Have a problem with my HD-A35. It was in storage for 2 years in a hot/humid environment: clearly not the best.

Used it again recently and I could get passed 1h30 (slightly after the layer change) without the player have heavy issues readying anything from the disc (same for I Am Legend, Miami Vice, Pitch Black, etc.).

I would believe the optical bloc didn't like the storage too much.

Problem: Toshiba never sold HD DVD players in Singapore (where I live now) and can't service them.

=> Should I buy another one online (with shipping from US...)?
=> Is there a better HD DVD player than the HD-A35?

Julien

have an ep35 (european clone) with the same issue!
these players are not to be trusted!
my hd-xa1 and A1 player(s) do the job fine and they are first gen players!
I suspect the last gen players are just running hot at some point. I owned several ep-30 & 35's all with the same behavior sooner or later.
From what I hear the HD-XE1 is the best player around (if you want bitstream audio)
my first gen players have internal decoding but lack dts MA or dts high res. audio . not a big thing IMO. it outputs "simple" dts and that sounds great!
PCM audio output is great sounding. using hdmi or analog out makes no difference. just great sound

I would get an A1 or XA1.
first gen but built like a tank.
Only disc that refuses to play on these is Lethal weapon 2 but that's a known "problem title"

I haven't had any trouble playing any discs on the XA2 and it's 1080p unlike the XA1. Accept most are prone to the shutdown bug. But I leave the right side panel off and it never skips or shuts down.

removing a side panel is not an option with these ep-30 and ep-35 I'm afraid. The whole cover would have to go...
it did occur to me playing a disc without the cover and see what happens.... maybe I'll give it a try one of these days.
Someone offered me an HD-XE1 some time ago . I didn't buy it since I have too many players around here
The XE1 is supposed to be the best player around in Europe. hmm, might be worth a try

I'm happy with running the XA-1 it does a great job. 1080i -1080p 24fr ... I don't care much about that with my hddvd player(s)
and for now happy with a player that spins them all... except Lethal weapon that is
Just as an experiment I've been converting the 1080i picture to 1080p and/or1080p24fr coming out of my sr-7007 receiver. To be honnest, what's the difference? I can't see any change Picture wise...
I think hd dvd players where challenging players to begin with. They never did make it to final specs I guess. when they got the tech specs it was end of the line for hddvd discs

xa2 is the second gen, a35 is third gen. Xa3 was supposed to xa2 replacement but hd dvd died before that happened. pure hddvd playback a35 is fine even sharper then rest but overal xa2 is the best hddvd player ever made. Smooth video and great dvd playback. Integra dhs 8.8 and onkyo 805hd are its clones with different cosmetics and firmware

Thanks all for your feedbacks.

The insurance company finally validated my claims and I will get around US$230 back on my non-working HD-A35 in a few days. Time to invest in a new player as I have about 113 HDDVDs waiting to be played!

I'll skip 3rd gen altogether and focus on these models now, based on your advices:

Toshiba HD-A1 Used from $75
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A1-HD-DVD-Player/dp/B000E1PTGK

Toshiba HD-XA1 Used from $175
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-AX1-HD-XA1-HD-DVD-Player/dp/B000E21TY0

Toshiba HD-XA2 Used from $200
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-XA2-1080p-HD-DVD-Player/dp/B000M6XKEK

Toshiba HD-XE1
None on eBay or Amazon at the moment.

The XA2 would tend to be my favorite given the budget, but you must include shipping to Singapore and all these units are USA shipping only.

Anyone with last minute idea?

Julien

Actually... as a last minute idea, what are the HDDVD/BLURAY combo players worth?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HD_DVD_devices

Only 3 in existence:

http://www.amazon.com/LG-BH100-High-Definition-Blu-ray-Player/dp/B000NNK9LY/
http://www.amazon.com/LG-BH200-Super-Blu-Ray-Player/dp/B000YB2IPK/
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BD-UP5000-HD-DVD-Blu-Ray-Player/dp/B000VDG0UK/

As I do not have BD player yet, it could fix both problems at the same time?

Some answers already on Does anyone else use a hybrid HD-DVD/Blu-ray player

Julien

before you buy a new unit. try updating firmware to 4.0 via CD-ROM. Long shot but worth a try. Here is the link below for US support page. I believe they removed firmware from EU webpages already. I don't know how long these are going to be here.
http://support.toshiba.com/support/mode ... xt=2809952

I wouldn't pay more $100 to any HD-DVD player other than Onkyo and Integra Clones because they are super rare. Only 2400 Onkyo DV-805HD and 200 Integra DHS-8.8 were made. There is a EU model for Onkyo but Integra was US only. Only cosmetic changes so they are identical to Toshiba HD-XA2. They advertised hand picked parts for the Integra DHS-8.8 I don't know how true. Many people don't even know it exists so you may get lucky and get it cheap if one shows up on eBay.
HD-XA2, A35, LG BH200 constantly shows up on eBay for around $100(selling price, not asking)
I notice LG BH200 sells for less because most people advertise it as Blu-ray player and its an older generation slow player so not much interest as BD player.

I think the FW is already 4.0 ... and the discs failing now (all of them) at the layer change used to play normally before their 2-year hiatus, so... I'll double check just in case

Julien

Confirmed, firmware was already 4.0/2.0.

Julien

Buy an HD-XA1 or HD-A1. Be sure to run FW 4.0! after installing this FW no more freezing problems!
First gen built like a tank player(s)
Internal decoder is using hdmi or 5.1analoge out!
These machines take some time to boot but once they're good to go it's all
Mine play every disc flawless except Lethal weapon (known troubledisc )

Thanks for the link. I'm currently running v2.7 on my XA2 and who know what on my A1, which is in a box in the garage. Time to burn some firmware discs and update both.

Through substance's help, I will soon receive my Integra DHS-8.8 from the USA and dump my A35 for cheap to make some spare on the HiFi shelf.

Thank you substance !

Julien

congrats!!

for those who is not familiar with this brand. It is owned by Onkyo. Onkyo releases its high-end models in Integra brand name. Similar to Pioneer and Pioneer Elite.

Toshiba HD-XA2 was $1000 msrp
Onkyo DV-805HD was $1200 msrp
Integra DHS-8.8 was $1800 msrp

Onkyo was a direct rebadge with only cosmetic changes. Integra was a clone of XA2 as well but built with hand picked parts. 1st batch of Integra was reportedly 200 units and second batch was only 80 units. This is due unit was released weeks before Toshiba announced HD-DVD dead format.

there are couple of flaws with Onkyo and Integra units. 1- the remote control is missing picture adjustments button so it is impossible to access noise reduction contrast etc.. functions. You can use HD-XA2 remote control to access this button. 2- Integra ended fw support at 2.7(2.6 for onkyo). You can flash the unit with Toshiba 4.0 fw as they are identical hw. I have upgraded mine to 4.0 with no issues.

note: by unofficial sources, after hd-dvd announced dead format onkyo and integra sold their last remaining brandnew units as refurbished to mark down price dramatically(as low as $200). So it is not certain if the one Julien bought is refurb or brandnew unit with refurb discount on it.

If we can trust the seller, this is how he described the "refurbished" condition:


A few questions:

• Isn't FW2.8 the most recent official one? Firmware Update Version: 2.8
• I have consistently seen MSRP of $1,099 for the HDS-8.8 (here, here and here)

The MSRP list, I think, is:

• Onkyo DV-805 - $899
• Toshiba HD-XA2 - $999
• Integra HDS-8.8 - $1,099

Good to know that FW4.0 can be used!
Is there any change the A35 remote can access the picture adjustments section?

Julien

Now if someone has a HD-A35 Region Free firmware...

Julien

I downloaded the firmware and unzipped it. Then burned the .iso disc to a DVD (-R). I put it in the player and I get the message

"This disc is not DVD format. Cannot play the disc."

Tried it again and same result

Any advice?

Tried it with a CD -R and got the same result.

Your burning software is probably doing something wrong somewhere along the way, would be my guess.
When I updated my XE1, I am fairly certain I used CD-RW discs for all the stuff.
But it was years ago, so I could remember wrongly.

Only think that worries me about the Integra is it was their first player made, that and it may have the same heat issue as the XA2 (shut down bug). Possible fixes on the shutdown bug are: make sure you have display and receiver switched off, then boot up the HD DVD player, then turn on other equipment. Something with HDMI related possibly. Or removing a side panel which this always works for me, not sure if integra has that or not. Or just leave in 1080i, only happens in 1080p.