Ack!! My Toshiba SD-5109 just died! What to get next? (1 Viewer)

[Paul W]

Hi folks. I need some advice on getting a short term replacement DVD player. Some questions:

What is this chroma bug everybody keeps referring to? Which brands tend to have this problem?

Does anybody still make the 2 disc changers?

I was looking at the Denon DVD players and I was curious if anybody thinks the Silicon Image's de-interlacer is that much better than the Faroudja's (I'm leaning towards the 1600 if nobody still makes the 2 disc changers).

I would like to stay away from Toshiba after watching this player die and below $500 for the obvious reason that HDDVD should be making an appearance in the next couple of years.

Any advice off the bat?

TVMIA!

 

[Paul W]

Okay, a quick search gave me some information about the chroma bug. So that why Toy Story looked so crappy when I played it on my toshiba. I pointed this out when I first got the player back in 2000, but no one seemed to know anything about it then.

So, which players should I specifically avoid (other than toshiba and pannys)?

 

[Don_Berg]

Toshiba and Sony historically have had the chroma bug. You are wise to look for a Faroujda or Silicon Image de-interlacer based model. None of the Sony, Panasonic, or Toshiba models have good de-interlacers - so avoid them. Go for Denon (DVD-1600, DVD-910, DVD-1200, DVD-2200) or if you have to save money the cheapest new model with Faroudja is the Mitsubishi DD-8040 for $250 at Tweeter stores. I myself found a used top-rated Panasonic XP30 (same design as the Denon DVD-1600 with Faroudja) for $200 on EBAY.

 

[Kwang Suh]

Neither Toshiba's nor Sony's new players have the chroma bug.

The 5109 is special in that it had extremely severe CUE, and had the flicker bug to boot.