The SD220 has an interesting footprint. From the front it looks like a standard size, measuring 430x69 mm. However, a shallow depth of just 222 mm differentiates this from many competing models. The Toshiba is well constructed and has a good weighty feel to it at around two and a half kilos. The angled front fascia provides an aesthetic appeal, as well as being home to most of the players basic controls. Advanced controls can be accessed from the supplied remote which is compact, comfortable and efficient, without being overstated. Connectivity is generally very good. A single RGB SCART socket is complemented by S-Video, composite and even component video (Y/Pb/Pr) outputs. There are analogue, digital co-axial and digital optical outputs for audio. It would have been nice to see an additional SCART socket, but is otherwise hard to fault. At its most basic, you simply need to connect the SCART socket to your TV to be up and running.

Various other connectivity options are possible, depending on your other AV equipment, but the manual provides clear guides to cover most eventualities. The Toshiba SD220 has an elegant on screen menu system that is a joy to use. Whether you are looking to change the subtitle language, or delving into advanced settings, the system remains intuitive to navigate. There are various features, which while not essential to making a good DVD player do add an extra touch of class. You can access parts of films by entering the time into the disc that you want to access. Disc resume is also supported. You can dim, or even switch off the LCD display.

The video and audio quality is superb and can even be tailored to suit your viewing preferences. Enhanced Picture Mode gives you five settings, covering Light, Normal, Movie 1, Movie 2 and Animation. There are three choices for sound, covering Normal, a virtual 3-D "Spatialiser" and a special dialogue setting. The player supports a variety of disc types, including DVD video, Video CD, Audio CD, MP3 CD and CD-R.