Toshiba's Highly IMPROVED UPconverting DVD-VCR Combo
Written: Jun 17 '05 (Updated Jul 07 '05)
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Pros: Excellent Picture. Obvious Improvements over previous model, HDMI, HiFi VCR, Looks
Cons: None I Found.
The Bottom Line: A Unique Item which can play a DVD at HD Resolutions, includes a Hifi VCR. and an extensive Muti Media Reader. And it does it all very well.
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| schafercorp's Full Review: Toshiba SD-V593 DVD Player / VCR Combo |
Following the lead of the single disc DVD player, the Toshiba SD-5980, this unit is greatly improved over the version it replaces, the SD-V592. The basics of what it does is similar to all DVD/VCR units, the extras ARE numerous. At present this Toshiba offers the buyer more than any other comparable unit, on the market. That is saying alot, but Toshiba was in a slump with it's players for a couple of years, and this year, which will be the 2006 models, they have regained their position as an industry leader, instead of an " also ran ".
WHAT MAKES THIS BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS MODEL:
1. Expanded use of the HDMI slot. HDMI is the ultra connection available, and pure digital, if you have a HDTV and a HDMI slot, or even a DVI slot with a converter you can use this player and all it's features. ALONG with a superior picture than the previous model, you can use the HD-JPEG VIEWER, to view any picture in High Def mode.
2. The Media Reader described below offers up an extensive array of options. The 9-in-2 Media card playback will use Secure Digital, Mini Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo, XD Picture Card, Compact Flash and MultiMediaCard for JPEG, WMA and MP3 files.
3. Descriptions for these and other options , as well as complete specs, can be found at the Toshiba website.
VIDEO QUAILTY AND IMPROVEMENTS:
1. While most will buy this because a combined unit is more convienant. Toshiba has not cheapened the quailty of either the VHS or the DVD player, which in the past, some units have.
2. On a HDTV using the DVD player and the HDMI connection, you can set resolutions from 480i, 480p, 720p and all the way up to the HD standard of 1080i. This is called scaling or UPconverting, just like a PC monitor does higher resolutions , your DVD player will do the same. THIS WILL ONLY WORK WITH THE DVD PLAYER NOT THE VCR.
*The out of the box picture is VERY impressive and color rich.
3. Remember to use that, you must have a HDMI slot in your HDTV, or at least a DVI slot with a DVI to HDMI adapter or cable.
4. LOW CHROMO errors and VERY good BLACK PLUGE LEVELS are real PLUS+ factors. Translated that means that most colors are very true to life, even when shown in higher resolutions. Blacks show details is what having a good black level is all about, instead of watching just a mat black object, you see alot of details in that object.
5. GREATLY IMPROVED REMOTE! RESPONSIVE!
THE VCR SECTION:
The unit comes with more than a basic VCR, and one on par with better single unit VCRs.
Among it's features are 4-Head/19-Micron Head System, which allows a better playback picture as well as better use of features like slow motion.
And S-VHS Quasi Playback which allows tapes recorded in S-vhs mode, to play back on this machine, with no quality loss.
THIS UNIT AND AUDIO:
In DVD modes with the sound connected via HDMI, it plays very clear and without errors and or noise. If you connect via traditional cords to the TV or receiver, the unit plays great, out of any receiver, and not at all bad with any descent TV built in audio speakers.
On the VCR end, the unit is HiFi, and will hook up to any
Dolby ProLogic I or II Surround Sound System, and work perfectly.
OTHER FEATURES WORTH NOTE:
You can record and view at the same time. While you can copy DVD to VHS this will only work for non copyright materials.
Automatic clock features and the commercial skip I found both nice and useful.
Specific tech specs are available at Toshiba, I found none, to be poor, and none so outstanding to make note, other than those mentioned. MANY MANY times, it is not just the specs, but the application of the internal components, that makes the product worth owning or not. In this case Toshiba has done well.
DESIGN:
The Player is More bold looking than the previous edition. It has a black on silver design, which allows it to blend well with either color components, if you are wanting a color match. I liked the looks of the unit, and it seemed to have a very solid look, I felt Tohsiba had lost in the past couple of years.
NEGATIVES:
The only one I could find, is the lack of picture adjustments, such as sharpness, and contrast, which one gets with a Panasonic DVD-S97. That point made, I'll say again, the out of the box picture here is great, and the Panasonic is twice as much, and does not have a VCR. If it was not that at one time Toshiba offered these options, I'd not have made mention of it.
FINAL RESULTS:
The SD-V593 is priced very well, it works very well, and it looks very nice. The picture is ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE GROUP OF UPCONVERTING PLAYERS.
If you own a HDTV or are in the market for one, and want to have the ability to play your DVDs at near HD quality, as well as have a nice VCR in one unit, then this Toshiba is your best bet on the market, there is nothing out there that can do what this player does. Some other makers are rumored to be making an combo player of this type, none have as of the writing of this article.
Only Similar UPconverting DVD with VCR Player:
Toshiba SD-V592 - HDMI
This player was tested on the following TV sets:
Hitachi 60" LCD
SONY 50" LCD
Panasonic Plasma 42" HDTV " plasma will only do 768p
resolution and works fine here!
Panasonic CRT HDTV Widescreen 30" tube.
Sanyo CRT HDTV Widescreen 30" tube.
RCA 32" HDTV 4:3 CRT tube.
Below is a list of players I have used to compare this player with, and have now or have owned.
Panasonic DVD-S97S - HDMI
Denon DVD-955S - DVI & HDMI
Denon DVD-755S - DVI
Samsung DVD-HD931 - DVI
Samsung DVD-HD841 - DVI
Samsung DVD-HD850 - HDMI
Toshiba SD-5960 - HDMI
Toshiba SD-5970 - HDMI
Toshiba SD-5980 - HDMI
Samsung DVD-HD941 - HDMI
Toshiba SD-V592 DVD-VCR Combo - HDMI
Denon DVD-2910 - DVI & HDMI
Denon DVD-3910 - DVI & HDMI
LG LGDVB418 - HDMI
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 169.00
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Epinions.com ID:
schafercorp
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Member: Jeff Schafer
Location: OH
Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 9 members
About Me:
Work as an Independent Advisor. Products & Software Tester since 1994. Writer.
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