Toshiba SD-4900 Progressive Scan DVD Player

• Progressive-scan ColorStream component-video output for ultimate DVD picture quality (with an HD or HD-ready TV)
• High-res DVD-Audio compatibility with 6-channel analog output; choose analog or digital routing for Dolby Digital and DTS sources
• MP3- and WMA-CD playback; JPEG photo viewer displays digital photographs and slideshows on your television
• Offers 3:2 pulldown, black-level expansion, multiple picture settings, 16x picture zoom
• 3D-DNR (digital noise reduction) reduces random noise in video CDs, poorly mastered DVDs, and zoomed images

First some generalities. The SD-4900 supports more disc formats than most players, including DVD, DVD-Audio, DVD-R, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, VCD, SVCD (see below), WMA, JPG. It will play both NTSC and PAL video, translating PAL for NTSC televisions. The picture and sound quality are clear. On the negative side, when playing CD-R media (but not CD, DVD-R or DVD), there is a low-level clicking sound; it sounds as though the laser reader is constantly tracking. Also, the player does not remember where you are in a movie when you switch it off (most DVD players do). Apart from these minor complaints, it's a good player.

Second, I come to the real reason for this review, which is that this is an easy machine to modify for region free playing and for SVCD viewing. You can find full instructions for these modifications at my home page www.math.uga.edu/~djb. As they come out of the box, most players bought in the USA are region crippled, which means that they will not play DVDs purchased in Europe, for example. I take a very dim view of people preventing me from viewing DVDs that I have purchased on a player that I have purchased. If you do not live in the USA, it is very likely that you can go into a shop and buy a DVD player that will play discs from all regions, so this does not apply to you.

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This is a great DVD player. It does a fine job playing DVD/CD's in multiple formats including WMA & MP3. It has a good tech appearance and solid housing (many of the $100 DVD players are very plastic feeling/cheap looking). The remote is functional, but somewhat crowded on top with small buttons and visually unappealing. Basic RCA cables are included...buy component video cables (Y Pb Pr) if you want to utilize the progressive scan capability and MAKE SURE your TV has these inputs! It also has S Video and Digital coax and optical output some of the less expensive DVD players only have basic RCA in/out connectors. The SD-4900 also has 5.1 surround sound connectors compatible with a DTS receiver. Very good front panel controls. Overall an excellent choice.

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I've had this player now for about 4 months, and it's been great so far. Very clear, accurate color, and fast response. Layout of the remote is a little wonky in some respects, but i've come to expect this as commonplace with most players.

Seeing the negatives some people are mentioning, however, I feel compelled to defend this player, as it's getting a lower rating than it truly deserves largely due to ignorance.

First, concerning the "booby trap" issue. It's not a trap, it's progressive scan. If you don't have an HDTV, PS isn't going to do much for you anyway! If you try to set the player as PS, and your television can't handle it, of course your display is going to bug out for a bit. If you check the manual, however, this "trap" is mentioned, and it's resulting fix to reset the settings. People are saying "good luck" like Toshiba is to blame for this, when it's simply the result of people hitting buttons and selecting options that they don't know anything about.

As for the time/chapter display, this is shown on the front panel of the unit just like virtually *any* player out there. The reason you can't simply pause the player for hours and leave it in the same spot is more a matter of liability control on the part of Toshiba doing this is BAD FOR YOUR PLAYER. It's bad for any disc-based drive.

To finish this up, this is a great product that displays audiophile quality in *certain* areas. It has it's warts, such as the remote, but has been almost perfect throughout my experience with it. If you know how to operate a DVD player without selecting stupid options and mistreating the unit, this one is great for you.

If you're the type of fool who fries their previous DVD player, complains about not being able to read the front panel properly, or can't figure out how to display the remaining time on a disc, then by all means...stay far, far away. From all electronics.

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I just bought this DVD player, with plans to upgrade my TV to a Philips 30" widescreen. However, i am canceling those plans, as this DVD player has brought a whole new level of qulity to my TV (A 2 year old high-end Panasonic). The quality is amazing, watching Lord of the Rings, you can see every wisker on Aragon's face.

Not only that, but set the DVD player on 16:9 and the DVD will almost fill the screen. It works similar to Pan and Scan, except that it is a broader, and allows you to really enjoy widescreen movies!

Now i can hold off on the 1000 dollar TV!

Pros great video

Cons sometimes it works, sometimes it does not

I have been an avid Toshiba TV and DVD user for years. Great and reliable products. I bought this DVD player after much research. It seemed a great deal. I needed a Digital Decoder in the DVD player since my receiver is, unfortunately, only digital ready. My old Toshiba, dual-disc, digital-ready DVD player had no problems with this shortcoming. This player, however, has proven very frustrating. Sometimes, it works, sometimes it doesn't. Video is always excellent, but audio either works great or works not at all. It is not a connection problem. One dvd will work, the next will not. The same dvd will work for titles, but will not provide sound otherwise. That same dvd, on the other hand, will work one time, but not another. I am sure it is merely a defective unit, but I saw at least two other units at Best Buy for sale as open items. Maybe I am a little too conspiratorial, but I see no reason to believe that these units anything other than likewise temperamental. I will return and buy a more expensive unit that, hopefully, will work.