New Toshiba SD-5970 w/HDMI output under $200

[krazykarl]

Has anyone checked out the new Toshiba SD-5970 w/ HDMI output? I bought it at B.B. for $178 after tax.

It comes with a 6' HDMI cable ... i.e. no need to buy a cable and if you have a HDMI input on your tv, no need to buy a DVI-HDMI adapter. That right there saves you close to half the cost of the DVD player.

I've already watched "Finding Nemo" (1.78:1) with it on my HIT 57F510 and the picture is the best I've ever seen besides true High Def.

I previously tried the Samsung HD841 and I found the DVD-HDMI adapter I had to buy way too bulky. Also samsung had a weird way of setting up the DVI connection. It's not very intuitive. For the SD-5970, all I had to do is flick the switch on the front panel from "analog" to HDMI. Simple as that.

[derekp]

Nice. I started a thread about the LG DVB418, but this one is of interest to me too. Two questions:

1) DCDi?
2) Do the digital audio outputs work when it is switched to HDMI? (my a/v reciver doesn't have HDMI in)

[krazykarl]

I'm not sure about DCDi ... don't think it has it.

It has an Optical and Coaxial output, I hooked the optical out into my AV and the sound didn't miss a beat. I already watched several DVDs that have DTS, DD EX, and DD. The only way you can take advantage of the audio part of HDMI is if you have a AV with HDMI input (Onkyo has one that's in the $1000s).

But like i mentioned in my previous post. With this DVD player you don't have to spend money on a HDMI cable (don't waste your money of upgrading the cable ... Digital is Digital) or a DVI-HDMI apapter/cable. That right there saves you near the cost of the player in itself. This is obviously taking into account that your tv has a HDMI input.

[TexasAg]

I picked one up today at Best Buy after my Panasonic player crapped out on me last night. In short, I took it back and picked up a Pioneer 578A on closeout for $99.

Basically, I liked the HDMI, but I couldn't see any improvement in PQ. I even switched back and forth between 480 and 1080 and the differences were virtually nonexistent. I think this is in part due to the fact that it doesn't have DCDi. Whatever upconversion it's doing doesn't seem to be any better than the upconversion my Toshiba 46H84 is doing. Add the horrible remote and menu system; the black and white crush (I read this - didn't test it for myself); and the fact that you lose aspect control when upconverting (ie 4:3 content runs in "full" mode automatically which causes everybody to look streched sideways), and it was a no-brainer to return it.

The panasonic has great PQ (seems as good as the toshiba at 1080), and a vastly better remote and menu system. I figure that it will hold me over until I pick up a player for one of the next gen formats (bluray or HD-DVD).

[msebae]

I just picked up my SD-5970 at BB yesterday, along with a Monster HDMI cable ($150) to try out.

1) See no difference between included and Monster HDMI cable. Yup, digital signal is digital signal

2) Upconversion drastically improves PQ from 420 to 720 to 1080, depending on the DVD you look at. Check out Finding Nemo, just the menu screen with the waving anemone arms to see what I mean. Signal upconversion at the source is better than at the HDTV, and there is no digital->analog->digital lossiness.

3) Yes, the player supports HDMI + optical out. This came as a huge lifesaver as I was quite dismayed to discover that my Pioneer PDP-5040HD does not allow HDMI input + optical output!!! So now I need separate optical from DVD to a/v receiver, which really defeats the purpose of HDMI, where I can have both Terrestrial HD and Upconvert-HD go from Pioneer media box to reviever in one output... oh well, another thread for this gripe!

4) Remote control and menu UI for the SD-5970 are horrible! Remote very non-responsive, have to push button twice to get anything working. And menu is very (too) simple and amature like, not very intuitive. Two big minuses!

[TexasAg]

There's one other thing that I forgot to mention. I've been wondering if upconversion makes a bigger difference on a fixed-pixel display as opposed to a CRT like I've got?

[Ratman]

Fixed pixel displays usually derive more benefit.

[p§ychod]

I bought the Toshiba a few weeks back at Best Buy also. I had the Samsung 841, and took it back. The Toshiba was a much better fit for me, as I don't have to pay for the high cost HDMI cable. The player seems to play all my DVD's well, and they look crisp on my Sony 34" HDTV. I agree with everyone else, the remote is horrible. I never had such a bad remote. I even programmed my Comcast remote just so I didn't have to use the crap Toshiba remote. HDMI setup was easy, and the cable is not a 90ft. snake, obviously a plus. I waited forever for the Samsung 941, but I needed a new DVD player for Star Wars, and I had $100+ in reward zone bonus. To put it simple, the player is good, the remote is piss poor.

[Nina3004]

Bought samsung 841 at best buy. I am not sure what happened but the component DVD output/DVI output were not working. Tried on several different TV without success. Never had the problem with samsung HD 931 before. S-vhs input seemed to work fine.
Finally got Toshiba with HDMI input. DVD looks OK although the remote control sucks.

[gtogre]

Bought from BB also, but will return it. Agree w/ TexasAg regarding certain DVDs looking 'stretched' in 'full' mode (zooming didn't help), which is my biggest gripe with the Toshiba 5970. I'm not sure if this was the only difference, but seemed like this was only a problem with 2.35:1 formatted DVDs in 720p and 1080i setting (Finding Nemo & other 1.85:1 DVDs looked good). Keeping Sony NS975V ($239 open box from GG; $22 6' HDMI from ebay) instead, mainly because image doesn't appear stretched in full mode. And, yes, the crappy remote on the Toshiba was almost a deal-breaker too.

[57U]

The issue with the digital connection DVD players is that they cannot handle non-anamorphic DVDs properly. They will look stetched.

The only way around this issue may be to use a different connection, or send a 480i/p signal to the TV so that the image can be "stretched vertically AND horizontally" instead of stretched horizontally only, as is what happens with HD inputs.

[rdaufan]

I just purchased this unit and connected to my Samsung 46" DLP. I have my DD/DTS audio receiver connected to the player via Digital Coaxial cable. The manual of this player says that the audio setting must be set to "PCM" when using the HDMI connection. The problem I have having is that when it is set to "PCM" my audio receiver decodes the signal as Dolby Surround and not 5.1 DD. The only other audio option on the 5970 is "RAW". When I set audio to this option my receiver decodes the signal properly, however the TV has no sound. To my surprise, when playing a DVD in DTS mode, my receiver decodes the DTS with the audio option on the player set to PCM. In any case, if I want to alternate between listening to a DVD on the television and in 5.1 DD, I have to constantly switch the audio setting on the player. I've not had any other DVD player (3 others) that have this issue. I called Toshiba and their only answer (not surprisingly) was that I needed to reference my receiver's manual. I'm assuming that PCM must send only a 2 channel signal, thereby my receiver decodes it and plays in Dolby Surround? Any help would be appreciated.

[DVdude]

The manual of this player says that the audio setting must be set to "PCM" when using the HDMI connection. The problem I have having is that when it is set to "PCM" my audio receiver decodes the signal as Dolby Surround and not 5.1 DD. The only other audio option on the 5970 is "RAW". When I set audio to this option my receiver decodes the signal properly, however the TV has no sound. I'm assuming that PCM must send only a 2 channel signal, thereby my receiver decodes it and plays in Dolby Surround? Any help would be appreciated.

Hi, I think this is an issue with some DVD players. I have a different DVD Player that has a similar issue. I can either set the digital audio output to SPDIF/PCM or SPDIF/RAW. If I set it to PCM, it outputs to the TV speakers and to 2 channels on my Dolby Receiver. If I set it to RAW, it outputs 5.1 Surround Sound to the Dolby Receiver, but doesn't output to the TV speakers.

The way I understand it works is as follows:
S/PDIF means Sony/Philips Digital Interface.

SPDIF/PCM out only sends undecoded PCM (2 channel digital stereo) data and not audio. It's the Receiver that decodes the data and sends it to your analog speakers.

SPDIF/RAW outputs 5.1-channel digital signals from the optical or coaxial digital audio jacks. Use this setting when the player is connected to an external amplifier with a Dolby Digital decoder.

Like you said, it's a hassle to switch between the two, so I usually stick with RAW so I can get the full Surround Sound effect on discs that support it.

[TexasAg]

If you have a reciever and speakers, why is it that you need audio to come out of the TV?

[rdaufan]

If you have a reciever and speakers, why is it that you need audio to come out of the TV?

My wife actually prefers just listening through the TV (go figure) and sometimes at night after the kids have gone to bed, we'll listen via TV.

If I understand correctly, PCM sends a 2 channel signal and therefore my AV receiver decodes it into Dolby Surround (vs. 5.1). Thanks for the info.

[wkrasl]

...

4) ... Remote very non-responsive, have to push button twice to get anything working. ...

...

I had an interesting conversation with a HT expert who said plasma TVs broadcast major IR. Signals from remotes can get washed out in IR glare. The same can happen in a room with direct sunshine. Food for thought...