Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Toshiba SD-3990 DVD Players by PeAK

Model:	SD-3990
Category:	DVD Players
Suggested Retail Price:	$50
Description:	DVD Player with DivX
Manufacturer URL:	Toshiba
Model Picture:	View

Review by PeAK ( A ) on December 01, 2006 at 06:51:38
IP Address: 208.65.245.118

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for the SD-3990

I've had this unit for three weeks. I was prepared to not like it (only available in silver finish) but found that it responds to careful feeding and burn-in.
Background :It was purchased for a friend who wanted to use it for both his video system and as a CD source. It continues to impress me each time I listen to unit as I let leave it (as I do all new electronics) powered continuously so that I can screen out the units with the least prospect of longevity beyond the 90 day warranty due to issues with infant mortality . This step is typically done at the factory but in today's era of the $30 DVD player...time is money and the record shows many units failing after a few months.
Sound : I'll cut to the chase:

Perhaps the best entry level unit Toshiba has made in terms of sonics. My keen eared audiophile friend with ATC SCM20 speakers could live with this unit.

Open sounding with a detailed bass and treble. Ability to play lound and not distort on demanding trumpet tracks (Flamenco Sketches in "Kind of Blue"). Very reminscent of the DI/O sound (after the mods). The entire audio path up until the output stage is completely balanced...think XLR in terms of benefit. The open stage has no coupling caps.

Not the most expansive soundstage(width and depth) if you are into this.

Ability to hear into the mix. I have the original "Trinity Session" (Cowboy Junkies) and a remastered version with a cleared up treble. The latter sounds more like they did in concert but I there is something to the the muddy warmth of the original.

There are more details at the SD-3990 Page , I cobbled up but you should be aware of some caveats about the unit:

Reliability seems to have improved in this year's model but YMMV. Manufacture date is July 2006.

Unit is design to the lowest common denominator so it begins to PLAY track 1 where loaded (load to play).

Classical tracks that insert music in the indexing track for continuous gap-less playback are not played back correctly and the unit will mute between tracks.

The unit is very sensitive to what you put underneath (and on top). Think of it as an unsuspended turntable with similar benefits if isolation is experimented with.

What to make of this. The Toshiba engineers have watching these forums and have used integration smartly (integrated DAC with differential outputs) to vastly simplify and clean up the output buffer stage of the predecessors for the best sounding Toshiba, yet.
Buy it to play back rented DVDs for your family room and for kicks try it in your "high-end" system...but be warned, you may not take it out.

Product Weakness:
-Reliability of unit. Action can be taken by user to alleviate.
-Sensitivity to vibration

Product Strengths: Open and detailed sound, stock. Low noise floor.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Art SLA-1
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	N/A
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Toshiba SD-3990, Swenson modded SD-3950
Speakers:	Axiom M22ti
Cables/Interconnects:	Ack! Industries
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	MC Carpenter, Norah Jones, Miles Davis
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 15 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	None
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Lukasz based DIY
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition

Product Weakness:	-Reliability of unit. Action can be taken by user to alleviate. -Sensitivity to vibration
Product Strengths:	Open and detailed sound, stock. Low noise floor.