Buying A Backup Player?

[ao7996]

I got into the HD DVD a bit late (after Warner announcement), but picked up an A30 from CC for $130, then an open box A20 from CC for $77 (originally as a backup). I use the A30 as my everyday living room player, and the A20 is boxed and away for now (tested it and it worked great). I have since developed a crack like addiction for these movies (have about 40 in my library) and I will put one of the units in my bedroom when i upgrade to a larger HD set for the living room. Do you guys think its worth picking up another backup? (mind you, i did go for the extended warrantys @ CC for both players.... i know, i know, I hate extended service plans too, but they were cheap and i figured why not)

My options are
1)Xbox Add on from fleabay
2)A2 refurb for $69shipped from tigerdirect
3)A3 new from CC for $79.99 plus tax/free ship

Any suggestions? Or for that matter, what have you done for a backup?

[jcs913]

I have an XA2 as a main unit along with a BD30 as my BD player. I picked up a backup A3 for my 768P plasma in my bedroom to mate with my PS3. I would not worry, in about 2 years or less people are going to be giving away their players. ($50 or much less market value) By then, Blu-ray players will be under $199 and its library from Universal and Paramount will surpass HD's by a mile by then. Plus all those movies will be cheaper too.

[REDBULL74]

Hell if you enjoy the format makes perfect sense to get a back up unit. Most disc's are dirt cheap and it's easy to expand your collection with these prices. I think in January I had like 35 's and I now have 121!! Now I don't think you should go overkill and buy as many back up players as myself, but 1 or 2 is ideal. I have a total of 3 back ups and a combo unit, but I like to be safe. And considering what I paid for all my units I'm estatic!

A35 in late January=$199.99 +3 free movies in the store at Best Buy.
A30 in February=$129.99 at Circuit City
A3 in February=$99.99 at Circuit City
Samsung BD-UP5000 Combo Player April 5th= at Best Buy for $499.99 priced matched Circuit Citys sale price.

And I don't care if titles will be released on ..........the MSRP on those will be $29.99. I'll stick with all my 's cause 1080p=1080p.


Go for it and get a back up.

[peterhefer1]

here's mine,

A3 november - $288 CAD with 2 movies + 5 free mail-in
A2 January - $75CAD
360 add-on Feb
(sold remote $15 = 35.00CAD)- 1 free movie + 5 free mail in
A2 refurb. Mar - Free with movie purchases
A2 refurb. Apr - Free with movie purchases.

kinda over kill but at the same time I've now got over 165 movies plus a few more, and my dad will get into HD next year so I can toss him a player to use when he does.

[jdastas]

what I did to solve my problem with the war being over is that I went Purple. I put my a2 back in its box after making sure it had the latest FW update and will let it sit there till the day my Duo player breaks down at which time Ill just buy a stand alone BD player to go along with my hd-dvd player that by then will be novelty item of some sort.

[ao7996]

unfortunately, im not in a position to go purple just yet (too expensive for my taste) and splurge for the combo player. I hesitated too long on the refurb from TigerDirect and they are not sold out.

So i'm down to waiting it out til one of my two units dies to go grab one on fleabay, or snag a new A3 from CC as a backup before they go away too.

[LastSonOfKrypton]

Shit I'd be using the A20 as my main w/the A30 as my back-up. I'm guessing you have an HDMI capable reciever? If not put the A20 wherever you have to use optical for audio. The A20 downconverts LPCM, TrueHD, and DTS-MA to a 1.5 Mbps DTS track while your A30 downconverts it to 640 kbps Dolby Digital.

Just something to think about!

[ao7996]

Originally Posted by LastSonOfKrypton

Shit I'd be using the A20 as my main w/the A30 as my back-up. I'm guessing you have an HDMI capable reciever? If not put the A20 wherever you have to use optical for audio. The A20 downconverts LPCM, TrueHD, and DTS-MA to a 1.5 Mbps DTS track while your A30 downconverts it to 640 kbps Dolby Digital.

Just something to think about!

Good to know, look's like I'll be swapping them around. Basically, I'll have my A20 w/ my 47"1080p in the living room, my A30 with my Olevia 37" 768P in my bedroom..... now to get a backup A3 or not (i'm far to neurotic about this)?

[chipvideo]

Originally Posted by ao7996

Good to know, look's like I'll be swapping them around. Basically, I'll have my A20 w/ my 47"1080p in the living room, my A30 with my Olevia 37" 768P in my bedroom..... now to get a backup A3 or not (i'm far to neurotic about this)?

If I were you I would get a A35 as that will decode and bitstream TrueHD and DD+.

I would also shop around for titles now as they seem to be drying up. You can get many hd dvd's for under $10 now. Heck I got Into the Wild and Ray for $20 shipped from Austalia.

I think you would want the highest quality player for down the road when you have better equipment. I am using my XA2 now and that will go back into the box and I will use my original A1 as I don't have a 1080P FP yet.

Also an xbox addon is a good idea. You can rip your movies to a HDD and then keep them for future bd encoding and burns when those discs get cheaper.

[ao7996]

Originally Posted by chipvideo

If I were you I would get a A35 as that will decode and bitstream TrueHD and DD+.

I would also shop around for titles now as they seem to be drying up. You can get many hd dvd's for under $10 now. Heck I got Into the Wild and Ray for $20 shipped from Austalia.

I think you would want the highest quality player for down the road when you have better equipment. I am using my XA2 now and that will go back into the box and I will use my original A1 as I don't have a 1080P FP yet.

Also an xbox addon is a good idea. You can rip your movies to a HDD and then keep them for future bd encoding and burns when those discs get cheaper.

Yeah, I balked at the A35 after the Warner announcement and regret it. I ordered Beowulf and Knocked Up from dvdcrave for 26Shipped the other day, good ole aussie's.

Alright, so your recommendation: Xbox addon for $50 or A3 for $80?

[chipvideo]

Originally Posted by ao7996

Yeah, I balked at the A35 after the Warner announcement and regret it. I ordered Beowulf and Knocked Up from dvdcrave for 26Shipped the other day, good ole aussie's.

Alright, so your recommendation: Xbox addon for $50 or A3 for $80?

I would definitely get the xbox addon to protect your collection on HDD.

It all comes down to how much you want to spend. I have about $2500 in media and I figured that since I am such an hd addict that I wanted to get the best hd dvd players there are. That is why I got the a35 and XA2. I got the XA2 on ubid for $250 and I will tell you it is worth every penny and more.

I figure that I am safe with three backups and xbox addon for my lifetime.

But yes go with the addon.

[ao7996]

Originally Posted by chipvideo

I would definitely get the xbox addon to protect your collection on HDD.

It all comes down to how much you want to spend. I have about $2500 in media and I figured that since I am such an hd addict that I wanted to get the best hd dvd players there are. That is why I got the a35 and XA2. I got the XA2 on ubid for $250 and I will tell you it is worth every penny and more.

I figure that I am safe with three backups and xbox addon for my lifetime.

But yes go with the addon.

Alright, I've been on the fence for a while, and just went and pulled the trigger on a new 360 addon for 49 bucks shipped from ebay.

I figure with that, my A20, and a30 (both with 5 year extended warranty's from CC) I should be good for a long time (Right?)

Thanks for the help

[chipvideo]

Originally Posted by ao7996

Alright, I've been on the fence for a while, and just went and pulled the trigger on a new 360 addon for 49 bucks shipped from ebay.

I figure with that, my A20, and a30 (both with 5 year extended warranty's from CC) I should be good for a long time (Right?)

Thanks for the help

You should be good to go.

[bootylicious_krissy]

IM using my 360 addon as my backup I'm usin A3 as primary..

[Aristottle]

A30= $99.00 boxing day sale. (2 free movies plus 5 by mail.)
A30= $120.00 clearance sale...last factory fresh A30 in my city. (2 free movies plus 5 by mail.)
A3= $99.00 last factory fresh A3 on clearance. (2 free plus 5 by mail).
Venturer=$62.00 last venturer from local walmart. (2 free movies)

So I use my original A30 as my everyday machine.....have the Factory Fresh A30, and A3 stored in a closet, and I am going to hook the venturer up in the basement for the kids....and me to watch when I am in the doghouse.