Toshiba SD1800: Solid Performance at a Low Cost
Written: Dec 29 '02
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Pros: Small; great quality for its price
Cons: Design feels a little shabby
The Bottom Line: Cheap and small... and great quality for its price. Die-hard home theater buffs will most likely look elsewhere.
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| fusefactor's Full Review: Toshiba SD-1800 DVD Player |
I was in need of a cheap (yet decent) DVD player for my basement. When I went to buy this player at my local Best Buy, I didn't really do any preliminary research on DVD players. My main goal was to find a cheap enough DVD player that had a recognizable brand name (there were $65 DVD players on sale, but I had never heard of the brand). So after reviewing all the DVD players, I picked up the Toshiba SD1800, along with high-grade S-Video Monster Cables.
In The Box
In the box included the DVD player itself, a remote control, 2 AA batteries (for the remote), audio/video cables, and an instruction manual and quick setup guide.
Features
For such a cheap DVD player, I was expecting to not get much (i.e. no component video connections or digital audio output). But for the price, I got all that... and more.
-Component video output (although it does not offer the Progressive Scan feature found on more high-end players)
-Standard S-Video and Composite video output
-Coaxial audio output (although there is no optical audio output found on more high-end players)
-Standard audio outputs
-Plays back DVDs, CDs, MP3 discs
-Single tray design
Ease of Use
For me, "Ease of Use" can be roughly translated to "How easy is this to use without looking at the manual." I'm glad to say that the SD1800 is pretty easy to use.
Hookup was pretty straightforward. I scrapped the included audio/video cables for the Monster Cables that I bought with the DVD player. Hookup consisted of connecting the S-Video and audio cables from the DVD player to my television.
For the technologically inept, the quick-start poster shows the most common ways of connecting the DVD player to your television and/or stereo.
As for the actual operation of the unit, it is very straightforward. All you really have to do is insert whatever media you want (DVD, CD, MP3 disc, etc) and it begins playback automatically.
Design and Durability
From a design standpoint, the SD1800 is extremely slim. It stands less than 2 1/2" high. By comparison, my VCR sits about 4" to 5" high. The player is also not very deep, making it an optimum player for tight spaces. I can imagine such a small DVD player as a great gift for a college student going off to a cramped dorm room.
The remote control is well designed also. Most people grasp the contol right at the middle of the unit, so that their thumb can only reach the top contols with ease. Toshiba laid out all the necessary playback buttons on the top half of the remote and left all the accessory controls (setup, etc) on the bottom half, which means less fumbling around with the control for the average user.
As for durability, the unit feels a little light and the casing doesn't feel too solid. Also, when I was at the store, there were many refurbished SD1800s sitting on the shelf. I don't know if they were all floor models or if they were returns, but is this a foreshadowing of what's to come with my experience with this player? That's yet to be determined.
Video and Audio Quality
Picture quality on the SD1800 is great for my means. My 27" TV only accepts Composite and S-Video, so I haven't yet tried out the Component video connections of the SD1800. However, even with the S-Video connection, the video is very sharp and crisp-- sometimes even better than live television.
The audio quality is decent as well. The player is connected to an older surround sound system, and I am quite pleased with the sound quality.
Bottom Line
In my case, I chose this DVD player because of two main reasons. One was price. The other reason is since I don't have the most high-end television and sound system, it was pointless to buy the latest and the greatest. As the saying goes, you're only going to be as good as your weakest link.
However, even for a cheap DVD player, I am pleased with the SD1800's results. Hookup was a breeze. Ease of use is phenomenal. The video and audio quality is a great. If you're looking for a simple DVD player or something for the kids, this is the one to get.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99.99
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Epinions.com ID:
fusefactor
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Member: Ryan
Location: Union, NJ
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 0 members
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