HD DVD, backup for the future?

[Lex]

I'm thinking that with my somewhat significant investment in HD DVD discs, it may be a good time to consider a closeout backup player. (Actually, it could become the primary and my 1st generation would become the backup) I'd like for it to be 1080p compatible for the future. Anybody have suggestions? I see a couple of Toshibas don't have coaxial digital output, not crazy on that, but I guess I can live with it. I didn't even see a point to paying more for analog outputs really, since all it will be used for is DVDs and my processor accepts digital input, and always will.

Keep in mind, software replacement would be a lot more than just getting a 200 or less player. With 2 players, that should insure compatibility for a long time. I'm not that concerned about the real estate of the player.

Suggestions on who's got the best deals?

thanks guys.
The man :Z

[impala454]

I have had the Toshiba XA2 since November and have been very impressed with it. It's built like a tank, a very solid piece. Also has the most features of any HD-DVD player. Also widely considered to be one of if not the best upconverting DVD player available.

I actually got mine as a display model at Best Buy. It might be hard to find at Best Buy now, but I do still see a few at my local Fry's. I'm not sure if you guys have those in TN, but I do see several listings on ebay as well as amazon. Might be difficult to find a good price, as those who have em know they're excellent players. Good luck!

Oh and a second thought, I believe the Toshiba A35 is also considered a top player, but I cannot speak for it. I do know that Toshiba considers the XA2 their flagship player, even after the A35 came out. Someone else may be able to speak for the A35.

edit: here's a back end pic of the XA2 if that's easier than listing everything:

[Hdale85]

My friend bought an extra player for the same reasons Doug. Definitely make sure you open it and check it out because he had a problem upgrading the firmware and now had to ship it to toshiba and they are going to fix it and upgrade it to the newest firmware.

[Lex]

Thanks Chuck, my first player is the first edition XA1, I see your point.

Dougie, yes, of course, I want to open it up and check it out, as I said, it may become my number 1 player anyway.

But my budget is somewhat tight for it. I don't want to put 600 bucks in a player for a finite number of discs. But I DO want to be able to play them into the future.

Matrix, Borne, and MI 1 through 3 come to mind. I first bought blue ray MI, but was not real happy with the transfer and returned.

Doug

[Hdale85]

You can get the A2 for like under 100 bucks which is essentially the same as the A30 I believe. The A35 I'm sure isn't 600 either. Is the XA2 still going for that much?

[Lex]

Well, looks like unless there's a glitch, I bought the last one Amazon.com had for 299 shipped. Worth an extra hundred for a higher grade player with digital coax output.

[Hdale85]

Yeah I have to say spending 500 on a dying format is a bit extreme.

[Lex]

Crap, I think I bought the wrong player, uhhhg.

I cancelled the A2 for 300, seems lik the wrong deal.

[draganm]

A quick search shows the A35 at amazon for $240. delivered. I have seen it for less than $200. at closeouts like circuit city as well. I will picking up one of these for my primary player as well and keeping my HD-A2 as back-up.

[Lex]

it's to late to make decisions, I'm just to tired to fool with this. Well my eyes are anyway. Nice that Amazon lets you cancel out real easy.

[Hdale85]

300 for an A2 sounds really high. I'm pretty sure you can get it for less.

[Ovation]

I bought an A3 (already had an A2--got it for Christmas) at Costco for 80 bucks a few weeks ago. They had stacks of them then. I'll be using it with an SD TV for now (needed a player for that TV and thought it more practical to get an HD DVD player for the price).

[impala454]

I have seen the A-30 at my local Best Buy for $120, advertised as an "Upconverting DVD player with HD-DVD" heheh. If I recall correctly, the A20 & A30 output true 1080p whereas the A2 & A3 only output 1080i. Might be something to keep in mind if you go for one of the cheaper players.

[Ovation]

My projector is 720p, though it accepts a 1080p signal (even at 24fps). However, my projector's video processing is very good and it does a proper 2:3 pulldown and deinterlacing for both 480i and 1080i (Thomas J. Norton at Home Theater Mag ran it through all the torture tests and it passed with flying colours)--so I don't mind letting my projector do the work. If my display was not all that good at video processing, I would have opted for an A35 or XA2. When I go "blu", I'll let the player send 1080p/24 (my projector takes that and outputs 720p/48--so judder should be diminished). I think it will be more important for the "blu" player to be 1080p/24 because it will be, eventually, the bulk of my HDM.

[whoaru99]

Saw a Toshiba HD-DVD A-something (A30, I believe) at WalMart new in the box for $79 plus change.

There was only one left on Sunday and I almost bought it to use for an upconverting DVD player - until I saw that it had no coaxial digital output (how lame is that?).

I'm now waiting for the Panasonic BD50 so I can get the lossless audio formats into my Anthem AVM 20 via the 5.1 analog connections.