Sony SLV-D380P DVD/VCR Tunerless Progressive Scan DVD/VHS Combo Player

• Progressive Output (480p) for DVD Player
• Multi Brand TV Remote Control
• CD, MP3, and JPEG Playback
• 4-Head Hi-Fi Stereo
• Flash Rewind: Rewind a T-120 tape in around 120 seconds

I got this to replace my old dvd vcr combo. I wanted the multi read dvd player for my home made dvd's. As an added bonus it also reads jpeg disks. As to all the negative reviews, I read all of them found them to be without merit. Every complaint was that the vcr had no tuner. I have a satellite box and if I wish to tape programs I use the satellite to do so. However I have no need for this as I have a dvr with my satellite service. To those who objected to the absense of a tuner, why would you purchase this product not knowing what that meant? Besides, in 2009 when the broadcasters switch to digital, everyone will need a separate digital tuner anyway.

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DVD players can be so unstable, hit and miss, unreliable and short-lived that the machine may be worth the price for that feature alone. It's played every disc and doesn't even stick. There are disappointments, however. This Sony unit's remote control will not operate my Sony TV, which was purchased two years ago. More aggravating is the jumpy picture on all of my commercial VHS tapes when I play them with the Sony. (Note that S-video out and component video out capabilities apply only to the DVD player, not the VHS half.) Fortunately, I've got a really cheap Sylvania VHS player that blows this one away, and by stacking the practically generic machine on top of the Sony combo player and employing three remote controls, I'm able to achieve the desired result for which this machine was manufactured.

Still, somehow it's just not the same.

[Later: One problem I've noticed with the DVD player is the rapid movement of the tray. On some occasions, it's closed so hard the DVD has become dislodged, forcing me to hold the tray back to prevent it from slamming shut.]

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Until DVR's are more uniform, we decided to replace our broken VCR with another. We do have cable, and at first were really impressed with the quality and quiet of this unit. HOWEVER...when we tried to play a tape we'd previously recorded on another machine, we found out that the Sony can't adjust the tracking for tapes recorded on other VCRs, if they were recorded in SLP, the fastest speed that uses the least tape. So our old movies are unplayable, and the only way to record on our older Panasonic to be able to play it on the Sony is to record in SP, thus getting only 2 hours on a 120 tape. Anything longer will be cut off. So forget about a movie or baseball game.

A very bad feature on a very good machine.

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this unit replaced a broken 6-year old jvc in the kids' room (you can imagine how tragic a breakdown in entertainment is to kids). thus far (2 months) the sony unit has performed well. read times on dvd's is faster than the old jvc, the vhs is relatively noiseless, and picture quality is good overall.

this unit does not have a cable tuner so you'll have to switch the tv back and forth between sources! this also means that if your tv only has a cable jack / coaxial input you'll be out of luck connecting this unit. the remote is adequate but did not come with codes to control a 14-year old jvc crt (which refuses to die), so now we have to train the kids to use 3 remotes (tivo remote for directv, jvc tv and sony dvd) if it werent for kids' natural propensity for this stuff, i'd have no hair left.

I have a continuing need for VCRs because I have a large condo and many areas in which to view tapes. I don't use the DVD function because my DVD recorders use RAM discs, but so what? For $79, the DVD drive can sit there empty. This Sony plays 19 micron tapes recorded on my Sharps, JVCs and other Sonys exceptionally well. As I have made a point of buying only 19 micron VCRs, I can't attest to other types of recordings.

This is what you do: Attach it to any AV input directly to your TV, and use it only as a player. There is no coaxial connection, so you have to have an unused AV input. If you have a malfunctioning VCR, don't throw it away. Piggyback this Sony into the front or rear AV inputs, and use this Sony's recording capacity and the old VCR's tuner. Eventually, I will go all DVD, but I need to wait for the prices to come down, and for my other units to die a natural death.

It took awhile for me to figure all this out. I hope it helps others make an appropriate and helpful purchase. I am contemplating buying another one while I can, and reserve it for later in this time of expensive electronic change.