Toshiba SD-3109 DVD Player

by Toshiba

Product Details

Product Manual [8.04mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 12 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00000JHWX
• Item model number: SD-3109
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,275 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The Toshiba SD-3109 combines extraordinary audio options with state-of-the-art digital video playback to give you an experience equal to--or better than--the cinema.

The Toshiba SD-3109 was easy to set up--it automatically detected our type of audio output (two-channel) and video format (4:3). Its rear video and audio connections were clearly labeled. The manual is easy to follow; lots of graphics make it simple to figure out how to connect in any possible configuration. Also, the front-panel button layout is simple, leaving more complicated functions to the full-featured, glow-in-the-dark remote.

The Toshiba SD-3109's most unique feature is its dual-disc loader, which lets you put in two DVDs for a double feature (or two audio CDs for a longer listening experience). The Toshiba SD-3109 let us program tracks and chapters from both discs, although it wouldn't allow us to randomize playback across discs. We were pleased, however, to be able to load one disc while the other one was playing.

The Toshiba SD-3109 offers traditional DVD features such as camera-angle selection, subtitling, and language preference, but it also has a good selection of more-advanced features. The Toshiba SD-3109 lets you zoom in (up to 3x on our test disc) and features reverse- and forward-play speeds of from 1/8x to 30x normal. The Toshiba SD-3109 also does a great job of finding specific sections on a disc--it even lets you locate scenes by their time into the disc.

The SD-3109's audio options impressed us; not only does this DVD player offer high-resolution digital-to-analog converters and a wide variety of audio-out selections (including linear PCM as well as DTS and Dolby Digital surround options), but it also lets you adjust the outputs to the center/surround speakers to mimic an ideally spaced home-theater system. Users with stereo-only playback will appreciate the Spatializer 3D sound-enhancement feature, which creates expansive surround-like audio using just two speakers.

In addition to playing audio CDs and digital video CDs, the Toshiba SD-3109's circuitry also lets you play High Definition Compatible Digital-encoded CDs, which increase the audio resolution from 16 to 20 bits for improved sound staging and greater dynamic range--improvements that carry over in a more limited way to the playback of standard CDs.

Pros:

• Handy two-disc loader
• Extensive audio options
• Wide range of fast-forward and reverse-play options
• Easy-to-use remote
• Component video outputs

Cons:

• Can't randomize audio tracks across both loaded discs
• No headphone jack

Product Description

Toshiba DVD features Dual Disc Twin Trays. Plays DVD, Audio CD, and Video CD formats. Included Dolby Digital Surround Sound Processor. 4X picture zoom. Remote Control.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply AWESOME!, January 30, 2000

By 

Bernng (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toshiba SD-3109 DVD Player (Electronics)

I bought this player 4 months ago when it was first released from Japan while on a trip to Asia. I did extensive researches prior to buying this player and I bought it for its value for money, performance, picture/sound quality and ease of use.

Now, I'm not a serious audiophille or do I intend to spend huge amount of dollars to get those top of the range DVD player (ie. Onkyo, Yamaha, etc). I want something practical, which I believe most of you do as well. And guess what? Surprise, surprise -- I've got so much more than what I bargained for.

The picture is superb, sharp and crisp on my 30 inch Loewe TV. Colour is bright and does not "bleed". Sound is excellent when connected to my Yamaha 795a and no audio-sync problems. In addition, the zoom function, built-in DD5.1, DTS(sounds better than DD!) and HDCD(remarkable audio quality) encoders, component-colourstream and S-video output, dual disc trays and virtual N2-2 surround sound for those with a 2 speaker setup system made this unit complete with features. Mine has got two additional mic inputs for Karaoke and it's gold in colour but are of the same parts and build. It's easy to setup and use as well. Having said this, find me a DVD player that is close in comparison in regards to price, performance and function.

About compability issues -- ZIPPO! Now, do bear in mind that my DVD is Region 5, and although it has been multi-zoned, it played Saving Private Ryan (DTS -- Region 1), Haunting, US Marshalls, Deep Blue Sea (all DD -- Reg 1),Matrix, Mummy, Fifth Element, Tomorrow Never Dies(DD -- Reg 4), T2, True Lies (DD -- Reg 5) flawlessly without any lock-ups, freezes, pauses (except for changing layers for dual-layered discs) or audio-sync problems.

I guess it is unfortunate that some reviewers have problems with this player. Maybe you should examine your connections properly and call up Toshiba for assistance before jumping the gun about this unit? I have 2 other relatives who bought this unit from here (Reg 4) upon my recommedation and they too did not have any problems with it.

Maybe I do agree with some reviewers that the remote is chunky but it serves its purpose very well. Besides, who buys a unit (VCR, amp, tv for that matter) for it's remote anyway? Get a Universal remote and that should solve the problem.

In conclusion, I would say this is an awesome purchase. It's definitely worth every dollar spent on it. Have a read in those DVD magazines and you'll find the SD-3109 unit get very good ratings and reviews from professional audiophilles. I would suggest you visit your local electrical outlet to see it for yourself. Get it, you won't regret it!

Hope my contribution helps.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice but a few improvements would have earned 5 stars, December 28, 1999

By 

Donald R. Brown "Electrical Engineer" (Lunenburg, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Toshiba SD-3109 DVD Player (Electronics)

I purchased the Toshiba 3109 DVD player about one month ago and it was easy to install and everything works fine. The 3109 only comes with the basic 2 channel audio and video RCA style cables so you will probably have to run to the store and get S-video or composite video cables as well as a digital audio cable for a proper installation. These cables are not cheap and will cost at least $15 each for cheap off-brand stuff.

The Matrix played without any problems. Saving Private Ryan played fine except for about a one second pause near the end of the movie. Everything else I have put in it has played ok so far.

The forward and reverse scan modes on this player are not as smooth as even the low cost Sony players. My father-in-law received a very low price ($US) Sony DVD player for xmas and I was impressed with the much smoother scanning of the Sony. The Toshiba 3109 scanning is much more jerky. The Sony also included a S-video cable which was a nice touch.

The Sony remote was also better and allowed you perform basic TV operations such as volume and channel changing (although the video input selection required the original TV remote). The Toshiba remote only operates the DVD player. I don't even use it anymore since I have a Sony receiver and I can control the DVD player with it.

My last gripe is the 2 disc capability of the unit. There is only one disc door and behind that door is some sort of disc swapping mechanism that operates pretty slowly. I think this extra mechanical complexity will only lower the long-term reliability of the unit and that Toshiba should have put 2 disc doors with dedicated trays on this unit.

The zoom feature is nice (this is about the only reason I have to dig out the Toshiba remote) and the setup menus are decent - better than the Sony in my opinion. Overall the Toshiba is a decent unit but if you don't need the on-board 5.1 decoding I would consider saving $ and buying a low end Sony.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing DVD/VCD/CD Player For The Price, January 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Toshiba SD-3109 DVD Player (Electronics)

I've searched high and low, every site on the net that I couldfind, trying to get the most bang for the buck, with all of thefeatures that I wanted of course. All of my research led to this beautiful piece of electronics, the Toshiba SD-3109. This player has great picture quality w/ the 3 optional hook-ups (component being the best), and perfect dolby digital sound, with decoder built in (optical out being the best way to take advantage of it). The hardware has been absolutely flawless, after 2 months of use so far. It is very easy to use and control too! It plays VCD's and CD's wonderfully, and is the only DVD player under $2000, at the time of this review, to play HDCD's. Now ask yourself, what more could you ask for in a DVD payer.