Toshiba SD-5970 DVD Player with HDMI
Glitchy, Early Death
Bought this unit in early 2005 because it was recommended by a consumer magazine.  From day one the control buttons were slow to respond, often requiring multiple pushes, but that was tolerable because the picture looked great using the HDMI output.  The occassional DVD would freeze up, but that wasn't a frequent problem.  Overall, it performed adequately--until it died only a few months off warranty.  One evening we turned it on and the DVD we'd left in it started to spin, but the display was dead, the tray wouldn't open, and there was no signal output--not even the welcome screen.  I had to pry it open to salvage the disc trapped inside.  If it weren't for the HDMI cable that was included with the unit and the 15 months of use, this thing would have earned the lowest rating.