emaidel
09-19-2007, 05:27 AM
I recently "took the plunge" and purchased a Sharp AQUOS 46" LCD flat panel TV, as well as the TOTL Toshsiba HD-DVD player. I once had a surround setup in my home in Colorado, but now don't; still, I've connected these units to a very high quality 2-channel audio system: Adcom GFP-565 pre, Rotel RB-980X amp and a pair of B&W 802F Specials. Not quite the visceral effect of surround, but superb fidelity, and a bass response that's so good a sub isn't needed.
I chose the HD-DVD format over Blue-Ray since the technology behind is is from Microsoft, and I think the clout Microsoft has in the technology field may result in this format winning out. That's only a guess at this point, and it's far too early to say which format will survive. One would think that after the older "wars" between competing formats that manufacturers would have learned their lesson by now...
While I only own a couple of HD-DVD's (and, whenever I order a DVD from Netflix, they send me the HD version if it's available), I think the best thing about the player is the manner in which it upconverts standard DVD's to "near HD quality." I have no idea (nor do I care) exactly what's happening during this "up-converting" process, but I know that the quality of the image is infinitely superior to that of a standard DVD player. I have a couple of DVD's of very old films, and one in particular, "The Greatest Story Ever Told," has always been a difficult DVD to watch on a regular TV screen, or even on a large, flat panel screen. The opening credits of the film are simply impossible to read on a standard TV screen, and a bit difficult to read when shown on a flat panel one via a regular DVD player. On the HD player, however, the image is startlingly clear, and each and every word of the credits is legible. The film also has many shots filmed in darkness or shadow, and viewed through the upconverting process of the HD player, all scenes are very clear and distinct.
Still, the jury is out as to whether HD or Blue Ray will be the lasting medium, or even if yet another one will arrive! I paid $399.95 for the player, and then it went on sale (at Best Buy) for $100 less, and I did get a $100 refund on the difference. Still, $299.95 is a far cry from the price of an ordinary DVD player. Also, the player doesn't work in the manner ordinary players do: it's very slow to start up, which is downright annoying. The owner's manual states that this is due to the circuitry having to ready itself, but one would think that Toshsiba could have done a better job.
Sonically, the system is glorious, and the sound from either HD broadcasts, or any decent DVD on the Toshiba player is terrific. Like most DVD players, the Toshiba player plays standard CD's, but does so poorly. Maybe someday manufacturers will spend a little more time and effort on this seemingly neglected aspect.
In the meantime, should one rush out and spend $300 on this Toshiba unit? No, but it's still a pretty decent unit, and one could do a lot worse.
I chose the HD-DVD format over Blue-Ray since the technology behind is is from Microsoft, and I think the clout Microsoft has in the technology field may result in this format winning out. That's only a guess at this point, and it's far too early to say which format will survive. One would think that after the older "wars" between competing formats that manufacturers would have learned their lesson by now...
While I only own a couple of HD-DVD's (and, whenever I order a DVD from Netflix, they send me the HD version if it's available), I think the best thing about the player is the manner in which it upconverts standard DVD's to "near HD quality." I have no idea (nor do I care) exactly what's happening during this "up-converting" process, but I know that the quality of the image is infinitely superior to that of a standard DVD player. I have a couple of DVD's of very old films, and one in particular, "The Greatest Story Ever Told," has always been a difficult DVD to watch on a regular TV screen, or even on a large, flat panel screen. The opening credits of the film are simply impossible to read on a standard TV screen, and a bit difficult to read when shown on a flat panel one via a regular DVD player. On the HD player, however, the image is startlingly clear, and each and every word of the credits is legible. The film also has many shots filmed in darkness or shadow, and viewed through the upconverting process of the HD player, all scenes are very clear and distinct.
Still, the jury is out as to whether HD or Blue Ray will be the lasting medium, or even if yet another one will arrive! I paid $399.95 for the player, and then it went on sale (at Best Buy) for $100 less, and I did get a $100 refund on the difference. Still, $299.95 is a far cry from the price of an ordinary DVD player. Also, the player doesn't work in the manner ordinary players do: it's very slow to start up, which is downright annoying. The owner's manual states that this is due to the circuitry having to ready itself, but one would think that Toshsiba could have done a better job.
Sonically, the system is glorious, and the sound from either HD broadcasts, or any decent DVD on the Toshiba player is terrific. Like most DVD players, the Toshiba player plays standard CD's, but does so poorly. Maybe someday manufacturers will spend a little more time and effort on this seemingly neglected aspect.
In the meantime, should one rush out and spend $300 on this Toshiba unit? No, but it's still a pretty decent unit, and one could do a lot worse.