- Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 17 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
3.0 stars
"Nice solid unit, but lacks essential features"
Pros: DVD picture quality, recorded video quality, easy menu system
Cons: no rear s-video input, remote too big, no dvd-ram support
Summary: Still haven't played with everything, but this is what I've determined so far.
Excellent DVD-Video picture quality through component output. Nice menu and features, relatively fast start-up time (disk reading).
Very disappointed that there is no rear s-video input (for satellite or digital cable box connection)...so, for the best quality source input, you must take a step down to composite (or RF coax, even worse); or live with having your s-video and audio input cables sticking out of the front jacks....not a pretty sight. Doesn't make sense, as other 'entry level' units do offer a rear s-video input.
It's been said before, but if you want to record your HBO or Showtime shows, you're out of luck, as their copy protection signal prevents you from doing this. The only solution as I understand would be recording to dvd-ram media, which this unit does not support, or a PVR type system that allows "copy once" to a hard drive.
Don't forget that the quality of your recorded material is only as good as the signal coming in...so if you use the built in tuner or composite input to record, and you have the unit connected to your tv via component cables, you'll still be seeing all the noise.
The remote is way too long for my liking (tiny buttons as well), and having to access a hidden section for recording buttons is a pain - and the sliding door will eventually break.
So, if you can live with these shortcomings, great. Otherwise, you may also want to consider some others that offer rear s-video inputs, and a more practical remote.
- 1 reply to this review
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I purchased this unit expecting it to play the DL DVD's that I burned on my Sony DR800A DVD burner. The 800A is Sony's newest PC DL burner, but this Sony player would not play it. Note: a 4 year old RCA DVD player does play the discs.
