UltimateAVmag.com: Next-Gen HD DVD From Toshiba For 2006

Toshiba fired another salvo in the ongoing next-gen HD disc format war by announcing that it will have its second-generation HD DVD players to market by the end of 2006. The $499 HD-A2 will street in October, with the step-up $999 HD-XA2 following in December.

The HD-XA2 is by far the more interesting and exciting beast of the two new players. While its predecessor was “limited” to 1080i output, the new player will feature 1080p/60 output (from native HD DVD discs and also upconverted from DVD) and will be one of the first components sold to consumers that will feature an HDMI version 1.3 output. The video DACs are spec’d for major oversampling, operating at a whopping 297Mhz/12-bits.

Although HDMI 1.3 offers improved video specs, what’s of the most immediate interest to us is that it will transmit the new audio codecs from Dolby and DTS in their native digital form when connected to a compatible AVR or pre/pro.

Both new players will decode both Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby’s lossless TrueHD (all 5.1-channels worth!) for output through the player’s multichannel analog output. The players will also transcode DD+ and TrueHD to hi-res PCM for output via HDMI. While DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio will be supported over HDMI 1.3 it does not appear the format will supported at full resolution in either player over the analog outs.

Both players are housed in newer, far slimmer cabinets and, ahem, are claimed to offer much improved response times and superior remotes. The HD-A2 doesn’t offer 1080p output and will not feature HDMI version 1.3. The A2 will support multichannel Dolby TrueHD, and does feature HDMI version 1.2a (whatever that is). Other than that it appears, more or less, to be an HD-A1 in a slicker box with the latest firmware upgrades pre-installed.

< Previous Post | Blog Home | Next Post >

Reader Comments

Posted Thu Sep14, 2006, 10:05 PM — By Colin

In other words, these are the players that should have launched the format. I consider the current HD-DVD and Blu-ray players a stop-gap, and more or less crippled. They don't offer 1080p, output of the new lossless and HD audio formats, or HDMI 1.3. This is indeed good news!

Posted Fri Sep15, 2006, 11:32 AM — By Cough

Shut up and stop whining....nobody is forcing you to buy the damn things.

Posted Fri Sep15, 2006, 3:32 PM — By Bruce in HR

I agree with the launch comment. First to market isn't always the best idea. Let's hope that the software glitches are taken care of (Ultimate AV boys - do a test!), and I'll gladly plunk down the cash for the XA2 if all is well.

Posted Fri Sep15, 2006, 10:00 PM — By thomas p vinelli

the hd-a2 will not have 5.1 analog inputs so you will not be able to enjoy dd+ or dd true hd audio. you need to correct this error

Posted Sun Sep17, 2006, 5:19 PM — By john hunter

Shane, there are rumours that the HDXA2 incorporates SA-CD decoding.Is this true ?

Posted Sun Sep17, 2006, 6:53 PM — By Shane

John- Toshiba has never, to my knowledge, manufactured a disc player compatible with SACD. None of the press materials indicate that the HD-A2 will be the first, but I'll follow up with Toshiba to be sure. I also received no indication that the HD-A2 will lack 5.1-channel analog outputs, which are included on both the HD-A1 and the HD-XA1 frist-gen players. I will follow up on both issues and post the correct info to this thread. Check back tomorrow.

Posted Mon Sep18, 2006, 10:21 PM — By Colin

"Shut up and stop whining....nobody is forcing you to buy the damn things." I didn't. Why don't you save immature comments like this for myspace and digg?

Posted Thu Sep21, 2006, 10:41 PM — By Jim

I wish everyone would stop complaining about the load times for the HD-DVD players. I have 2 of them and they are ready to play a movie in just over a minute. By that time my projector has warmed up and I have my drink in hand. Is 60-90 seconds that big of a deal? I bought them for max picture quality that they deliver on. The whole 1080p/1080i debate honestly doesn't make much difference. If the tv has a good deinterlacer than it is no big issue. The future is here and HD-dvd looks great! The players are less money than Blue Ray and there are more movies and the movies look better. I have 2 players for the price of one BR player. The playback and up conversion of my regular dvd's is also wonderful. While others wait I'm enjoying fantastic picture quality!

Posted Fri Sep22, 2006, 6:58 PM — By John hunter

How did you go,Shane? A few sites report SACD playback but this could be based on an early prototype.It would certainly push me into the HD DVD camp if it did.Like most, I have only one set of bypass inputs which are connnected to my SACD player. There's no way a could live without my SACD's so one machine using those imputs for SACD and high rez video would decide the format war for me.

Posted Mon Feb16, 2009, 11:02 AM — By qutie

This is gain traction and have more HD players out there - this way they can try to convince the other companies to come to them over blu ray - the only way to do that is show they have lots of people with players and that HD DVDs sell - of which the 7 free will of course go in on the figures. Here in the UK we dont get why Blu Ray has won - the players are useless - they take 3 mins to load up and still have issues - many dont come with all the add ons you need or get as standard on HD dvd - also the PS3 - the cheap option doesnt do 24fps so isnt worth it. Me thinks someone very high up was given a lot of ��$$$ to go with blu ray - it isnt the consumers choice that is for sure.

Add Comment