- Upconverts DVD signals to either high-definition 720p or 1080i
- HDMI direct digital AV output and progressive-scan ColorStream component-video outputs for ultimate DVD and JPEG image quality
- MP3/WMA CD playback; 9-in-2 card reader supports nearly every known type of flash media
- Offers 3:2 pulldown, black-level expansion, power picture zoom
- Optical and coaxial digital-audio outputs pass Dolby Digital and DTS surround (to compatible AV receiver and speakers)
Toshiba’s SD-5980 incorporates HDMI output with video upconversion to 720p/1080i and a HD JPEG viewer. The combination of the HDMI output and specialized MPEG Decoder/Scaler chipset, provides consumers with a solution that maximizes viewing of high resolution digital images, realizing up to six times greater resolution than component video on a 1080i display. In addition, the model also features a Memory Card slot that supports nine different formats (Secure Digital, Mini SD, Memory Stick, MS Pro, MS Duo, MS Duo Pro, Compact Flash, XD Picture Card, and Multimedia Memory Card) and a universal remote control with TV Controls. A treasure trove for videophiles and techno-mavens, Toshiba’s feature-loaded and amazingly affordable SD-5980 single-disc DVD player upconverts standard DVD-Video content to full high-definition resolution–either progressive-scan 720p or interlaced 1080i. Further, the sleek, silvery player offers a cutting-edge High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) to foster a direct digital hookup between the SD-5980 and a compatible HDTV or HD-ready TV/monitor. The player spins DVD-Video movies, of course, and also handles recordable CDs loaded with MP3 or WMA music files and discs filled with JPEG digital photos, letting you make the most of your digital media.
The unit’s 9-in-2 flash-media card slot supports Secure Digital, Mini Secure Digital, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Duo Pro, XD Picture Card, Compact Flash, and Multimedia Card. By taking advantage of these different media formats, the player lets you enjoy JPEG images and music files in both the MP3 and WMA and formats.
Even better: Thanks to the SD-5980′s specialized chipset (MPEG decoder and scaler) and its HDMI interface, you’ll see megapixel JPEG images with enhanced resolution.
The SD-5980 is outfitted with 10-bit/54 MHz video DACs (digital-to-analog converters) and ColorStream Pro progressive-scan component-video outputs for seamless, flicker-free images when viewed through high-definition and HD-ready TVs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p/720p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using a minimum of twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. For compatibility with traditional SD (standard-definition) televisions, the SD-5980 sports composite- and S-video outputs.
HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface supporting standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multi-channel digital audio–all using a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports up to 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.
The SD-5980 also performs 3:2 pulldown reversal. DVD mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion. The “expanded” mode in the player’s black-level setting produces richer, deeper black tones in every image. PLUGE (Picture Line Up Generation Equipment) delivers black as well as below-black signals to a television.
Digital picture zoom is an interactive DVD feature that lets you select and magnify an area of a picture you want to zoom in on. Enhanced digital processing during moving video or freeze-frame playback produces high color fidelity and resolution, even when you’re zoomed in. You can also use this feature to expand letterbox-only films to full-screen (4:3 aspect ratio) dimension.
For audio, choose from 2-channel analog audio outs (which benefit from 24-bit/192 kHz digital-to-analog audio converters) or either of 2 forms of digital-audio output, optical or coaxial, for transmitting discrete, multichannel surround signals–either Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1–to a compatible audio/video receiver and speaker system. (Both Dolby and DTS signals can be transmitted via HDMI as well.)
Listening in surround sound puts you right in the middle of the action, whether you’re playing an action movie, a concert video, or a period drama. Not set up for surround yet? A special 3-D Surround circuit simulates surround sound from any 2 speakers.
What’s in the Box
DVD player, remote control, remote batteries, a user’s manual, a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, a 2-meter HDMI cable, and warranty information.
Buy “Toshiba SD-5980 Progressive Scan DVD Player with HDMI Output” For Only
March 5, 2010
#1
This machine had great potential-if only it wouldn’t shut itself off after playing for 5 minutes. Maybe I just got a lemon but buyer beware.
March 5, 2010
#2
This DVD Player will not play +R DVD’s. The menu displaying DivX files on DivX DVD’x is horrible. The menu did not display well, the file names were shortened and the filing system was not how I had made the files when I made the DVD. Don’t be fooled by the HDMI connection either, it makes absolutely no difference in picture quality. Toshiba should be ashamed to put their name on such an un-user-friendly product
March 5, 2010
#3
This unit is great in environments where noise is not a concern. Picture quality is great using component or HDMI connection. The issue I have is with noise. The whirring sound coming from the unit during playback is a little annoying during quieter movie passages and CD’s.
March 5, 2010
#4
I bought this DVD player about a year ago. It worked ok until about a month ago when it started stuttering. I kept hitting the play button over and over again until it got over that trouble spot. It was not the DVD because I played it in my portable and the “rough” spot played just fine. I got this player because I heard great things about the name brand. I agree with the other reviewer that it looks cheep looking. For a player that cost me 150.00 dollars I really thought I was getting my moneys worth. Today it finally just quit playing.When I discovered it was sputtering, I cleaned the lens with a disk cleaner. That did not seem to help. I have a digital TV and that is the reason that I bought this player to begin with. Now I am stuck with buying another one. Very disappointing.
March 5, 2010
#5
Followup 11/07 ————–
Still going strong, but seems to have developed an annoying habit of going to sleep. In the middle of playing, suddenly playback stops and the blue Toshiba screen saver screen comes up. Hit play and we’re off and running again. Never happens more than once per DVD and not on every or the same DVD.
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I got this because it had a great price/feature tradeoff. I needed an HDMI-type player for a Samsung DLP TV. It works well for this, but does have it’s quirks. The most annoying is the occasional glich when changing chapters in the DVD program – a momentary freeze frame, then it moves on.
Playing still images from a card (SD in this case) is kind of a joke, especially when the files are larger (7 MP camera) – it seems the machine needs a faster processor and a better algorithm for reducing to the display size. Anyway, I didn’t buy it for that – but thought I would try it for fun.
As a DVD player it’s decent, especially if you need HDMI and have a TV capable of 720p or 1080i resolutions. Like another reviewer, I found that it took awhile to get it dialed in to both the TV and AV receiver but once set, it’s a capable player.
This is the 4th Toshiba player I’ve had and the only problem I’ve had is the first one (new in 1999) died after a LOT of use after nearly 5 years. I’m sure my next player will be a Toshiba.
Followup: Sorry Toshiba – going to Blu-Ray I have become a Panasonic fan!