Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player, anyone using one?

danger boy · December 2007

For my birthday next month.. yes please shop for my present now if you must. :rolleyes:

anyway.. i am looking at the HD-A35 player. I think it is the model with analog audio outs.. but my ? is, if I don't have a pre amp that has high def analog audio inputs, just the standard analog inputs.. would I get the high def sound track on HD DVD movies?

What is this TrueDolby, or Dolby Digital DTS?

also, my TV is only 1080i, not 1080P, so would I still get a great looking picture? how much improvement is 1080P over 1080i?

millerman 3732 · December 2007

Yes, the A35 has analog outputs

There really not any such thing as a Hi-Def Analogs, it's just the basic 5.1 or 7.1 analog outputs and the player will decode the newer formats and pass them either by the analog outputs or HDMI. And yes you will be getting the same high resolution audio from the analogs, just like if you had an new AVR or pre that decodes the new formats, it should sound the same, atleast thats what I've read, others seem to disagree.

What is Dolby TrueHD? from the Dolby web site:

Dolby TrueHD
Dolby® TrueHD is Dolbys next-generation lossless technology developed for high-definition disc-based media. Dolby TrueHD delivers tantalizing sound that is bit-for-bit identical to the studio master, unlocking the true high-definition entertainment experience on next-generation discs. When coupled with high-definition video, Dolby TrueHD offers an unprecedented home theater experience that lets you enjoy sound as stunning as the high-definition picture.

Features
100 percent lossless coding technology.
Up to 18 Mbps bit rate.
Supports up to eight full-range channels of 24-bit/96 kHz audio.*
Supported by High-Definition Media Interface (HDMI), the new single-cable digital connection for audio and video.
Supports extensive metadata including dialogue normalization and dynamic range control.
*Dolby TrueHD can support more than eight audio channels. HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc standards currently limit their maximum number of audio channels to eight.

Benefits
Delivers enthralling studio-master-quality sound that unlocks the true high-definition entertainment experience on next-generation discs.
Offers more discrete channels than ever before for impeccable surround sound.
Compatible with the A/V receivers and home-theaters-in-a-box (HTIBs) of today and tomorrow.
Dialogue normalization maintains the same volume level when you change to other Dolby Digital and Dolby TrueHD programming.
Dynamic range control (Night mode) enables you to customize audio playback to reduce peak volume levels (no loud surprises) while experiencing all the details in the soundtrack, enabling late-night viewing of high-energy surround sound without disturbing others.
Selected as the mandatory format for HD DVD and as an optional format for Blu-ray Disc

And Yes you will get great PQ on your 1080i TV, should look just as good as a 1080p tv.

Sherardp · December 2007

The Xa2 is a much better player and does better with upconversion. A35 is still a stellar perfomer though, both will give you a great picture.

Ricardo · December 2007

I've got the A35; the upconverting is better than the OPPO I had; awesome picture.
I've got it connected only with the HDMI, so I wouldn't know about the analog outs.

BIZILL · December 2007

i have the a35. i was going to use my h/k 7300 reciever and go in through the 5.1 analogs, but you cannot utilize any 7.1 surround processing when you go analog. and i have a 7.1 setup. if i were only 5.1, then i'd be fine. the a35 only has 5.1 analog out. and yes, it's sent over pcm and is equal to hdmi for truehd and what not. no hd dvd players have 7.1 analog out. there are two blu-ray players that have 7.1 analog vs 5.1. and yes, there are a couple of titles on each format that are encoded in true 7.1 channel audio. bottom line is, my **** ended up scrapping the h/k for a newer hdmi reciever that 'does it all'. but honestly, my h/k did sound a bit better. it was a flagship receiver in it's prime.

oh, and the a35 is pretty good. it's ten times slower to function than my xbox 360 hd dvd player. even hitting the 'next chapter' button gives you a 5 second or so delay which gets pretty annoying. and the power on sequence forces you to wait awhile while it boots. but it does upconvert as well as my oppo did. and if you ever do go 7.1 and wish to bitstream to a capable hdmi reciever, the xa-2 and a35 are the only ones capable of 7.1 bitstreaming. sorry, i sure love my 7.1.

bsoko2 · December 2007

The AX2 and A35 are the only HDDVD players that support Bitstream for your (if you have one) HD receiver.

Bill

Ricardo · December 2007

BIZILL wrote: »

and yes, there are a couple of titles on each format that are encoded in true 7.1 channel audio.

Which?

millerman 3732 · December 2007

Pans' Labyrinth (HD DVD & BD) 7.1 DTS HD MA
Hair Spray (BD) 7.1 DTS HD MA
Crank (BD) 7.1 PCM

Just a few I can think off the top of my head.

Ricardo · December 2007

millerman 3732 wrote: »

Pans' Labyrinth (HD DVD & BD) 7.1 DTS HD MA
Hair Spray (BD) 7.1 DTS HD MA
Crank (BD) 7.1 PCM

Just a few I can think off the top of my head.

I've got Pan's Labyrinth in STD; great movie; I have to see it in HD 7.1; already in my Blockbuster's queue

danger boy · December 2007

bsoko2 wrote: »

The AX2 and A35 are the only HDDVD players that support Bitstream for your (if you have one) HD receiver.

Bill

am i reading this right? I would need an HD capable receiver to hear the HD audio track off of a HD DVD?

I don't have HDMI on my pre amp or TV, just DVI. So I would probably use either DVI or component for video and the 6 analog RCA's for audio. IF you use the digital audio outs on the Toshiba A35, what format is it in? is it the same HD audio or compressed to standard Dolby Digital?

BIZILL · December 2007

the condemned. not so good of a movie and i haven't tried it out on hd dvd. i believe it's hd dvd. anyway, it's suppose to be 7.1.

db, if you use the 5.1 analogs, the a35 will send it as pcm dolby trueHD, internally decoded, out through your analogs. so it will be trueHD or whatever hd audio format it's presented in. your speakers will not know the difference between the trueHD whether it be via anologs or hdmi. is all the same, baby.

m00npie · December 2007

danger boy wrote: »

am i reading this right? I would need an HD capable receiver to hear the HD audio track off of a HD DVD?

I don't have HDMI on my pre amp or TV, just DVI. So I would probably use either DVI or component for video and the 6 analog RCA's for audio. IF you use the digital audio outs on the Toshiba A35, what format is it in? is it the same HD audio or compressed to standard Dolby Digital?

You would need an HDMI 1.3 compliant receiver to play HD sound formats via HDMI. I don't think it is possible to play the new HD formats via Toslink or digital cable. In your case, the source controls the sound and passes them via the analog outs. In this case, you will get the new HD formats and at least for my XA1, the sound settings would be PCM not bitstream.

fireshoes · December 2007

The 35 is what I use for my living room rig.

danger boy · December 2007

why is the XA1 better than the A35? isn't the XA1 a first gen player? I know it was hella expensive when it hit the market.

millerman 3732 · December 2007

Who said the XA1 was better?

m00npie · December 2007

No, it was mentioned that the XA2 was better, not the XA1. The XA1 is very good, but the XA2 does a better job of up-converting and is generally faster and more appealing than the XA1.

Ask Sherardp why the XA2 is better.

millerman 3732 · December 2007

From what I've read the main benefit of having the XA2 is the reon processor and m00npie said its SD-DVD up conversion, thats the reason I got one anyway

danger boy · December 2007

ahh ok my bad.. i can't keep all these dang model numbers straight.. it's driving me crazy. why can't they all be good? they all nearly look the same.. just different output options and processors. make me a damn good player for under $300 and i'll be happy. end of story. and so it doesn't need updates every time i want to watch a effin movie in it.

danger boy · December 2007

Now I read reviews that the picture quality on the Toshiba A35 isn't as good as the A30. WTH?

but the A30 doesn't have analog audio outputs. why is it so tough to make a halfway decent player these days?

fireshoes · December 2007

Why would there be any picture difference?

aba4430 · January 2008

It does not make sense that picture is worse on the A35 vs. A30. I just bought the A30, as it was @$100 less than the A35 - and I have mixed feelings about my purchase. Compare both and make your purchase

I have a 1 year old brilliant Panny DVD-S97 that it replaced. Upconverted regular DVDs appear not "much" better on the A30 vs. the S97. Honestly difficult for me to see a difference. The HD picture, based on Shrek 3 and Harry Potter Phoenix are good but not spectacular - in fact I think HD TV content appears better. Perhaps the settings on the DVD player need to be optimized. I am pleased with the sound though!

I do not know about the A35, bit they skimped on build quality for the A30 - such as thin 10 cent stick on rubber pads for feet. The cooling fan is not the quietest, though cannot hear it when watching content.

BIZILL · January 2008

aba4430 wrote: »

The HD picture, based on Shrek 3 and Harry Potter Phoenix are good but not spectacular - in fact I think HD TV content appears better. Perhaps the settings on the DVD player need to be optimized. I am pleased with the sound though!

Something is wrong with your setup. on my 65" tv, even my xbox360 hd dvd player add-on's high def pq far exceeds any of the hd receivers i've ever had for cox cable and directv and dish network providers. especiallyh shrek the 3rd!!!

as far as your comment about build quality, you are correct. they are a bit more cheaply made. but that does not make it any worse nor does it mean they are more likely to pre-maturely fail. the xa2 is considered the best player out there. followed closely by the a35. but good luck finding anymore xa2's. they're discontinued. maybe 2008 they'll offer an xa3. but either way, you can't go wrong with the a35. especially when amazon has it for under $315 shipped if you constantly check their bobbing pricing.

millerman 3732 · January 2008

I'm going to have to agree with Bizill, something isn't set up properly, while I can't speak for the PQ on Shrek 3, Harry Potter, The Order of the Phoenix has amazing PQ.

danger boy · January 2008

this is all good info. Yeah I have not see even one XA2 come up for sale recently. Just the XA1, as well as all the current models.

I think the HD A35 is the way i'll go then. It does appear that it's very similar to the HD A30 though.. just that the A35 offers analog audio outputs is the only dif i can see.

danger boy · January 2008

crikey! I spoke to soon. ... there are three NIB XA2's on epay right now.

millerman 3732 · January 2008

What are you using for SD DVD now?

danger boy · January 2008

Pioneer DV-578A older unit that I got because it does SACD and DVD-Audio. but now it's time to move up to a HD Player

aba4430 · January 2008

I will mess around with my settings a bit to see if I can tweak the PQ positively.

danger boy · January 2008

of those people using HD DVD players from Toshiba, how many times have you had to update the firmware since you got it?

I hope not to often.. as when I get a HD Player it will not be located near a internet connection. That would suck if I had to update the firmware a couple times a month say.

Ricardo · January 2008

My A35 does not have the latest version yet. I requested Toshiba the CD with the version, since I don't have mine connected to the internet, and I could not burn the ISO image in my computer. The CD should be arriving any day. But the CS representative said something like "if it's not broken, I would not try to fix it...". I guess some people have had problems upgrading? In any case, so far the A35 has one firmware release, and from what I read it addresses very specific problems that i am not having.

Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player, anyone using one?

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