Product Features:

• 8.9-inch widescreen TFT active-matrix display offers sharp, bright images
• Reads DVD-Video and high-resolution DVD-Audio discs, as well as MP3 and WMA CDs, DVD-Rs, VCDs, and SD/MMC flash-memory cards
• ColorStream PRO progressive-scan component-video output (for premium imagery on high-definition and HD-ready TVs and monitors)
• 3.5-hour battery life, picture zoom, and stereo, bass-reflex, titanium speakers for headphone-free listening
• Measures 10.25 x 1.25 x 7 inches (W x H x D), closed

Product Description:

Rely on it when you're on the road and savor its performance at home: Toshiba's SD-P2600 DVD-Video/DVD-Audio portable DVD player is distinguished by its sleek appearance, 8.9-inch polysilicon widescreen display, and high-resolution 1,024 x 600-pixel image. The TFT (thin-film-transistor) active-matrix display delivers film-like images rich in detail, color resolution, and contrast. Besides media playback versatility--it handles everything from DVD-Video to DVD-R, VCD, MP3/WMA CD, and a host of image formats--the SD-P2600 offers Toshiba's ColorStream PRO progressive-scan component-video outputs (for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs) and employs an 10-bit, 54 MHz video digital-to-analog converter to cement its guarantee of stellar image quality. A sleek, credit-card-sized remote control simplifies operation. 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, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. The SD-P2600 also performs 3:2 pulldown detection (Digital Cinema Progressive). DVD mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown reversal digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture. Further, a Toshiba feature called Direct Digital Solution sends a DVD's video information to the LCD driver directly from the unit's MPEG decoder in its original digital form, bypassing unnecessary digital-to-analog conversion steps to deliver the best picture quality possible. Toshiba's digital photo viewer displays images right on your television in a variety of popular formats, including Konica, Fuji Photo, Kodak Photo CD, as well as standard JPEG files--there's even a Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card slot to further simplify viewing. An onscreen display walks you through the process of making your own slideshows, in which you can preset the viewing time of each slide as well as zoom, rotate, and pan each photo. Leading-edge 24-bit/192 kHz digital-analog converters from Analog Devices delivers exceptional 2-channel DVD-Audio frequency response and dynamic range. DVD-Audio discs deliver high-resolution audio, capturing and reproducing all of the nuances of the original performance and offering high-resolution surround sound as well as stereo. (DVD-Audio resolution is available through the analog audio outputs only.) A pair of built-in headphone jacks let you watch or listen with a partner, while Spatializer N-2-2 ULTRA and Natural Headphone virtual surround sound algorithms simulate surround through 2 speakers or 1 set of headphones. Built-in stereo speakers grant headphone-free listening through high-efficiency titanium drivers in bass-reflex enclosures for more full-bodied sound than typical portables produce. The SD-P2600 passes both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals through its coaxial-type digital-audio output for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver. The supplied lithium-ion battery blends seamlessly with the player's cosmetic profile and offers around 3.5 hours of uninterrupted movie or music entertainment. The battery also charges quickly, in around 3 hours. What's in the Box DVD player, remote control, remote battery, car cord, a component-video interconnect, a stereo audio/composite-video interconnect, an AC power adapter, a user's manual, and warranty information.
From the Manufacturer The SD-P2600 portable DVD player is designed to take full advantage of the DVD format in both video and audio. The device offers a high-resolution 8.9-inch LCD screen (1,024 x 768) and Toshiba's exclusive direct digital solution, which sends the DVD information to the LCD driver directly from the MPEG decoder in its original format. The SD-P2600 also comes equipped with technology features such as Super ColorStream Pro progressive scan output and DVD-Audio compatibility. The SD-P2600 also... read more

Description from Manufacturer: Rely on it when you're on the road and savor its performance at home: Toshiba's SD-P2600 DVD-Video/DVD-Audio portable DVD player is distinguished by its sleek appearance, 8.9-inch polysilicon widescreen display, and high-resolution 1,024 x 600-pixel image. The TFT (thin-film-transistor) active-matrix display delivers film-like images rich in detail, color resolution, and contrast.

Besides media playback versatility--it handles everything from DVD-Video to DVD-R, VCD, MP3/WMA CD, and a host of image formats--the SD-P2600 offers Toshiba's ColorStream PRO progressive-scan component-video outputs (for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs) and employs an 10-bit, 54 MHz video digital-to-analog converter to cement its guarantee of stellar image quality. A sleek, credit-card-sized remote control simplifies operation.

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, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. The SD-P2600 also performs 3:2 pulldown detection (Digital Cinema Progressive). DVD mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown reversal digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

Further, a Toshiba feature called Direct Digital Solution sends a DVD's video information to the LCD driver directly from the unit's MPEG decoder in its original digital form, bypassing unnecessary digital-to-analog conversion steps to deliver the best picture quality possible.

Toshiba's digital photo viewer displays images right on your television in a variety of popular formats, including Konica, Fuji Photo, Kodak Photo CD, as well as standard JPEG files--there's even a Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card slot to further simplify viewing. An onscreen display walks you through the process of making your own slideshows, in which you can preset the viewing time of each slide as well as zoom, rotate, and pan each photo.

Leading-edge 24-bit/192 kHz digital-analog converters from Analog Devices delivers exceptional 2-channel DVD-Audio frequency response and dynamic range. DVD-Audio discs deliver high-resolution audio, capturing and reproducing all of the nuances of the original performance and offering high-resolution surround sound as well as stereo. (DVD-Audio resolution is available through the analog audio outputs only.)

A pair of built-in headphone jacks let you watch or listen with a partner, while Spatializer N-2-2 ULTRA and Natural Headphone virtual surround sound algorithms simulate surround through 2 speakers or 1 set of headphones. Built-in stereo speakers grant headphone-free listening through high-efficiency titanium drivers in bass-reflex enclosures for more full-bodied sound than typical portables produce.

The SD-P2600 passes both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals through its coaxial-type digital-audio output for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver. The supplied lithium-ion battery blends seamlessly with the player's cosmetic profile and offers around 3.5 hours of uninterrupted movie or music entertainment. The battery also charges quickly, in around 3 hours.

What's in the Box
DVD player, remote control, remote battery, car cord, a component-video interconnect, a stereo audio/composite-video interconnect, an AC power adapter, a user's manual, and warranty information.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Good for car travel and the money Rating:
Pros: Includes remote control, car adapter, 2hr-battery. Large screen with bright colors, high pixel count.

Cons: Max volume low without headphones, Cannot play some disks, Disk spinner noisy, Short car adapter cord.

The light, slender, Toshiba 2600 in May 04 enchanted our kids during our drive from Virginia to Florida, and back. The 2600 came with everything in the box including a car adapter. The two headphone jacks gave plenty of volume for the twin's headphones, which I bought separately.
*The 2600 had great colors and plenty of detail and a passenger in the front seat could easily reach the volume and fast-forward controls on the unit.

Unfortunately, the 2600 has some drawbacks. The car adapter cord was so short that going from the dash to the unit hanging off the front seats was a bit of stretch.
*Without the headphones, max volume was audible but not loud, while highway driving.
*The 2600 could play only about 30% of the DVD's while highway driving. In the house, however, the 2600 played all ten of our children's DVD's except for a cheap Chinese copy of Lady and the Trap, which worked in my $75 non-portable DVD player.

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Comment: beautiful picture, but expensive Rating:
I went shopping for a portable DVD player and the store I went to had about 14 different portable DVD players plugged into the same video feed playing The Lord of the Rings DVD. This portable DVD player blew all its competitors out of the water - including the two Panasonic models I came to look at. None of them had a picture that could compare to this one. The colors are rich and the black is as dark as I have ever seen. The sound produced by the external speakers is pretty good too, the movie is sometimes hard to hear in a noisy vehicle so headphones may be required on a road trip. Two headphone jacks are on the side of the unit. I have not experienced any problems with viewing angle when watching a movie with two people with the player inbetween us.

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Comment: Great for the price! Rating:
The SD-P2600 is a great model for its reasonable price (these portable players were over $1000 dollars just months ago). I think companies like Toshiba, Panasonic and Sharp were unable to really compete with DVD-capable laptops, so they basically stopped improving their portable players. For that reason, the SD-P2600 is virtually the same as the second generation SD-P2500, and only a couple steps ahead of the SD-P2000 (which can be found for a couple hundred less). Being a videophile and portable dvd player fan, I borrowed the SD-P2600 and took it on my trip to Europe.

The battery was great, lasting about two movies, and I was able to charge it a few times (with my power inverter). I saw a couple films on the airplane as well, although it was awkward when weirdos passed by giving strange looks. Looks which made me wonder what exactly was on their minds. Was in envy? Envy for my good fortune, for my immersion in the film at hand? Or was it contempt, 'who does this guy think he is?' they wonder. Nope, it was appall as they stared upon the R-rated film I was viewing, which just so happened to be in the middle of a nude scene.

The picture quality is good, but not outstanding. It's better than any Panasonic or Sharp models, for sure, but the viewing angle is very limited, and there are just too many tweaking controls. I was unable to find a perfect, comfortable setting when tweaking the picture, always having to change it with every movie. While better than its competitors in picture, and great for the average consumor, the 2600 isn't really up to my high standards for video. I don't expect a theater-like presentation (can reserve that for HD-DVD players of the future), but at least it can be sharper; clearer than a laptop's image.

Overall, I definately recommend it to the average consumor, but to those who are looking for more, I'd say look elsewhere. I'm dissapointed that Portable DVD Players aren't evolving or progressing at all. I ended up giving back the Toshiba SD-P2600 with no remorse. I'm very happy with my first generation Toshiba SD-P1000 (which sports the best picture quality of any player out there), but these days I find the batteries dying, with no suitable successor. What did King Lear do? What could he do? Could he settle for less? I guess a laptop is in my future, unless the industry shapes up.

Posted at November 11, 2003 06:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)