Toshiba HD-A3 Player HD-DVD Player

Pros: Low price, amazing video and sound, 1080i over HDMI and component out, firmware update
Cons: Delays, does not play many formats, slow firmware updates, stutters on small scratches

I wanted to get a high-definition DVD player to complement my Hitachi P50H401 50-inch 1080p-capable plasma TV. Despite the fact that the war between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD is far from over and my overall preference for Blu-Ray (mostly due to movie ...

Pros: Crisp, vivid lifelike picture and sound. Upconverts standard DVDs. Rock-bottom price.
Cons: Slow playback, limited formats.

Have you ever heard of the Betamax? If you haven’t, that’s OK. Betamax, a video cassette system for recording programs off the air and for viewing purchased and rented videotapes was Sony’s answer to JVC’s VHS recorder. Although Betamax ...

Pros: Price, picture quality, super free movie deals
Cons: Slow power up, HD movies go back to start if you stop them in play.

I am writing this review to give the player a fair review and not someones opinion on Bluray an HD DVD. OPERATION: Now I will agree with previous reviews about the horrid start time. It does not matter what type of movie you plan on playing ...

Pros: Excellent picture, great price, good features
Cons: Slow boot-up and no cables included

Okay first of all I would like to start off my review by helping to clear up some confusion. Many people such as myself have debated whether or not to go with the higher priced A30 or A35 models since they offer 1080p resolution and the A3 model only ...

Pros: Pretty quick, Excellent Up-converting. Affordable. Very nice picture.
Cons: 1980s styling. Some menu functions don't work w/some discs.

------------------------------ ------------------Background-- -------------------- I have been going back-and-forth, reviewing Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players, as well as the very formats, for several weeks, and I finally settled on HD-DVD, and this unit. ...

Pros: inexpensive
includes remote batteries and "300" on HD-DVD
that's about it

Cons: poor picture quality
excruciatingly slow startup time
large dimensions
ugly design/styling

I agree with the previous reviewer: if you have a decent setup now, keep it. Don't bother with the HD-DVD/BluRay "upgrade." I guess I expected more from Toshiba, as my previous DVD player was the SD-2700. I will be returning the HD-A3 and putting my ...

Pros: Value, good performance, lots of free movies.
Cons: The longest startup sequence in the history of AV equipment.

The HD-A3 is a reasonably priced option to get you upconverting and playing HD-DVDs. There is a noticeable difference with HD-DVD vs. regular DVDs and the teaser offers will get you a halfway decent library without risking much in the 'format wars'. ...

Pros: Love HD picture and sound
Cons: Can't enjoy HD picture and sound if player doesn't work.

After getting the HD-DVD bug early and buying a 1st generation player (Toshiba A1) and having some issues with that player, I thought I would "upgrade" to a 3rd generation player and leave all the early adaptor issues behind me. I bought a Toshiba A3 ...

Pros: Up scales standard DVD to near HD quality. HD-DVD movies are cheap!
Cons: HD-DVD is a dead format. Load time is a bit much.

I bought this HD-DVD player right after Paramount went exclusive to the HD-DVD and the HD-DVD camp looked good. I was disappointed after Warner switch to Blu Ray and effectively killed off HD-DVD at the beginning of this year (2008). Bad news is that ...

Pros: Great price and works as advertised.
Cons: none.

I bought my A3 about 3 weeks ago and I couldn't be more pleased. I downloaded the 1.1 to 1.3 upgrade to CD, popped open the tray, inserted the disc and a message then came up "Updating - Please wait" and 20 minutes later the tray opened and then tried my free "300" movie and it was great. I read earlier that some ppl get black bars. I did to but I simply hit the zoom on my Vizio 32" 720P remote and a full beautiful full wide screen comes up. The CD upgrade and DVD's worked flawlessly. I don't sweat that 30 sec. start up time. Now waiting on my other 5 free videos by mail. Hoping the price drops even more on the A3 so I can get one for the bedroom. I highly recommend the A3.

Pros: Nothing that I wouldn't expect it to do
Cons: You have to update it every time you want to watch a movie

I am returning this. Every other film doesn't work because I have to download a new update for its software. It is a pain. And it takes a half hour, if it actually works. The other solution is to connect it directly to the internet. They want me to run an internet line from my computer downstairs to the upstairs living room. Why not have make it wireless? Its like they don't even no what they are doing at Toshiba.

Pros: NONE ! If you already have a good set-up keep it !
Cons: Black bars on HD DVD and on the sides of SD DVD.

I bought this to replace a Pioneer 480P.
The new player displays black bars on top and bottom of HD, SD wide. SD full screen have black bars on the sides. Even trying to change the screen size I couldn't get rid of them. The quality on SD dvd was no better than my Pioneer 480P, so much for the up conversion to 1080i. The only better picture was with HD dvd, then you still get the black bars at top & bottom. The picture was not that much better than my standard DVD in my Pioneer 480P which
displays 16:9 with no black bars. I don't see what all the fuss is about HD DVD. If you have a good progressive DVD player and a good TV set I can't see upgrading to the new players. If you think you r player is not providing a good picture be sure you have it hooked up the best way using component out. The HDMI transfers pirate protection which
gives some sets a quality downgrade. Try both and use what is best for your equipment.

Pros: Price, Picture Quality, Upconvert of SD Disks
Cons: Slow startup

Just thought I would let everyone know that to upconvert a SD DVD, you MUST use HDMI cables. If you do not, the best picture you will get is 480P, the same as any DVD player.
This player is large and slow to boot, but produces an excellent picture with SD and HD disks at 1080i.
I found this at Vann's on line for $149 with free shipping, it is a Toshiba refurb. This is a better price than most upconvert DVD players.