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REVIEW: Toshiba SD-5700 DVD Players

172.190.204.167


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Model: SD-5700
Category: DVD Players
Suggested Retail Price: $449.95
Description: DVD Audio Video Cinema Progesssive Player
Manufacturer URL: Toshiba
Manufacturer URL: Toshiba

Review by Teresa ( A ) on July 08, 2006 at 07:12:20
IP Address: 172.190.204.167
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for the SD-5700


Toshiba SD 5700 Update:

I originally purchased the SD 5700 1 year and 8 months ago used on eBay for $109.00 and it was claimed to have not been used much. Which I now believe as the sound quality continued to improve as I began using it more and more. Since selling my two SACD/DVD players the SD 5700 has been used about 4 hours everyday for both DVD-Audios and DVD-Video movies, compared to prior once or twice a week usage. I don’t watch TV so I view at least one movie a day from my unlimited rental program with Hollywood Video and from my movie collection. This has had a totally unexpected effect, bass response has greatly increased and the soundstaging is deeper and larger. With smoother string tone on HDCDs and DVD-Audios.

This machine was manufactured August 2001 making it almost 5 years old.

All listening was done in 2-channel stereo as that is my preference.

Set-up: Priority Contents: DVD-Audio, Audio Out Select: PCM (this is the setting for 2 channel audio) if you use 6 channel the choice would be either: Bitstream or Analog 6 channel. The PCM for 2 channel audio selection gives full resolution up to 192kHz using the internal Decoder.
This Toshiba SD 5700 offers DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, HDCD and CD. It is connected to a Sanyo 24 inch true Flat Screen TV using the Philips Component Video cables with 24k Gold connectors. For the audio output I use AudioQuest Turquoise with 24k Gold connectors.

Listening after the full break-in:
The best DVD-Audios and 24 Bit 96kHz DVD-Videos on the SD 5700 now offer a very smooth midrange with excellent bass, imaging and soundstaging. Amazingly lifelike and the overall sound is very relaxed and beautiful.
If the sound is a little thin and weak in the bass it needs more break-in time. Also it is my guess after a component is unused for a while it needs to be re-broken in.

I am now very impressed with the sound of HDCDs especially from Reference Recordings, in my original review I was not impressed with HDCD on this player and said my old Adcom GDA-700 HDCD D/A converter had much better sonics and especially bass response. Now that the SD 5700 is fully broken in the bass response is phenomenal and imaging is huge on HDCDs especially Reference Recordings. The bass on these is extremely deep with great sonic impact. These are probably the largest difference in the player since going from twice a week to daily usage.

I don’t know if CDs sound any better as I sold the last of my CDs over six months ago, in the original review I stated CDs to me sound dreadful on this player mainly as I am not a fan of redbook CDs. Always for me the biggest problem with CDs was the strident sound of massed strings, which I find painful to listen to. Someone else will have to evaluate the CD performance.

For movie buffs: Movies look and sound wonderful on this player using the 3 cable Component video output to a flat screen TV once I adjusted all the parameters for best pictures. There are no visual pixels and colors are smooth and distinct and a visual image that is close to film.

Overall this is an excellent DVD-Audio, DVD-Video and HDCD player
Getting to the 2-channel program is easy on the SD 5700 as it has an audio button. On most DVD-Audios you can toggle between the 2 channel and multi-channel high-resolution programs using the Audio button. On other DVD-Audios you well need the Group button. And of course you can use the menu on the DVD-Audio but beware the menus on many of the Warner Bros. and Rhino DVD-Audios are incorrect, sometimes they are reversed and sometimes whither you select Multi-channel high resolution or 2 channel stereo you get multi-channel. If this happens use the audio or group button to find the 2-channel mix.

One down side is that the SD 9200 puts a pause between tracks which is fine unless the music is supposed to be continuous then it sounds awkward, I have found no way to remove the pause between tracks, any suggestions?

Good news for 2 channel listeners 2 channel DVD-Audios and 24/96 DVD-Videos have no menu and play the 2 channel high resolution by default.
I have never played a DualDisc so I don’t not know if there are any issues. I avoid DualDiscs because of the warnings.

The Toshiba SD-5700 is discontinued and Toshiba only has low-end products in their DVD line now. Excellent DVD-Audio player at the original $549.95 retail later lowered to $449.95, you should be able to mint one in excellent condition for around $100.00.


Product Weakness: While the display lists the bit rate and sampling frequency for DVD-Audio it DOES NOT list them for 2 channel LPCM programs on DVD-Video. It just says 2 channel LPCM, the 2-channel resolution of my DVD-Videos were read from the Sony DVP-S9000ES menu. Since this is my only DVD player now it means that I will not know the LPCM resolution for newly acquired music DVD-Videos.
Product Strengths: Deep powerful bass, very smooth midrange, with excellent ambiance and imaging with both DVD-Audio and HDCD.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Adcom GFA-555III - 200 watts per channel
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): AMC CVT 1030 Stereo Vacuum Tube
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Music Hall MMF-5 with Goldring 1012X Cartridge
Speakers: Infinity Reference Standard 7 Kappa
Cables/Interconnects: AudioQuest Turquoise; Monster Cable Powerline 2 Plus
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Rock, Jazz, Classical and World
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 year 8 months
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Toshiba SD-5700 DVD Players - Teresa 07:12:20 07/8/06 ( 192)