Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Nothing but problems. Frequently will not recognize audio CDs, if it plays it won't play all the way through, refuses to rotate platter so disk can be removed. Had service center replace motherboard once and that took 3-weeks.

Strengths:
6-disc platter

Weaknesses:
VERY unreliable.

Price Paid:  $599.00 from Londonaudio, London,

Summary:
Great picture, Great sound - Great product 2.5 years and not a single problem! Hooked up to Sony Wega TV (SVideo) Marantz SR4200 (digital coax & Svideo) Dahlquist QX5 fronts Dahlquist QX4 rear Energy e:xl8 Subwoofer PSB100 Center (Also sounded great with an HK AVR 10 with some Polk bookshelves)

Strengths:
Picture quality & sound quality are superb on DVD''s. CD sound is very clean and well defined. HDCD capability.

Weaknesses:
Remote buttons are too small. Noisy mechanisms. huge - as big as most Receiver/Amplifiers ''plasticky''looking

Similar Products Used:
Sony 5-disc Panasonic single disc

Price Paid:  $129.00 from Egghead.com (refurbished)

Summary:
This player worked perfectly out of the box until I tried to set my VCR ontop of it. Mistake. I started getting disk read errors on the system. I took the unit apart and noticed a crack on the circuit board cutting across a couple of solder runs. I took in in under warrenty and (not telling them I cracked it open), they located the break in the board and fixed it all up in less then 2 weeks. Absolutely perfect ever since. I REFUSE to place anything on top of the unit for fear of breakage but other then that, this player has been a dream.
The 5.1 output is really nice plus although I rarely use that output opting for the optical instead. No noticeable difference when using it with the 5.1/analog output then when I use the optical/digital output utilizing my receivers decoder.
The remote is rather clunky but functionally well designed as long as the lights are on while using it otherwise you WILL press a wrong button.
I tested out the HDCD function on the Shout at the Devil re-release from Motley Crue(neighbors loved me for this)and the diff was quite enjoyable.
1 year and this player is still going strong. I think I will add a 2nd player to my system that recognizes CDRW/MP3s just for audio enjoyment and let this be a pure DVD player.
I am giving this 5 stars for the price/functions and dropping off a star for the remote and cheap housing on the overall.

Strengths:
HDCD, 5.1 outputs, Zoom, multi-disk, menus, black level

Weaknesses:
remote, case, refurbished poorly

Similar Products Used:
cheapo low-end DVD player

Price Paid:  $300.00 from HI-FI 2000

Summary:
Well, after 2 years I'm throwing in the towel. Step aside Toshiba, Sony here I come

After two years of niggling little problems with several DVD's I've had enough.

I recently took the unit in for a firmware upgrade and now it's really gone AWOL. I can no longer play the DVD's I own without the thing locking up half way through and the movies from the rental store are starting to freeze as well.

This player is easily the biggest dissapointment of any of the components in my system.
First - no CD-R compatibility
Second - no random play between tracks on different discs
Third - the poorest reliability of any component I own
Fourth - Toshiba will not fix the problems they caused because the unit is out of warranty

On the positive side Great Picture + sound - when it plays

Bye Bye Toshiba - next stop - the Sony Store

It's a real shame because the Laser Disc player I had is still terrific - pity the design of this unit waa so poooooor !!!

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Won't play CD-R's, lots of trouble with DVD'd

Price Paid:  $399.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I've had this player for more than a year without a single problem.

Strengths:
Great sound and picture!

Weaknesses:
CD-R/VCD. All multi-disc players should show the title in the display. My 10 year old Sony CD player has this feature.