Looks Good to Me! (Toshiba SD 110)

Member Name: uryjm

Product:	Toshiba SD 110
Date:	30/12/01 (369 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy set up, Great picture, Good price

Disadvantages: Can't tape DVD's!, Region 2 Only

I bought this DVD player in Comet, partly due to a positive review on this site. If you're thinking of buying a player, and it seems thousands of us are, but can't be bothered delving into the technical specifications, then you may well be flumoxed by the choice. Price and aesthetics seem to be the only discriminators, and therefore it's useful to read opinions by those who do understand the technical issues. So I'll apologise right now in this review, because I don't understand the technical nitty gritty behind this Toshiba! All I know is it
seemed relatively easy to set up, although you do have to buy a Scart cable in order to do this (mine cost £14). I also had to negotiate wiring together the DVD, a digital receiver box and a video through to the TV set, which was a bit like the Krypton Factor. Don't ever throw away old instruction manuals is all I can say!
The Toshiba's instructions are simple to follow, and I soon had located the picture. The remote control is also easy to use, and I was watching my first DVD film relatively quickly. You cannot, however, watch a DVD while taping a satellite broadcast through your video, as both use the same channel on the TV. I'm not sure why this is, but it's a fact. Another thing I didn't know - and this was a bit of a blow - you can't video tape from a DVD! Even if you could wire one into another, it seems most DVD's are "write protected" to prevent copying. There's probably a way 'round this if you can be bothered finding out, but I was
looking forward to building a home taped movie library. Now I'll have to buy them (best Internet seller seems to be Play247.com, with a vast range of films at reasonable prices.)
The Toshiba will only play Region 2 (European) format films, so if you're into buying cheaper DVD's from the States then this isn't the player for you.
The other thing about DVD's you need to know is that m
any of the disks are widescreen versions, which is fine if you have a trendy widescreen telly, but I don't. In order to watch widescreen DVD's, you adjust the picture setting on the Toshiba through the remote control. It's easy enough to do (once you realise you have to do it) and prevents the sensation of watching the movie through a letterbox, but even on the correct settings I have about an inch of black lines at the top and bottom of the picture.
With regard to the player itself, the picture quality is pin sharp and crystal clear. The sound seems fine, but I don't have the cinema surround sound gizmos that will bring out the best in the DVD. Not yet, anyway, but I think if I make such an investment then I won't have to upgrade the Toshiba.
All in all, I'm more than happy with the Toshiba, and I think most people will be. So if it's around your price range and matches your technological colour scheme, you're unlikely to be disappointed.

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