My A35 is now basically a paperweight
#1
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
My A35 is now basically a paperweight
I pretty much got screwed every which way on this deal. I bought the thing in December when the prices were still high on these things. By the time the price dropped it was too late for a price match although I did eventually receive a $50 Amazon GC.
The 2 discs in the box I already had so I sold them for whatever I could get for a copy of Bourne and a copy of 300 (not much). The 5 free deal it's well known that by the time they showed up it was pretty much crap I didn't want or already had.
Now the thing kept giving me the dreaded error code 408bc504 on some of my discs like Batman Begins and wouldn't even load Combo discs on the HD side.
So I finally got around to updating the firmware. The process was easy and flawless. Only problem? IT DIDN"T FREAKIN WORK.
So for now I've playing with my A3. It only plays 1080i but so far I really can't tell a difference and since it plays movies I wasn't able to watch on the old one, there is no way to compare. Funny thing is the A3 still has the old version of firmware and it plays better than the more expensive unit. So basically I have a nice $300 upconverting player for the bedroom.
The 2 discs in the box I already had so I sold them for whatever I could get for a copy of Bourne and a copy of 300 (not much). The 5 free deal it's well known that by the time they showed up it was pretty much crap I didn't want or already had.
Now the thing kept giving me the dreaded error code 408bc504 on some of my discs like Batman Begins and wouldn't even load Combo discs on the HD side.
So I finally got around to updating the firmware. The process was easy and flawless. Only problem? IT DIDN"T FREAKIN WORK.
So for now I've playing with my A3. It only plays 1080i but so far I really can't tell a difference and since it plays movies I wasn't able to watch on the old one, there is no way to compare. Funny thing is the A3 still has the old version of firmware and it plays better than the more expensive unit. So basically I have a nice $300 upconverting player for the bedroom.
#3
Shouldn't the A35 still be in warranty? Have Toshiba fix it.
#4
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Grazing in a field somewhere...
Posts: 23,642
Received 700 Likes
on
466 Posts
Originally Posted by DVD Polizei
Shouldn't the A35 still be in warranty? Have Toshiba fix it.
I wouldn't expect quick service, but they should fix it.
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
I'll have to check with Toshiba on Monday. I going to call them Monday but I was thinking they weren't supporting them anymore. At least I still have my A3 as a backup. I'm sure I'll have to send in the A35 and will get it back sometime in 2009
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Toshiba isn't making new HD DVD players, but they are still supporting existing units.
#7
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Update: BACK
Posts: 2,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That sucks, I'd definitely give them a call. I thought about upgrading my player when prices started dropping, but I've read numerous stories like this about the A3-lines.
The only disc my A2 has never wanted to play was the occassional music CD.
The only disc my A2 has never wanted to play was the occassional music CD.
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Both my A1 and A2 stopped reading discs. I had an extended warranty on both and ended up with an LG BH200 as a replacement. So far it works fine on HD DVD and BD, but gives me random disc read errors on DVDs. I'm pretty much convinced after my experience with these players and my Sharp Aquos BD player (I almost forgot I also have a Toshiba A3 that freezes randomly during playback from time to time) that next gen players are overpriced garbage. It is a sad day when the only quality next gen player I own is a Playstation 3.
The linux based set top player needs to die. They are buggy junk.
The linux based set top player needs to die. They are buggy junk.
Last edited by darkside; 07-20-08 at 10:26 AM.
#10
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by Oliver Clothesoff
my launch day XA1 is still going strong. thing's a tank. (knock wood).
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by kefrank
yep. my A35 has played every disc i've thrown at it. i've never upgraded the firmware and never will.
Just got a firmware update Cd from Toshiba for my a-30, but I probably won't use it unless i run into a problem.
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
I followed the instructions in our forum linked to the Toshiba website and had no problems. Very easy. I double checked the version after I was done and it showed I had upgraded. Unfortunately it still won't even load a combo disc
#14
DVD Talk Special Edition
My A2, which I had to have repaired a few months ago (they shipped a refurb back instead of fixing), doesn't work anymore either. And I think I may have used it twice since it got fixed. I get "No Disc" when I put in anything. Pretty disappointing when I was all ready to watch Batman Begins last week to get ready for Dark Knight...
#15
DVD Talk Limited Edition
My A3 and A2 are still going very strong *knocks on wood*
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Wow some of these posts are making me nervous for sure. I still own 80 HD DVD's including some imports.
I am buying everything I can on Blu-Ray once it's a available via domestic or import disc. I am currently using an XA2, and I have an A20 and A1 gathering dust as backup players. I'm hoping the combined life of these 3 players will outlast the amount of time it takes to get all my HD DVD's on Blu, because I am definitely not going to buy another piece of HD DVD hardware.
I will say I have gotten the impression from many user posts here and elsewhere that the 3rd gen machines were the worst ones in terms of reliability, especially with disc read issues.
I am buying everything I can on Blu-Ray once it's a available via domestic or import disc. I am currently using an XA2, and I have an A20 and A1 gathering dust as backup players. I'm hoping the combined life of these 3 players will outlast the amount of time it takes to get all my HD DVD's on Blu, because I am definitely not going to buy another piece of HD DVD hardware.
I will say I have gotten the impression from many user posts here and elsewhere that the 3rd gen machines were the worst ones in terms of reliability, especially with disc read issues.
#19
DVD Talk Hero
I haven't had a single problem with my A35. I haven't updated firmware and won't as long as there isn't a problem.
I watched Batman Begins yesterday.
I watched Batman Begins yesterday.
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Toshiba's customer service is VERY good. My friend tried to update his firmware with a hack, and it froze midway. His player still worked, but he could no longer update firmware. It was an A2 that he bought as an open box item. Toshiba sent him a brand new A3 (with the 2 movies inside) and took care of return shipping for the old unit. And it wasn't even their fault since he wasn't installing official firmware!
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: True North Strong & Free
Posts: 23,226
Received 2,205 Likes
on
1,508 Posts
Damn, I'm getting a bit nervous too, I have a bunch of HD DVDs (and still buying more when I get them really cheap) and so far my A3 has been working great. It's played everything I thrown in it fine, even combo discs. I have a back up A3 packed away in case something happens, but come to think of it, I've never really given that one much of a work out, so I don't even know how dependable that one is.
#23
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well, I have the A3 and haven't seen the 408bc504 error in a long time...but every once in a while the signal blinks in/out and the tv says 'no signal'... can't figure out if that's the tv or the player at fault.. or the wire.
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by zeez
every once in a while the signal blinks in/out and the tv says 'no signal'... can't figure out if that's the tv or the player at fault.. or the wire.