Toshiba Launches Second-Generation HD DVD Players

Toshiba Corporation today announced the launch of its second generation HD DVD players in the Japanese market. The company will roll out two new players, HD-XF2 and HD-XA2, from late December.

The new HD DVD players are smaller and offer improved speed in loading and response times over the HD-XA1, the first HD DVD player, brought to market by Toshiba in March 2006. The new high-end HD-XA2 supports Deep Color technology, an optional standard under HDMI that improves representation of color tones and achieves finer color gradation. HD-XA2 also provides support for the 1080p output.

Both players offer advanced navigation and interactive features. A Picture in Picture (PIP) function include the ability to play supplementary video over the main program, allowing viewers to watch bonus content, such as a superimposed director's commentary or a documentary about the making of the movie, while the movie plays. The players' "pop-up menu" displays movie chapters with thumbnails while the movie plays, and allows users to navigate menu features without pausing playback.

The new players support surround-sound formats, including Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, and also support linear PCM 5.1ch audio. Up-conversion of standard DVD to a resolution of 1080i or 720p (1080p for HD-XA2) through an HDCP-capable HDMI output allows viewers to enjoy their current DVD libraries with an output resolution scaled to match their resolution of their HDTV or HD displays.

The new HD DVD players comply with the European Union's RoHS directive, which came into force in July 2006.

More features:

• More compact body with faster response.
  At 65.5mm, HD-XF2 achieves the industry lowest height of any next generation digital high-definition player. The players operate faster, including start-up time.
• High definition picture output with up-converter and HDMI output.
  Through the HDMI interface, high-definition pictures stored on a disc can be displayed digitally in HD, on digital TVs and displays that incorporate HDCP capable HDMI input. Such TVs include Toshiba's new LCD TV REGZA Z2000 series. Through the HDMI interface, standard definition DVDs can be up-converted to an output resolution of 720p or 1080i (1080p for HD-XA2), to complement the performance of a HDTV. HD-XA2 integrates a 1080p compatible up-scaler and a high performance IP converter that supports Deep Color technology to achieve finer color gradation.
• 4x oversampling (HD-XA2).
  HD-XA2 incorporates a 297MHz/12bit video DAC to support 4x oversampling of 74.25MHz, a sampling frequency for the HD image, and to achieve high-definition picture quality with less noise, even when connected to a TV through D output and component output.
• Advanced surround-sound formats.
  The new HD DVD players incorporate Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, advanced surround-sound formats. Both players support PCM5.1ch output through HDMI output, and HD-XA2 integrates analog 5.1ch output, allowing consumers to connect the player to an AV amplifier.

Specifications:

Source: Toshiba Corporation

Write a comment below. No registration needed!