Toshiba HD DVD: A Triumph

Long Awaited Format Makes Successful Debut

In The Rack: Roger Galvin, owner of Precision Video in Fort Lauderdale, a professional many consider to be the very best in the US when it comes to high-end audio and video calibration, inspects the HD-XA1 in the rack and gives it his seal of approval.

Once the public got a glimpse of HDTV it was inevitable that most would soon want that same great picture and sound quality available in prerecorded formats. That time has finally arrived. A few months ago, Toshiba launched the first two HD DVD players available in the United States. These sleek players are perfect for the new generation of TV watchers who enjoy the sharper, richer picture that HDTV offers, yet are as easy to use as regular DVD players. The discs, themselves look just like regular old DVDs but contain considerably more information…in fact, I got my HD DVD discs from Netflix...for the same rental price as regular DVDs!

The two models from Toshiba are soon being joined on the scene by RCA branded HD DVD players, with the promise of others to follow. There is now an ongoing battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray, two different and competing HD formats (HD DVD championed by Toshiba and Blu-ray by Sony) are busy fighting to win your hearts, minds and pocketbooks to go with that new plasma or LCD display you just got. We haven’t reviewed Sony’s Blu-ray yet, so let’s look at the first one across the finish line: Toshiba’s HD DVD.

How does it succeed: Brilliantly. Remember, the ONLY reason for buying either of these two competing formats is for better picture and sound. Here the Toshiba delivers in spades. It truly succeeds in its mission of delivering a picture that is arguably better than any HD TV you have ever seen (including broadcast, cable and satellite) as it is not subject to the additional compression these three delivery systems must suffer before they get to your home. The Toshiba’s “bit rate”, that is the amount of information delivered to your TV, surpasses anything we have had available before. This additional picture and sound information really makes a difference, which is easy to see and hear. As the old saying goes, “seeing is believing” and I have seen. You will no longer be happy with the washed-out quality of some of your old DVDs once you take a look at this new technology.

The first product models of any new technology are sometimes tough to get out the door and I don’t think Toshiba is making any money on these first units. The HD-A1 lists for only $499.99 and the HD-XA1 is only $799.99. The test unit I received weighs about as much as a small computer (and, in fact, includes a Pentium chip to handle the processing chores this new format entails). I think Toshiba is trying to get a step ahead of Sony in the market race by offering this much-anticipated machine for so little money. It is a bit slow to start up, but who cares about an extra 20 seconds or so, when you are going to watch a two hour movie? Trust me, the great picture and sound are worth this short “boot-up” delay.

Both of these new HD DVD players take full advantage of the superior capacity of HD DVD discs by using advanced MPEG 4 video compression technology, as opposed to DVD’s less advanced MPEG 2. HD DVD also includes the capability for enhanced functionality, including advanced navigation, also referred to as “iHD”, for those of you that wish to “jump around” the movie and its extras.

The front of HD-XA1 plain

The front of HD-XA1 with flap down

An Evolution in Picture Quality
As a logical evolution of the DVD to high definition, both models have backward compatibility, allowing you to continue to enjoy your library of current DVD and CD software. Both models connect to HDTV sets via a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) or through component video outputs. HDMI is the first (and deeply faulted) all-digital A/V connection providing the transmission of uncompressed digital video and multi-channel audio on a single cable.

High Quality Audio
Toshiba’s HD-XA1 and HD-A1 both support a variety of HD audio options to complement HD video offerings. Both players support the traditional audio formats, including Dolby Digital and DTS and the newly developed Dolby Digital Plus (up to 5.1 channels), Dolby True HD (two channel) and DTS HD (up to 5.1 channels of DTS core). The audio formats for HD DVD include both lossy and lossless formats from Dolby and DTS as well as a number of other esoteric varieties of soundtracks and surround sound.

Modern Design
The design of both new HD DVD players was developed to complement modern flat-screen TVs. Specifically; the construction of the HD-XA1 was developed not only for advancements in performance, but also for the refinements expected of a high performance player. It features a motorized door which conceals the disc drawer, function buttons and two front USB extension ports, for convenient connection of gaming controllers. The HD-XA1 also includes a backlit remote control that is conveniently motion activated.

Because HD DVD Discs spin faster than standard DVDs, accurate mechanical engineering went into the chassis design of both models. A double chassis construction is employed to add stability and strength against vibrations and the HD-XA1 adds insulated stabilizing feet to provide a solid foundation for the player.

To coincide with the rapid market penetration of HDTV devices in U.S. households, these Toshiba models offer you a feature rich, high definition media format, building upon the great features of today’s DVD – one of the most successful A/V products ever. Both the HD-XA1 and the HD-A1 are now shipping to retailers, and although all of the first shipments were quickly grabbed up, Toshiba tells me you may be able to find one if you shop carefully.

For additional information please visit www.tacp.toshiba.com or view the Toshiba HD-XA1 at www.bestbuy.com. 

By John Lentz
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