The first thing that stands out about the SD-3980 is its size. For a budget DVD player, this unit is extremely slim at just 1-13/20 inches high. The smart silver finish adds a stylish element, making it appear like a more expensive midrange model. As it is, the SD-3980 is the least expensive single-disc Toshiba DVD player yet. The design makes it ideal for sitting on top of a small TV or for use where space is limited, such as in a bedroom, kitchen, or dorm room. The only downside to the space-saving construction is the smallness and fragility of the disc tray. That aside, for a player with an MSRP of only $50, the SD-3980 offers solid performance and plenty of handy features.

The SD-3980's 3:2 pulldown and progressive scan output ensure a superior picture quality when hooked up to a digital TV, although the player certainly delivers fine video performance when connected via its S-video output to just about any analog TV as well. The SD-3980 provides good disc compatibility and plenty of playback options for a budget DVD player. In addition to standard DVD-Video, this unit comfortably handles DVD-R and VCD video content along with CD and CD-R/RW, including those loaded with MP3 and WMA digital audio files. The SD-3980 can also create slideshows from discs encoded with digital image files.

Playback options include forward and reverse play and a digital picture zoom that allows a selected part of the screen to be magnified. Parental controls help keep adult material away from young eyes, and the SD-3980 can route Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround sound through its coaxial digital audio output for connection to a full-feature home theater receiver.

Warranty
1 year parts and labor