Audio/video quality is top of the line - I cannot tell the difference between this and the quality of Blu-Ray and standard DVD on my PS3 (running to a 70" 1080P Sony XBR2). The difference between standard DVDs and the quality of HD DVDs on this player is astounding. I would say that you should only get this if you have the set-up to take advantage of the A35 specs - bitstream HD audio, 1080P/24, HDMI 1.3. Otherwise, look for a cheaper model or wait for the next generation of players. If you are looking to make the jump to HD DVD, this is the top of the line player and is highly recommended. You get your money's worth, particularly with the 10 free HD-DVDs Amazon is offering.

BUT, if you are on the fence about making the jump, be aware of the following - (1) You need a firmware update right out of the box which is annoying (use this link for the best description of how to perform the update - http://www.highdefforum.com/showthread.php?t=56607 - believe me you'll thank... Read more

When I first hooked this up, I thought I was going to have the same problem I had with my HD-A2 player-it wouldn't boot up. However, this player booted up just fine and I am very impressed with the picture. The sound on Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby True HD soundtracks is terrific when played through my Onkyo 805 receiver. I do have a quibble with the Dolby True HD on some discs, though. I put in one and every time I went to a different track or tracked forward, there was about a minute that the picture was silent. I found that the set up on the machine was very easy and the instruction manual is well written and informative. The remote is the same as the one for my HD-A2, so if I lose this one, I can use the other one. The machine is smaller than the HD-A2 and is very easy to move around. It's quite light, but feels sturdy when you pick it up. All in all this is an attractive unit, performs very well, and will blow your ears off when it kicks in full tilt on a good sound track. Can't... Read more

The main advantage of this player is the ability to pass audio directly to the receiver. If you have a HDMI receiver capable of processing TrueHD or DTS-Master audio, then the A35 is right for you. I have my A35 hooked up to an ONKYO 605 receiver and the sound is phenomenal. If you don't have or plan to get an HDMI receiver, you're probably better off going with the A30 and saving a few bucks.

However, when you talk about value, I have to think back to a year ago when you could only get a 1080i player for $500. Now, for under $500, you can get this A35 with 1080p processing and HDMI 1.3 support. On top of that, the movies `300' and `The Bourne Identity" are in the box (a $60 value) and you get 5 more free movies by mail ($150 value). Plus: Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks support HD DVD exclusively, so some of the hottest hit will only be available in HD DVD.