Is the A30 worth getting

[JAC35]

Originally Posted by crazzeto

Unless you feel like you want another backup I can't say it's a clearly worth buying an A30 in your situation. I will say the drive door/eject function on the A30's HD DVD drive does seem to be more solid than the A2's though, that's worth mentioning. Other than that you won't get a whole lot of benifit out of having an A30.

I don't think any FW/UP fixed or could fix (who knows) the issue with 1080P@60fps, but really there's no reason to throw your HD DVD into 1080 mode at all.

What issue are you referring to? I just picked up this player for a hundred bucks and hooked it up in "up to 1080P/24 mode" on my Panasonic plasma and it seems to be working fine.

[crazzeto]

The A30 exhibits jaggies in 1080p@60Hz mode.... Running in 24fps mode like you are is problem free, but his PJ doesn't accept that single.

[chris gerhard]

I don't use 1080p@60Hz often, maybe never with this player, and this is the first time I have heard of the problem. I have used 24fps a lot since firmware version 4.0 and thought Toshiba had all issues fixed.

Chris

[JAC35]

I have seen the issue mentioned a few times on-line, but it is unclear if FW 4.0 resolves it. Just to be clear on the audio with the A30, DTS-MA cannot be bitstreamed, but can it be sent out PCM or are you going to get DTS Core only?

[Cochise]

Originally Posted by JAC35

I have seen the issue mentioned a few times on-line, but it is unclear if FW 4.0 resolves it. Just to be clear on the audio with the A30, DTS-MA cannot be bitstreamed, but can it be sent out PCM or are you going to get DTS Core only?

DTS Core only, decoded and sent out as PCM. It can decode DD+ & TrueHD and output as PCM. The only thing it can bitsteam is DVD audio.

[crazzeto]

Originally Posted by CochiseGuy

DTS Core only, decoded and sent out as PCM. It can decode DD+ & TrueHD and output as PCM. The only thing it can bitsteam is DVD audio.

As a note, it's best to run the A30 in mixed mode... I feel strongly that your AVR will do a better job decoding your legacy codecs than the A30... Or at least those are my feelings.

[JAC35]

Originally Posted by CochiseGuy

DTS Core only, decoded and sent out as PCM. It can decode DD+ & TrueHD and output as PCM. The only thing it can bitsteam is DVD audio.

Ahh so DTS Core, DD+, TrueHD all as PCM and DVD Audio bitstreamed.

Considering HD DVD is dead and there is only one NA title with DTS-MA that isn't too shabby audio support IMO. The 1080P/24 is why I really picked it up, and it rocks!

[crazzeto]

There are a number of imports with DTS-HD & MA though, so if you were big on imports it would have made sense to get an A35 or XA2. T2 comes to mind for instance.

[Splicer]

Originally Posted by JAC35

Ahh so DTS Core, DD+, TrueHD all as PCM and DVD Audio bitstreamed.

Considering HD DVD is dead and there is only one NA title with DTS-MA that isn't too shabby audio support IMO. The 1080P/24 is why I really picked it up, and it rocks!

DVD audio output isn't anything to shout about...Not to mention there is a large number of Dolby True HD titles that simply blows away any other DD or DTS only audio...but I digress...

[justjoined]

its such an awesome upscaler. Its much better at upscaling that my ps3. newer dvds look EXTREMELY good, honestly, near real 1080p blu-ray.

[crazzeto]

^^^
No, not really.. It's mediocore. Dont' get me wrong, the A30 is fine for DVD, most dvd's are watchable on it... But if you want an awesome upscalar then you need something with Reon or the new Oppo bluray player.

[Rich86]

Originally Posted by crazzeto

^^^
No, not really.. It's mediocore. Dont' get me wrong, the A30 is fine for DVD, most dvd's are watchable on it... But if you want an awesome upscalar then you need something with Reon or the new Oppo bluray player.

Well, if the A30 is a mediocre upconvertor - then the PS3 is pathetic (as is my Sony S350 and S550) - everything is relative . . .

[crazzeto]

Originally Posted by Rich86

Well, if the A30 is a mediocre upconvertor - then the PS3 is pathetic (as is my Sony S350 and S550) - everything is relative . . .

I can't speak for the PS3, I've only seen 2 films upconverted by it. Though honestly I wasn't dissapointed in either case terribly, not like I was with the sammy 1400 & 1500. Try looking at a Reon or high end Anchor Bay upscalar then look back at the A30 and tell me it's world class.

[Rich86]

Originally Posted by crazzeto

I can't speak for the PS3, I've only seen 2 films upconverted by it. Though honestly I wasn't dissapointed in either case terribly, not like I was with the sammy 1400 & 1500. Try looking at a Reon or high end Anchor Bay upscalar then look back at the A30 and tell me it's world class.

I never said the A30 was "world class" (although one might wonder what exactly "world class" means in the context of the numerous upconverting players available at various price and quality levels). I just said it was very good - and outperforms the Sony products mentioned (S350, S550 & ps3). My A-30 performs very well and provides very satisfying upconverted 1080p video from well mastered anamorphic SD-DVD source material. I do not doubt a reon based upconverting player should offer even better upconverted video from those same well mastered anamorphic SD-DVD sources.

[crazzeto]

I guess having seen Reon my opinion on what a "very good" upscalar is has changed significantly. I used to think the A30 was awesome back when it was the best thing I had soon, I wouldn't say it's a terrible upscalar, it gets the job done. But once you see an upscalar like Reon it really sours your opinion of the A30.