Sony SLV-D500P DVD/VCR Combo
From Sony
DVD meets VHS in this dynamic combination component- Sony's SLV-D500P Combination DVD and VCR Player. Experience vivid DVD entertainment and the ease of VHS recording. Features include JPEG Digital Picture Playback (CD-R/RW), a Quickset Timer Dial, VCR Plus+ Programming, Cinema Illumination, a Multi-Brand TV Remote Control, and Progressive Output for DVD (480P). Also enjoy DVD, DVD+RW/+R, DVD-RW/-R (Video Mode) Playback, and CD, SVCD, VCD, CD-R/RW & MP3 Playback - you'll see and hear the difference Sony technology makes. Performance and convenience combined the SLV-D500P.
Amazon Sales Rank: #69266 in Consumer Electronics Brand: Sony Model: SLV-D500P Dimensions: 10.00 pounds
Enjoy multiformat convenience and high-end video quality with this classy, versatile combination DVD player and VCR. Sony's WEGA-styled SLV-D500P handles just about any conceivable media format, from VHS and S-VHS tapes (which it renders at standard VHS resolution) to DVD-Video, video mode DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW to MP3 CD and JPEG picture CD. Enjoy your library of VHS videos and your digital media files all in the comfort of your living room or bedroom. Whether you already own an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the SLV-D500P 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 features include a 54 MHz digital-to-analog converter, disc bookmarking, picture zoom, parental lock, and a screen saver. The VCR section offers everything from 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. VCR Plus+ simplifies advance programming, commercial skip makes it easy to zip past commercials and unwanted "coming attractions," and the built-in Quickset timer dial lets you program the VCR with just a quick turn of the wrist (press the Quickset dial, then turn the knob to set the date, start time, stop time, and channel). Connections with combo units are often inconvenient, forcing you to use separate video hookups for each section (DVD, VCR), a problem for some 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, however, as the device will not upconvert the signal from the VCR to either of those higher-resolution formats. It's a different deal 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 VHS/DVD 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.
Easy to Use - High Quality I had already ordered a Sony SLV-D300P DVD/VCR Combination player, when I read the uniformly bad Amazon.com customer reviews. Apparently, the SLV-D300P had a significant problem with skipping on all but the newest DVDs. Having learned to respect the accuracy of Amazon.com customer reviews, I sent the SLV-D300P back and ordered its slightly more expensive ($$$-$$$ more) successor, the SLV-D500P. I figured that if Sony had created a lemon, they would fix the problems in the newer model. I was not disappointed. The SLV-D500P is easy to set up, easy to use, and has excellent picture and sound quality. Most significantly, I have had no problems with skipping with over 3 dozen DVDs, including new, used, and from the local library. I have encountered no negatives with this product, and would highly recommend it, particularly for its relatively affordable price. Decent for the Price, But... I just took delivery of the Sony SLV-D500P DVD/VCR Combo earlier today. Contrary to some other reviewers' experiences, my unit has no noise issues whatsoever. The picture quality with both DVD & VCR is decent, but I do have some quibbles:1) The DVD output doesn't offer 3:2 reverse pulldown for watching DVDs of films [movies] (which have a different native frame rate than video, & require this feature to avoid nasty visual artifacts.) The Phillips combo offers this at the same price, but has gotten bad reviews for other reasons.2) The VHS output doesn't offer an S-Video Out jack, so one is forced to use the lower-quality Composite or Antenna Out jacks.3) To use the Component Video outputs (which yield the best quality) of the DVD player, you must turn on the "Progressive" setting, which, despite a button for it on the front panel, is frustratingly difficult to do, and often requires repeated attempts. (And the DVD output will be scrambled until you do.) And then you must turn it off again when using the VCR, or the VCR picture will be scrambled!4) The remote is terrible! (32 buttons of the exact same size [tiny] and shape, which do eveything from selecting channels to controlling system settings.) Don't even try to use this in the dark!If you can afford the space, buy a separate DVD & VCR - you'll be glad you did, & you can buy both for the same total cost. If you don't have the space, as I didn't, this will do. This unit is NOT loud! After I ordered the SLV-D500P, I read the review belowabout the unit being loud. I was a little worried,but after I received the SLV-D500P my fears were put to rest. It isn't loud at all,either this guy got a bad unit or is reviewing the wrong product.First we tested a DVD-R that we made using ouriMac SuperDrive. It worked wonderfully. The picture quality is excellent, but be sure to modify the built in sound settings if you don't have surround sound, because the volume willappear relatively quiet compared to your TV audiounless you modify the DVD player settings to say Audio: TV. Then it will sound fine. We are using this DVD Player with theSony KV-27FS100 Flat Panel TV. This combomakes an excellent relatively low cost, but quality,Entertainment System.
