Toshiba HD-A3

The Toshiba HD-A3 (MSRP $300) is the entry-level model of Toshiba's third-generation of HD DVD players. It is very similar to its predecessor, the Toshiba HD-A2, and does not offer any significant improvements to this player other the improved form factor of the player.  There are two noticeable changes:  Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MA(core) are still passed over HDMI, but they are now downrezzed to Dolby Digital 5.1 (640Mbs) instead of the HD-A2's DTS 5.1 (1.5Mbs).  This supports non-HDMI non-DTS AV receivers, but users with DTS support may want the HD-A2. Also, the HD-A2's S-video port has been removed.  It support 1080i output over HDMI and component, but does not support the newer 1080p/24fps video format. See the Toshiba HD-A30 and HD-A35 for this feature.

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Toshiba HD-A3
MSRP $299.99
Release date October, 2007
Brand Toshiba
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
7 reviews
68
negative
mixed
positive
5 positive
0 mixed
2 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

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Pros:
Do you agree?
•
Inexpensive HD-DVD player
+5agreedisagree

•
Does a good job upconverting standard DVDs
+5agreedisagree

•
Excelent Video quality in 1080i, even on large 1080p monitors.
+2agreedisagree

•
Price compatible with basic upconverting DVD players @ $150 including two free movies
+2agreedisagree

•
1/2 as thick as predecessor
+1agreedisagree

•
Great value at closeout prices!
+1agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
No 1080p/24fps support
+4agreedisagree

•
Not many improvements over HD-A2
+2agreedisagree

•
No 1080p output
+1agreedisagree

•
HD-DVD format is obsolete
+1agreedisagree

•
The blue power LED is way too bright. Distracting in a dark room. The "dimmer" feature dims the display but not this LED.
0agreedisagree


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This report was started September 19, 2007 at 12:46 pm by Erik
with the last edit occurring April 20, 2009 at 10:10 am by sh0rty
This page has been viewed 9268 times, with 55 edits by 11 contributors.
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Comments

1.  avatar dialupinternetuser said:

If I'm going to spend that much money, to only play half the high definition DVD's that exist, it'd better play the highest quality HD. Too bad for you Toshiba.
Sep 19, 2007 8:53pm
2.  avatar CaveWyatt said:

"that much money"? This player is about as much as a good upconverting DVD player (I'm an Oppo fan) with the bonus of free HD-DVD's (ten, for me). It does a very good job of upconverting and I needed an upconverter anyway for my new 61" 1080p TV. Regular DVD's look sharp and clean. This one fits the bill for what I need and I get the HD benefit, basically for free. I don't see any downside here. The player can certainly stand on it's own merits. Please keep in mind that you are watching an entry level model and you will, I think, be very happy with the results. Be sure to perform firmware updates for best results.
Nov 22, 2007 12:08am
3.  avatar Erik said:

Great points, CaveWyatt. This is pretty much the cheapest HD-DVD player on the market, and if it does do a good job of upconverting standard DVDs, like you said, then why not buy this over the Oppo? At least you can play the High-def formats at your leisure.

Look at the external links on this page for a great deal on the HD-A3 at Amazon. $199 + 10 free HD-DVDs

Nov 22, 2007 12:48am
4.  avatar fultod said:

I bought it. Good picture quality, didn't find out it was 1080i only, until I got home a tried it(Toshiba website has a 1080P sticker on it's webpage) no markings on the box either. Tried a few dvd's and some would not even play even after updating the firmware. Started playing HD DVD's and noticed the movies would freeze or skip at around the 1:16 to 1:30 mark on most. Did some reading on other forums and found that this is a common problem that can either be resolved by exchanging the player or the movies. It sounds like the technology in the hardware and movies are not making ends meet. Also boot up and ejecting takes forever. In all I was not able to feel like I was getting a reliable product, it's still bleeding edge, all you have to do is look on the Toshiba website http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/hddvd/ go to support and then FAQ's.

I returned it as it seems to be unreliable.
Dec 31, 2007 8:01pm
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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

datarush

avatar
February 23, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
86
negative
mixed
positive
6 pros
1 con

Pros

  • Inexpensive HD-DVD player
  • Does a good job upconverting standard DVDs
  • Excelent Video quality in 1080i, even on large 1080p monitors.
  • Price compatible with basic upconverting DVD players @ $150 including two free movies
  • 1/2 as thick as predecessor
  • Great value at closeout prices!

Cons

  • No 1080p/24fps support

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

Erik

avatar
November 22, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
60
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
2 cons
want itwant it

Pros

  • Inexpensive HD-DVD player
  • Does a good job upconverting standard DVDs
  • 1/2 as thick as predecessor

Cons

  • No 1080p/24fps support
  • Not many improvements over HD-A2

Comments

"

Great points, CaveWyatt. This is pretty much the cheapest HD-DVD player on the market, and if it does do a good job of upconverting standard DVDs, like you said, then why not buy this over the Oppo? At least you can play the High-def formats at your leisure.

Look at the external links on this page for a great deal on the HD-A3 at Amazon. $199 + 10 free HD-DVDs

"
Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

brandonink2001

avatar
January 18, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
0 cons

Pros

  • Inexpensive HD-DVD player
  • Does a good job upconverting standard DVDs
  • Price compatible with basic upconverting DVD players @ $150 including two free movies

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

fultod

avatar
January 2, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
2 pros
1 con

Pros

  • Inexpensive HD-DVD player
  • Does a good job upconverting standard DVDs

Cons

  • No 1080p/24fps support

Comments

"I bought it. Good picture quality, didn't find out it was 1080i only, until I got home a tried it(Toshiba website has a 1080P sticker on it's webpage) no markings on the box either. Tried a few dvd's and some would not even play even after updating the firmware. Started playing HD DVD's and noticed the movies would freeze or skip at around the 1:16 to 1:30 mark on most. Did some reading on other forums and found that this is a common problem that can either be resolved by exchanging the player or the movies. It sounds like the technology in the hardware and movies are not making ends meet. Also boot up and ejecting takes forever. In all I was not able to feel like I was getting a reliable product, it's still bleeding edge, all you have to do is look on the Toshiba website http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/hddvd/ go to support and then FAQ's.

I returned it as it seems to be unreliable."
Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

dialupinternetuser

avatar
September 19, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
0
negative
mixed
positive
0 pros
2 cons

Pros

Did not agree with any pros

Cons

  • No 1080p/24fps support
  • Not many improvements over HD-A2

Comments

"If I'm going to spend that much money, to only play half the high definition DVD's that exist, it'd better play the highest quality HD. Too bad for you Toshiba."
Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

krynsky

avatar
November 23, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
0
negative
mixed
positive
0 pros
1 con

Pros

Did not agree with any pros

Cons

  • No 1080p/24fps support

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

Omar

avatar
November 22, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
100
negative
mixed
positive
1 pro
0 cons

Pros

  • 1/2 as thick as predecessor

Cons

Did not agree with any cons

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

sh0rty

avatar
April 20, 2009
ProSCORE
43
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
4 cons
have ithave it

Pros

  • Inexpensive HD-DVD player
  • Does a good job upconverting standard DVDs
  • Excelent Video quality in 1080i, even on large 1080p monitors.

Cons

  • Not many improvements over HD-A2
  • No 1080p output
  • HD-DVD format is obsolete
  • The blue power LED is way too bright. Distracting in a dark room. The "dimmer" feature dims the display but not this LED.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

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This product is also known as:

HD, A, 3, HDA, A3, HDA3