Other Source Component Reviews

Sort By: Post DateTitle Publish Date
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD Player
Thomas J. Norton  |  Apr 30, 2006

It's here, but only just. On April 18th Toshiba launched the HD DVD format with the release of the $499 HD-A1 player. On the same day Warner released The Last Samurai and The Phantom of the Opera on HD DVD, and those two titles were joined by Universal's Serenity. Warner's Million Dollar Baby, also scheduled for the launch, was delayed initially but is in stores now. These were joined on April 25th by additional titles, including what is the easily best film released on the format so far, Apollo 13.

Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player
David Vaughn  |  Feb 25, 2007

The first car I owned was a VW Bug that cost a whopping $500 in 1986. It wasn't the prettiest car on the block, but it got me from Point A to Point B. When Toshiba's first generation HD-A1 HD DVD player arrived on the scene it reminded me an awful lot of that trusty old bug: slow, ugly and clunky, but once the movie started to play, the picture was so outstanding that I could forget it's little quirks. Oh yeah, and it cost a cool $500 as well!

Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Player: First Look
Ultimate AV Staff  |  Nov 01, 2006  |  First Published: Nov 02, 2006


  • $499

  • Digital Video Output: HDMI

  • Video Upconversion: 720p, 1080i

  • Audio Decoding: DD, DD+, Dolby TrueHD, DTS

  • Ins and Outs: HDMI, others TBD

  • Feature Highlights: 2nd gen HD DVD player with full Dolby TrueHD decoding, upconverting HDMI and component outputs for standard-def DVDs


Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-A20 1080p HD DVD player
 |  May 19, 2007

Although 1080p video has been encoded on every HD DVD disc released so far, the first generation HD DVD players have been "limited" to mere 1080i output. With the second generation this changed, first with the upscale $799 HD-XA2 and now with the HD-A20. At $499 the Toshiba HD-A20 is a mere $100 more than Toshiba's entry-level HD-A2, which maxes out at 1080i. So, the question we're here to answer, is this 1080p player worth that extra hundred bucks?

Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-A20 HD DVD Player
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Aug 27, 2007
1080p HD DVD for $500—sort of.

The new models of HD DVD and Blu-ray players are coming faster and faster. Even better, they're getting cheaper and offering more features. The big draw for the HD-A20 is its 1080p output. That, and a price tag of $499.

Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-A20 HD DVD Player: First Look
Ultimate AV Staff  |  Jan 18, 2007  |  First Published: Jan 19, 2007

  • $599
  • Digital Video Output: HDMI
  • Video Upconversion: 720p, 1080i
  • Audio Decoding: DD, DD+, Dolby TrueHD, DTS
  • Ins and Outs: HDMI, others TBD
  • Feature Highlights: 2nd gen HD DVD player with 1080p output, full Dolby TrueHD decoding, upconverting HDMI and component outputs for standard-def DVDs
Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-A30 HD DVD Player
 |  Dec 02, 2007

  • $399
  • Audio Decoding: DD, DD+, Dolby TrueHD, DTS
  • Ins and Outs: HDMI
  • Feature Highlights: 3rd gen HD DVD player with 1080p/24 output, DD+ and TrueHD decoding/transcoding (output as PCM over HDMI), upconverting HDMI and component outputs for standard-def DVDs
Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-A30 HD DVD Player
 |  Dec 24, 2007

Hardly a week goes by that a big sale on HD DVD players from some mega-retailer or another doesn't make some screaming headlines. But it's been Toshiba's entry level, 1080i players that have lead that charge, with the HD-A2 getting famous overnight thanks to Wal-Mart's $99 sale, and the HD-A3 frequently seen at retail for around $199. But for my money, the real bargain in Toshiba's line could very well be the HD-A30.

Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player
Thomas J. Norton  |  Nov 11, 2007

It's hard to believe, but Toshiba is now selling its third generation of HD DVD players. That's two generations beyond the two models that launched the HD DVD format in April 2006.

Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player
Thomas J. Norton  |  Nov 12, 2007
The $499 HD-A35 is the top of the line in Toshiba's third generation of HD DVD players, although the HD-XA2 remains available. Apart from Onkyo, which sells a player made by Toshiba, and Vantage, an as yet little known Chinese manufacturer, no other company markets HD DVD players.
Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-XA1
Gary Merson  |  May 26, 2006
HD DVD has (finally) arrived.

A new prerecorded video format is big news. It doesn’t come along every day. It’s been nine years since DVD was release, and it was 19 before that since LaserDisc. Enter HD DVD. Its higher transfer rate (35.5 mbps versus broadcast’s 19.4 mbps maximum) and advanced codecs (VC-1 and H.264) create a potential for audio and video quality to far exceeds broadcast HD, as well as containing a host of new features and capabilities. The first two models are the HD-A1 ($499) and HD-XA1 ($799). Both have the same performance; the step-up HD-XA model adds a better enclosure, a motorized door, RS-232, and a backlit remote.

Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-XA1HD DVD Player
 |  Jul 09, 2006

HD DVD is finally here, and although there are a few ergonomic bumps on this yellow brick road of HD, the emerald city of next-gen sound and vision is unequivocally glorious. Simply put, HD DVD delivers on its promise of the best picture and sound that I've yet experienced outside the movie theater.

Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player
 |  Feb 11, 2007

There's probably a smug look on the face of the cynics among us right now. You know, the types who are so negative about the format war that they're willing to ignore the fact that we not only have high-def on a disc, but we have the best HD we've ever seen and heard, period. And Toshiba, which launched the HD DVD format with two players in Spring of 2006, released its second generation players in December and January, with not even a full year in between the two generations.

Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player: First Look
Ultimate AV Staff  |  Nov 01, 2006  |  First Published: Nov 02, 2006


  • $999

  • Digital Video Output: HDMI (ver. 1.3)

  • Video Upconversion: 720p, 1080i/p

  • Audio Decoding: DD, DD+, Dolby TrueHD, DTS

  • Ins and Outs: HDMI 1.3, others TBD

  • Feature Highlights: HDMI 1.3, 1080p output, full Dolby TrueHD decoding, upconverting HDMI and component outputs for standard-def DVDs


Continue Reading »
Other Source Component Reviews
Toshiba RD-XS32 DVR/DVD Recorder
N. Browning  |  Oct 15, 2004  |  First Published: Oct 01, 2004
Hard-disk and DVD recording in one sleek box.

DVD recorders are quickly replacing VCRs as the component of choice to capture and archive TV shows—and rightly so. After all, the picture quality is generally better, and the discs take up a lot less shelf space than VHS tapes. Still, blank disks are relatively expensive, especially the rewritable varieties. In addition, rewritable discs aren't as compatible with conventional DVD players as the write-once discs.

Continue Reading »

Pages

X