This is my first Divx DVD player, and it works well on the stuff I've tried so far (Xvid, mostly, on CD-RW and DVD-RW) as well as VCDs and normal DVDs. It also played PAL DVDs. On one burnt DVD, however, the audio will gradually get more out of sync over time, until about an hour or so into the movie it's pretty bad. On another burnt DVD, the playback stutters severely. If I stop/restart or ff/rw the movie, the problem is temporarily fixed. These discs work fine on other players in the house. I emailed tech support asking if there's a firmware upgrade with better error correction or something to make the player less picky with burnt discs, and we'll see what they say.

I like that it has an S-video output (the best the old TV it's used with can do) vs. the similar $50 Philips model which doesn't. It also has 100x FF, which is better than the older DVP642 (at least according to other posts that say it's 8x on the Philips).

I seems like a black version of the SD-3990, but there are probably other differences (like +R/W support, that I haven't tried).

I was very happy with it until I got to these two discs that play fine elsewhere but not here. I still have plenty of my 30 day return time left, but I don't know if there's anything better around, because the reviews of this SD-4000 are few and far between.

Anyone else have experience with this player? They're $50 at bby and I've also seen them online.

Thanks!

Edit: Well, the tech email told me to call, and after no robots or hold time, an American support guy told me it was too new to have firmware updates but perhaps in a few months to a year they'd have one. It plays MOST of my discs fine, just not these few that play fine on others. Oh well, not bad for $50, I guess, and others probably have their flaws as well.

Hi;

Does it play PAL dvd's?

Hi;

Does it play PAL dvd's?
Yep, I was pleasantly surprised when I found that out.

Do you know if it plays all region dvds (R1,R2,R3,R4)? And if it doesn't, does anyone know of a code free hack, like the one for the SD-3990?

Sorry, I'm not sure if it plays all regions. The PAL DVDs I tried were burnt (probably region free) discs in PAL format, not originals. I also don't know of a code-free hack, and I couldn't try it if I did since I don't have any original foreign DVDs.

To update since my original post, I've tried other burnt DVDs and they play fine without stuttering or sync issues. It's a little more picky than other players I have, but it's not horrible. If it doesn't work on this, I can play it somewhere else.

However, I have discovered a somewhat bigger problem. I have noticed that some MP3 encoded Xvid files have lip sync issues right away when playing them. It's pretty annoying when things are off by a few ms. Some Xvids with MP3 audio don't seem to be so bad, and some are pretty bad. Xvid with AC-3 audio seems to have no sync issues. This is based on trying a few files for a few minutes each, not hours of viewing. Unlike my one DVD's sync-over-time problem, this isn't corrected by stop/start or ff/rw. A guy on Toshiba's helpful and fast tech support number suggested I try using the composite cable instead of S-video to see if that mattered, but the lip sync issue remained.

I picked up a Philips DVP642 (newer/better Philips models like the 5140 don't have s-video), and that was horrible compared to this Toshiba. The 642 plays everything properly (DVDs from above and all Xvid I tried) without sync errors, but since it's a DVP642/37 built in October 2006, it has the annoying counter that always displays when you start something, annoying remote control/interface, and it stretches wide screen Xvids so the people are tall and skinny with no way to fix it via options (that I could find, anyway). The Toshiba also has a better picture than the DVP642 on its default settings. Anyway, the DVP642 is going back pretty soon.

I considered a Pansonic S52, but those don't play Divx/Xvid in the US, I guess, and there's no firmware to fix it from what I gather (unless this Tom character actually has real firmware).

If I'm feeling frisky, I might try a Magnavox MWD7006 from WalMart. However, that sounds like it has its flaws, as well. The Oppo 971 seems rather expensive for my needs, and online returns aren't easy if it turns out to have its own set of annoying problems.

On a side note, I read a couple of Amazon reviews that have appeared since my original post, and the 1-star guy is right, this player DOES NOT HAVE HDMI like the silly Amazon specs imply. The SD-5000 does have HDMI, however.

Anyway, if others try this player, I'd be very interested in knowing if all your MP3 encoded Xvids are synced properly. It's just a little out of sync, but it's enough to be noticeable and very distracting.

Well, I think I'm going to give up on my Toshiba SD4000 because I tried a Magnavox MWD7006 and am pretty happy with it so far. It has my required S-Video output and was only 40 bones at the Walled Mart. It plays all my problem Divx/Xvid files with no sync problems (SD-4000) or stretching (DVP642). The Mag doesn't play PAL, however, but I'm willing to give that up because I should be able to avoid 'em without too much trouble. Some other internet review (videohelp) saying that the MWD7006 doesn't display mp3 or jpg files on the same disc as a Divx file is true, but I don't use my DVD player for pictures or songs, so I don't mind.

I really hate to return the Toshi, but it just doesn't work the way it should with the screwy sync problems. It's a nice player because it does PAL and is more quiet than the Mag, but the sync is just too annoying to deal with. That and the two burnt DVDs from my original post that don't work properly put me over the top and in the return line. Maybe if they'd update the firmware to fix these problems, I'd give it another try.

Or maybe I got a dud, but I doubt it.

I also had the lip sync problem with the SD4000. Only with burned DVD's. I exchanged it for the older SD3990. This machine doesnt seem to have this issue. I like the Toshiba's because they seem to have a more stable picture on a SDTV. Much less moire, jaggies and stairstep artifacts than other manufacturers.

Nothing wrong with the machine's synch. Adjust correctly, given your setup, for "pcm" or "bitstream" in audio setting of dvd player Toshiba sd 4000.

There was a firmware upate for the SD-4000 released in july.

http://support.toshiba.ca/support/ceg/downloads/index.asp#

sorry for my english:

my toshiba SD 4000 (was Region Free)

First Problem:
- CD-R Divx: bad sound like a stammer = "Go d mor ng iends"

First solution try:
I was update the firmeware from toshiba canadian web site, but now the Toshiba is back to "Region 1" and i still have the Divx sound problem.

now my problem is:

- CD-R Divx: bad sound like a stammer = "Go d mor ng iends"
- can't back to region free, i tryed this codecs: 2403960-9 and 9879-0
but dont works.

what can i do?

Guys,
I am not sure if this belongs here but I have to let you know that the firmware released by Toshiba in July 2007 fixed my problem. When playing AVis, every 10-15 mins, the player would stop for a fraction of a second and then resume, with a very annoying audio crack at the same time.