After spending a month with my 2109, I am pleased with its performance for the price paid ($260). I've experienced none of the problems that plagued its predecessor. The remote is difficult to use (small buttons), but I'm using a universal remote instead to control all of my HT equipment. Four stars for performance but five stars for value.

Got this one from Sears ($269 + 6 free DVDs + 15 free rentals + bunch of other coupons). For this price I got ColorStream component video outputs as well as Dolby Digital and DTS compatible digital surround sound outputs. The picture quality is excellent. Audio CD's sound great with my Klipsch surround speakers. Like the random and programmable features for CDs. Onscreen setup is nice and easy. Haven't used Zoom and Repeat features much.
Dislikes: Remote is small and very irritating.

Have owned the SD-2109 about a month - first DVD player. Video is great (I don't nitpick these downconversion things since this is an interim player until HDTV televisions, budget progressive scan players and DVD-audio players arrive).
Video quality is excellent, audio is equally impressive, and the menu speed and layer changes (hardly noticeable!) are great. Well worth the $279 I paid with all the free rentals and coupons you get. The "Zoom" feature is very handy for studying films. Best player for price available today in my opinion. Featyres almost everything except a nice remote (I've already gotten used to the SD-2109 remote though).



System:

Zenith PV-4661 46" Rear Projection Big Screen Television
Cerwin-Vega RE-30 Front Speaker (pair)
Cerwin-Vega RE-25 Rear Speaker (pair)
Cerwin-Vega HT-CTR Center Channel Speaker
Pioneer VSX-D608 Dolby Digital/DTS 500-watt A/V Receiver
Pioneer Elite CLD-59 high-definition LaserDisc/CD Player
Pioneer RFD-1 Dolby Digital AC-3/RF Demodulator
Toshiba SD-2109 DVD Player with Dolby Digital and DTS output
Sony CDP-C535 5-disc CD Changer with DSP
LG Electronics GVR-E455 4-head HiFi stereo VCR
LG Electronics GVR-F455 4-head HiFi stereo VCR
JVC TD-W503 dual-well cassette editing/mixing deck

Quality of the picture

light weight

After i have read a lot of good reviews in the newsgroups and magazines, decided to buy this DVD player. I was amazed by the quality of the Picture and the ease of use. I have checked several DVD multilayers and the layer switch is often seamless. I made some comparisions between this player and other more expensive ans surprisingly it won.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 7700 and Pioneer DV525

Good Picture

Can't play all DVD

Had this player for 2 weeks when I tried to play a dvd that came with a mulit language track(Armageddon). 10 minutes into the movie it began to skip around in the movie and flip to the french track for no reason. Had a friend check the DVD on his player and it worked fine. Searched the web just to find it's a problem with the Player and that other player have similar problems. I returned the player. When they get it right I'll get a new one.

DTS bitmap output, overall Bang for the Buck

no optical output, crappy remote, no SV cable included

I've got pretty big hands, so it's hard to use the remote for this.
That being said, I shopped around and nothing compared to this box as far as price/features. Matrix played great, using the RF cables supplied. Once I got better cables (inc.
SV connection to TV), it was quite impressive. Also tried
an older movie (Beatles' Help!), sound was impressive, both
with original cables and Monster cables.
Got it for $249, and feel I made out. Only the remote keeps it from getting 5/5.

Great picture - cheap price

This is my first dvd player but it is great. I especially like the black level enhancer for those of us who don't want to drop $2K on a tv. Also handy are the screensaver and automatic shut-off features. It seems to pass the sound perfectly to my digital receiver. This player does just what a good piece of electronic equipment should do: performs well on low end (becuase of the black enhancer) and high end (because it has component video outputs) peripherals without a bunch of useless bells and whistles and at an outstanding value.

Component Video, Zoom, Price

This is an excellent DVD Player for the money. I have mine connected to a Toshiba CX32H60 TV via the component video connections and the picture is unreal. I can not comment on the digital audio yet as that is my next upgrade to purchase a Home Theatre. The analog audio through the TV seams like it is weaker than both my satellite receiver or VCR, but I just have to turn it up a little higher, and I don't find myself adjusting the audio as much as I do with the sattelie and VCR which is a plus when watching movies. I don't have a problem with the remote. After you memorize where the buttons are it is good. The buttons could be a little bigger, but I like the small size of the remote. The picture looked great with the S-Video connection, but it looks even better with the component video. I will post later on the quality of the Dolby Digital and DTS when I get my home theater in a couple of months.

great dvd player for the price. i got mine for under 400 cdn.

doesn't play vcd, but no big deal to me. biggest problem, the remote is kinda lame. buttons are small and no back lighting for easy use in the dark.

watching movies has become a pleasure again. the picture quality is in a word superb. very good contrasts and very sharp. but the biggest improvement has got to be the sound. even though i don't have a full surround system it's still like being in a movie theatre. unbelievable, though i do need to upgrade for the full effect... but no complaints. the best i've ever seen and heard a movie coming from my living room.
the sd2109 doesn't have many bells and whistles, but it delivers where it counts... great picture/great sound.

Is this really an entry-level model?

Non-user-friendly remote

After making connecting this baby to my Toshiba TP50H60 big screen TV, I don't think I will ever want to watch any home movie on VHS again.

When I was doing early research on which player to buy, I couldn't help but hear nothing but rave reviews about the Toshiba models. When ValueAmerica ran a Visa promo and cut this player down to 179+Free S/H, I had to get it. I've recommended this model to all my coworkers, and everyone that's bought it thinks I'm a genius! Hahaha....

If you're looking for a DVD player on a budget that will simply play your DVDs, you will be glad you purchased this one.