Sony SLV-D350P DVD / VCR Combo

• DVD/VCR combo unit with WEGA styling, progressive-scan DVD output, and 1-month, 8-event VCR programming
• Plays video-mode DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW playback, plus MP3 CD, JPEG CD, and quasi-S-VHS playback (at VHS resolution)
• DVD bookmarking, resume, and picture zoom
• 4-head VCR offers commercial skip, 19-micron heads for clear images from EP recordings
• Includes multibrand remote control that operates most TVs

Amazon.com Product Description:
With its WEGA-styled chassis, Sony's SLV-D350P is the perfect high-convenience complement to today's silvery home-entertainment components. This versatile combination deck offers the convenience of VHS recording and playback and high-end progressive-scan DVD performance, handling just about any conceivable media format, from VHS and S-VHS tapes (which it plays at standard VHS resolution) to DVD-Video, video-mode DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW, as well as MP3 CD and JPEG picture CD. From your library of VHS videos to your digital music files and digital photos, the SLV-D350P lets you enjoy them all in the comfort of your living room or bedroom. Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the SLV-D350P can deliver the full potential of your DVDs. 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. Other DVD functions include bookmarking, picture zoom, parental lock, and a screen saver. The VCR section offers one-month, eight-event advance programming to commercial skip. Your camcorder or gaming console plugs right into the front panel for hassle-free connections. Its four-head design ensures smooth slow-motion play (forward and reverse) and clear still-frame images, and with hi-fi sound the unit records and plays back stereo audio tracks. Its 19-micron heads deliver the clearest possible picture when recording or viewing in EP (extended-play) mode. Commercial skip makes it easier than ever to zip past commercials and unwanted "coming attractions," jumping forward 30 seconds for every press of the commercial-skip button. Connections with combo units are often inconvenient, forcing you to use separate video hookups for each section (DVD, VCR), a problem for older TVs. This player has it figured out: a single RF or composite-video connection to a television will display either the DVD or the VCR signal, depending on which format you're viewing. If you want to view DVDs in S-video or in component-video (either interlaced or progressive-scan), you will need to use two inputs, as the device will not upconvert the signal from the VCR to either of those higher-resolution formats. Not to worry, though: any component- or S-video-equipped TV will offer sufficient inputs for both of the SLV-D350P's formats. It's a different arrangement for audio: you can listen through a single set of stereo analog-audio cables for each component (one is supplied), or--if you want to enjoy DVDs in discrete 5.1-channel surround sound--you can send the DVD's audio to a compatible audio/video receiver and a multichannel speaker system through a digital-audio interconnect (either optical or coaxial, not supplied). The unit also comes with an RF cable that will transmit DVD/VHS audio and video to your TV, a multilingual onscreen display (English, Spanish, French), and a multibrand TV/DVD/VCR remote control. What's in the Box DVD/VCR combo, remote control, remote batteries (two AA), user's manual, stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, coaxial video cable, and warranty information.

really? this thing has been amazing!:
wow. I have to say I'm extremely surprised to read all of the terrible reviews for this DVD player! I got this thing a little over 4 years ago. I've used it almost daily for that entire time; even went so far as to bring it on tour a couple of times. I've never had a single problem with reading DVDs or VHS cassettes of any kind. Nothing has ever malfunctioned or broken on it, and the thing still purrs like a kitten. my only two complaints, for the record, are that sometimes the "auto" clock function won't pick up a time signal through cable as it should, and I'm going to have to buy an up-scaling DVD player to accommodate the new HDTV I just bought. again, this thing has been awesome to me and I'll be sad to see it go. cheers! - Tristan -

Wish I had read the reviews, too:
Although my player still works, and gets used almost every day, I have never been happy with this machine. I'm sorry I did not read online reviews before buying this in 2006. DVD picture quality is poor compared to the other 4 DVD players I have used. Picture is dark and does not reveal detail what I can get from the same DVDs on different players. No amount of toying with the video settings for this player have helped. Videocassette produces some kind of static dots on screen that can only alleviated or removed by tapping or hitting the top of the player at the rear top, just left of centre. I can't believe I have resorted to hitting solid state electronics to make them work! My old GE VCR from the early 1990s works better than this Sony. I agree with others' comments about the remote. After two years of daily use, I still have to re-read the remote buttons to access special features. On other remotes, you tend to remember the logical places for things and can locate them without thinking. So, the thing still works, but I have never been happy with this player and regret the purchase. It is now in the basement getting used for exercise videos. This was my first and likely my only Sony purchase. I'm now into Blu-ray and went with Samsung instead. Edit: DVD died one month after the original May 2008 review, and Setup feature cannot be accessed any longer. Slow death of a machine that was never a pleasure to use.

It Was Good Until It Failed...:
I've had this player for a little over 2 years and was happy with it until the middle of last week. Now after reading through some reviews, it looks like I'm just one of the many that had the DVD side of the player fail completely. On a positive note, up until the point it failed, both the DVD and VCR worked great. But while watching an episode of The Family Guy on DVD last week, the scene froze and no buttons had any effect. I unplugged it and it hasn't read another DVD since. It tries for a few seconds and then I get the word "Error." Just for fun, I even tried opening it up and fidgeting with the laser, moving it back and forth, but it looks like the DVD functionality is gone for good. :-(

Great for the price:
I have owned this for almost 4 years and have never had any problems with it. DVDs and VHS tapes play great and my daughter(2) has now been putting it to good use (since discovering movies). Still no problems. Great player if you don't want to spend big money.

Complete Trash!:
Two of them have died early deaths - like everyone else the DVD just stops and won't play. I can't beleive that Sony put their name on this worthless boat anchor.