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WAL-MART HD-DVD player under 99 bucks!

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WAL-MART HD-DVD player under 99 bucks!

Old 11-03-07, 12:21 AM
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Originally Posted by bretski
Your questions aren't stupid. Yes, you can play SD and HD DVDs on a regular TV. You'll just be limited to 480p resolution.
You mean 480i resolution.
Old 11-03-07, 12:32 AM
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For $50 out of pocket ($199 - $150 RZ credit) I'm happy with the A3. As more of these get to the $99 price point I will pick up a back up machine in case the A3 dies and HDDVD doesn't make it. For the money I get a couple extra discs at least
Old 11-03-07, 12:41 AM
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Originally Posted by davidlynchfan
damn ebay seller and how you weren't able to get one...


ugh! i swear it ain't my auction though.
Sad. This morning about 300. Now over 700! After taxes these people are not even making much based on the closed auctions.
Old 11-03-07, 01:39 AM
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No HDMI cable in my box.

I tested it using component and it looked nice, but I can't wait to test it out in HDMI, which I'll have to buy tomorrow. Very sleek. I'm happy I took the plunge.
Old 11-03-07, 01:46 AM
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Originally Posted by davidlynchfan
damn ebay seller and how you weren't able to get one...


ugh! i swear it ain't my auction though.
I wonder how much he wants for the dog?
Old 11-03-07, 07:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Sweet Baby James
I wonder how much he wants for the dog?
...nothing, buy the 5 boxes and he'll throw in the dog for free!
(sorry:-)

warrior
Old 11-03-07, 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Spiky
You mean 480i resolution.
Yes, you are correct. My mistake.
Old 11-03-07, 09:06 AM
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Yeah, trying to ebay these would be a pain. No money in it.

Especially when Circuit City has them for $129 and BB has the A3 for $199.
Old 11-03-07, 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by bretski
I'm having the same issue with my setup because both my Dish VIP722 and the new A-3 only have optical and my receiver only has one input. Does anyone know if Radioshack sells a similar adapter? I can't seem to find one on their website.
Old 11-03-07, 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Damed
Both the HDA2 and the HDA3 do the high def audio - but ONLY through HDMI.

So, if you don't have a receiver that supports HDMI, you've got to go optical.

HD-A2 takes the high def audio and downsamples it to full 1.5mbps DTS stream for optical out.
HD-A3 take the high def audio and downsamples it to 640kbps Dolby Digital for optical out

So, for your CURRENT setup, the A2 would be better (strictly from an audio standpoint). However, if you plan on getting a new receiver in the foreseeable future, then the A3 might look better, as a newer model (longer support life) and 2 extra HD DVDs.
Thank you very much for the advice. I take it that the difference between the 1.5 DTS and 640 DD would be quite noticeable. How much better is the full HD audio compared to the 1.5 DTS?

I've also heard conflicting statements about the upconverting of each player. Some say the A3 is significantly better than the A2 as it uses the technology in the higher end Toshibas, but others say it is exactly the same as the A2. Anyone have definitive proof either way or have first hand experience with both players?

By the way, watched Hot Fuzz last night and was amazed by the quality. Really happy with the player so far. If the format war doesn't clear up I'll definitely pick up a blu ray player when the prices become as reasonable as HD DVD.
Old 11-03-07, 09:26 AM
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Does the A2 need a firmware update? I connected mine to my router and tried to do the update in the maintenance area but it said the download failed and I should try again later.
Old 11-03-07, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by edstein
Does the A2 need a firmware update? I connected mine to my router and tried to do the update in the maintenance area but it said the download failed and I should try again later.
You're better off downloading the firmware ISO, burning it and updating that way.

http://tacp.toshiba.com/tacpassets-i...ngfirmware.asp

If using NERO to burn, remember to select "disc at once" mode instead of "track at once". I also recommend dropping the burn speed to 16x or lower to ensure a good burn.
Old 11-03-07, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by edstein
Does the A2 need a firmware update? I connected mine to my router and tried to do the update in the maintenance area but it said the download failed and I should try again later.
Yeah I had the same issue yesterday when I tried to update my A3. My guess is that Toshiba's servers are getting slammed with the amount of people trying to download updates.
Old 11-03-07, 09:54 AM
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I just bought an A3 last week. Does it need to be updated already?
Old 11-03-07, 10:05 AM
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Originally Posted by vasb
I take it that the difference between the 1.5 DTS and 640 DD would be quite noticeable. How much better is the full HD audio compared to the 1.5 DTS?
The difference between 1.5M DTS and 640k DD is very small and possibly insignificant, throwing out the variables about how well the players themselves are generating the streams on the fly. There had been many many blind tests between DTS and DD over the years, and I haven't seen one study that says that DTS at 1.5Mb/s sounds better than DD at 448Kb/s.

Warner Bros put out several DTS DVDs such as Twister with DTS 1.5 and DD 448 both soundtracks generated from identical masters, and they were found to sound identical. The only soundtracks that clearly sound better with DTS are generated by Dreamworks who have ties to DTS and are known to remix the DTS track to make it more active and hotter than the mandatory DD track on the same DVD. This explains the perception due to the great tracks found on titles like Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator, or the Haunting.

PCM and TrueHD will sound significantly better than DTS 1.5 and DD 640 though, but you'll need top notch equipment to reveal this.

Last edited by PerryD; 11-03-07 at 10:08 AM.
Old 11-03-07, 10:43 AM
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A heads-up for anyone that's thinking about getting the A3 from Best Buy for $199-starting tomorrow, you can select 3 HD titles priced $34.95 or lower for free. So, you'll get the player, 300, Bourne Identity and 3 titles of your choosing for $199(and of course, the 5 mail in rebate titles).
Old 11-03-07, 10:49 AM
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I may have to pick one up for the rents.
Old 11-03-07, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Sweet Baby James
A heads-up for anyone that's thinking about getting the A3 from Best Buy for $199-starting tomorrow, you can select 3 HD titles priced $34.95 or lower for free. So, you'll get the player, 300, Bourne Identity and 3 titles of your choosing for $199(and of course, the 5 mail in rebate titles).
Where were you yesterday when I bought mine?


Also, does anyone know if I stopped in tomorrow with my receipts, will they allow be to select a third title or am I SOL?

Last edited by TheMovieman; 11-03-07 at 11:52 AM.
Old 11-03-07, 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by TheMovieman
Also, does anyone know if I stopped in tomorrow with my receipts, will they allow be to select a third title or am I SOL?

Yes inquiring minds want to know. Also I use RZ certificates, would I loose these if I had to return, re-buy to get the 3 free discs?
Old 11-03-07, 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by TheMovieman
Where were you yesterday when I bought mine?


Also, does anyone know if I stopped in tomorrow with my receipts, will they allow be to select a third title or am I SOL?
Shouldn't be any problem just bring your receipt tomorrow
Old 11-03-07, 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by TheMovieman
Where were you yesterday when I bought mine?


Also, does anyone know if I stopped in tomorrow with my receipts, will they allow be to select a third title or am I SOL?
You'll be fine. If not, return the player and 2 movies and rebuy them right away. I doubt any store will take issue with that as they have done so in the past for many other people for these deals. There is a 60 Day HDTV pricematch in policy as well. I'm going Tuesday to snag 2 copies of Chuck and Larry to go with my A2 and A3 I just purchased.
Old 11-03-07, 03:21 PM
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Ok, talked with a CS guy at Best Buy (I was over that way, so I thought I'd ask) and he said to just bring in the ad and receipts and I can get my free HD-DVD... Just an FYI for others in the same position.
Old 11-03-07, 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Sweet Baby James
A heads-up for anyone that's thinking about getting the A3 from Best Buy for $199-starting tomorrow, you can select 3 HD titles priced $34.95 or lower for free. So, you'll get the player, 300, Bourne Identity and 3 titles of your choosing for $199(and of course, the 5 mail in rebate titles).
Will it still be $199 on Sunday? A scan of the ad in the bargains forum shows it as $299. Im all over this if I can get an HD player and 10 movies for $200 + tax.
Old 11-03-07, 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by ENDContra
Will it still be $199 on Sunday? A scan of the ad in the bargains forum shows it as $299. Im all over this if I can get an HD player and 10 movies for $200 + tax.
I doubt the price will change on A3 since the current $199 price only happened yesterday. This is most likley the now permanent price.
Old 11-03-07, 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
I doubt the price will change on A3 since the current $199 price only happened yesterday. This is most likley the now permanent price.
Only thing that concerns me is that $299 yellow tag next to the picture of the A3.

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