A3 $159 +10free YMMV

Had the coupon, not the heart, paid $199. Poor kids were really trying, took 45 min. of me telling them more about the special (3 dvds) and price match than the store manager knew. They finally caved and overrided the Circuit City pricing software, so my receipt actually shows the price of the A3 at $120.00 with 3 dvds at full price. Sucked the energy right outta me, don't even have the energy to play with my new toy.

I did that for the A2. I really don't need the A3, my tv doesn't do 1080p, plus the A2 downconverts the truehd audio to DTS rather then DD.

ill paypal someone the funds if they can do that Circut City offer for me..... I live in canada....

The A3 doesn't do 1080p either.

Clipse if I lived closer to a CC I would. I feel for you Canadians. Gettin the shaft sucks eh

I just picked up an A2 at Wal-MArt on Friday for $98.

What does the A2 do with audio via optical output? I dont really follow the newer audio formats. Please explain what the A2 does and doesnt do regarding outputing audio.

I have an Outlaw 990 preamp, which does not have HDMI inputs. It has 3 component and 2 DVI inputs. I have HDMI/DVI adapeters from monoprice.

the A2 down converts true-hd to dts @1.5mbs through optical while the A3 down converts it to DD @640kbs.

Right now I am watching King Kong on HD DVD. The back of the case only claims the soundtrack is in DD, not DTS. However, my Outlaw 990 preamp is showing the sound as being DTS.

Back of case "Dolby Digital Plus 5.1, and English Dolby Digital 2.0. There is no mention of DTS.

I am running the audio via optical as my Outlaw does not have HDMI.

That plus Dolby Digital Plus 5.1

The HD-A2 transcodes TrueHD and DD Plus to DTS @ 1.5 Mbps via optical SPDIF connection. You're fine!

Since both DD+ and DTS is 1.5 Mbps, do you think there's a difference in quality since the player is converting it to DTS?

I don't think so since both are transcoded to DTS.

I meant b/w the "original DD+" and "DD+ converted to DTS"

Is there a difference if Setup A can decode the DD+ while Setup B converts DD+ to DTS. Both having the same receiver and speakers.

Anyone have any idea how to get the coupon to work online?

I went to my local Circuit City during lunch today and they wouldn't do this. They said I could have the coupon or the online price, but I couldn't have both.

I am still a little confused, but ok.

So the A2 takes the DD soundtrack and converts it internally to DTS?

I am still thinking of getting the A3 and getting 10 free HD DVDs. I am hopefull that Outlaw (to replace my 990)will release a new preamp next spring which is scheduled to have HDMI connections.

I have a hard time believing the audio with the A3 will be that much "poorer in quality" than the A2 on my current setup.

Since I don't have a receiver with HDMI I can't really answer this question but based on what I've seen so far I am pretty sure you could tell the difference between DD+ and DTS.

I sure could tell the difference between DD and DTS.

As far as which one is better, I think the DD+ is a step up from regular DTS but a step behind TrueHD.

how does one get the coupon??

I wouldn't say much poorer. More like DTS vs DD5.1

But when you are upgraded to HDMI then they both will sound the same

Well if you can find the actual coupon, you might just have somethig. The link goes to a scan of the coupon which you then have to print. The coupon plainly says that photocopies are not valid.

Assuming anyone can find the actual coupon then it would be an excellent way to get the A3 for $159 plus 10 free movies. Where did this coupon appear? In a CC circular, or newspaper?

I took in a photocopy and they were perfectly willing to give me the $40 off (I think they could just punch in the number below the barcode or something when it didn't scan) -- they just weren't willing to give me the $40 discount AND the $200 circuitcity.com price. Therefore, no dice....

Or if someone had a clean scan of the coupon, that would work too.

I don't see where CC is doing the 3 free instant HD DVD offer. Can someone point me to the details?

Where did that original $40 Circuit City coupon come from?

Newspaper, flyer, moving package, online, etc... They have been issuing them everywhere for close to a year now to encourage business. They don't have to do a PM with a coupon. It's a YMMV situation.

"...then they both will sound the same" do you mean the A2 vs the A3 will sound the same because the actual audio will be sent out via HDMI instead o fan optical output?

Exactly.

Thanks. But now I see Best Buy has the A3 back at $299.00. Looks like I will be keeping my A2. Oh well, no biggie!

It's still $100 off on the A3