Unlock Toshiba HD-A3 player: Would appreciate input from anyone who knows how to unlock Toshiba HD-A3 DVD player to make it all regions.
399415
As far as I know it is not possible to unlock the HD-A3 player. You are correct it will not play PAL disks. My stupid P.O.S. Toshiba that I bought 3 years ago for $40 will play PAL but it doesn't have an HDMI connection so it's pretty useless. The regions and the PAL/NTSC can be broken in about 30 seconds by real pirates. It is just us lowly consumers who suffer due to the industry's misplaced faith in technology that doesn't work!
1916539
If you buy any Sony blu-ray player in the U.S. it will be Region locked - for blu-ray Region A, and for DVD region 1. You can unlock the DVD to play DVD's from other regions, BUT it is pointless with a US player as Sony have NOT include a PAL decoder in any Sony blu-ray player for sale in the U.S. market. An easy way out of the problem, is to buy a region free DVD player (look on ebay) and be satisfied with region A locked blu-ray player - as you can still play blu-ray discs from Europe/UK, if the blu-ray discs themselves are Region Free, (eg. Zulu blu-ray, available amazon.co.uk UK! A lot of blu-ray discs are region free - just check before you buy, Google is your friend... If you buy any Sony blu-ray player in the U.S. it will be Region locked - for blu-ray Region A, and for DVD region 1. You can unlock the DVD to play DVD's from other regions, BUT it is pointless with a US player as Sony have NOT include a PAL decoder in any Sony blu-ray player for sale in the U.S. market. An easy way out of the problem, is to buy a region free DVD player (look on ebay) and be satisfied with region A locked blu-ray player - as you can still play blu-ray discs from Europe/UK, if the blu-ray discs themselves are Region Free, (eg. Zulu... » Read More If you buy any Sony blu-ray player in the U.S. it will be Region locked - for blu-ray Region A, and for DVD region 1. You can unlock the DVD to play DVD's from other regions, BUT it is pointless with a US player as Sony have NOT include a PAL decoder in any Sony blu-ray player for sale in the U.S. market. An easy way out of the problem, is to buy a region free DVD player (look on ebay) and be satisfied with region A locked blu-ray player - as you can still play blu-ray discs from Europe/UK, if the blu-ray discs themselves are Region Free, (eg. Zulu blu-ray, available amazon.co.uk UK! A lot of blu-ray discs are region free - just check before you buy, Google is your friend... « Show Less
1133260
Like all DVD players, this is "region free" to begin with but as soon as you play a disk it becomes usable only to that region. Again like all DVD players you can change to the region up to five times. After that the stuck with the last region.
184678
Upon first plugging the player into my computer, I was asked to choose a region, and was told that I could change the region up to 5 times. So it will play disks from all regions, but you'll want to be careful how often you switch back and forth, as upon the fifth change, you'll be stuck with that region permanently (apparently).
1179374
Jorge .. I almost forgot. If you have some Region 1 DVDs, play this on the HD-A35 and be surprised at just how good the HD-A35 is at upscaling your standard Region 1 NTSC DVDs. I particularly recommend you try Star Wars 2 & 3. I think you will like what you see. =) Now, if you like what you see and want to do the same with your Region 4 DVDs, consider adding the Oppo DV-980H or Oppo DV-981HD to your list of DVD players. The HD-A35 will play only Region 1 DVDs and Region Free DVDs. My DVD collection consist of Region 1 NTSC, Region 2 PAL, and Region 3 NTSC DVDs. This is why I have the Oppo DVD player in addition to my Toshiba HD DVD player. Jorge .. I almost forgot. If you have some Region 1 DVDs, play this on the HD-A35 and be surprised at just how good the HD-A35 is at upscaling your standard Region 1 NTSC DVDs. I particularly recommend you try Star Wars 2 & 3. I think you will like what you see. =) Now, if you like what you see and want to do the same with your Region 4 DVDs, consider adding the Oppo DV-980H or Oppo DV-981HD to your list of DVD players. The HD-A35 will play only Region 1 DVDs and Region Free DVDs. My DVD collection consist of Region 1 NTSC, Region 2 PAL, and Region 3 NTSC DVDs. This is why I... » Read More Jorge .. I almost forgot. If you have some Region 1 DVDs, play this on the HD-A35 and be surprised at just how good the HD-A35 is at upscaling your standard Region 1 NTSC DVDs. I particularly recommend you try Star Wars 2 & 3. I think you will like what you see. =) Now, if you like what you see and want to do the same with your Region 4 DVDs, consider adding the Oppo DV-980H or Oppo DV-981HD to your list of DVD players. The HD-A35 will play only Region 1 DVDs and Region Free DVDs. My DVD collection consist of Region 1 NTSC, Region 2 PAL, and Region 3 NTSC DVDs. This is why I have the Oppo DVD player in addition to my Toshiba HD DVD player. « Show Less
356035
Sorry, this model works only om A (blu ray) and 1 (DVD) regiosnThe amazon sell the version of all regions.The other problema is the subtitles in dlna mode don't read.
1209454
Yes, so far, I've played discs from Regions A and B. While the player automatically determines the region of any CD being played, it doesn't do that for blu rays. For these, one must turn off the unit, press either a "1" (for A), "2" (for B), or "3" (for C), then power on. No big deal.
1279889
i don't think so - it's advertised as an all-region DVD player. Check with the vendor instead.
478277
I hear the Oppo is a great DVD player (although I do not have one myself). There are several models and I think you can find them here at Amazon quite easily. They are standard DVD players (not HD DVD or blu-ray) who do up-conversion of your DVDs to 1080p.The up-conversion on the Toshiba HD DVD players are also regarded as being among the best (if not the best)... but the DVD playing is region locked. Try the Oppo, then.Also, Onkyo announced their first HD DVD player due next Fall. It will probably be the best HD player on the market by then. However, I'm not sure if the DVD playing will be region locked or not. I hear the Oppo is a great DVD player (although I do not have one myself). There are several models and I think you can find them here at Amazon quite easily. They are standard DVD players (not HD DVD or blu-ray) who do up-conversion of your DVDs to 1080p.The up-conversion on the Toshiba HD DVD players are also regarded as being among the best (if not the best)... but the DVD playing is region locked. Try the Oppo, then.Also, Onkyo announced their first HD DVD player due next Fall. It will probably be the best HD player on the market by then. However, I'm not sure if... » Read More I hear the Oppo is a great DVD player (although I do not have one myself). There are several models and I think you can find them here at Amazon quite easily. They are standard DVD players (not HD DVD or blu-ray) who do up-conversion of your DVDs to 1080p.The up-conversion on the Toshiba HD DVD players are also regarded as being among the best (if not the best)... but the DVD playing is region locked. Try the Oppo, then.Also, Onkyo announced their first HD DVD player due next Fall. It will probably be the best HD player on the market by then. However, I'm not sure if the DVD playing will be region locked or not. « Show Less
174937
Brit ... do you watch non-Region 1 DVDs? If you watch DVDs from other regions, the Oppo DV-980H is a good buy. If you watch only Region 1 DVDs, and do not need the DV-980H other capabilities (SACD, DVD Audio, High Res. JPEG, DivX, etc.), consider getting the Toshiba HD-A30 or the HD-A35 HD DVD player. These two models are actually HD DVD players but upscale SD DVDs (slightly) better than the DV-980H. These 2 models have the same ABT video processor used in the DV-983H, but sells at a lower price as HD DVD has been discontinued. Boot up time of these 2 models is longer than the DV-980H (its about a minute) but you have the added capability of playing HD DVD movies which are now heavily discounted, some selling for less than SD DVDs. I have both the DV-980H and the DV-981HD, and both are very good models. I am certain that the DV-983H is as well built as the 980 and 981, with a bit more improvement on the video as well as the audio. I have both the HD-A30 and the HD-A35. Both are very good HD DVD players. Both are also very good DVD players. Were it not for the discontinuation of the HD DVD format, these 2 models would sell for much more. I understand that Toshiba's production cost in mid-2007 for the HD-A30 was for approx. $400, while the HD-A35 was for approx. $500. Both are built like a tank. Getting the HD-A30 for less than $200 is a very good bargain. The HD-A35 with its more advanced audio capability is also a good bargain despite its premium over the HD-A30. That said, the DV-980H has capabilities that the Toshiba HD DVD players do not have. If you have need these or have some use for these, then you can't go wrong with the DV-980H. Good luck. Edit: The price of the Toshiba HD-A35 has gone up from $230 to $300 shortly after the post above so its no longer as good a bargain as before. The HD-A30 however remains a good buy under the conditions described above.
1319578
Some DVD players and discs instead of showing their region number, show the word 'ALL', but in my experience dealing with these discs and players, it doesnt mean that necessarily they will run in ALL the discs. Sounds like a contradiction but is true. Some discs lock, as Dsrussell says, their regional code.And sometimes it seems like Region "ALL" its an new category of region, like 1 or A. If you want to run ALL your DVD and Bluray discs in one player, like I want to, i do not recomend this player. Usually their manuals are more especific with the regions that can be played, and in this case is very weak. Some DVD players and discs instead of showing their region number, show the word 'ALL', but in my experience dealing with these discs and players, it doesnt mean that necessarily they will run in ALL the discs. Sounds like a contradiction but is true. Some discs lock, as Dsrussell says, their regional code.And sometimes it seems like Region "ALL" its an new category of region, like 1 or A. If you want to run ALL your DVD and Bluray discs in one player, like I want to, i do not recomend this player. Usually their manuals are more especific with the regions that can be... » Read More Some DVD players and discs instead of showing their region number, show the word 'ALL', but in my experience dealing with these discs and players, it doesnt mean that necessarily they will run in ALL the discs. Sounds like a contradiction but is true. Some discs lock, as Dsrussell says, their regional code.And sometimes it seems like Region "ALL" its an new category of region, like 1 or A. If you want to run ALL your DVD and Bluray discs in one player, like I want to, i do not recomend this player. Usually their manuals are more especific with the regions that can be played, and in this case is very weak. « Show Less
1616314
These players are originally region one. They are actually then modified to be region free by a third part or by the seller. If done correctly they player would be working 100% perfect and there would be no loss in picture quality. It will be up to par as expected. However you must check the sellers background, see how long they have been around and if you can contact them after the sale by phone for support. Most legitamite companies have been around for years I've seen some for 2-3 decades. I did a search on google for region free blu-ray player and purchased mine. It's works great. I had a snag with one disc, and the company sent me some software to fix it very quickly.
1181227
If you buy any Sony blu-ray player in the U.S. it will be Region locked - for blu-ray Region A, and for DVD region 1. You can unlock the DVD to play DVD's from other regions, BUT it is pointless with a US player as Sony have NOT include a PAL decoder in any Sony blu-ray player for sale in the U.S. market. An easy way out of the problem, is to buy a region free DVD player (look on ebay) and be satisfied with region A locked blu-ray player - as you can still play blu-ray discs from Europe/UK, if the blu-ray discs themselves are Region Free, (eg. Zulu blu-ray, available amazon.co.uk UK! A lot of blu-ray discs are region free - just check before you buy, Google is your friend...
960795
Jason:Mine plays NTSC and PAL region free discs fine but anything that is region locked (2, 3, etc) wont play. I played some discs that were marked region 2 pal and they would not play but others also marked region 2 pal played fine as well as region 3. I suspect that, at least in my case, that some of my dvd's might be labeled region 2 or 3 but are in fact all region or region 0. Have you checked anything that you know for sure is region locked? Its very interesting that you are having no issues at all. At least I know that it is NTSC PAL friendly. Otherwise, this player rocks
726874
I AGREE. I CALLED TOSHIBA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HD DVD PLAYER IS ESSENTIALLY A COMPUTER, AND THE DELAY IS SIMILAR TO THE BOOT-UP TIME FOR ANY P.C. INSTALLING THE FIRMWARE UPDATE 2.5 DOES IMPROVE THE DELAY SLIGHTLY.
107228
You have to go into the menu and change the zone to 'B'. It is not like the DVD regions where it is automatic. It has to be done manually then you have to change it back to our region to play zone 'A'. The player came with a piece of paper that shows you how to do it. Like most people you may have just ignored it. Hope this answers your question.
1847837
Hi Justin, I did not get to play my region 2 dvd's from the UK on it. I played region 4 , Australia, and USA regions and it was fine for those. If yours isn't playing region 2, or any region for that matter, I would call Samsung and find out why due to it being a multi region player. There # is 1800-726-7864. Hope your able to get better help that I did. Cheers Lesley.