Best Bang for the Buck!
Written: May 24 '00 (Updated Jun 18 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Affordable, super quality, crisp picture
Cons: can only FFWD/RWND at 2X, 8X and 30X. Has problems playing CD-RW audio.
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| andruzzo's Full Review: Toshiba SD-3109U DVD Player |
I am a person who CAREFULLY researches what electronics he buys.
I was currently in the market for a DVD player. I focused on
3 brands: Pioneer, Sony and Toshiba.
The player I originally wanted to buy was the Pioneer DVD-515...which
has won numerous worldwide review awards as a solid performer. I
also liked the SONY DVP-S7700. From the Toshiba, I initially looked
at the SD-5109.
After comparing all these models, I realized that the Sony and the
Pioneer were just WAY TOO expensive....about twice or more the price
of the Toshiba 5109. Sure they are solidly built machines but
they did not have the functionality of the Toshiba 5109. At half
the price the 5109 beat them hands down.
Then one day, I looked at the 3109. It turned out that the SD-3109
has EXACTLY the same functionality and build as the 5109 except for
one difference...the 5109 can output a progressive image. What does
this mean? Well, each image you see on a TV image is comprised
of two fields which are interlaced together...the odd lines and the
even lines. This is what causes flicker on TV screens and old
computer monitors. Well, the Toshiba 5109 has the capability of
outputting it's signals as a clean frame, without interlacing even
and odd fields. You get a CLEAN flicker free frame....that is
if you have a DIGITAL TV that can display it!
Since I did not, I did not really find any purpose in giving the odd
$200 extra for the 5109. So, I bought the SD-3109 and cannot be
more pleased!
This DVD player has every function that I could ask for, every
type of audio output, DTS, Dolby...you name it. It even plays
HDCDs!
Every DVD I throw at it...it plays without complaint. As an added
bonus, it has 2 trays so I can start loading another DVD, while
the first is playing.
Connection is a joke! Using it is a cinch. The remote...simple
and to the point (although it does have some problems...see below).
Oh, and I can even see the bit rate as a DVD is playing!
I recommend this DVD to anyone and everyone who doesn't believe in
giving thousands of dollars for miniscule and usually unnoticed
improvements. You can easily find it on the web for bargain
basement prices well under $300 US. It's worth every penny.
Of course, there are some negatives to this DVD player. Here's what
I don't like:
1) It's too darn light! It FEELS cheap...even though it's rock solid
in all other respects.
2) The FFWD and RWND functions can only be performed in steps
of 2X, 8X and 30X....some more variability would be great.
3) It just refuses to play CD-R and CD-RW audio encoded CDs.
It plays retail audio CDs without a problem but not the
aforementioned. Of course, this ain't a real big deal since
most people will only really use it to watch DVDs.
4) The remote is not backlit...which can be annoying when you want
to use it in the dark. Also, the FFWD and chapter skip are
performed using the same button....which can cause some frustration.
If you 'tap' the button it does a chapter skip, if you hold it
down for over a second, it does a FFWD. I can't count the number
of times I've skipped to the next chapter when all I wanted to do
was just FFWD.
5) Dual tray does not AUTOMATICALLY play the second DVD, even though
you assume it does. But again, this is not that critical.
All in all, you can't find a better DVD player for the money
and in most cases for twice the money. Go ahead and research
it, you'll see that I'm right!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
andruzzo
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Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 9 members
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