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Tosh G2 HD-A2 and HD-XA2 information and discussion

post #1 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:51am
Thread Starter 
I'm at CEDIA and have had a in depth demonstration of the HD-A2 and HD-XA2 by Toshiba's top two product specialists.

Here's my very first impressions:

The HD-A2 and HD-XA2 are both final prototypes, but not production samples.

Load time is improved by about 20 seconds over the A1 and A2.

The A2 is 16.9" x 13.58" x 2.58" and the X2 is 17.2" x 13.58" x 2.91".

The XA2 is a true 1080p native max output all the way. The A2 is 1080i max out put.

The XA2 is HDMI 1.3 and the A2 is HDMI 1.2a

The XA2 has the analog 5.1 and the A2 does not.

The A2 and XA2 have different remotes and they are both very nice and completely redesigned.

The A2 MAP is $499.99 and the XA2 is $999.99.

The XA2 now has bi-directional RS232 and of course their is no RS232 on the A2.

Both players have a very nice, clean design, however, again the XA2 is nicer.

I'll stop writing so we can get this thread us as fast as possible for your comments and questions.

BTW, delivery is scheduled for the first week of October for the A2 and the last week of December or beginning of January for the XA2.

-Robert
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post #2 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:52am
ouch. It looks like the subsidized "free lunch" we've had with the A1 has ended.
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post #3 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:54am
I think Tosh just took 2 steps back !
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post #4 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:56am
Thanks Robert!

Did they by chance discuss any of the issues with the A1 and there reaction to these in the development in the 2gen models. I am most curious to know about their take on the DVI-HMDI handshake if they made any comments on this..

As far as pricing I think it is great that they have one model with features perhaps those wanting to get into HD DVD may not care about or need and the alternative that provides more AVS memeber friendly features.

As long as the 999 player delivers in performance and qaulity sign me up...
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post #5 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:56am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rover2002 View Post

I think Tosh just took 2 steps back !

What would ever make you think that???

-Robert
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post #6 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:56am
Thank you for spreading the word, Robert. But what's MAP (as opposed to MSRP)?
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post #7 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:56am
I'm glad I got the HD A1, no 5.1 would suck. Plus being so heavy, it's harder to steal!

Now these units are identical to the European, HD E1, HD XE1 players right?
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post #8 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:56am
Really like the looks of the XA2....And the specs. You mentioned in your other post they were playing on a Toshiba LCD. Is that teh cinema series or a newer one? Thought the current models could not tkae a 1080p output.

Was the XA2 outputting 1080p? Specs say 1080p/24 - will it do 1080p/60?

Thanks for all the great and fast info!!!

Therese
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post #9 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:57am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by EchoBaseGeek View Post

Thanks Robert!

Did they by chance discuss any of the issues with the A1 and there reaction to these in the development in the 2gen models. I am most curious to know about their take on the DVI-HMDI handshake if they made any comments on this..

Toshiba will continue to upgrade the A1 and XA1 through 2007 and likely 2008.

-Robert
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post #10 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:58am
Robert,

How do you compare the XA2 with the XA1? Are the extra features in the XA2 worth $300 over the XA1?
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post #11 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:58am
hmm, from your site Robert I note this:

(HD-XA2 720p/1080i/1080p/24)


that should make *some* happy, although I'm sure they'll now clamor for 1080p/50/60/72/100/120

[EDIT: i see that beyond 24p is already being asked about ... lol]
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post #12 of 4928
9/14/06 at 10:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmpage2 View Post

ouch. It looks like the subsidized "free lunch" we've had with the A1 has ended.

With the A1 and A2 at the same mspr I'd say the net effect is the same, except you lose the analog outs. The X model seems to compete directly with BD players as far as features, so I'm not surprised at the price. With higher volumes I would expect to continue to see lower street prices than msrp (as lately with A1) due to more competition from various online vendors.
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post #13 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by longshot View Post

Robert,

How do you compare the XA2 with the XA1? Are the extra features in the XA2 worth $300 over the XA1?

Is HDMI 1.3 and 1080p true output important to you?
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post #14 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:00am
Someone posted this in another thread, but it definitely belongs here: there's probably no way to know how well the 'A2s upscale SD material until someone gets their hands on one, is there? I doubt anybody's going to stick a copy of Episode III in one at CEDIA...
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post #15 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paranoid666au View Post

I'm glad I got the HD A1, no 5.1 would suck. Plus being so heavy, it's harder to steal!

Now these units are identical to the European, HD E1, HD XE1 players right?

Don't think they are identical as the European models.

Yes, the A1's analog 5.1 outputs are a great feature for A/R's without HDMI 1.1 or higher. Toshiba designed the XA2 for the high-end users and made several significant additional features for that market.

-Robert
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post #16 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:01am
Thanks, Robert.
For all your hard work & sharing it with us!

WoW
Was I off on the price points!
Agree with jmpage2, or Tosh is gouging the heck out of the G2!!! ;-)

Great to hear about the remotes & load time. Although, it still seems like load time will be an issue for some.

Bring on G3!!! :-0
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post #17 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DTV TiVo Dealer View Post

Toshiba will continue to upgrade the A1 and XA1 through 2007 and likely 2008.

-Robert

do you have any specifics you can share about these *upgrades* ... since i don't think of firmware revisions for the sake of addressing bugs to be upgrades, i would really like to know what upgrades are forthcoming

DTS-MA (multi-channel)
1080p output (i'm sure just asking that is going to irk some people )
etc.
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post #18 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DTV TiVo Dealer View Post

What would ever make you think that???

-Robert

It seems we pay more now for the same? and no 5.1 on the A2. . .
Forgot to thank you for your good reporting btw
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post #19 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:04am
The most obvious questions are the start-up and response time, SDDVD upconversion quality, remotes, construction quality. quietness, in comparison to the outgoing models?
Whoa $999 thats the same as blueray!
Looks like there is room for a $799 player in the middle with 1 0r 2 of the X2's premium features.
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post #20 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:04am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill C. View Post

Someone posted this in another thread, but it definitely belongs here: there's probably no way to know how well the 'A2s upscale SD material until someone gets their hands on one, is there? I doubt anybody's going to stick a copy of Episode III in one at CEDIA...

Very good point, we'll all be very happy if the A2 and XA2 can perform as well as the A1 and XA1. My Power Buy is a terrific deal and the last chance to get the A1 and XA1 at the dealer net cost.

-Robert
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post #21 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:06am
good news, but I'm happy with the HDA1, there is no way i'd drop 999 to get the XA2, and IMO the HDA1 is a better value than the HDA2. Get an A1 while you can IMO.

But I applaud toshiba for releasing a mid range and a high range player, many more people would prefer to spend 500 than 1,000, and 1080p won't be important to me for another 2 years when I buy a new HDTV. And I have no plans currently to buy a new receiver just to get HDMI 1.3 sound support, that's why the 5.1 outs on the HDA1 was a godsend.
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post #22 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:07am
Mated with a Sony Ruby would the 1080p be directly displayed or does it need conversion by the Ruby's processor?
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post #23 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:07am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenDover View Post

do you have any specifics you can share about these *upgrades* ... since i don't think of firmware revisions for the sake of addressing bugs to be upgrades, i would really like to know what upgrades are forthcoming

DTS-MA (multi-channel)
1080p output (i'm sure just asking that is going to irk some people )
etc.

As a policy Toshiba will not comment on future upgrades. Sorry I honestly do not know what they have planned for upgrades, but fixes for many of the HDMI-DVI errors are certainly to be expected.

-Robert
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post #24 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:07am
Here's a random question: what does the UI on the *A2s look like? Similar to the existing *A1 UI, or did they revamp it?
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post #25 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by EchoBaseGeek View Post

Thanks Robert!

Did they by chance discuss any of the issues with the A1 and there reaction to these in the development in the 2gen models. I am most curious to know about their take on the DVI-HMDI handshake if they made any comments on this..

As far as pricing I think it is great that they have one model with features perhaps those wanting to get into HD DVD may not care about or need and the alternative that provides more AVS memeber friendly features.

As long as the 999 player delivers in performance and qaulity sign me up...

Ditto!
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post #26 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rover2002 View Post

It seems we pay more now for the same? and no 5.1 on the A2. . .
Forgot to thank you for your good reporting btw

Well, the A2 is going to have pretty much the same features as the A1 with a better remote, but with the substantial loss of the 5.1 analog outputs. Many, many people only have toslink/coaxial digital inputs on their 2+ year old receivers and will lose the better audio processing capabilities of the player.

The information I'm really interested in is if the A2 has the same SHARC DSP layout and Intel chip. I suspect those are gone as well or an integrated chipset has replaced at least some of them.

Considering these changes I simply would have been more pleased to see a price cut of MSRP to $399 to really hammer the BD weenies, this is simply confirmation that A1 was subsidized, possibly heavily. Tosh is in business to make money so hence the "free lunch is over" comment about the A2.
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post #27 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DTV TiVo Dealer View Post

Toshiba will continue to upgrade the A1 and XA1 through 2007 and likely 2008.

-Robert

Excellent! I was really expecting them to keep us going through at least early 2007. Into 2008 would be simply superb support.

Thanks Robert -- Trevor
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post #28 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:10am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lastxbr960 View Post

The most obvious questions are the start-up and response time, SDDVD upconversion quality, remotes, construction quality. quietness, in comparison to the outgoing models?
Whoa $999 thats the same as blueray

Start up time for loading a disc is 15 to 20 seconds faster on the CEDIA prototypes. I think the final production players will even be faster. The remote response is much improved.

-Robert
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post #29 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:11am
Robert,
A little off topic but can we expect any other "surprises" over the next couple of days?
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post #30 of 4928
9/14/06 at 11:11am
I agree that it is a serious oversight on Toshiba's part not to include analog 5.1 inputs on A2 as many consumers still have receivers and prepro's without HDMI swiching. Glad I bought my second HD-XA1 recently at a good price. As long as Toshiba keeps providing firmware upgrades for G1 units, I will be happy.
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