Toshiba SD-5970 DVD Player Review

Toshiba's surprisingly affordable Toshiba SD-5970 single-disc DVD player is a must for videophiles: the player upconverts DVD-Video content to high-definition resolution (either 720p or 1080i). Further, the sleek component offers a cutting-edge High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) so you can make a direct digital connection between the SD-5970 and a compatible HDTV or HD-ready TV/monitor. The player spins DVD-Video movies, of course, and also handles recordable CDs loaded with MP3 or WMA music files and discs filled with JPEG digital photos, letting you make the most of your digital media.

The Toshiba SD-5970 is outfitted with 10-bit/54 MHz video DACs (digital-to-analog converters) and ColorStream Pro progressive-scan component-video outputs for seamless, flicker-free images when viewed through high-definition and HD-ready TVs.

Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p/720p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using a minimum of twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. For compatibility with traditional SD (standard-definition) televisions, the Toshiba SD-5970 sports composite- and S-video outputs. HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface supporting standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multichannel digital audio--all using a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports up to 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements. The Toshiba SD-5970 also performs 3:2 pulldown reversal. DVD mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion. Conventional composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television.

Digital picture zoom is an interactive DVD feature that lets you select and magnify an area of a picture you want to zoom in on. Enhanced digital processing during moving video or freeze-frame playback produces high color fidelity and resolution, even when you're zoomed in. You can also use this feature to expand letterbox-only films to full-screen (4:3 aspect ratio) dimension.

For audio, choose from 2-channel analog audio outs or either of 2 forms of digital-audio output, optical or coaxial, for transmitting discrete, multichannel surround signals--either Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1--to a compatible AV receiver/surround processor and speaker system. Listening in surround sound puts you right in the middle of the action, whether you're playing an action movie, a concert video, or a period drama. Not set up for surround yet? A special 3-D Surround circuit simulates surround sound from any 2 speakers.

What's in the Box?

Toshiba SD-5970 DVD player, remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, and a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable.

What Features Does the Toshiba SD-5970 Have?

� Color: Silver and gray

� Disc capacity: 1

� Region playback: Compatible only with non-region-coded (code-free) discs and with discs coded for Region 1

� Progressive scan: Yes

� 3:2 pulldown detection: Yes (Digital Cinema Progressive)

� Memory card slot: No

� Playback formats: DVD-Video (NTSC), DVD-R, red book CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 CD, WMA CD, JPEG picture CD

� Recording formats: N/A

� Aspect ratio control: Yes

� Dialog enhancer: Yes

� Integrated receiver: No

� Quick play: No

� Multi-angle viewing: Yes (with applicable discs)

� Picture enhancements: Upconversion from 480p to 720p/1080i (any disc)

� Horizontal resolution: 540 lines

� Video DAC: 10-bit, 54 MHz

� Audio DAC: 24-bit, 192 kHz

� Frame advance: Yes

� Still/freeze frame: Yes

� Jog/shuttle dial on unit: No

� Forward/reverse play: Yes

� Karaoke: No

� Multilingual support: Yes (English, Spanish, French)

� Remote control: Yes (universal with TV controls)

� Parental controls: Yes (tray lock)

� Picture zoom: Yes (for DVD and JPEG images)

� Random play: Yes

� Recording capability: No

� Repeat play: Yes

� Resume play: Yes

� Track programming: Yes

� Reverse-frame step: Yes

� Screen dimmer: Yes

� Screen saver: Yes

� Slow motion: Yes

� Text display: No

� VCR capability: No

� Audio outputs: 1 stereo analog (left/right), 1 set of 6-channel analog outputs (left, center, right, left/right surround, subwoofer), 2 digital (1 optical, 1 coaxial)

� Headphone jack: No

� Video outputs: 4 (HDMI, composite-video, ColorStream Pro component-video, and S-video)

� Surround-sound output: Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel passthrough and decoding; DVD-Audio and SACD multichannel decoding

� Simulated surround sound: Yes

� THX-certified: No

� Front-panel inputs: No

� UPC: 022265411551

� Warranty: 1 year parts and 90 days labor

Conclusion

Plays DVD-Video, DVD-R, and Video CDs * plays audio CDs, audio CD-R/CD-RWs, and MP3 & WMA encoded CD-R/CD-RWs * plays digital photo CDs (JPEG) * video upconversion to 720p, 1080i, or 1024p * HDMI interface with multichannel audio and HDCP copy protection (upconverted video available through HDMI output only) *

Best DVD Recorder Reviews Rating

6/10

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Toshiba SD-5970 DVD Player Review
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