Toshiba SD-9000 - Latest Firmware?

[DVD Connoisseur]

I'm struggling to play (without hiccups) T2-UE and the 2001 version of Planet of the Apes on my Toshiba SD-9000. Having checked the firmware, I have found it to be:

V2.900 - R2

The machine was modified by Techtronic around 18 months ago.

Please advise:

a) If there is a more recent version of the firmware available
b) If there is, the best place to have it installed

Thanks for your time.

[AndyC]

Hi,

I also have an SD-9000, and exactly the same problems as you. I enquired about a firmware upgrade just over a year ago, and I was informed by Nigel Evans of Toshiba UK that the latest version available at the time was 3.1 - so there definitely does exist a later version.

However, although apparently it would have been a free upgrade from Toshiba themselves, I couldn't find anywhere that had a multi-region version of this firmware that could (or at least, would) provide me with a copy.

I bought my SD-9000 from SDB in London, who apparently have their multi-region mods done by a company called Futuretronics. I did manage to speak to them at the time, but the latest version they had was 2.9 - that may now have changed. Sadly I don't have any contact info for them any more - but I did manage to get their phone number once so it can't be that hard.

If you do manage to get an update to 3.1 (or later), please could you let me know?

Cheers

Andy.

[brattle]

http://www.hispek.com still sell multi region SD9000s (for only £350 as well, major bargain!). I was looking to buy one to go with my Loewe Aconda and emailed them to ask about RCE disks. There response was their players can play all known disks without problems, although RCE disks require a normal disk to be played first (as expected).

I'll email them again about the firmware version. they may be able to upgrade it for you.

[AndyC]

Thanks, that would be greatly appreciated. Lack of RCE compatiblity is a pain (although pressing STOP just after the drawer closes and searching to t=0h00m01s works), but the inability to play T2 or Independence Day (both R1, so I can't even whinge to Toshiba) is really annoying.

£350 is a major bargain, I paid more like £650 for mine IIRC, and that was cheap for the time (about 2 yrs ago). It's a nice machine in terms of build quality, but it's looking a bit long in the tooth in terms of features - no CD-R capability (although CD-RWs work) and no RGB out (but the S-video output is wonderful). Hopefully the latest firmware will at least help it in terms of DVD compatibility...

Andy.

[brattle]

The SD9000 does have component outputs, so you can connect via component if your TV will take it. Best picture this side of £1,000 if it does, although as you say the s-video is not shabby either.

[AndyC]

Sadly my TV (a Loewe Credo 32") doesn't have component video inputs - only RGB, S-video and compost. There is a cut-out in the plastic where a VGA socket could go, and I believe that a VGA module was available in some parts of the world, but sadly not component video.

In any case, my amp (a Yamaha DSP-A1) can't handle component video either, and I do like to be able to see its on-screen display.

Maybe one day I'll get a plasma screen instead :)

Andy.

[Boink!]

Originally posted by AndyC
Sadly my TV (a Loewe Credo 32") doesn't have component video inputs - only RGB, S-video and compost.

"compost" LOL!:D

Boink!:nuts:

[brattle]

Andy, I think your Credo may have component inputs and yet you may not know it :). The Credos, like the Aconda, can take component inputs through one of scarts. This is under the technical information for the Credo on the Loewe website:

Connections

Euro-AV (video, audio) - 3
- S-VHS-, Hi8-capable - 3
- RGB-capable - 2
- input-ready component video - 1
Headphones (jack) included
Front-AV (video, S-VHS) 1

I know what you might think, component doesn't travel through Scart. Normally it doesn't, but Loewe have done a non-standard thing and put component through one of the scarts.

You'll need a lead that will take the three phonos to the correct connections on the scart. http://www.keene.co.uk make and sell them for about £20.

If you don't believe me, check out this thread:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26661

I hope it works for you too :).

BTW what do you think of your Credo, especially compared to the Aconda?

[DVD Connoisseur]

Originally posted by brattle
I'll email them again about the firmware version. they may be able to upgrade it for you.

Cheers! I contacted Techtronics who supplied my machine but unfortunately they were unable to assist.

Version 3.1 sounds promising, AndyC. I'd love to be able to update the firmware on my Tosh - I love the machine to bits and don't want to go down the route of replacing it. The picture and sound quality of the SD-9000 are outstanding.

[AndyC]

(Let's see how far off topic we can get!)

The Credo gave the best picture of any TV in its class at the time, IMHO - that's why I bought it. I soon worked out how to modify the subwoofer in the base to accept the Dolby Digital LFE channel output too :)

The Aconda had just come out, but I found the concave screen distracting and overly reflective. I still like the Credo a lot, but at times I'd appreciate a bit more colour saturation, and my particular example suffers terrible colour bleed on bright reds (close-ups of the Ferrari F1 cars were really painful to watch!). Most of the time, however, it's superb.

I'd still be surprised to see a component video input, though - there's no mention of it on the AV connections menu for either of the (two, not three) SCARTs. I think mine is a Credo 7581ZP(H?) and not the 76xx series that are described on the Loewe web site. Maybe I'll try it out anyway - any idea what the pinout of the funny Loewe SCART socket is?

Cheers
Andy

[brattle]

Not exactly, I just know that Scart 3 on the Aconda can take component and that both Loewe and Arcam have gone non-standard with this component by scart thing.

The only way to test it for your Credo is to buy a lead such as from Keene. Is it worth the chance?