Toshiba's latest HD DVD players go to the US as the HD-XA2 and HD-A2

15 September 2006 12:22 GMT / By Amber Maitland

The two HD DVD players that Toshiba launched at IFA for the European market are now also going to the US, but with different names.

The HD-E1 and the HE-EX1 are appropriately named in sequence as the first HD DVD players to arrive in Europe, but they will be second-generation players in the US, hence the names HD-A2 and HD-XA2.

Both players feature new HDMI 1.3 connectivity which support newer technology like Deep Color, which enables 36-bit colour depth, up from 24-bit depths. They also both support MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1, MPEG2, as well as lossy and lossless audio formats from Dolby Labs and DTS, so that they can play 5.1 channels of 24-bit/96kHz audio.

The top-of-the-range HD-XA2 is able to output up to 1080p, the highest HD signal currently available, and incorporates 297MHz 12-big Video DAC with 4x oversampling. It also features a new picture setting function that gives users the ability to adjust colour, contrast, brightness, edge enhancement, and noise blocking.

The HD-A2 will be available from October for just under $500, while the HD-XA2 will be available before Christmas in December for just under $1,000. At IFA, Toshiba said that the HD-E1 will be on sale for around €600 while the HD-XA2 will come in at €900.

Full tags

Home Cinema, HD DVD, Toshiba