TV with DVR & Internet: $84.90/mo
Entered CNET Catalog: 01/09/2002
SKU: 0044319102291
Manufacturer: RCA
Manufacturer description
RCA RTDVD1 offers the ultimate in home theatre! This sleek, stylish, and sophisticated RCA home theatre system not only delivers 200 watts of Dolby Digital/MP3 audio power but it also plays DVD's, CD-R's, VCR's and CD's. This is a true example of where functionality meets the style runway. RCA RTDVD1 features 5-speaker audio system with a built-in DVD/CD Player enabling MP3 playback and an integrated digital AM/FM stereo tuner with 30 presets. It delivers 200 watts of total power with Dolby Digital Surround decoding. Besides, the unit offers MP3 Multiple Compression Rate compatibility. RCA RTDVD1 is provided with optical in/out, S-Video output for DVD and S-Video connections for quality image. The system is supplied with a universal remote control.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 05/23/2002
A nice package
With a list price of $400, this is a budget system all right, but we were impressed by the combo receiver/DVD player's neat, silver faceplate and informative display. The features roster is fairly complete: 200 watts of music power, an AM/FM radio with 30 presets, an onscreen menu display, and both Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II--but no DTS--surround processing. While this "compact" receiver is only 3.6 inches high, its 17.0-inch width and 15.5-inch depth ultimately create a rather full-sized footprint. As far as the DVD player goes, it's a garden-variety, entry-level deck that spins DVDs, CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and MP3 CDs.
Connectivity options reach beyond standard-kit fare and are closer to the sort that we see on low-priced receivers: two analog outputs, a couple of digital-audio connections, standard composite-video, as well as S-Video inputs and outputs. The big, curvy remote is comfortable, but its buttons aren't logically laid out, so it's not the most intuitive clicker that we've seen.
This RTDVD1 package also includes five featherweight, silver-plastic sats and a matching wood sub. No specifications were provided for any of the speakers. However, we'd guess that the sats have just a 2- or 3-inch driver and no tweeter. The slim-line sub, which measures a mere 6.5 by 14.0 by 14.0 inches, probably has a 6- or 7-inch woofer. The sub's front panel proclaims "Powered Super Bass," which would lead any thinking person to believe that this speaker is powered. However, the sub gets its juice from the receiver (powered subs have their own internal amplifiers). The provided color-coded speaker wires simplify setup tasks.
Sound check
This system can play louder than some of the budget kits that we've tested; we pushed the 5.25-inch tall sats pretty hard with the pedal-to-the-heavy-metal flick The Fast and the Furious, and they kept their cool. Sure, the little guys were severely bass-challenged on their own, but the sub added some dimension and weight. The wee speakers deftly handled the slow-motion helicopter sounds that pan across all five channels in the beginning of the Apocalypse Now Redux DVD. Dialogue was clean and articulate, but we did notice a popping sound when we skipped ahead chapters on DVDs. Despite this quirk, the picture quality was consistently solid.
The RTDVD1's bass is fairly tuneful but not terribly deep, so funky jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood's Combustication CD lacked its soul-stirring foundation in stereo. Once we selected Dolby's Pro Logic II surround processing, the sound fattened up a bit, but even with all of the speakers rolling, Ryan Adams's rollicking "To Be Young" didn't generate enough energy to keep us happy. If music is your thing, the RTDVD1 probably isn't the best way to go. Like most entry-level home-theater-in-a-box kits, this RCA will perform best in very small rooms where its meager bass capabilities won't be as obvious.
The RTDVD1's closest competitor is Zenith's $400 , but this RCA unit has more connectivity options and nudges ahead with its wealth of features, although sound quality is basically equal. We nominate Philips's tasty as the ticket for sound-conscious buyers on a budget.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
User Rating: 
4/10
stoped working after 11 months
Pros: Great combination for our motorhome. all in one untit.
Cons: Only plays about 20% of the DVDs tried. Skips and jumps around on both vidio and audio. Probably needs najor servide (bummer).
User Rating: 
9/10
Great Home Theater for Small Rooms
Pros: I have had this home theater since about the 1st week of January. I absolutely love it. No big complaint at all(you will see that listed in cons). I had been wanting a Phillips Vertical DVD player(vertical for saving space) since I saw it at Target. I did
Cons: Only con is no zoom as with the Phillips but that's okay.
User Rating: 
10/10
Could not have made a better purchase!!
Pros: I'd have to give a 10 due to It replaces my small stereo system from RCA I had bought about 5 years ago that still worked great. I had just purchased the vertical Phillips DVD at Target for $129, Radio shack then advertised the RCA RTDVD1 for just $149! I
Cons: Can't zoom in or out don't know how to set tone controls if it has some
User Rating: 
6/10
DVD overheats causing visual and audio failure
Pros: Sound is very good for us.
Cons: DVD overheats causing degradation or failure of sound and visual. Fan blown on unit corrects problem. Radio Shack could not repair. Total isolation of unit on a stand helps, but not perfect. Unit needs an internal fan.
User Rating: 9/10
Best purchase I ever made
Pros: Has a dvd player, stereo and cd player all in one.Works wonders with Directv Dolby Digital receiver. Great for a bedroom. Sometimes DVD starts where you left off.
Cons: No zoom option.
User Rating: 
2/10
Nice, but doesn't do enough
Pros:
Cons:
User Rating: 
5/10
Bought 2 new units-both broken
Pros:
Cons:
