Toshiba SD210E Silver DVD Player

The slim and sleek SD210E is aimed at the home-cinema enthusiast. The striking silver case carries the minimum of controls. The on-screen setup is mercifully logical and easy to use. Along with an almost universal set of connections offered for image output on the back of the unit--S-VHS, Composite and a Scart socket--you also get a set of component video sockets, which if your display equipment supports it is the preferred method for the best picture quality possible. Sound is handled by optical and coaxial digital outs and by a set of stereo analogue outputs.

Features include black-level adjustment, a variable zoom--offering 1.5x, 2.5x and 3.5x, which can be panned around the screen, and a 3-D spatial sound mode. For those without a living room full of speakers and wires this attempts to recreate the effect using just a set of stereo speakers. The effect isn't always successful but Toshiba's attempt is one of the better ones.

The picture quality has been one of Toshiba's trump cards on its DVD players and the SD210E doesn't disappoint. It builds on from the SD110E with an enhanced video amplifier, video DAC and a jitter reduction system. The resulting picture quality is standard setting. Contrast and colours are detailed and rich, bringing the best out of any DVD disc. You'll certainly need a good television to make the most of what's on offer. The detailed and clear sound doesn't disappoint either.

Once again Toshiba has delivered a player that is a cut above the rest which concentrates on what really matters--high quality pictures and sound.--Miles Berkeley