At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere.
That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box,
verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs.
We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.
Features
Controls
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Features
HD DVD Overview: HD DVD is
a new high-definition disc format that is up to six times the resolution of
standard DVD-video and is designed from the ground up to maximize
the viewing experience available from today's HDTVs. HD DVD discs and
players offer several advantages over the standard DVD format:
- Better picture quality:
HD DVD is a true high-definition format offering video at 1080i or 720p
resolution. While standard DVDs look very good on an HDTV, they don't
provide a high-definition signal (not even when you use an "upconverting"
DVD player). HD DVD delivers an extraordinarily sharp, clean, detailed
picture, with deeper, richer colors.
- Better sound quality:
HD DVD offers the same multichannel sound formats - Dolby Digital and
DTS - you're accustomed to with DVD. But HD DVD goes further, offering
advanced new versions of Dolby Digital and DTS formats that will give
soundtracks startling clarity and dimensionality.
- Much greater storage capacity:
What makes HD DVD's superior picture and sound possible is the much
higher storage capacity of HD DVD discs. A single-layer HD DVD can hold
15 gigabytes of data, which is over three times the amount a standard
DVD can hold. (Dual-layer HD DVDs hold 30 gigabytes.) This increased
storage capacity allows HD DVD to fit several hours of high-definition
video and high-resolution multichannel audio, plus the added features
and material that require multiple discs with standard DVD.
- Compatibility with your current disc
collections: To ensure
backward-compatibility with your existing library of discs, HD DVD
players actually use a dual-laser mechanism: a blue laser for
playing high-definition HD DVD discs, and a conventional red laser for
playing DVDs and audio CDs.
- Internet access:
HD DVD players include an Ethernet jack for use with a high-speed
Internet connection.
Slim Cabinet Design:
The Toshiba HD-A2 has a slim profile design and a depth advantage that
allows them to fit into almost any home entertainment environment. The player
measures only 16.9375" wide x 2.5625" tall x 15.062" deep (including cables).
Supported Surround Sound Formats:
The HD-DVD player supports Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD
and DTS HD (core only). The HDMI output will transfer all these surround formats
while the optical digital output will transfer the Dolby Digital, DTS and a
down-converted version of the Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD signals.
Digital Audio Processing: The Toshiba
HD-A2 features an advanced high-performance 32-bit SHARC Digital Signal
Processor to provide you with incredible audio detail.
Dolby TrueHD: The HD DVD player supports
Dolby TrueHD which provides you with surround sound that is equal to the
original studio master.
HDMI
Upconversion: The HD-A2 has the ability to upconvert a standard DVD signal
to HD-compatible 720p or 1080i and pass it through its HDMI video output.
Because this conversion is performed
inside the player, the signal remains free from excessive digital to analog
artifacts.
ColorSteam Pro Component Video:
The player's component video outputs allow
the video signal to be sent from the DVD player to a component video equipped
interlaced or progressive scan TV. When this connection is utilized with today's
HD-compatible sets, typical NTSC artifacts-like video noise, dot crawl, and
flicker-are virtually eliminated, resulting in a low-noise, highly detailed
picture with color purity.
Resolution Setting: The HD-A2 allows you
to select the video resolution output for the HDMI and Component video outputs.
You can choose from 480i, 480p, 720p, or 1080i for both. The component video
output will only display 480i or 480p resolution on copy protected discs.
Simultaneous Video Output: The HD DVD
player supports simultaneous output of video on its HDMI and component video
ports. However, when both are connected the HDMI will only output the maximum
resolution of the component video cable when watching a copy protected disc.
Auto Video Adjust: The HDMI output can be
set to change automatically to match the maximum available resolution of your
display. If you have the HDMI and component video cables both connected the
resolution on the component output will also change when the HDMI output
auto-adjusts.
Compatible Discs: The HD-A2 is capable of
playing back the following disc formats.
- HD DVD
- DVD
- DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD-RW
- Audio CD
- CD-R, CD-RW
Note: This unit is not capable of
MP3 or WMA playback and does not support Blu-ray discs.
Playback Speeds: The HD-A2 offers the
following playback speeds when viewing your disc.
- Skip: allows you to skip to the
beginning of the previous or next chapter or track
- Frame by Frame: while the picture is
"Paused" you can playback the video frame by frame
- Fast Forward/Reverse: allows you to
fast forward or fast rewind through a scene or track at 2x, 3x, 4x or 5x
speed.
- Slow Motion: allows you to play a
video forward in slow-motion at a 1/4x, 1/2x or 1/8x of normal speed
Resume Play: Resume
play allows you to resume playback of a disc from the point where you last
stopped. The stopping point is cleared when the Stop button is pressed more than
once or the disc tray is opened.
Title Search: Title Search
allows you enter the number of the Title, Chapter and/or elapsed time of a scene
you want to view on a disc and then directly go to that spot on the disc.
Repeat Mode: The Toshiba HD-A2
features the following repeat functions - All Repeat, Chapter Repeat, Track
Repeat, Disc Repeat, and A-B repeat.
Extension Ports: The two USB
extension ports may be used in the future for additional control options and
firmware updates. Future control options include extra storage for downloadable
content off of HD DVD discs.
Note: The USB ports are
simply "gateway" interfaces for the player and its movies so their potential
is limited to downloadable disc content.
Cursor Function: Future HD DVD
discs may include game software and drawing software. If they do, this
function lets you use the Cursor button on the remote to move the onscreen
cursor, allowing you to interact with the software.
Internet Connection: By
utilizing the rear-panel Ethernet port, you connect the player to the Internet
via an always-on broadband connection. Future HD DVD discs will enable you to access
special HD DVD sites. If an HD DVD site includes content such as movie trailers,
you can watch the content on the player via the Internet if your internet
connection provides sufficient bandwidth. You may also use the Internet
connection feature to update the player's firmware.
Camera Angle: If a scene has been recorded
with multiple angles, you can change the camera angle of the scene you are
watching on the disc.
Picture Settings: The Toshiba
HD-A2 offers the following picture adjustments through its Picture Setting
screen.
- TV Shape: select between
16:9, 4:3 or 4:3 letter box
- Enhanced Black Level:
select this feature "On" to adjust the black level to a deep richer black
- Picture Mode: select
between Film, Video or Auto
Audio Settings: The HD DVD
player provides the following audio adjustments within its Audio settings
screen.
- Digital out SPDIF: This
allows you to choose the digital audio format that is passed through the
optical and coaxial outputs. You can choose from the following:
- Bitstream: Select this
when an amplifier equipped with built-in Dolby Digital, DTS or MPEG
decoder is connected to this player. When you play a standard DVD
recorded in Dolby Digital or DTS format, digital audio signal (bitstream
audio) is output. When you play an HD DVD, the player decodes the Dolby Digital off the
disc, then re-encodes it as DTS 5.1.
- PCM: Select this when
a 2 channel digital stereo amplifier is connected to this player. When
you play an HD DVD or DVD video disc recorded in Dolby Digital, Dolby
Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS or DTS-HD format, sound is converted
into PCM (2 channel) format and then passed through the optical output.
- Digital out HDMI: This
allows you to choose the digital audio format that is passed through the
HDMI output. You can choose from the following:
- Auto: Select this when
an HDMI device equipped with built-in Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG or linear
PCM decoder is connected to this player. When you play a standard DVD
recorded in Dolby Digital or DTS format, digital audio signal (bitstream
audio) is output. When you play an HD DVD, the player decodes the Dolby Digital off the
disc, then re-encodes it as DTS 5.1. If a connected HDMI device does
not support Dolby Digital, DTS or MPEG, sound is converted into linear
PCM to output.
- PCM: Select this when
an HDMI device that has multi-channel output is connected to this
player. When you play an HD DVD or DVD video disc recorded in
multi-channel in Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS or
DTS-HD format, the sound is decoded and output in multi-channel in
linear PCM format.
- Downmixed
PCM: Select this when a 2 channel digital stereo amplifier is
connected to this player. When you play a disc recorded in Dolby
Digital, DTS, MPEG1 or MPEG2 format, sound is converted into PCM (2
channel) format to output.
- Dynamic Range Control: The
DRC function makes faint sounds easier to hear even if you lower the volume
during late-hour playback. You can choose from On, Off or Auto. This
function is only available for HD DVD and DVD video discs recorded in Dolby
Digital, Dolby Digital Plus or Dolby Digital TrueHD format.
- Dialogue Enhancement: This
feature increases the dialog volume of a DVD video disc during playback. You
can turn this feature On or Off. This function is only available for Dolby
Digital recorded HD DVD or DVD video discs.
Language Settings: The HD-A2
allows you to make the following language adjustments to your player and disc.
- Disc Menu Language: select
between English, French, Japanese or German for your disc's menu if
applicable
- Subtitle Language: select
between English, French, Japanese or German for the subtitle language if
applicable
- Audio Language: select
between English, French, Japanese or German for the disc's sound track audio
if applicable
- On Screen Language: select
between English, French, Japanese or German for the player's on-screen menu
display
Parental Lock: The Parental
Lock feature allows you to use to activate an 8-level ratings system protected
by a 4-digit password to limit what discs can be played back on your player.
Screen Saver: When activated a Screen
Saver will appear if a picture is paused continuously for about 20 minutes.
Auto Power Off: When activated the Auto
Power Off feature will turn the player off if picture pausing continues for
about 20 minutes.
Dimmer: From the remote control you can
dim the display of the unit or turn the display completely off.
Controls
Front Panel Controls: The
following controls are located on the front panel of the unit behind a fold down
door accept for the Open/Close button.
- Open/Close: opens and
closes player
- Skip: skips to previous or
next chapter or track
- Pause: stops playback
momentarily
- Stop: stops playback
- Play: starts playback
Multibrand Remote Control: The supplied
full-function IR wireless
remote control is pre-programmed to operate this unit and a number of functions on other
brands of TVs.
Inputs and Outputs
Notes
Rear Panel Connections:
- HDMI (High Definition Multimedia
Interface): The unit's HDMI simplifies A/V connections by carrying video and
digital audio all in one cable. This unit features HDCP copyright protection
technology, and must be connected to an HDCP-compliant device. If your TV has a
DVI input instead of an HDMI input, you can connect this unit to your TV using
an HDMI-to-DVI adapter. You will also need to connect audio cables to the player
because DVI is a video only cable.
- LAN: The rear-panel Ethernet
port gives you access to Internet-based content on some HD DVDs.
- Audio
Out: The HD-A2 features a single optical digital output for transferring
Dolby Digital and DTS information as well as a stereo analog output.
- Video Output: The HD
DVD player is equipped with one component video output, one S-video output
and one composite video output.
Front Panel Connections:
- Extension Ports: The HD-A2
has two front-panel USB Extension ports hidden behind a fold-down door.
