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Hi-Rez Highway: REVIEW: Toshiba sd9200 DVD Players by Teresa

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REVIEW: Toshiba sd9200 DVD Players

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Model: sd9200
Category: DVD Players
Suggested Retail Price: $1999
Description: DVD-audio and Progressive Scan
Manufacturer URL: Toshiba
Model Picture: View

Review by Teresa ( A ) on August 03, 2002 at 01:25:09
IP Address: 198.81.17.21
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for the sd9200


This review is for Two Channel stereo operation only.

This is a lovely looking unit, like my Sony DVP-S9000ES it has superb build quality. It has copper construction just like the Sony. It weighs 25 pounds versus Sony's 27 pounds. This it a REAL HIGH END unit.

Like the Sony you can select DIRECT AUDIO to bypass the Video circuitry, but unlike the Sony, when you select DIRECT AUDIO it does not restart the disc. This is a BIG advantage with DVD-Audio. As I turn on the TV, select the high rez two channel option, then I turn off the TV, hit the DIRECT AUDIO button, and I also turn off the display FL DIMMER button. Then I set back and enjoy DVD-Audio.

The default on DVD-Audio is the high rez 6 channel option, so if you have surround sound, you don?t have to do anything, the disc will play automatically. If you want no display you can use the FL DIMMER button to remove it. I personally always found the TRACK and TIME DISPLAY to be a distraction when I listen to music and that is one of the main reasons I preferred LP?s the CDs, as LPs had NO TRACK or TIME display to ruin to mood of the music. Besides the distraction turning off the display actually improves the sound.

The Video is near equal to the DVP-S9000ES meaning it is superb. I am using the same interconnects on both player, the AudioQuest Turquoise.

DVD-Audio

The best DVD-Audios are on par with the best SACDs. DVD-Audios from the Warner Music Group are watermarked, I have yet to hear it and they do not sound degraded to me and this is the best sound I have ever heard from the Warner Music Group. Is the watermark audible? Sorry I cannot answer that I do not have the original master tapes, but I do not believe it is. Most of the Warner DVD-As have 2 channel stereo. All the Chesky, AIX, EMI, Hi-Res Music and Rykodisc offer 2 channel mixes as well. All the Silverline, Naxos, Teldec, Erato and American Gramaphone DVD-Audios are fold downs from 5.1 to 2 channel. Most of the DVD-As are 96/24, however AMERICA: Homecoming and CARLY SIMON: No Secrets are 192/24. I have 38 DVD-Audios the EMI, High Rez and AIX I began collecting before I had the Toshiba as they offer 2 channel high rez in the Video format, the rest I acquired since purchasing the player. Overall DVD-Audio is FANTASTIC! Some of my favorites: LAURINDO ALMEIDA: Brazilian Soul (Hi-Res Music 96/24) BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB (Nonesuch 96/24) CHABRIER: Espana (Erato 96/24) ERIC CLAPTON: Reptile (Reprise 88.2/24) DOORS: L.A. Woman (Elektra 88.2/24) EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER: Brain Salad Surgery (Rhino 96/24) GRATEFUL DEAD: Workingman?s Dead (Rhino 96/24) Best of MICKEY HART: Over The Edge and Back (Ryko 96/24) WAYNE HORVITZ: Forever (Hi-Res Music 96/24) MESSIAN: Turangalila Symphony (EMI 48/24) GRAHAM NASH: Songs for Survivors (dts 48/24) CARLY SIMON: No Secrets (Rhino 192/24) PAUL SIMON (Warner Bros. 88.2/24) ULTIMATE DVD SURROUND SAMPLER (Chesky 96/24). DVD-Audios also include bonuses: some have a bonus music video, lyrics and interviews. Overall DVD-Audio is an excellent high resolution format, in its higher sampling and bit rates the near equal of SACD, I found excellent sound on all labels except Silverline. The sound on Silverline is good (I have not tried the awful Silverline Sanctuary titles) but not truly high rez. Yes the best SACDs do beat the best DVD-Audios, but the average SACD and DVD-Audio are pretty close sonically. And in my Chesky tests on the Toshiba 96/24 masters sound better on DVD-Audio than converted to DSD for SACD. DVD-Audio is an excellent addition to my stable of high resolution formats and the Toshiba 9200 offers superb sonics.


96/24 DAD DVD

I have 35 96/24 DAD DVDs from Chesky and Classic records and these sound better on the Toshiba 9200 over the Sony 9000ES. The bass is fuller, deeper with more impact, the highs smoother (very analog like) with more ambiance.

HDCD

Those of you who have been in the Asylum for while, remember I sold my Adcom GDP-700 HDCD D/A Converter 1 ½ years ago as I purchased several SACDs I already had on HDCD. The SACDs were much more realistic. The Claire Martin: Take My Heart on Linn on HDCD was an excellent recording but on SACD the instruments sounded REAL and Claire Martin's voice had fantastic projection, you not only see (in your minds eye) her standing but you can feel the resonance from the throat. Her voice actually was actually projecting ?air? like one only hears LIVE. I have never heard this before in recorded media, including LP, only live music. I was so impressed with the SACDs potential on the Sony DVP-9000ES and with the hopes Reference Recordings would release SACD or DVD-Audio, I sold the Adcom HDCD D/A. Reference Recordings has still not released any high-resolution recordings, so HDCD correctly decoded is the best way to listen. Overall the internal HDCD decoder is even better than the one in the Adcom. The Adcom had more forceful bass but on this Toshiba these wonderful recordings sound more natural, with an almost Analog smoothness, the tizzyness in the high frequencies are gone. Sonically HDCD on the Toshiba is a few notches below SACD or DVD-Audio but it is very enjoyable, you can really get into the music. This is an excellent HDCD decoder!

CD

Both players offer very good sonics on redbook CD, the Toshiba 9200 has more impact and is a little darker sounding, the Sony 9000 is cleaner, smoother, with more details in the high frequencies and has more ambiance. Both machines beat my old Adcom D/A except in low frequency warmth, I prefer redbook CDs on the Sony 9200.

Overall the Toshiba SD 9200 is highly recommend and it is true high end State-of-the-art product.


Product Weakness: No SACD
Product Strengths: Excellent DVD-Audio and HDCD playback. Superb DVD-Video.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Adcom GFA-555III
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): AMC CVT 1030 Stereo Vacuum Tube
Sources (CDP/Turntable): DVP-S9000ES DVD/SACD
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: 5 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Adcom ACE-515
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Toshiba sd9200 DVD Players - Teresa 01:25:09 08/3/02 ( 17)