Toshiba SD-K850 DVD Player with HDMI and DIVX

• ColorStream Pro® progressive scan provides a non-interlaced component video DVD/TV connection that allows DVD-Video to reach its maximum picture quality potential.
• High Definition Multimedia Interface is the next generation of DVI. It includes the DVI digital video signal, and multi-channel digital audio signals on a single cable.
• Digital Cinema Progressive (3/2 Pulldown)
• DIVx® Home Theater Certified
• HDMI Cable Included

I purchased this player from Costco at a great price. I was excited to try it out with my new HDMI LCD HDTV.

Unfortunatly, DVD playback freezes and skips occasionally, and it is not a disk problem -even brand new DVDs don't play correctly.

The resolution upconversion also seems to have problems. Video quality is fuzzy when a DVD is upconverted to 1080i. Honestly, it looks best when the DVD player outputs 480p, and the upconversion is done by the TV.

Then, after 3 days of use, the unit froze and locked a DVD inside. All buttons were useless and it wouldn't even power down. Everything seemed to 'reset' after being unplugged for a few minutes.

I had two reasons for buying this DVD player: play DVDs and upconvert video. Since it cannot do either, I will be returning it.

Buy Toshiba SD-K850 DVD Player with HDMI and DIVX Now

At $79.99 (at Costco), this player is a steal! I haven't seen much press/reviews for this particular Toshiba player seems like all the focus has been on the Toshiba's SD-x980 line (which, btw are horrible and overpriced). After playing with it the past week, here are some details:

Testbed:

Syntax Olevia LT37HVS 37" LCD

Toshiba SD-K850

LG LDA-511

Cyberhome progressive scan (unknown model, circa 2002)

* Player comes with an HDMI cable! This is great considering a good deal for one will set you back around $20. Some of the Sony, LG, and Samsung models make you buy the HDMI cable separately.

* DVDs tested: Star Wars III, Matrix 2, Return of the King

* All played flawless I expected nothing less than perfect.

* Picture quality is comparable to the LG LDA511 (also an HDMI upconvert player). I got this at Best Buy just for the purpose of comparison.

* Picture quality vs old Cyberhome is like day and night the Toshiba beats it hands down.

* It's hard to tell the difference between 720P and 1080i. They both resample the video using some form of pixel interpolation. The perceived result is less graininess my wife puts it as "the picture seems softer."

* Tried various home-made DVDs (original source is DV from my Panasonic 3CCD camcorder). Played them all fine solid support for a wide variety of blank media.

* I love Anime and have many fansubs. Almost all of them are in DivX format. I use to have to play them on my laptop and output to TV. The Toshiba played each and every one of them directly with subtitles and all. I was very satisfied.

I'm too lazy to continue writing so I'm going to sum it up:

This thing played everything I threw at it. Upconversion improves picture quality slightly it gives the perception that the picture is smoother/softer. It's still not HD if you want that, go get an HD DVD player. For $80, it's hard to go wrong especially with the free HDMI cable.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba SD-K850 DVD Player with HDMI and DIVX Here

Got unit from Costco too. Read about this problem on A/V forums but thought it was an isolated problem. I guess not because the unit I got does the same, pauses at several random points for 1 to several seconds. Decided to return this unit because it couldn't do its basic function, play a DVD correctly.

Otherwise, this unit would have gotten 4 stars, a very decent unit for the price. HDMI was good with the free HDMI cable, the remote buttons were laid out good and much more responsive than the slow Samsung HD755 remote I tried.

One annoyancea bright blue light shines out of the DVD tray slot. You can maually turn it of but it defaults to ON after power down.

Want Toshiba SD-K850 DVD Player with HDMI and DIVX Discount?

it's an interesting piece of machinery. i got it refurbished online and read the reviews between when i bought it and when it arrived, so i kind of knew what to expect. it does take a little longer to load than your average dvd player. the tray is also a little jerky when it comes out the first time (every time after is smooth). and i did experience the mid-movie freeze a couple times. but the freeze issue really isn't a buzz-killer b/c in the off-chance it does happen, it lasts literally about 5 seconds. it had a couple other issues initially, but they worked themselves out after a week (seriously.. i didn't update the firmware or anything.. it just.. fixed itself :) the thing that makes it such a bargain tho, is it made my entire dvd collection watchable again. 480p looks pretty horrendous on any hdtv, so this serves as an excellent stopgag until the bluray/hd-dvd victor emerges

Toshiba SD-K850

$45 @ Fry's (Refurbished)

I bought this as a temporary player til I decide PS3, XBOX360, BLu-Ray or HD-DVD. 45 bucks...can't beat it. The player has HDMI, Component, Optical, S-video & coax. I'm using HDMI (less clutter w/ cables). I'm not an expert on DVDs but I can say... the "newer" dvds seemed to look better than the older ones. The player has three modes (1080i/720p/480p). Rotating modes can be done with a click of a button. Quality is decent/good. I didn't have issues with pausing/delays. I'm sure there are up-1080i/720p players that are better but probably cost $$$$. BUY THIS TEMPORARY PLAYER IF YOU WANT A "TRUE" HD-DVD PLAYER BUT NOT SURE WHICH ROUTE TO GO. PEACEEEE....