Toshiba SD2805 5-Disc Carousel DVD and CD Player
A superb value
The best thing that can be said about the Toshiba SD2805 is that it was once top-rated by Consumer Reports. Now how you feel about Consumer Reports' ratings is one thing, but if this was considered a great machine at a  street price, how can anyone complain about it?<br />Toshiba has traditionally made fine televisions, and many have lauded their line of DVD players as well. This model offers a solid performer at a ridiculously low price for a 5-disc changer. Considering other favorable reviews of this model on other DVD-related sites and in magazines, I went ahead and ponied up for a couple.<br />What can be said pro and con for the unit?<br />First off, the cons:<br />1) Not a stylish bone in its body. About as exciting to look at as a beige wall.<br />2) The aforementioned (by other reviewers) slow response to commands. From checking around, it seems that all multidisc players are a bit laggard in responding, though. Is the Toshiba any worse? I can't say for sure, lacking any empirical stopwatch figures.<br />3) Inputs and outputs. If you have a VCR, dish receiver, DVD, and TV, you may have a problem if you lack an AV tuner/receiver capable of handling all the inputs and outputs. The SD2805 sadly lacks an S-Video input, having only an output. Same for some of the other more recent forms of ports; you've got every possible output, but few inputs. So if you have an older TV lacking a plethora of different inputs, you might have a problem if you don't have a way to juggle all the inputs and outputs. This problem is true of most DVD players, though. Why manufacturers can't provide a way to avoid buying a new receiver to handle this last, additional device, I don't know.<br />4) The remote is poor. Not universal, not even a decent size, it sadly falls in with many of its brethren in providing far too many buttons. Why manufacturers can't provide more modal buttons, ones that have multiple functions, I don't know. For instance, on the SD2805 the \\"play\\" button pressed once just plays. But what if pressed again it paused? Pressed once more, it could play again. In short, no need for a pause button. In fact, using this as an example, I believe that half the buttons could be eliminated. The other issue lies in how some buttons don't work without pressing them several distinct times. The \\"disc skip\\" button held down should cycle through the discs, but it does not. In short, as necessary as a remote is to accessing specific functions, this one seems an afterthought.<br />And now, the pros:<br />1) The picture is tack sharp and stunning. Unlike cheap DVD players, the picture does not \\"bloom\\" or \\"breathe\\", meaning solid, perfectly-saturated colors \\"within the lines\\" and no pulsing of colors or images. This is the best picture I have seen on a player that is not progressive scan ( - which is essential for HD TVs.)<br />2)The audio is excellent. A few CDs revealed a more spacious feel than I got from my old CD player when driven through the same speakers and receiver.<br />3) Did I mention it was a multidisc player - a price point for many single-disc players?<br />5) Plays about every format of disc out there.<br />In short, you can have a top-rated DVD player for less than half its original SRP. Is this a closeout? Sure it is. Toshiba just announced a new line of players with built-in Tivo. Still, if you have not taken the DVD plunge and love a value, this is the unit to get.nce just plays. But what if pressed again it paused? Pressed once more, it could play again. In short, no need for a pause button. In fact, using this as an example, I believe that half the buttons could be eliminated. The other issue lies in how some buttons don't work without pressing them several distinct times. The \\"disc skip\\" button held down should cycle through the discs, but it does not. In short, as necessary as a remote is to accessing specific functions, this one seems an afterthought.<br />And now, the pros:<br />1) The picture is tack sharp and stunning. Unlike cheap DVD players, the picture does not \\"bloom\\" or \\"breathe\\", meaning solid, perfectly-saturated colors \\"within the lines\\" and no pulsing of colors or images. This is the best picture I have seen on a player that is not progressive scan ( - which is essential for HD TVs.) <br />2)The audio is excellent. A few CDs revealed a more spacious feel than I got from my old CD player when driven through the same speakers and receiver.<br />3) Did I mention it was a multidisc player - a price point for many single-disc players?<br />5) Plays about every format of disc out there.<br />In short, you can have a top-rated DVD player for less than half its original SRP. Is this a closeout? Sure it is. Toshiba just announced a new line of players with built-in Tivo. Still, if you have not taken the DVD plunge and love a value, this is the unit to get.