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Toshiba HD-XA2 1080p HD-DVD Player | 
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| Brand: Toshiba
Category: CE
List Price: $599.99
Buy New: $475.00
You Save: $124.99 (21%)
New (1) Used (5) Refurbished (1) from $319.95
Rating:  136 reviews
Sales Rank: 6980
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 12
Dimensions (in): 13.5 x 17.2 x 2.9
MPN: HD-XA2
Model: HD-XA2
UPC: 022265000168
EAN: 0022265000168
ASIN: B000M6XKEK
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | HD DVD (720p / 1080i / 1080p) playback | | • | Video Up-Conversion (720p /1080i /1080p) | | • | Multi Format Compatibility | | • | Dolby Digital Plus, DTS HD & Dolby True HD | | • | Bi-directional RS-232 out & HDMI 1.3 - Deep Color |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Although many DVD discs on the market offer widescreen display, they are not necessarily high-definition. If you want to get optimal video results from DVD on your HDTV set, HD-DVD is the format that's set to deliver resolutions up to 1080p for top visuals. High Definition video requires a tremendous amount of space on a disc, thus a new Blue laser (versus a Red Laser for DVD) is utilized for HD DVD. The blue laser, with its shorter wave length, allows for information to be stored more densely on the disc, thus improving storage capacity by about over 3 times compared to that of a red laser technology. Additionally, more accurate and efficient video compression like MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1. (based on Microsoft Windows Media) compress information to achieve file sizes that are less than half of those of the current standard DVD's MPEG2. Enjoy backwards compatibility and play your collection of standard DVDs on the player. In addition, via the HDMI interface, the HD-XA2 scales the standard definition DVD output to a resolution of 720p, 1080i or 1080p to match your HDTV's performance. Not only does this output the video in HD standard resolution, but because the conversion takes place in the player, the signal remains free from excessive digital-to-analog conversion artifacts. The HD-XA2 has built-in processors to handle the multi-channel decoders for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS and DTS HD (core only). Move up to High Definition play with HD-DVD and upgrade your home for true home-theater enjoyment. Includes backlit remote control Unit Dimensions 17.2? x 13.58? x 2.91? - Home-theater component stackable Many movies are now available in HD-DVD format
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| Customer Reviews: Read 131 more reviews...
 Superb July 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Just got my refurbised XA2, which I plan to use for watching mostly SD DVD's. I don't want to buy duplicates of HD DVD's or Blu Rays ( I have Sony BDP SE1) of DVD's that I own. I popped in my Crimson Tide DVD (which I bought 10 years ago). All I can say is WOW! I compared the PQ to my old DVD player and the XA2 just blows it away. More detail, richer colors and more contrast. Also the sound is unbelievable. More bass and the surround effect is amazing. As for HD DVD's this is the best player out there, hands down. I have an XBOX 360 with add on drive but the XA2 smokes the XBOX in both the PQ and sound areas. It's a shame that Toshiba lost the format war, because this is much better HD player than my Sony BDP SE1. Long live HD DVD!!!
PS. The Onkyo HD 305 is a rebadged version of the XA2, and you can find it for around the same price as XA2. But don't buy a refurbed one. My one just died. See my review of the 305
 Random Power-Off, Eventual Failure of Audio May 21, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought one of these expensive units, in part for its great Reon processors, which do a wonderful job of upsampling regular DVDs.
But my unit stopped being able to play HD DVD's soon after I got it. It just turns itself off randomly after 5 to 30 minutes. It still played regular DVDs, but then a few weeks later, the audio failed. It just blasts noise and is completely useless now.
STILL a great player. You won't be disappointed. May 2, 2008
I'm not going to go too much into the end of HD DVD and the format war. I'm just glad that Toshiba was able to get such a great product out. The REON chip can allow you to customize your settings to make all of your existing DVD collection look great. It's built like a tank and is just an all around attractive player. Do yourself a favor - if you can get one at a reasonable price, go ahead and grab one and scoop up some fire-sale HD DVDs in the process. @~10-15 bucks each, they are cheaper than DVDs and the same quality as Blu. However, no Blu (standalone) player even comes close to matching this player. It supports all of the Hi-def audio codecs as well. What's not to love?
Toshiba xa2 March 28, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is truly the best dvd player out there. I also have a Sony Blue Ray dvd player, but it lacks the sound and punch of the XA2, especially for upconverting standard dvds. the Silicon Optix Reon is just a super high end scaler. Please update firmware to 2.7, or 2.8 if you have a tv that is hdmi 1.3 that supports deep color 1080p/24. This player will not be outdated for many years to come. It is a jewel, and the price now is a steal.
The "BOMB" March 15, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I purchased this after HD DVD died, brand new (in Australia) with 11 HD DVD movies for $300.
I purchased this unit, the XE1 it's called here, primarily as an upscaling DVD player and I am astounded how good this is playing DVD's.
Having said that, because HD DVD movies are now so cheap, I have recently purchased many HD DVD movies and now have a small library, they are cheaper in Australia now than on Amazon!
The plan was to buy this machine and wait until blu ray makes a good quality spec 2 player cheap enough, but that might be a long wait, the current blu ray players are a joke compared to this machine!
Also, I have now realised that some DVD movies video and audio qualities are so good, especially recent and new ones, that the need for HD movies is all most redundant.
It all depends on the original transfer, some HD movies are brilliant, some are rubbish, it is the same with DVD.
I watched 'Apocolypto' on DVD today on this machine, and it was staggering! It looked as good as most HD movies it was brilliant, it all most looked 3D in parts, it was spectacular!
In summary, the XA2 is such a terrific quality player of DVDs and HD DVDs, that I will stick with DVD and not bother with the overpriced niche format that is blu ray.
The quality of recent DVDs is so good, that I don't see the need to down spec my player and outlay a bundle of cash in the process and the blu ray movies are so expensive also.
Do yourself a favor, buy one of these at the right price and give blu ray the bird, you will be glad you did.
Also, I love the back lit remote, the icing on a brilliant cake!
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