DVD on the A2, the picture is a little more crisp due to the upscaling, but the sound is somewhat veiled compared to the DV-8300...Basically, whatever I gained in picture quality, I lost in sound quality...IMO, unless you plan on buying HD format from now on out, I wouldn't do it...
Now on to the HD-DVD.....There is a noticeable difference in picture quality, everything is much more crisp and the colors are more vibrant as well..The sound is better than a normal DVD, but still not quite up to par with the DV-8300 IMO....I am not surprised by the lack of audio quality, I am comparing a $1800 MSRP DVD player to a base HD-DVD player....I still thought it would be in the neighborhood somewhere....
Overall, I wouldn't buy this player if it cost me more than $99....The picture is nice, but I will still be watching DVDs on the DV-8300 for a while.....Maybe after the technology progresses farther, the SQ will get to the same point, maybe beyond the Marantz.....
Post edited by Bill Ayotte on
Comments
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I think the HD-XA1 or XA2 would be more of a fair comparison. I don't own the XA2 yet, but for the XA1, there is a tremendous difference in sound between using analog and any of the digital connections which I found HDMI to be the best of those.
Before installing the A2 in my fathers rig, I tried it in mine and there was no comparison in sound. Hands down, the XA1 beats it and I would assume the XA2 would as well. -
Well, after watching a few movies through it and playing some music for **** and giggles, the sound has improved quite a bit.....Not quite on the level of the Marantz, but it is getting better...There is a lot more detail now.....Not a musical player, but I really didn't expect it to be....Sounds, eh, ok though....I've heard worse.....Anybody in the market for a nice DVD/HD-DVD player should check this one out, it up-converts well, and HD-DVDs are pretty spectacular PQ wise...Even if HD-DVD loses the format war, you have a nice player....The damn startup time still kills me though....
