Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD FAQ: Link and Discussion thread - Page 3

Q: My remote seems to have a problem with the 'down' menu button, is this normal?
A: This seems to be a common complaint within the first batch of HD-A1 owners. Some have had better luck by replacing the batteries, but others have had to move to replacement remotes such as the Logitech Harmony series. Generally, the included remote is not considered a very good one due to poor layout, low visibility, no backlighting, 'missed' commands and more.

Sam

Candidate for firmware fix

Just got the new A1, not even out of the box but reading this thread I had the following question:

Q: How will one update the firmware on the A1, can you somehow do it via the internet like Avelink Player?

Q: Can I send video out over component and audio out over HDMI?

A: I tried this and it does not seem to be possible. After inserting a disk the player stops with "HDMI Error 0". It seems that it must find a HDMI display in the HDMI chain if it is connected to an HDMI receiver.

Q: Is there a way to defeat the crossover in HD-A1? What happens to the sub crossover when all speakers are set to large?

A: ???

John, I thank you! Sure appreciate your giving this a try for me!

That's a good question, my guess is that when set to large the speakers pass full BW, and when the speaker is set to small the LF is sent to the SW at whatever crossover point is set...but, it doesn't indicate one way or the other in the manual...I guess a way to check would be to set them all at large and see if there is any SW output.

It seems that a few of us have "fixed" HDMI to DVI conversion problems on older sets by using a dual-link DVI cable instead of single. Maybe that should go somewhere on the FAQ to save alot of headaches and returned players.

Q: Should the player be set to Enhanced Black Level?

A:

Q: Connectivity via Ethernet: Any content make use of this feature yet? How does it work? What exactly can you download and what appears on the screen?

I don't suppose this thing has the ability to render web content (i.e., HTML, Flash) or some embedded browser technology (i.e., Opera), does it?

I apologize in advance for asking some "stupid" questions.

Q1: My Panny 50 plasma has DVI input, so I need a HDMI/DVI conversion cable, i.e. HDMI one end, DVI other end, correct ? Any special kind of HDMI/DVI conversion cable needed?

Q2: If I connect with component cables, I will not get a HD picture from a true HD-DVD disc, and they will look just like a regular SD-DVD, correct?

Q3: With proper HDMI connection, regular SD DVD will be up-converted to "near HD", but will not look quite as good as the same movie HD-DVD, correct?

If I'm watching a movie on the HD-A1, and change to another input on my TV, for example, to check out a ball game, I get an HDMI ERROR on the HD-A1 and have to shut it off and restart. Why does this happen????

Q1: My Panny 50 plasma has DVI input, so I need a HDMI/DVI conversion cable, i.e. HDMI one end, DVI other end, correct ? Any special kind of HDMI/DVI conversion cable needed?

A1: There is only type of HDMI/DVI conversion cable, although there are a range of brands, prices, and possibly construction quality. Try some of the sponsor links at the top of any forum page to get decent cables at a reasonable price (RAM, Bluejeans, Monoprice). You might also consider getting a HDMI cable and a HDMI/DVI adapter. This way if you change your display you can still use the HDMI cable.

Q2: If I connect with component cables, I will not get a HD picture from a true HD-DVD disc, and they will look just like a regular SD-DVD, correct?

A2:Only if the ICT flag is set on the disk, which so far none of the launch titles have.

Q3: With proper HDMI connection, regular SD DVD will be up-converted to "near HD", but will not look quite as good as the same movie HD-DVD, correct?

A3: If the player has a good internal scaler, then SD DVD may look better than using the scaler in your HDTV. You will have to try both to judge. But assuming your TV is at least 720P, HD DVD will look better than SD DVD.

A: Yes, so far

You can hit play. It does not resume, it starts at the beginning which is pretty bad. I added this to the firmware upgrade request

- Rich

It does seem to remember bookmarks. I don't know how many or how long, but it still remebers all 8 bookmarks I made for POTO from a couple of days ago. And I had removed the disc from the player and looked at another disc. I just reinserted POTO and all 8 boomarks are still there.

Q: The setup allows me to choose between Bitstream and PCM for the audio output. What do I want to select and what is the difference? Does it depend on my receiver/decoder?

A: ?

Yes, I can also confirm this. Hitting play after the HDMI error resumes playback(as long as you've re-established the HDMI connection), albeit from the beginning of the movie.

I've noticed that there is also a "resumeplay" button on the remote. Has anyone tried to use this to resume play.

Just to let everyone know i'm compiling the last day or 2 of q/as and will update sometime today/tonight! Thanks for all the input!

How about posting a database for HDDVD's that will or will not include ICT flags as each title is released. I know most released early will not have the flags set, but I fear this may change at some point and having a listing for these will help those owners of HDTV's with only component inputs find compatible movies to view in HD.

Three Steps to Correcting a HDMI error.

Steps:
1) If needed, put the Player into HDMI mode with the v.output button. Check the front display of the player to see what output is being used.
2) Turn off the TV and turn it back on.
3) Put the TV into HDMI mode.

This worked for both of my Samsungs that had the dreaded HDMI error.

It appears that most of the HDMI errors appear to be related to a poor implementation of HDMI in the TVs, especially with the Samsung units. I think that some of the TVs are poor HDMI listeners. My theory is that they only check for a HDMI signal once when the setting is selected, instead of polling for a signal until a connection is made. To get it to listen again, you have to turn off the TV and reselect HDMI.

Dave Wellington

Problem confirmed. The HD DVD version Phantom of the Opera and of The Last Samurai do have lower audio levels than SD DVD. I just did some back to back (HD to SD) testing. Both of these titles in HD are about 5 to 10 dB lower than SD.

Solution. Turn up the volume.

A: If you are talking about SPDIF you should choose bitstream, otherwise you will get 2 channel only. See page 59 of the manual for details.

Problem: So you don't like see DTS on your receiver when your disc package says DD+.

Solution: Switch to analogue line level or HDMI. Both of these outputs have far better audio capabilities. SPDIF only has a maximum of 1.5 Mbps. Analogue line level and HDMI can handle 6 Mbps of lossless MLP (True HD) Audio.

Your receiver will not say Dolby Digital Plus on the front when running analogue line level or HDMI , but that fine becasue it is producing LPCM.

Toshiba A1 has some of the best digital to analogue converters I have ever heard.

Dave Wellington

Q. Can the player output 1080p24SF

I do not think you are correct with analog. I tried playing phantom and selecting the True-HD output and the player said it was not supported on this player. I would love to get True-HD out the analog outputs. Is there a trick?

- Rich

Is calibrating your display with a SD DVD like Avia or DVE adequate?

Is there anything like THX Optimizer on the HD DVD discs?