Toshiba SD-4960 Universal Disc DVD Player with CD/DVD-Audio/SACD/MP3 Playback

by Toshiba

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 17 x 3.2 inches ; 8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001XLS4S
• Item model number: SD-4960
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,640 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 10, 2004

Product Description

The TOSHIBA SD4960 DVD Player redefines the potential and possibilities of the DVD format, while bringing this exciting new package to a price level almost everybody can afford. Superior image quality is paramount in Toshiba's strategy for this player. To that end, the SD4960 is fitted with Super ColorStream Pro Progressive Scan Component Video (Digital 3:2 Pulldown) outputs, for utmost image purity, lifelike colors, and crisp color resolution. Further enhancing picture quality is Video Black Level Expansion circuitry, 10-bit/54MHz Video DAC for a pure, artifact-free, filmlike video image with an incredible 540 horizontal lines of resolution. This model also won the Popular Mechanics award at the Consumer Electronics Show 2004. Forward & Reverse Scan (2X, 8X, 30X, 100X) S-Video & composite outputs Coaxial digital output for connnection to optional surround processors Slim, stylistic design Dimensions - 3-1/4H x 17W x 12-15/16D

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Versatile but not perfect unit., October 20, 2004

By 

DougMac "Doug" (Macon, GA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Toshiba SD-4960 Universal Disc DVD Player with CD/DVD-Audio/SACD/MP3 Playback (Electronics)

In his review, Peter gave the Toshiba low marks for picture quality in component mode. At first, I was also disappointed, but I think that perhaps Peter didn't have the unit set up correctly. My old Panasonic DVD player would output component and S-video simultaneously, but this unit won't. If it's set to S-video, there is a component signal, but it's terrible. You have to go in the setup menu and select component out, either interlaced or progressive. Once you choose, you'll get a good component signal but no S-video. I was still not happy with the quality of the image, so I experimented. The black level was set to "on". I set it to "off" and finally got a great picture, better than the Panasonic it replaced.

I still have a couple of quibbles, though. I tested a DVD-audio (Hotel California). Interestingly, the menu choices are different when played in this unit. In the Panasonic, my choices were for DTS or Dolby digital surround. In the Toshiba, it's "surrond sound" or "stereo sound". The Panasonic was hooked up to my receiver by optical digital cable. It would play either format fine. The Toshiba should play both, but I don't know which it is choosing. I selected DTS on the menu, so I guess that's what it is. The signal will not play through the optical output, I have to use the 7.1 analog out. The sound quality is fine, but different from my receiver's DAC's (tested playing stereo CD). I'm waiting for some SACD's, so I'll reserve total judgement.

I also bought the unit to play back video CD's recorded in SVCD format. The Panasonic only played VCD. I use ProShow Gold and a disk that plays fine in other players has audio dropouts when played on the Toshiba. I've got some more experimenting to do to get around this problem. I hope it's not a back breaker.

In Summary:

Pros - Very versatile (DVD,SACD, DVD-Audio, Photo CD, JPEG, etc.

- Slim design

- Excellent picture quality

- Great price, nothing comes close for a SACD/DVD-Audio combo.

Cons - Either/or S-video/component output, not both at the same time

- Poorly written manual

- Confusing remote and menus

- Skipping audio on Photo CD (not fully analyzed).

I'd buy it again.

Doug

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SD-4960, August 30, 2004

By 

G. Luebbe "Listener" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Toshiba SD-4960 Universal Disc DVD Player with CD/DVD-Audio/SACD/MP3 Playback (Electronics)

The Toshiba SD-4960 is a slim design but delivers big on sound.
I threw everything at it I could ... CD-R's, CD-RW's, MP3's, DVD-Audio and SACD's. All performed without a hitch and with great sound.
I had a Toshiba SD-4800 previous to this but it wouldn't play SACD's so I thought I'd make the upgrade.
I prefer DVD-Audio because it gives the visuals of lyrics, photo gallery, etc.. but I am happy with the SACD's I've purchased and have listened to. (sound wise that is).
It is missing the PRO-Logic feature offered on the SD-4800 for playing regular CD's on the system in Dolby PRO-Logic and I miss that feature.
The remote is a little tough to get to know without reading the book thoroughly.
You can't just rely on common sense as you can with most.
Figured it out after the book and seems to be stable but not that intuitive.
The "Bass Management" is nothing more than adjusting your speaker sizes in the audio portion of the menu. They had that on the SD-4800 and never advertised it so I guess it's just a gimmick of sorts.
Overall this unit gets four out of five stars for me.
With the reasonable price and an on board Dolby Digital Decoder it helped me out a lot. (My receiver isn't a Dolby Digital but has the 5:1 analog connectors for surround sound).
Buy it, you'll like it.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good DVD player with DVD Audio and SACD capability, December 27, 2004

By 

D. R. Schryer (Poquoson, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Toshiba SD-4960 Universal Disc DVD Player with CD/DVD-Audio/SACD/MP3 Playback (Electronics)

Toshiba makes outstanding DVD players and this model is no exception. As is the case with most good DVD players these days, this Toshiba has progressive scan which gives enhanced picture quality when playing DVDs with a high-definition TV. You may not have HD TV yet but you probably will have one within a year or two, at which time you'll want a top notch DVD player with progressive scan capability, such as this Toshiba.

For people who like great sound as well as great pictures, something very important sets this model apart from other good progressive scan DVD players: it plays both the new DVD Audio CDs and the even better sounding Super Audio CDs. Most modern DVD players play regular CDs as well as DVDs, but very few have the capability to also play both DVD Audio and Super Audio CDs which are the highest fidelity audio media currently available. And SACD circuitry can actually improves the sound of regular CDs as well. So if you want both the best picture and the best sound, a progressive scan player with DVD-A and SACD capability is the one to get. This Toshiba has both of these features at a very reasonable price.