Toshiba SD6109C DVD Player/50-Watt Receiver Combo
50Wattx5, Dolby Dig
With its built-in DVD player and 5.1-channel digital processor, Toshiba's wonderful SD-6109C receiver can best be summarized as "instant home theater." The handsome front panel contains the usual assortment of tuner, processor, and preamplifier functions, plus such thoughtful extras as bass and treble controls; a Late Night mode, which emphasizes the softest sounds at low listening volumes; and a dimmer for the comprehensive fluorescent display. Because the SD-6109C can spin both DVDs and CDs, you won't need to purchase additional source components. Even so, Toshiba has thoughtfully outfitted this workhorse with two digital audio inputs and four pairs of analog stereo connections that enable it to serve as the heart of a truly elaborate system. Once you've connected your speakers and TV, you perform an extremely simple setup procedure using either the remote handset or front-panel controls. From the start, it's clear that this Toshiba component is no ordinary entry-level product. Unlike bright trebles and lightweight bass that characterize most inexpensive receivers, the SD-6109C sounds smooth and pleasant at the highest frequencies, deep and authoritative at the lowest. In our tests, CDs were reproduced with a level of musical detail and dynamic ease that's unusual in a budget product--this could be due to the machine's advanced 24-bit/96-kHz digital-to-analog converters or its capable amplifiers. Testing with movies yielded a similar result. Big-ticket action films possessed the thunderous dynamics and vast sound space of a local cineplex. What's more, subtle surround effects and complex dialogue were clearly articulated. If you expect a home theater system to place you sonically in the center of the action, the SD-6109C will not disappoint. Toshiba's use of cutting-edge 10-bit, 27 MHz video processing no doubt contributes to the DVD player's ability to produce crisp, sharply defined images. Although colors--particularly reds--seem a bit saturated, a quick fine-tuning of the television's picture adjustment controls produces the filmlike image quality we've come to expect from the latest generation of DVD players. The three-conductor component-video output is a welcome addition, enabling the SD-6109C to flatter high-end televisions equipped with comparable inputs. If the SD-6109C exhibits any shortcomings, they are only evident when you compare this combination receiver with vastly more expensive separate components. The spring-clip speaker terminals won't work with most audiophile speaker cables, and the remote handset (which will also operate many Toshiba televisions) is confusing; it includes too many same-sized keys to easily master. Although the 50-watts-per-channel amplifier works with most speakers, it won't drive some difficult audiophile models. Mated with a pint-sized set of satellite speakers and a decent subwoofer, however, the SD-6109C's amplifiers are more than adequate to fill an average-sized living room with plenty of sound. Toshiba's engineers have combined a quintet of capable amplifiers with a high-quality DVD-video player in a single, compact chassis with a black aluminum faceplate that looks decidedly upscale. The result is a component whose big-system performance belies its modest size and cost. We hope it's the first of many such products from Toshiba. --Anthony Chiarella Pros:
- All-in-one component is space efficient and cost-effective
- Very good sound from both stereo and multichannel sources
- Impressive array of features and controls
- User-friendly hookup and operation
Cons:
- Limited amplifier power mandates careful speaker selection
- All-in-one approach makes upgrading difficult
- Nonbacklit remote with small keys is difficult to master
The Toshiba SD6109C Combination DVD Receiver/Player includes an integrated multichannel Dolby Digital and DTS-compatible receiver. Just set it up on the shelf, connect your speakers and your TV, and you're done--instant home theater. And with five channels rated at 50 watts each, it delivers plenty of power for most surround sound speaker systems. The SD6109C offers gold-plated analog audio, ColorStream component video and composite video output connectors, as well as S-video, coaxial digital-audio, subwoofer, and center-channel line-level outputs for high-quality audio and video. It features a 10-bit digital-to-analog video converter combined with 27 MHz advanced digital filters, yielding a conversion rate that's four times more accurate than conventional 8-bit, 13.5 MHz systems, resulting in an artifact-free image. Toshiba's SD6109C also features Spatializer 3-D stereo, which allows two-channel stereo systems to create the illusion of surround sound. The addition of Spatializer 3-D stereo gives users the added flexibility of enjoying an expanded surround sound effect from Dolby Pro Logic or stereo-only systems. Convenience features include 4x zoom, an onscreen icon-based display, and a video bit-rate meter. The Toshiba SD6109C comes with a DVD/receiver combination remote control.
Toshiba SD6109C DVD Player/50-Watt Receiver Combo Accessories
Toshiba SD6109C DVD Player/50-Watt Receiver Combo Reviews
It has far exceeded my expectations. Sounds great on DVD or Audio CDs. The 'party' decode is unusual, allowing stereo CDs to sound 5.1-ish.I did spend good money on speakers, especially a quality sub. As another reviewer wrote here, this is my favorite toy.
I have owned a Toshiba 6109 for about 1 year and I am very happy with the unit. The dvd player is excellent. 50 watts per channel is sufficient with the efficient speakers I have attached to the dvd/amplifier.
I've had mine for almost a year now and love it. If you don't have a DVD or 5.1 receiver yet this is a great way to get both for a reasonable price and reduce the wiring clutter of separate units. Only gripes I have are that I could have used one more audio input for the CD changer, and the remote is one big checkerboard of small buttons. You can also find more features on newer DVD player components. But all in all, this is a great deal for keeping the budget down and having one less component to fit in the entertainment unit.Go for this and Bose Acoustimass 6 speakers and you've got fantastic theater sound for a pretty reasonable investment.
This unit is incredible. Every feature one could want in a DVDplayer and/or Digital Receiver. I love it! Easy hook-up, simple tooperate, and loaded with features. The picture is sharp and the sound is impressive (be sure to select a set of good quality speakers). This is literally an all-in-one home theater, just plug in the speakers, hook it to your TV, and you are ready for a real pleasant home viewing experience. My only complaint would be the remote control. Its fully functional, but all the buttons are the same size, it's sometimes hard to distinquish which button does what. Overall, a great electronics item and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an entry-level player/receiver.
I'm the first to admit I'm not the most "techno-savvy" person in the world. The thought of connecting a bunch of home-theater components gives me nightmares. I do software, not hardware! So it was with some trepidation that I ordered this unit. I purposely bought the combination DVD player/receiver so I'd have fewer components to worry about.I needn't have worried at all: Toshiba has put together a fabulous package -- operation is very straightforward; set-up is a breeze; and connecting it to my "new-ish" stereo TV, satellite system, and "old-ish" (but still wonderful) AR2ax speakers took less than 10 minutes. I tested the system with my favorite "crank up the volume" disks (the movie "Twister" and the Robert Shaw audio recording of William Walton's "Belshazzar's Feast"). In both cases, the sound was brilliant, with more than enough power to rattle the windows. At the lowest volumes, the sound was still full and rich. The picture quality was excellent as well -- typical for DVD, to be sure. While I don't have a surround-sound system (yet) for this unit, it does a fine job of simulating surround sound with its "Spatializer 3-D" stereo technology. I have it in a room about 18' by 20', with the aforementioned AR2ax speakers, and it delivers amazing results. The system I have in my family room cost several times more than this unit, includes a complete surround sound system, and to be perfectly honest, the sound there isn't really that much better than my new Toshiba combo. I've found only a couple of "negatives" with the unit: 1) you have to first program the presets via the buttons on the front of the unit before you can use the remote to tune the AM/FM. I would have prefered the ability to tune directly via the remote. It's a small thing, one that I can overlook in favor of the overall quality of the package. 2) as others have mentioned, the remote can be a little confusing as the buttons are small, most of them are the same size, and there's no backlighting. However, once you get used to it, it's not difficult to use it without looking. All in all, I consider this an excellent investment. I'm even looking forward to connecting my turntable to it (it has additional audio inputs for this), so I can hear once again some of my prized vinyl albums.
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