Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo

• DVD/VCR combination unit with progressive-scan DVD video and 4-head, hi-fi stereo VHS recording and playback
• Front-panel inputs accommodate camcorders and gaming consoles
• Active Fullscreen Function (AFF) displays widescreen movies in full-screen on 4:3 aspect-ratio TVs
• Plays MP3 and WMA CDs, JPEG and Kodak Picture CDs
• Coaxial and optical digital-audio outputs, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround passthrough

I purchased this device two weeks ago (May 26, 2004) from SEARS and straight out of the box, the DVD player does not play ANY DVD! I burn DVDs in many different formats (DVD-+RW) from different manufactures and none of them play. Then I tried to play a regular DVD (Anthony Robbin's Get the Edge) and it also will not play. I tried several other brand new DVDs and none will play. I even tried playing MP3 and WMP discs, with no luck. I knew I should not have purchased this product without researching it first but I was in a time crunch. I do not recommend this product! And I waited over 10 minutes trying to speak with a customer service rep, which is also unacceptable!

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Hey, for the price its great! Easy to set up, works like a charm. Quality and features are excellent at the price.

A few annoyances:

1. Even though it has dual audio outs, only one set seems to work with the VCR (I haven't tried the DVD yet), meaning I can't run audio out to my TV and my tuner at the same time.

2. The remote control looks and feels cheap. Small buttons, dense layout.

3. My universal remote doesn't know about Apex equipment, and so I have to use two remotes.

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The VCR is dreadful when it works. I have hundreds of hours of tape that this VCR has problems playing. It always skips and you can never get the tracking down just right. There is no visial display in tracking.

Also, APEX customer support is factually non-existant. Their website answeres nothing and you can't contact them via email. Also, their tech-support hotline is open 8 hours and the signal is busy during those times.

You'll have to end up spending $30 to send the piece of crap back because buying electronic online is like playing Russian Roulette.

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I have had this machine for seven months now and I can't help but tell you how well it is performing. I was a bit wary of the all in one concept but this apex does everything it says it records your tv programs while letting you watch a dvd or as I have done connect my old stereo system and speakers to listen to mp3 cds. The recording function on this machine works much better than stand alone vcr's that I have used it records high quality digital cable. I would certainly buy apex again.

After reading not-so-good reviews on most dvd/vcr combos on this and other external sites, I decided to try my luck with the Apex 3800. My luck was not so good with this model, as I found when I hooked it up to our tv. The front LED display did not display anything--no clock or counter display, making us believe at first that the machine was not powered at all. After figuring out that the machine was working but dysfunctionally, we put in a DVD to try it out. Every 10 minutes or so, a loud popping sound would come out out of our tv speakers. This never happened before we had the machine. This may have been just a faulty machine..but I'm returning this one and looking for other brands that are out there.