Apparent build quality (yea - we''ll see.) Reasonable price. Great interlaced picture.

Build quality at least for the transport.

Its too early for me to comment on the features and performance of this product. I wanted to post a review simply to support others who have had the transport noise problem. My first unit rattled (growled as I call it) as others have described, not on all discs and usually stopping 2-3 tracks in. Tweeter kindly replaced the first unit but the second unit had this problem as well. Then, last night the transport drawer wigged out. It would close and re-open, disc inserted or not, always stopping in the open mode. Would not stay closed even upon powering down. Had to unplug the unit in mid-cycle of the drawer closing just to be able to return it. Toshiba must know this transport problem exists. They didn''t though in my call on 1/24. Will try again today. Does anyone know if the problem has been resolved? If so, what serial numbers might we look for?

Similar Products Used:

Sony 550

Build/design quality (except for the problem listed). Very high quality CD playback.

Poor/complex operation-pretty much requires on screen display. Really low quality remote that doesn''t mate well with this quality of player.

Bad news guys and gals--I''ve got the exact same transport noise problems as is mentioned by a couple of others in this review column. A LOUD buzzing type sound that can be heard from across the room on some disks (I mostly play CD''s). The problem goes away after the first track or two. If this problem is showing up recently for a few of us on this site, then there might be hundreds of players out there waiting to be bought with this issue. Otherwise, this player is outstanding in every respect, especially on audio material. The CD playback is so good that I really don''t care that much about DVD audio-I''m too busy rediscovering all my regular CD''s !! I''ve just emailed Toshiba customer support about the problem and also let them know that there are others on this site with the same issues. I''ll let everyone know how they handle this problem. Thanks to this site, I KNOW that they have heard of this problem before and they should have a speedy resolution for it. I''ll post again later letting you folks know what they email back, and how all facets of the repair (or replacement) process goes. Rating it low for now because this problem should never have happened-the rating will improve if the problem is handled right-I''ll post again when it''s all said and done.

Build Quality, Audio Playback, Removable Power Cord, Elegant Styling, Progressive Scan with 3:2 pulldown detection

Non-grounded IEC power connector and cord, Noisy transport.

I''ve been using the SD9200 for 2 weeks and have experienced the same problem with the unit that Joao Salvador has with a noisy tranport. The transport problem I experienced is identical to the explanation provided in Joao''s review. I have sent the player back for an exchange with hopes that it''s an isolated problem with the unit I had but now I''m thinking it might be a bad lot or possibly even a design/manufacturing flaw. Anyway, I certainly hope the new player works for me because the SD9200 is an excellent performer more on the audio side than on the video. The DACs and audio circuits are outstanding since I prefer listening to the player''s audio outputs over the digital output decoded by my B&K Ref 30. It does a tremendous job playing regular CDs, HDCD and CD-R discs, even damaged ones that normally skip on other players. DVD-Audio discs sound great, but I''ve only been able to hear them in stereo so far. The DVD-A format has some human-factors issues such as requiring a video monitor to select listening modes (2-CH vs. 5.1 CH). Any one using the SD9200 should familiarize themselves with the various audio output modes and selections detailed on page 43 of the manual since the audio mode selection (2-CH Output, PCM, Bitstream, 5.1-CH) determines the resolution provided by the various analog and digital outputs when playing higher resolution audio such as DVD-A and 20/24-bit DVD-V discs. The manual instructs you to use a video display to set the audio mode but that''s a pain. Intead I''ve been using the remote and the player''s display to do the same thing. I find that I can cycle through the audio modes by pressing the AUDIO button to display the current audio mode on the LED display and then by pressing the pseudo joystick to the right I can cycle through the audio modes and make the desired selection by pressing down on the pseudo joystick. Then if I want to change the audio mode again the above steps don''t seem to work unless I press the Clear or Cancel button first. The progressive output is good, but slightly on the soft side - definately an improvement over interlaced. The ability to switch between progressive and interlaced using the remote is a handy feature when it''s necessary to adjust screen format for non-anamorphic DVDs.

Sound as well as video!

The only weakness this player has if any is that is does not have a discreet "on" and "off" button.

This dvd player is by far the best dvd player around for the money. I got this player factory refurbished from discounts jungle and it had a problem with it after just one month. However I contacted Toshiba and they replaced it with a brand new one at no charge! There customer service is unbelievably good unlike sony in which I had several problems with my 7000 unit. That unit went into the shop twice! My toshiba is an excellent player. It has great progressive scan and unbelievably good sound! This is by far the best player around if you ask me. By the way keep in mind that some people who had negative things to say about this unit posted their reviews twice with their lousy one star ratings. Please people one review will do. I honestly think some people are just jealous when they read the good reviews on this player and just want to justify their purchase they got on something else. If you are thinking of getting this unit don't hesitate it's the best one for your money bar none!

system info

B&K AVR 202
Dynaudio 1.3 SE's
Dynaudio T2.1 center
M&K V2B Subwoofer
Mitsubishi 55857 Widescreen
Canare cable

Similar Products Used:

sony dvps-7000

Excellent sound and picture

None

5 stars all the way! This one is a refurbished unit, and in some ways better than new. Read up on refurb units at http://shop.store.yahoo.com/lib/discountsonline/refurbished.html - this is a 5 star shopping site as well (also called discountsjungle.com)... Everything went without a hitch order and delivery wise.

I got this unit for the best sound possible at a great price for my current CD/HDCD collection. Man, was this a steal - and this player is built like a tank. Super quiet operation, the tray looks sturdy and opens in a unique quiet way. What can I say, it's built like a tank! DVD-A is great as well, not much out though on that format.

Well, the sound output is fantastic even from an old CD. It has not even blinked on some CD's with minor scratches/imperfections. With good CD's, HDCD's and DVD-A my jaws start dropping as I turn up the volume. I like rock and metal but also like Bach and Beethoven - and have been into "great sound" for some 25 years. This player has everything I asked for!

I use it with my Toshiba 27AF61 27" flat screen TV (it's not an HDTV). It is set for interlaced and thru component video connections, and the picture is superb. The reviewer below that gave it just 3 stars was using a 4:3 HDTV - duh! When I do get an HDTV it has to be 16:9, why bother with 4:3? But like I said, I was shopping for the best sound.

I also plan on getting the Sony DVP-NS900V CD/DVD/SACD player, I'll have DVD-A and SACD covered and my Toshiba TV has 2 component inputs.

Well, this unit was $2000 when it was released - I really got a killer bargain. Everyone else who does not know about this deal is just sitting in the dark...

My "bargain" audiophile system:

NAD C370 - 120 watts x 2
Toshiba SD9200 CD/HDCD/DVD/DVD-A player
JBL S312 main speakers/cherry - 35-20,000Hz
Adire Audio Rava 12" subwoofer, 20-160 Hz
Acoustic Research Pro Series 50' 12 gauge (2x5’)
Acoustic Research Pro Series spade & banana plugs
Acoustic Research Pro Series RCA-RCA
Studio Tech HF-04/4 shelf audio stand
Toshiba 27AF61 27" flat screen TV
Acoustic Research Pro Series coax cable
Acoustic Research Pro Series component video cable
Tripp Lite Isobar-6 DBS/HT surge suppressor
Radio Shack SLM 33-2055/digital sound meter

Similar Products Used:

compared every DVD player price/performance

CD playback, silence in operation, HDCD capability, video quality

none

I am mostly a two channel guy. So I will focus my review on the audio quality of the 9200. 2 years ago, after having tried the Wadia 860, Levinson 39, Accuphase DP-75, and other top notch separates, I bought the Meridian 508-24 cd player for its sound quality. I thought that was the zenith in cd repro. Since then, I've heard the $20K Linn CD player and dCS upsampling gear that re-platformed cd playback. Then I tried out the little Toshiba 9200. What a grand surprise. It's combo of 24/192 DACs and Pacific Microsonics HDCD filter chip reproduces music that beats all comers. There's more emotion and immediacy with voice from Ray Charles to Renee Flemming through the 9200.
Brass that sounded harsh with previous cd players comes through like live. Check out Ravel's "Bolero" from Ref Recordings, Minnesota Symphony Orchestra recorded in HDCD.
The clarity and dynamics are overwhelming. I've not heard anything to approach it, not even SACD with the Dynaudio Evidence speakers.

I truly believe the 9200 to be THE player to buy. Try it out. I've seen ads for 995. OK, so the Sony 9000 may have a 12-bit video DAC, SACD, and five-year warranty. For anyone with a huge CD collection and wishes them to sound their best, the 9200 simply can't be topped in my mind. Think of it as an $18,000 savings from the still gorgeous-to-look-at Linn CD player. Oh, I've sold my Meridian. By the way the Onkyo DVS-939 near-twin has a different audio section and sounds worse than their own 501 DVD player 2 generations ago.

incredible picture and audio quality, very solid build quality, functions

none

All I can say this is one of the best machine money can buy
which you can even compare to meridian 800 which cost over $10000.00
I had and seen a lot of high end dvd players but nothing can compare to this machine for the price.

Similar Products Used:

onkyo 535, kenwood 2070, marantz dv 18 mk2, denon 3300,
denon 5000

Video performance

audio performance

I appear to hold the minority opinion on this unit's audio performance, but I am quite convinced of my impressions, and have asked several of my friends to do blind comprisons of the DVD players I've been trying for the last two months.

Using the progressive outputs, the 9200 has absolutely the best picture quality I've ever seen. I found the audio to be smooth and warm, but lacked the sparkle and punch of the Sony 7700 I have as a non progressive player. The lobby shooting scene in The Matrix didn't have the impact, and the sound of the shell casings falling to the floor wasn't as bright and well defined as the Sony 7700. A number of my friends asked what was wrong with my sudio, without knowing that they were listening to a new DVD player. I thoguht the Sony ES9000m was better sounding, and almost as good i the video performance. The Rotel was the blow away winner on audio performance, but it had a number of other flaws, including lousy video performance.

Similar Products Used:

Sony ES9000, Rotel 1080

Its a Toshiba

Have to go to on screen menu to adjust listening format

I have just hooked up this dvd player this weekend. The
set up is a little time consuming, but what the hay, when
you get a top end player, who expects to plug in and play?
I don't have any dvd audio yet, but my current cd's have
never sounded better. Just seem to have more "presence".The multi-channel is now the preferred listening mode for me.
I have been looking for The Doors "LA Woman". {They say
Riders on the Storm is incredible on dvd-a}
The set up for video is pretty straight forward. Again lots of menu's, but worth the effort. As I said, I am still in the getting aquainted stage. So far, this has exceeded
expectations for a first generation.
It has incredible weight, built like a tank. Will post more
after setting up with video essentials

Picture Quality, Well Built, great HT sound and ease of operation. Remote not bad either. HDCD,DTS DD all built in.

None

I have been thoroughly enjoying this player for the past 4 months. I recently upgraded my system(see below) and the SD9200 is part of it's wonderfull sounds and picture. The previous two reviewers are right on the money about the quality of picture and sounds. However, it's funny how two people can differnet opinions as me and the last reviewer do regarding the stereo sounds from this player. I do agree that is does sound good in the stereo mode during cd play back, but I have the Arcam FMJ cd23 also with HDCD & 24/96 and IMHO the Arcam sound so much detailed and fuller.
Anyway, the HT performance is near flawless, it produces the sharpest and clearest video I have ever seen and I am still using the S-video output not the progressive scan. I can't wait to upgrade my Tv which would allow me to utilize the prog.scan mode. A very cool attribute of the SD9200 is the way the front face plate slides away and the tray comes out. The remote is not bad, it's backlit and has all the functions needed however, I'm not crazy about the joystick type enter button. Overall this is one hellva player.
System:
Toshiba SD9200
Krell HTS
Krell 250/a & 250/3a
Arcam fmj cd23
Snell Xa-60 Mains
Vienna Hayden Rears
NHT ac-2 center
Velodyne FSR 18

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba sd9000, JVC