Toshiba SD-3900 Progressive-Scan DVD Player

Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the SD-3900 stands ready to deliver the full potential of DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, providing higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. The SD-3900 also performs 3:2 pulldown. DVD mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion. Conventional composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television. The "expanded" mode in the player's black-level setting produces richer, deeper black tones in every image. PLUGE (Picture Line Up Generation Equipment) delivers black as well as below-black signals to a television.

A set of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (one each coaxial and optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver. The player's internal digital-to-analog converters work at 24-bit, 192 kHz resolution to ensure optimum sonic quality from a range of digital program material. Playback options include video 3D-DNR (digital noise reduction), powerful 16x picture zoom, dialogue enhancement, Spatializer simulated surround (for two-channel listening), and parental lock.

1. Downloaded the file from:
http://mypage.bluewin.ch/a-z/chaos-kitties/downloads/RMTM0000.sit
(the file's 4kb big/small)

2. unpacked the RMTM0000.sit file with "StuffIt Standard Edition 8.0" (http://www.aladdinsys.com/downloads/index.html) Trail version.

3. Burned the whole DIR (RMTM0000) to a CD using Nero Burning ROM (ISO Level 1, Mode 1, ISO 9660)

4. Inserted the burned CD into the dvd, wait for the menu on the LCD of the dvd.

5. Pressed "0" then "PAUSE", turned the dvd OFF

6. That's it !!!, REGION FREE.
(From a post at: http://www.videohelp.com)

You can also hack the player to play SVCDs and to continue playing the DVD where it left off after a power-down.

If you have no DVD in the player. Turn it on. Press PAUSE 1 4 7 2.

A blue screen will appear. If you change the EPROM number listed to:

55 53 00 47 16 55 FD FF

Your player will now play SVCDs and will continue playing the DVD where it left off after a power-down.

I've played R2 PAL DVDs in this player (after the region hack) with no problems.


Superb DVD Player   December 31, 2003
I have had this player for only four days, but so far I like it a lot. The only problem I had was with the zoom function; it zooms in on a letterbox image, but the letterbox doesn't leave the edges of the screen. The image within the box is enlarged, but that's useless if one wants to watch a "fullscreen" image that isn't cut off with a box. Be that as it may, I really don't care about that issue, because I perfer watching the widescreen on my 27-inch TV. Other than that I have no problems so far. Everything is excellent.


Experienced Short Life   December 5, 2003
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I purchased the Toshiba DVD SD-3900 player and within 20 hours of play, the sound started fading then the picture went blank. I reset the unit by unplugging it and plugging it back again. Unfortunately, the unit was unable to play another DVD movie stating disc error. I tried the same DVD movie in other DVD players I have and the movie played just fine. My new Toshiba SD-3900 DVD player "Ran-Out-Of-Gas-Fast". I returned the player for a full refund...I'm sure the company makes quality players however, I doubt it if I will purchase another Toshiba DVD player.


Excellent DVD player at bargain price.   December 3, 2003
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

Toshiba makes top-notch DVD players with an excellent reputation for outstanding performance as well as quality and reliability. The SD-3900 has these desirable characteristics plus component video output for better picture quality and progressive scan technology for compatibility with HDTVs, all at a bargain price. You may not have an HDTV yet but you probably will have one within a year or two, so why not be prepared with a progressive scan DVD player when you can get one this good at such a low price? And the component video output will improve the picture quality even on non-HDTVs. This player is an outstanding performer at a terrific price.