Toshiba XD-E500 Upscaling DVD Player - Product Review and Rating

With the demise of HD-DVD, Toshiba is now focused on improving the upscaling capabilities for standard DVD. With upscaling, the output of a DVD player is more closely matched to the resolution of an HDTV screen. The XD-E500 delivers a better, more detailed, picture than even previous Toshiba upscaling DVD players. In addition, the user also has some control over sharpness, color, and contrast, which compensate for variations in DVD source quality. However, although the XD-E500 delivers good overall video and audio performance, there are some criticisms. To find out more, continue reading this review.

1. The XD-E500 is a single tray DVD player with DVD-Video, DVD-R-/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3 and WMA CD, Jpeg Photo CD, and Divx file playback.

2. The XD-E500 provides DVD video upscaling to 720p, 1080i, 1080p output via HDMI connection (adaptable to DVI- HDCP).

3. The XD-E500 offers both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 output capability via HDMI output. NOTE: 1080p/24 output requires 1080p/24 compatible HDTV and 480p/24 source material.

4. The video output connections on the XD-E500 include that following: Component video (progressive and interlaced) outputs, S-video and standard Composite video outputs.

5. The audio output connections on the XD-E500 include that following: Digital Optical, Digital Coaxial, and one set of stereo analog audio outputs.

6. The XD-E500 supports Dolby Digital and DTS bitstream output for external decoding via home theater receiver or preamp/processor.

7. The most unique feature of the XD-E500, as promoted by Toshiba, are the three intelligent Sharpness, Contrast, and Color enhancement modes.

8. A Wireless remote and Easy-to-use onscreen menu system are provided.

9. The physical dimensions of the XD-E500 are 16.93-inches(W) x 1.97-inches(H) x 7.80-inches(D)

10. Weight: 3.5 lbs

For a physical close-up look at the features and connections of the Toshiba XD-E500, check out out my supplementary Photo Gallery

HDMI stands for High Definition Multi-media Interface. To transfer the digital video signal from a standard DVD player to a TV, the DVD player must convert the signal from digital to analog, this results in some information loss. Get a closer look at an HDMI connector.

However, the Toshiba XD-E500 has the ability, with its HDMI output, to transfer the DVD's digital video signal directly, without conversion to analog. This results in a pure transfer of all of video information from the DVD to an HDMI or DVI-HDCP (via a connection adapter) equipped TV. In addition, HDMI can transfer both video and audio signals.

Overview of Video Upscaling

You can enable the XD-E500 to either feed the digital video signal as either 720p, 1080i, or 1080p (in addition to 480p) to your television.

720p is essentially 1,280 pixels displayed across the screen horizontally and 720 pixels down the screen vertically. This arrangement yields 720 horizontal lines on the screen, which are, in turn, displayed progressively, or each line displayed following another.

1080i represents 1,920 pixels displayed across a screen horizontally and 1,080 pixels down a screen vertically. This arrangement yields 1,080 horizontal lines, which are, in turn, displayed alternately. In other words, all the odd lines are displayed, followed by all the even lines.

1080p represents the same pixel resolution as 1080i, however, the lines are displayed progressively, rather than alternately, providing a better visual look. Check out more details on 1080p.

The capability of the XD-E500 to output a video signal in 720p, 1080i, or 1080p format allows its video output to more closely match the capabilities of today's HDTVs.

Although this is not the same as watching your DVDs in true-high definition, as current DVDs are not recorded in high definition, you will experience increased detail and color you didn't think was possible from a DVD player; unless you purchase a HD-DVD or Blu-ray Player and view HD-DVD or Blu-ray Discs.

To put it simply; the Toshiba XD-E500 is not a true high-definition DVD player, but it is considered HD-Compatible and bridges the gap between standard DVD quality and true high definition viewing.

The upscaling function works best on fixed pixel displays, such as LCD or Plasma sets, the upscaling may sometimes result in harsh images on standard CRT and Projection sets. In addition, if your television has a native display resolution other than 720p, 1080i, or 1080p, the TV's video processor will rescale the incoming signal to its own specification, which can also yield different results on the final, displayed television image.

The additional home theater hardware used in this review included:

Home Theater Receivers: Onkyo TX-SR705, Harman Kardon AVR147.

Comparison Upscaling DVD Players: OPPO DV-983H DVD Player, OPPO Digital DV-980H.

Loudspeaker System 1: 2 Klipsch F-2's, 2 Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2 Center , 2 Polk R300s.

Loudspeaker System 2: 2 JBL Balboa 30's, JBL Balboa Center Channel, 2 JBL Venue Series 5-inch Monitor speakers.

Subwoofers: Klipsch Synergy Sub10 - System 1, Polk Audio PSW10 - System 2.

TV/Monitors: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor, and Syntax LT-32HV 720p LCD TV. Displays calibrated using SpyderTV Software.

Audio/Video connections made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables. 16 Gauge Speaker Wire used.

Level checks made using a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter

Software Used In This Review

The software used in this review included the following titles:

DVDs: Crank, Godsmack: Changes, Hero, House of the Flying Daggers, Kill Bill - Vol 1/2, Lord of Rings Trilogy, Master and Commander, The Cave, The Forbidden Kingdom, V For Vendetta, U571.

Deinterlacing and Upscaling performance for standard DVDs was tested using the Silicon Optix HQV Test Disc.

CDs: Al Stewart - A Beach Full of Shells, Beatles - LOVE, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Lisa Loeb - Firecracker, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me.

Proceed to Page 2: Evaluation and Final Take.