Just ordered a Toshiba HD-A1

**FlashJim** · **08-07-06, 04:37 PM**

I took a cue from the guys at AVS and ordered one through Continental's OnePass "Miles for Merchandise" program. $363.86 + 100 miles. I'm pretty sure I'll be charged tax on top of that since I'm in TX.

I guess I should start looking for software.

**Sonnie** · **08-07-06, 05:25 PM**

Congrats!

Jump in on our Coordinated HD-DVD purchase tomorrow through Amazon. If you order 3 or more then you'll get 10% of the order plus 10% off any HD-DVD for the next year.

**FlashJim** · **08-08-06, 11:16 AM**

I'll take a look at that.

**Tommy** · **08-11-06, 01:37 PM**

Hey Jim, what do you think of the player so far?

**FlashJim** · **08-11-06, 02:51 PM**

I haven't received it yet. I think they get their next shipment next week or so.

**Sonnie** · **08-11-06, 06:06 PM**

At that price, which is only a little over cost... I'd say it's worth the wait.

**FlashJim** · **08-13-06, 09:58 AM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

At that price, which is only a little over cost... I'd say it's worth the wait.

That's what I'm thinkin' too.

It'll give me time to figure out what software I want. The first ordered was Serenity, Aeon Flux, Chronicles of Riddick and Pitch Black.

I've read reports that Wal-mart (The Evil Empire) has HD-DVDs for $20. I'll be checking them out this week. I had stopped buying DVDs from them because they were different from the regular release when I compared them to coworker's DVDs. I hope they don't screw up the HD-DVDs.

**Tommy** · **08-13-06, 11:07 AM**

Quote:

FlashJim wrote:

The first ordered was Serenity, Aeon Flux, Chronicles of Riddick and Pitch Black.

Excellent picks, all of these titles look great in HD DVD!

I watched Four Brothers last night, it looks really good but definetly not as good as the titles above in comparison.

**Pyro** · **08-15-06, 06:00 PM**

Congrats on your purchase!

I have to wait until Dec-Jan before I can purchase mine.

**FlashJim** · **08-16-06, 05:31 PM**

My wife and I went to Best Buy today to look at the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray demos. I was totally amazed. Not at HD or BD, but at BB's electronic department. Our store is fairly new, but that dept. has always been kind of junky. It may as well be Wal-Mart.

Today was different. They have started constructing a Magnolia Home Theater department. Not only that, but the every day electronics were displayed very nicely. Flat panel TVs all over one wall. Both the HD and BD displays were nice. The BD display was at the endcap of a row on the main aisle.

The HD display was a little bigger.

They had five HT chairs, a Samsung LCD, Yamaha receiver and Klipsch sub. I didn't pay attention to what speakers were there. I fell in love with those chairs.

The BB smurf that helped us knew his stuff. Great personality, not arrogant and actually knew HT. What more could you ask for? Well, besides slipping you a Toshiba HD-XA1 out the back door ...

"A" for Best Buy and "A+" for their little smurf.

**plincoln** · **08-17-06, 10:56 AM**

I'm still holding out on the HiDef DVD scene for a littel longer. I'd like to see some dual format players in a year or so...In the meantime I picked up an S97 to hold me over. But I have to admit that at these prices for HD-DVD players...it is very tempting.

**Tommy** · **08-17-06, 12:41 PM**

Quote:

plincoln wrote:

I'm still holding out on the HiDef DVD scene for a littel longer. I'd like to see some dual format players in a year or so...In the meantime I picked up an S97 to hold me over. But I have to admit that at these prices for HD-DVD players...it is very tempting.

A couple companies have had thoughts on a dual player but they all scrapped the idea that I know off. The dual player seems to complicated to do in a cost effective way. I'm sure eventually it will be done but I doubt it will be anytime soon. I dont think you'll regret it if you tried the HD DVD in the mean time

The price is right as you said and you could be enjoying HD for the next year or two before a dual player comes out

**Sonnie** · **08-17-06, 01:51 PM**

My thoughts exactly... and the price for the Toshiba player is around $400-450 now I believe. I know that some places offer 10% off and free shipping and of course FlashJim got his remarkable price at $364, if you aren't in a hurry and obviously your aren't...

I'll probably just end up with two players, provided Blu-ray gets a player out there around the $500 range, which I would think is bound to happen sooner or later. As it is now, at least I'm getting to enjoy HD-DVD and my SD-DVD's have never looked better.

**FlashJim** · **08-17-06, 03:08 PM**

Keep in mind that I don't have mine in hand yet. I don't think $400 is a bad deal at all if you can find it.

Think about what you get ... An HD-DVD player, of course, an upconverting DVD player, and a kick CD player. I've read that the D/A section is super nice.

I'm personally glad to see the price of media easing so early in the game. I have no problem paying $20 a title when SD discs are $16 or so. Small price difference for such low production volume.

**FlashJim** · **08-28-06, 02:11 PM**

I just got my email confirmation!! Woohoo! My HD-A1 will be here Thursday 8/31. It would figure that I have to work late that day.

My order date was 8/7. I only had to wait three weeks.

**bobgpsr** · **08-28-06, 08:18 PM**

Be sure to string an ethernet cable from your router to the player to get the 2.0 firmware update that enables 5.1 Dolby TrueHD lossless. Of course then you will need a six RCA cable connection from the player to your Yamaha's Multi Channel Input. Very much worth it IMHO. :holycow:

Enjoy,
Bob

**FlashJim** · **08-29-06, 10:28 AM**

Thanks for the info, Bob!

**bobgpsr** · **08-29-06, 07:22 PM**

Oh and before I forget -- Everybody! -- DO NOT HAVE A DISC IN THE TRAY when you do an ethernet update of the Toshiba or RCA HD DVD player's firmware. It you do you may "brick" your player.

Bob

**FlashJim** · **08-30-06, 10:49 AM**

I read about that over on AVS. VERY good info to have. Feel free to post any other tips you may have. Maybe we can put together a Shack FAQ about the players.

**Phil M** · **08-31-06, 06:57 PM**

A little off thread but the latest issue of Sound & Vision has a review of the Blu-ray Samsung -P1000 with the ability to switch the video chips noise reduction on or off. It was the aggresive noise reduction that gave the disappointing soft image from the first players. Even with the aggressive noise reduction switched off two reviewers were not bowled over with the image quality when compared against the Toshiba. Their conclusion - Round 1 to HD-DVD.

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