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XA1 vs XA2

post #1 of 16
12/31/06 at 12:05pm
Thread Starter 
Is there any advantage to buying an XA1 or AX2 other the fact that is costs quite a bit less with the recent price reductions to get the XA1? I have an older Pioneer Elite PRO 610HD that will take a 1080i signal, so the XA2's 1080p output will not be used. The PRO610HD only has component inputs. My integrated HT amp is currently a Yamaha DSP-A1 that has analog 5.1 inputs and no HDMI. I have a new Yamaha RX-Z1 that's new in the box I will be hooking up this year that has the same set up. I've seen a few HDMI to component convertors for sale so I could use one of those to utilize the upscaling in either HD-DVD player to my older component only TV. I can't find much any information on this type of device anywhere however. Anybody ever used one? What's the best thing for somebody like me to do with an early adopter HDTV and a non HDMI HT receiver? I would think there are quite a few people here in the same boat.
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post #2 of 16
1/1/07 at 1:44am
I'm in the same boat, but I can't imagine waiting that long (XA1 load time) to start the movie, so I'm buying an XA2...

I'll have TrueHD...and I'll give my Xbox 360 addon to my dad...
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post #3 of 16
1/1/07 at 6:15am
the start up time its not such a big factor for me at least and besides how faster is the xa2 10 to 15 sec... Just keep the extra 400 dollars and buy some movies.. and the construction is not the same the XA1 is built like a tank.... the sound is GREAT even if you are and audiophile and the PQ is to die for...
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post #4 of 16
1/1/07 at 6:20am
The only real advantage is that it outputs 1080P and it has HDMI 1.3 (wich is great if you have a 1080p TV and if you can tell the difference between 1080p and 1080I )
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post #5 of 16
1/1/07 at 6:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by lexicon_mike View Post

The only real advantage is that it outputs 1080P and it has HDMI 1.3 (wich is great if you have a 1080p TV and if you can tell the difference between 1080p and 1080I )

And that continually gets debunked as being an advantage unless your display device is capable of displaying 1080p at 24fps or a multiple of 24fps and you can tell the visual difference between that and 1080p at 60fps. Given what I've read, if you have a 1080p native set, it's gonna look the same whether the player converts the 1080p source to 1080i first or if it just sends it as 1080p.
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post #6 of 16
1/1/07 at 6:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by lexicon_mike View Post

The only real advantage is that it outputs 1080P and it has HDMI 1.3 (wich is great if you have a 1080p TV and if you can tell the difference between 1080p and 1080I )

Well another future benefit is that via HDMI 1.3 You can decode the Audio at the receiver. I am pretty sure there will be far better decoders and processors for TrueHD and the like on the newer receivers coming out in 07.

Jorge
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post #7 of 16
1/1/07 at 7:32am
I say wait until after CES and lets see if any announcements are made. Its only another week.

I don't know anything and this is not alluding to any announcements, so don't read more into that statement than there is.
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post #8 of 16
1/1/07 at 12:37pm
Well, the hype with the XA2 seems to be it's upscaling capability, due to the new Reon chip or whatever.
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post #9 of 16
1/1/07 at 2:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by StevenC56 View Post

Is there any advantage to buying an XA1 or AX2 other the fact that is costs quite a bit less with the recent price reductions to get the XA1? I have an older Pioneer Elite PRO 610HD that will take a 1080i signal, so the XA2's 1080p output will not be used. The PRO610HD only has component inputs. My integrated HT amp is currently a Yamaha DSP-A1 that has analog 5.1 inputs and no HDMI. I have a new Yamaha RX-Z1 that's new in the box I will be hooking up this year that has the same set up. I've seen a few HDMI to component convertors for sale so I could use one of those to utilize the upscaling in either HD-DVD player to my older component only TV. I can't find much any information on this type of device anywhere however. Anybody ever used one? What's the best thing for somebody like me to do with an early adopter HDTV and a non HDMI HT receiver? I would think there are quite a few people here in the same boat.

If you decide on the XA1, I would seriously consider the A1. It's basically the same as the same as an XA1 san s the RS232, a backlit remote, and a supposedly better build quality.

Just to let you know where I'm coming from: I have an A1. I consider it to be a throw away player in that I plan to upgrade with the next 12 - 24 months depending on how long the unit lasts and what new developments occur.
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post #10 of 16
1/1/07 at 2:09pm
I hope the boot up and disc loading is significantly improved as well. Moreover, a fix on the audio and HDMI issues founf on the HD-A2.

I am looking at this model as I am very disappointed with my HD-A2 and hope the premium price of the XA2 fixes all of the little bugs that have plagued all the models thus far.
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post #11 of 16
1/1/07 at 2:58pm
Jeff,
What kind of load time are you getting ? The one I looked at at the local Best Buy loaded in about 15 seconds.

Art
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post #12 of 16
1/1/07 at 3:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Sonneborn View Post

Jeff,
What kind of load time are you getting ? The one I looked at at the local Best Buy loaded in about 15 seconds.

Art

Art,

It loads much faster than the HD-A1. The remote is more responsive as well and the menus are more polished. PQ is great but unlike my HD-A1, I have had HDMI audio and HDMI HDCP issues (I get frequent spats where it will only output 480P max res and then I have to fart around to get it back to 1080). I haven't had any skips, freezes or lockups, however.

At this point, I preferred my slow HD-A1. I had zero issues except the load time (which caused me to dump it).

I know the HDCP issues won't bother you though but if you upgrade to an HDMI processor, it may be problematic if they don't fix it.
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post #13 of 16
1/1/07 at 4:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thebland View Post

Art,

I know the HDCP issues won't bother you though but if you upgrade to an HDMI processor, it may be problematic if they don't fix it.

good ol' Art and his analog signal path, he has less problems than us for sure

I'd love to see what Art would think of a DVDO VP50 and 2 10-bit HDMI cards for his G90's

-Gary
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post #14 of 16
1/1/07 at 4:24pm
I can't understand the people getting upset about load times with the A1-XA1 , after all you are going to sit your butt down for an hour & 1/2 + to watch a movie anyway so what's another min ?. ...Geez go get a beer or whatever while loading.
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post #15 of 16
1/1/07 at 4:29pm
it's not the time for me, it's the horrid hdmi resyncs and on and off's that cause my PJ to resync about 2 or 3 times per loading, that combined with no HDMI output sometimes(like when you stop a flick) gets very annoying
this is where I much prefer the stable HDMI output of the Samsung BR, it is there 100% of the time no matter what, outputting your video resolution of choice at all times

hopefully the G2's correct the stupid HDMI output issues

-Gary
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post #16 of 16
1/1/07 at 5:12pm
My Panny's HDMI and audio are rock solid as well.
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