Editors' note: Toshiba officially announced it will stop producing HD DVD products, bringing an end to the format war. For that reason, CNET recommends that people avoid buying this player for high-definition movie playback.
The Toshiba HD-A35 is the most expensive model in Toshiba's line of third-generation HD DVD players. While we have not reviewed the HD-A35, we have reviewed the similar step-down model, the HD-A30. The models are very similar, with the major difference being that the HD-A35 adds support for bit stream output of the new high-resolution soundtrack formats, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Bit stream output of these soundtracks means that the encoded audio can be sent to a compatible AV receiver with onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. This might be a worthwhile upgrade for audiophiles with new AV receivers, who want to hear the full resolution of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks.
Toshiba continues to sell the Toshiba HD-XA2 as its flagship model. For more information, please refer to our full review of the HD-XA2.
Lastly, Toshiba also offers the entry-level Toshiba HD-A3, which lacks 1080p output and bit stream output for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Still, given the disappointing performance of standard 1080p mode on the HD-A30 (and we suspect the HD-A35 performs similarly), the HD-A3 may be a good deal for those who don't want to pay extra for bit stream output of high-resolution soundtracks.
Product Specifications:
Product Description:
Toshiba HD-A35 - HD DVD player
Product Type:
HD DVD player
Weight:
7.3 lbs
Dimensions (WxDxH):
16.9 in x 12.9 in x 2.3 in
Media Type:
CD
,
DVD
,
CD-R
,
CD-RW
,
DVD-R
,
DVD-RW
,
HD DVD
,
DVD-R DL
Upscaling:
Yes
Sound Output Mode:
Surround Sound
Built-in Audio Decoders:
DTS decoder
,
Dolby TrueHD
,
Dolby Digital
,
DTS-HD decoder
,
Dolby Digital Plus
Remote Control:
Remote control - Infrared
Form Factor:
Tabletop
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