Upside
Toshiba's new HDD-J35 set top box is not only one of the few high definition (HD) digital boxes out with a built-in hard drive, it's also the first in Australia to feature a HDMI output. HDMI is an emerging all-digital connection which can carry uncompressed high definition video and audio through the one cable. That means sharper pictures and crisp sound as the AV data does not have to be converted into analog and back again between devices.
The HDD-J35 is a true HD set top box, and supports 1920x1080i, 1280x720p, 720x576p, and 720x576i (PAL) resolutions. The box comes with two digital tuners, allowing you to watch and record two different programs, or have two different channels running picture in picture.
Its built-in 160GB is one of the biggest on the market, and will allow you record dozens of hours of television. The HDD-J35 gives you Time Slip functions when recording (which lets you watch the start of a program while you're recording the end of it), and allows you to pause live TV.
Apart from the impressive HDMI output, the HDD-J35 isn't slacking off when it comes to other connectors. Its other outputs include RGB, component, S-Video, composite, digital optical audio, digital coaxial audio and two analog audio outputs. Inputs include component, composite, analog audio and more.
Downside
At AU$1699, the HDD-J35 is a rather pricey. In fact, a quick check on Digital Broadcasting Australia's list of set top boxes in Australia shows it's the priciest there. The price, however, has to be weighed up with the fact that not only are you getting a HD set top box, but you're also getting a personal digital recorder with a truck full of hard disk capacity. Obviously its performance is the best arbiter of value, so we'll have to wait until our full review before we give a final assessment.
Overall
Toshiba's HDD-J35 high definition set top box boasts some top notch features, particularly the HDMI output and large hard drive. Price may be an issue, but if you want the latest and greatest it's tough to beat.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
John Hall
26/07/2008, 10:00 AM
rating
10/10
I contacted Toshiba...they could not have been more helpful...they arranged a pickup,& returned the unit within a week...no charge & a 90 day warranty....the unit works perfectly (so far !)Great service that deserves to be recognised...Thank you Toshiba...
Pros: Brilliant picture,brilliant recording & playback....so happy !
Cons: None today...fingers crossed !
Report offensive comment
John Hall
12/07/2008, 09:14 AM
rating
3/10
Picture is perfect,recording very unreliable...freezes,necessitating pulling plug & restarting....Toshiba did replace the "guts" after 15 mths (bless them!) however,3 months later,same thing ....& I'm pissed off !
Pros: When it works,it's great
Cons: Unreliable,freezes for no reason....recording conks out after 17 or 38 mins
Report offensive comment
shagz
08/04/2008, 07:49 PM
rating
3/10
Had my j 35 for nearly two years now and i experienced problems within the first three months of purchase. I ve had freezing problems( two weeks at castels), initialising probs as well( two weeks at local dealer/repairer). All i can say is thank god Toshiba Australia have taken over from castels(wankers). its playing up as i speak.cant turn the shitbox on now!
Pros: great picture when its working. plenty of record time.
Cons: not worth the $1700 i paid for it.
Report offensive comment
techlover
17/03/2008, 05:56 PM
rating
6/10
have had the unit for 2 years and the last 8 months it has been freezing, with the only fix being to unplug it. Now it overheats, doesn't stop recording occasionally, and then it died altogether. Toshiba are fixing it under warranty even though the warranty expired long ago. It should have lasted longer for the price it cost, but am happy Toshiba are taking responsibility for the dud product and are fixing free.
Pros: heaps of recording time, great picture, love recording 2 channels and watching a recorded show,
Cons: unreliable, freezes, really irritating is the remote control which is not very sensitive and needs to be pressed hard to recognise commands and needs to be pointed directly at unit and not to the side.
Report offensive comment
chokffr
20/02/2008, 01:08 AM
rating
6/10
I have had my J35 since 2005 July and initially had very few problems that a simple swith on/off at the mains can't fix. End of 2007 , it started to have major not fixable glitches which required repair by Toshiba at no charge. They replaced the power unit and updated the firmware. Now it seems to run hot and then malfunctions. I am trying to keep a fan on it , seems to help. Interesting how my trouble are very much in sync with another person's J35 here. Could it be due to chnages in the new HD broadcasts? Or is it because the HDD is getting stuffed. Wish I know how to upgrade the HDD myself. The best replacement is the DigitalView 810. Too bad the J35 is still kicking (just)!
Pros: Superb resolution and picture even after all these years, not many STB can match it.
Easy to use.
Side-by -side vertical split screen PIP
Cons: Missed time recordings.
Glitches often.
Report offensive comment
Trevor
18/02/2008, 02:31 PM
rating
5/10
We bought ours over two years ago and have had the same problems it seems almost everyone has. We put up with the missed recordings and occasional freezing because the picture quality was great and otherwise it was a good machine. Lately the freezing and dreaded INIT problem has got worse and it got to the point where I couldn't get it to work at all. I contacted West Coast HiFi in Cannington where I purchased it, and they replaced it - no questions asked - with a Next Wave machine of better specs that the Toshiba, even thought it was well out of warranty. Disappointed with the recorder, but couldn't be happier with the resolution.
Pros: Great picture
Cons: Unreliability
Report offensive comment
Platypup
04/02/2008, 07:52 PM
rating
9/10
Sorry to hear of your problems with the HDD-J35 Johninbrisbane. Here in Adelaide I still am having a trouble-free run with my machine and really just take it for granted that it will just do what I want it to do. I am still extremely pleased with the unit and cannot imagine I am the only one in Australia with a trouble-free HDD-J35. Possibly the only people who access this forum are those who are seeking help with problems!
Pros: Does (in my case) what it is supposed to do and does it well.
Cons: The problems a lot of others machines seem to be having.
Report offensive comment
johninbrisbane
30/01/2008, 07:08 PM
rating
4/10
I wanted to rate the J35 with 8 and 1 but settled on 4 because I had to nominate one number! It is a great unit when it works, but it is too unreliable for me to recommend it to others.
We have had four units, each one manifesting most of the problems described by others on this site. The last return was to Toshiba who replaced the power supply (but did not acknowledge let alone reply to my detailed memo). The unit still freezes periodically, sometimes fails to record, sometimes fails to stop recording (until the hard drive is full), has pixelated segments in most recorded sessions, and periodically implodes with a loud bang.
So, Platypup, it really is difficult to give "more positive feedback" when we haven't enjoyed the trouble-free run that you appear to have had.
Pros: Has great features that work very well (and elegantly) when the unit is properly operational.
Cons: It's much too unreliable, and the support (first from Castel, now from Toshiba) is well sort of best practice!
Report offensive comment
JohnH
16/01/2008, 09:47 PM
rating
4/10
Bought the J35 June 05, first problems appeared Nov06 when unit failed to initialise (gee that sounds familiar). Castel repaired it within 2 weeks (whilst we were on holidays) and all seemed fine. They also upgraded the firmware. Nov 07 recurrence of initialisation problem - first took a couple of minutes to initialise growing daily to up to half an hour bfore failing altogether - sent to Toshiba this time who replaced power supply. Jan 08 and now the unit is failing to respond to the remote control, failing to record programs in its database, locking up during playback, the list goes on and on. Whilst Toshiba have generally responded well to the problems, I agree with others that this model is error prone and Toshiba should have recalled it and replaced it with a more reliable unit as all it is doing now is damaging their brandname - I certainly will be hesitant to buy Toshiba again.
Pros: It is a great unit when it works with simple menus, great picture, twin tuners and programmable skip funtion make watching ads a thing of the past
Cons: lack of reliability, lack of edit funtionality (ie delete everything before or after a point in playback), lack of self upgrade of firmware
Report offensive comment
newfarmer
21/11/2007, 07:46 PM
rating
5/10
we have just come back from five weeks overseas. Prior to leaving the box was incredibly slow to start up, taking anywhere up to 20 minutes. Now it won;t go past INIE at all. Will give Castel a call tomorrow. All in all we've been happy enough with the box. Maybe it's a hard drive fault?
Pros: Plenty - true twin tuner, fairly easy menu, has been well supported by Castel with any previous problems and firmware updates
Cons: Unable to update firmware ourselves, have to send to Melbourne. Sadly, have always been waiting for something else to go wrong and now it has.
Report offensive comment