The Best of Both Worlds
When it comes to home entertainment, there are a lot of options out there these days. It only makes sense that Toshiba offers two of these options in one very capable machine. Combining a progressive scan DVD player and a Hi-Fi stereo VCR, the SDV594 lets you take full advantage of today's DVD capabilities, without making you give up your old VCR habit. With simultaneous DVD playback and VHS record, you can even get your fix of both technologies at once! 14-bit/108MHz video digital-to-analog conversion delivers maximum color purity, detail and resolution, while 24-bit/192kHz PCM audio compatibility delivers warmer, more natural-sounding audio from many types of discs. And the SDV594 knows a thing or two about different types of discs. As a matter of fact, it plays DVD-Video, DVD-R, VCD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, JPEG discs and even MP3 and WMA files burned to CD-R discs. And, of course, it also plays VHS tapes. Provided the DVD you're watching has not been encoded with the Macrovision copy protection system, you can even record it to VHS without color distortion.
Connecting to the Future
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the first industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video connection. HDMI provides the best interface between a DVD player and compatible products, such as a digital television (DTV). When matched with a compatible TV, this single interconnecting cable combines: Multi-channel audio, uncompressed digital video, intercommunication between devices and simple control Protocols. This single cable connection ensures that all signals remain in their pure digital form and secure by use of High Definition Copy Protection (HDCP) regardless of signal output resolution.
USB Connection and Divx Home Theater Certification
The SDV594 features a USB interface that will support mass storage classification devices for simple multimedia playback. These formats include JPEG, WMA, MP3 and DivX (unencripted). These devices include most USB memory sticks and memory card readers, certain digital cameras, and certain other USB devices with storage capability.
Movin' On Up
Since HDMI can support uncompressed digital video up to HDTV level resolution, the SDV594 makes use of this conduit by up-converting the standard DVD picture resolution to nearly HDTV-quality with output resolutions of 720p or 1080i. This makes the SDV594 a perfect match for today's digital televisions. And because this conversion is performed in the player, the signal remains free from excessive digital-to-analog conversion artifacts.
Even More Good News
ColorStream Pro progressive scan provides a non-interlaced component video DVD/TV connection that allows DVD-Video to reach its maximum picture quality potential. Every DVD-Video disc is mastered in MPEG-2 progressive scan (480P). By preserving DVD's progressive scan image, the ColorStream Pro connection provides a new dimension in total picture quality, delivering a more film-like, three-dimensional image. The progressive scan image is flicker-free, with virtually no visible NTSC line structure or motion artifacts, and offers better resolution than standard interlaced images. These outputs allow the highest quality video signal to be sent from the DVD player to a component video equipped progressive scan TV. When this connection is utilized with today's HD-compatible sets, typical NTSC artifactsÑlike video noise, dot crawl, and flickerÑare virtually eliminated, resulting in a low-noise, highly detailed picture with unequaled color purity.
Let's Go to the Videotape
Well, the DVD portion of the SDV594 sure includes some exciting technologies, but let's not sell the Hi-Fi Stereo VCR portion short. This 4-head/19-micron head system offers superior slow motion effects over conventional 2 head VCR designs. Toshiba's 19-micron heads match precisely the width of the SP and SLP azimuths and read only the signal recorded on each azimuth (not adjoining tracks). The benefit is significantly enhanced SLP performance that is so good, it rivals the quality of tapes recorded in the SP mode. With S-VHS Quasi playback, a tape recorded in a Super VHS deck can be played back in the SDV594 without a significant reduction in quality.
Making the Most of Everything
New-fangled features are terrific, but they don't mean much without some old-fashioned ease-of-use. The good folks at Toshiba made certain that all of the fancy conversions and decodings take place inside the SDV594, leaving you with nothing but a simply-connected, easy-to-operate entertainment powerhouse. Your enjoyment is likely to increase with every decrease in operating complexity of your DVD/VCR combo. A unified glow remote with TV controls is the first big step in that direction. The VCR includes pleasant features like commercial skip, 8 event/1 year programming, auto clock and an auto head cleaner. And you're sure to appreciate the DVD player's digital picture zoom, fast scan, slow motion, multi-camera angle select and multi-language select. The Parental Lock feature is always a nice addition for a family, and you can even choose between English, French and Spanish for your on-screen display language.
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