Black Boxes: Toshiba SD2300 DVD Player with NUON

by Chris Raley
Summer/Fall 2002

Toshiba's SD2300 DVD player is equipped with NUON capability. It can play NUON-enhanced DVDs and NUON-encoded game software, as well as audio CDs. This versatile, easy to use player offers a clear image and some clever features.

The Lowdown and the Setup
A 128-bit NUON Media Processor powers the SD2300. Ten-bit video D/A conversion and 27MHz high-resolution digital filters create a 540-line resolution image. The Dolby Digital, DTS-compatible audio comes from 96kHz/24-bit PCM audio processing. Tech-speak aside, the machine was easy to set up, like any other DVD player. We took it out of the box, plugged it in and were left with merely choosing between analog and digital audio/video outputs. The reasonably sized remote was comfortable and not crammed with buttons.

A short, fat joystick about the size of a dime provided the means for navigation. We pressed the same control when we wanted to push Enter, which was a nice touch. The menu buttons reside above the joystick and the standard transport buttons sit below. At the bottom of the remote, under a panel, is a number pad and a few other buttons, including Random and Repeat. We could also choose a virtual remote control that displayed itself on the screen with the push of a button.

NUON in Action
The menu display was a graphic overlay that took up the whole screen, but allowed us to see through to the action of the DVD. Not only did it display menu options, it gave us information about what features were enabled. From the main menu, we were able to enjoy some unique features. The SD2300 allowed us to capture a scene and change things, like the brightness and color. So, if you want to see what the actors are hiding in a dark scene, you can capture a still and use the Gamma selection to make it brighter.

The SD2300 also features a zoom that can go anywhere on the screen and magnify an image up to 16x. Even at the highest magnification, the detail was pretty clear and sharp. We found the reverse and fast forward to be smooth, and in normal play we didn't notice any artifacting during fast-paced special effects scenes. This was also true when we tried out the SD2300's gaming capabilities. The animated race tracks of the Merlin Racing game came out sharp and bright and we went through lap after lap without a pause or a stop. The user-friendly game controller plugged in easily to the front of the machine, and looked like a cross between a Nintendo controller and a phaser from the old Star Trek series.

We also played audio CDs using the Virtual Light Machine feature. It created effects on the TV screen similar to video feedback that moved to the beat of the music, and offered us a choice of eight different effects.

The Final Analysis
The SD2300 with NUON-enhanced capabilities is a great machine. It was easy to set up, straightforward and provided some clever features. With the promise of more DVD movie releases, the SD2300 makes an excellent vehicle to take you further into expanded DVD content.

SMART SPECS
Video: 10-bit/27MHz
Video outputs: composite, S-video, component
Digital image-type support: JPEG, Kodak Picture CD
Playback format support: DVD, DVD-R, CD, NUON
Digital audio format support: DTS, Dolby DigitalOutputs: RCA, digital coaxial
Dimensions: 3.25 (h) x 17 (w) x 12 (d) inches
Weight: 6 lbs. 10 oz.

COMPANY: Toshiba
CONTACT: (973) 628-8000
WEB SITE: www.toshiba.com
PRICE: $280