Which to buy - Toshiba HD-A2 or XBox 360 HD-DVD add-on?

Rhoq · 02-15-2007, 09:25 AM

Hi, I'm having a very hard time deciding which HD-DVD player to buy. I recently purchased an XBox 360 and for the price, I believe the 360's HD-DVD player add-on is quite a steal. I know if I go that route, it won't be as fully featured as the Toshiba stand alone unit, which is fine with me.

What I am concerned about it is the quality of playback. I know that most reviews I have read about the 360's HD-DVD player have been very positive, but since this is the HTF and we are not your "average Joe" when it comes to PQ, I want to ask anyone who has had a hands-on experience with both the Toshiba HD-A2 and XBox 360 HD-DVD players to give me their honest opinion of how the 2 compare.

Thank you.

Tim Glover · 02-15-2007, 11:11 AM

You might read the review threads on those Rhoq...But I think the HD A2 will give you the chance to listen to the Dolby TrueHD tracks...not sure if the add on can do it without an HDMI input. The add on is said to load way faster etc...

Good luck whatever you do!

Rhoq · 02-15-2007, 11:36 AM

I have read the reviews and really the only thing that I don't like about the 360 add-on is the lack of upconverting feature for SD DVDs.

As far as Dolby TrueHD audio, on the first page of HTF's review for the 360 HD-DVD player, one of the posters seemed to indicate that it output via the 360 and it sounds great. I already have my 360 hooked-up via optical, so hopefully that will be all I need.

Edit: Never mind, I just read a few reviews outside of the HTF and apparently, the 360 converts all audio from the HD-DVD player to DD5.1 or PLII. Yikes!

JackKay · 02-16-2007, 08:12 PM

I bought the 360 add-on because of the price. I have a 36" Toshiba CRT with no HDMI so I wouldn't have an upconversion option anyway. But if you want a inexpensive player right away, and you want to wait until the stand alones get less expensive and have more options, the 360 add-on is a great way to go. Plus you may end up with 2 players for the price you pay for one now.

ChrisClearman · 02-16-2007, 08:26 PM

no brainer, get the add-on and see how you like HD, and see if it lasts.

**HTF Ads**

Rhoq · 02-17-2007, 11:22 PM

The audio problems and the lack of upscaling (I don't have VGA on my HDTV) with the XBox 360 turned me off, so I went with the Toshiba HD-A2. Got it on E-Bay, NIB and shipped for $350. Hopefully I'll have it by this time next weekend.

Chris*Liberti · 02-18-2007, 04:33 AM

The add on does not do any of the advanced codecs except the DTS-HD core. The only way to currently get either the Dolby TrueHD or the DTS-MA is through uncompressed PCM which is only available over HDMI or Multichannel analog connection. When HDMI 1.3 is available in receivers then the receivers will be able to decode the new formats.



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