**Official Toshiba HD-A35 (ONLY) Thread** - Page 148

I just purchased four HD DVD movies ranging from $3.99 to $4.99. Not bad at all. Hopefully my four HD DVD players last me the rest of my life.

For a great deal check out inetvideo.com right now - free freight for orders over $50. I recently bought 13 HDDVDs from them for a whopping total of $50!

That's exactly where I got them. I just don't like their slow shipping (and expensive $7.95). Also, I've ordered before and then they say it is no longer in stock even though the web site says it is.

Jugglebob,

I am having the same audio dropout problems with my Toshiba A35. Until yesterday I was using my A35, updated with the latest firmware, with an Onkyo TX-SR805 receiver connected via HDMI with no problems. Yesterday I installed my new Pioneer Elite SC-05 receiver, and tested it with two HD DVDs with Dolby Digital Plus soundtracks and experienced the audio dropouts every couple of minutes. Maybe the A35 is having a problem with Pioneer receivers?

^Jeff, you may be on to something. For instance, many Panny -35/-55 BD owners are having issues getting them to bitstream properly with various Onkyo receivers, while working flawlessly for practically all others. You and Jugglebob might want to try combing the Pioneer website for potential firmware updates; it wouldn't be completely unheard of.

Thanks for the suggestion BB. I did quite a bit of research on the Pioneer 05 before I pulled the trigger, and one of the things discussed here on the Pioneer Elite 05/07 thread was the possibility of firmware upgrades. Someone asked Pioneer service about it and the reply was that they don’t offer consumer installable firmware updates for the Elite receivers. I checked the Pioneer site myself, and found nothing. I’ll continue to monitor the Pioneer 05/07 thread and report here if that changes. I can now also confirm what Jugglebob found concerning bitstreaming the audio vs PCM; bitstream – audio dropouts, PCM – no dropouts.

Funny thing BB; I also own the Panny 35, and had no problems bitstreaming audio to my Onkyo 805!

Jugglebob,

I spent some time reading the Pioneer Elite SC-07/05 thread today, and entered a post detailing the problems we are having bitstreaming audio to our Pioneer receivers. Seems we aren’t the only ones with this problem. One member reported problems with an HD-A30 bitstreaming audio to a Pioneer Elite receiver and an HD-DVD with a DTS MA soundtrack, while another member reported similar problems with multiple HD DVDs played on a Toshiba XA-2 bitstreaming audio to a Pioneer Elite receiver.

Jeff Barone,

Thanks for checking out info on compatibility issues with the Toshiba HD-DVD Player and Pioneer (elite, non-elite) Receiver. It seems this is not an isolated incident and may, in fact, be a serious issue between these two brands. After I thought about it, this issue began occuring around the same time I moved my Yamaha RXV663 receiver from my main set-up to my bedroom and connected my newer Pioneer Receiver. I'll connect my HD-A35 to my Yamaha Recevier in my Bedroom 7.2 set-up just to see if the same drop out problems occurs while sending high res audio. I'll report back with my findings later tomorrow. This could prove further that the issue is with compatibility and not the HD Player itself.

So I finally got around to doing the FW 4.0 upgrade and it cured all the audio dropouts! I have direct digital mode ON and HDMI to AUTO, also something is set to bitstream. I am using the ONKYO 705 as my AV receiver.
I used to get tons of dropouts on the last battle in Transformers and this time after the FW upgrade it sounded perfect!

After Toshiba dropped the HD DVD format, Toshiba's CEO publicly stated in a press conference they will continue to offer full HD DVD player support for 5 years.

It's to Toshiba's interest to take care of its customers anyway.

Well, I checked my A35 with my Yammy Receiver and found there to be no dropping of audio. I checked a few discs and they all played fine while bitstreaming high res audio via hdmi. Then I place my A35 back in my system connected to my Pioneer 1018 receiver and the dropouts were back once again. That proves that the issue is not related to the player alone, but to the compatibility of the two components, in my case.

Guess what, you are not the only one having this issue anymore. I tested my A35 with I Am Legend HD DVD and set the audio to TrueHD. Well what do you know problems, my sub doesn't even work anymore. I tested a few other discs and it seems like TrueHD and DD+ gives me issues regardless whether I let the A35 do the decoding or just bitstreaming the high res audio to my Onkyo. Any other sound format works awesome. But the funny think is after the 4.0 update it worked great, and today it just won't work anymore?

I may go back to the previous update because I got like 30+ HD DVD movies off inetvideo.com for less than $3.99 a piece which I plan on watching in the coming weeks

One thing I failed to mention is my 19 month old daughter pulled my Onkyo 605 and ripped out a few banana plugs out of the back while my wife was watching a movie. This all happened when I was at work. So I put checked the back and put everything back to way it's suppose to be.

So now I am not sure if this may be the cause for the TrueHD and DD+ lacking audio or the 4.0 firmware update. But like I said after the 4.0 update everything was sounding just fine. It's just only this week that I am having the issues along with what happend as stated above.

I just hope nothing got shorted out or something.

Dear HD DVD supporters,

I have a Toshiba A35 HD DVD player which I bought several years ago. So far, I haven't found a Blu-ray player that has the features I would want as a possible BR replacement for the A35. (I didn't buy many HD-DVD discs., so having a large collection of HD DVD's I can't play isn't an issue.) I'm primarily interested in a unit with the ability to play all the lossless audio codecs well, along with SACD and SACD MC surround, with good audio quality via both analog and HDMI.

I'm now considering one of the Oppo 83 Blu-ray/SACD/CD/DVD players, soon to be released, since it seems to have the features I want and also seems to have good audio response. It is also supposed to have good SD DVD playback.

Would I be making a mistake if I decided to return the A35 for a partial refund and get one of the Oppo Blu-ray/SACD players, for around $600? I have been impressed with the picture and sound on the A35. - Would the Oppo, or another similar BR player, have the same audio quality (I think I would be satisfied with the video of either of them)? In other words, am I giving up anything by letting the A35 go? My chief interests in software are music (audio), concerts, opera, etc.


Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

Jim Cate

Jim,
If you have a small HD-DVD collection and you wouldn't miss any of the titles you have on HD-DVD then you should get a Blu-ray player that will allow you to play other formats you are interested in like SACD. If you are selling your A35 I might be interested! What condition is it in?

Where on earth do you plan on returning the A35 for a partial refund this late in the game???

Personally I like the fact the HD-A35 bitstreams raw uncompressed audio to the Digital Receiver via HDMI. Along with it being a one of the best DVD up-scalers. Find me a Blu-Ray up-converting player than can top a HD DVD up-converting player?

There isn't any at this time.

I agree, it's certainly one of the best components I've ever owned. And it's upscaling capabilities are a major leap up from the A30, which I previously owned and was unhappy with. But in all honesty, I have to say that both the Samsung 2500 and Panny BD55 (both of which I've had a lot of experience with) are better at SD DVD 1080p upconversion. Granted, it took over a year after the end of the format war for them to come up with BD players that were both effective and economical. But to my eyes, and on my setup, the Sammy 2500 in particular does SD DVD way better (especially since Tosh's 4.0 firmware, which I've noticed a slight decrease in SD DVD playback quality at 1080p).

But the A35 and A30 both have the same chip, the "ABT" for upscaling. I've not heard that the A35 is better in that department.


Really? I hadn't noticed a thing.

True, my understanding is that both use the ABT1018 chip. But the deinterlacing of SD DVD was noticeably inferior on the A30 in my setup. Knowing Toshiba and its reputation for laxed firmware QC, it wouldn't surprise me if the problem was actually software related. But the stairstepping and jaggies on the A30 were almost too much for me to bear. However, I saw no difference between the two with 1080i scaling; both do that superbly. There was at least one professional review (the publication escapes me at the moment) that also gave the A30 poor marks for its SD upconversion.

Since 4.0, I've noticed jaggies on SD material that wasn't present prior, forcing me to run SD DVD at 1080i. Here's to one day hoping Tosh will finally get it 100% right. For every one item they repair or improve upon there seems to be something else that seems to fall by the wayside. Still a big fan of the player, though... Love it! But it sure would be nice to have this thing functioning at FULL potential.

Yes I would have to agree. I mostly use my XD-E500 for up-converting with Sharp/Contrast enhancements enabled. I try to save the A35 for HD DVD, no telling if and when it would ever brake down due to overuse. I Really Hope Not!!!

After going with the 4.0 firmware, I've not noticed a difference in 1080p up-converting quality. All I can say is the major fix in 4.0 was it corrected the jaggies at 1080/24p with MPEG-4 encodes. I currently run my A35 on 1080p/24p all the time and never had a problem with it ever since. Not even B4 the 4.0 firmware update.

Hmmm.. tough call there. I own and am very happy with an A35. I've been taking full advantage of the fire sales to get my HD-DVD library up (about 100 titles now). I find the quality of the titles and the incredibly low price to be irresistible, with several titles which will probably not be produced in blu that I really like and some that have a transfer that's not quite as good. I plan on keeping my A35 for as long as it will have me, see no reason to get rid of it.

Having said that, I will be buying an Oppo '83 in due course. There is an increasing number of titles that I want in bluray, and this seems like the first blu player that rivals the A35 in HD PQ/AQ and will probably (given Oppo's reputation) exceed its upscaling performance. I'd also like to expand into SACD audio, and from the looks of it, it does this well. I'll have to save for it, so I don't see it happening for a few months after release.

Since you don't own many titles, I guess you could switch. I would take into account all of the titles that are available at such a low price, but if it's an either or, I'm sure there are many here (including myself) who wouldn't mind taking an A35 in good condition off your hands. I'll gladly do it for $30 and a copy of Fifth Element (blu)

Where on earth?- - - Houston, Texas: Latitude 29.65, Longitude 95.35.

Jim

The player seems to be in like-new condition. - I have probably used it to play eight or ten HD-DVD's. My (small) HD-DVD collection includes the usual frebies along with some classics, e.g., Casablanca, Swan Lake Ballet. As I recall, I paid around $450 for the unit, with warranty.

Jim

Cute...

You know well and good I meant what store do you think is going to take your return???

Your "where on earth?," which was obviously intended to call attention to what you consider my naivete in the matter, was too much to resist.

When I purchased the unit from a local electronics outlet, I also purchased their three-year warranty. The unit was purchased a few months before Toshiba called it quits. In several discussions with the store manager who handled the sale, he (and his associates) have indicated that the warranty would provide some recovery in the form of an exchange for a BR player or possibly a store credit. Since I no longer am able to use the player as expected, e.g., to play HD-DVD's as they are released, I consider that the unit is not suited for its intended purpose and is at least partially inoperable. As to my delay in making an exchange, until recently I haven't been able to find a BR player with the features I wanted for a comparable price. For example, few were capable of playing all the audio codecs, and they were expensive, as acknowledged by the manager(s).

At this point I'm frankly not counting on getting much under the warranty, and I have more or less written off the loss. I'm fairly set on getting the Oppo 83. - Nevertheless, the managers of this particular outlet have indicated a readiness to work with me and honor the warranty.

Jim

Well that is great if they plan on workiing with you. But most of what you want in a player your A35 already has. The A35 will do a better job up-converting DVD's than most if not all DVD players today.

I use my player for HD DVD, DVD and listening to music. I like the fact it bitstreams right to my digital receiver.

You paid a fair bit for the A35, $450 is a lot of money. That local electronics outlet should at least give you well north of $300 credit to go toward a BD or OPPO player of your choice. If not the A35 is way to valuable IMO for what it offers.

Start buying up as many for about $2.77ea Brand New HD DVD movies while you still can
http://search.inetvideo.com/search?p...id&isort=price

I recently purchased a 1080/24p projector and switched out a HD-A1 for an HD-A35; I have had the A35 sitting sealed in its box for a few years, knowing of the eventual projector upgrade…

I disconnected the A1: HDMI, power-supply, 5.1 analogue audio cables, and plugged the same cables (except the power cable) into the A35… No changes in setup.


Immediately there is a high pitched whine through the center channel (the a35 is plugged-in, but powered-off [standby]).


When I turn the power to “on”, the whine turns into light, but audible, mechanical sounds… whirs, beeps, etc. as the player boots and checks the drive. Again, most of the noise is out of the center-channel. What the…


Okay, so I put in an HD-DVD, buzz, whir, buzz, then SILENCE and then perfect sound, as the Universal intro theme soundtrack starts… Noise… quiet-menu… select “play movie”… Noise..., silence, perfect sound as movie soundtrack begins. What the…


If I track forward there is noise until the A35 finds the track and begins playing, then… quiet- perfect sound.

I have searched this forum and Google... I cannot find ONE post which suggests/duplicates my problem.


I have tried all of the following:

- Updated firmware from 1.3 -> 4.0.

- Disconnected, reconnected all cables; including power (MANY times).

- Switched out audio cables, just in case.

- went through Audio menu Many times; turning off the center channel does not stop noise.

- Finally tried disconnecting everything, and connecting to another system in another room; same noise, same problems.



I am so disappointed right now… Anyone else have this problem? Ideas? Suggestions?

Appreciated- JD

Have you tried caling Toshiba??? That is what I suggest and they can probably have you send it in for repair(s)...But the simplest thing is to connect your original player back up and sell me the A35 for $35...That way you won't have to be so disappointed with the build quality...or any playback issues...

Is Splicer010 the only member able to see my posts...?


Anyone else ever have/hear of a similar problem as those posted above in post #4438?


Anyone except for Splicer010, who doesn't seem to offer much in the problem-solving category...

And judging from his posts/replies to my posts, also doesn't seem to have more than $35