Sony SLV-D380P DVD/VCR Tunerless Progressive Scan DVD/VHS Combo Player (2009 Model), Black

I know most people use TiVo's nowadays, but I'm a little tech slow, own 4 other DVD/VCR combos, and like to have physical discs I can see & have in case it gets to the point that I can't afford cable in all rooms anymore. I mainly use the others to record multiple TV shows aired at the same time. This one is connected to my primary large TV to watch what I've recorded on the others either on DVD or VCR, or watch DVD's from Netflicks. I also use it connected to another VCR to edit out the commercials and then dub that tape to permanent DVD ( for shows like American Idol & SYTYCD ) on a combo that's a DVR. It periodically needs cleaning to help with tracking, but otherwise, it's working great. Now watch, since I've said that, it will start having problems. I hope not, and that with proper care will last as long as my old Toshiba, which still records and plays back tapes but the DVD player stopped working several years ago. The remote is a little hard to use if you have larger fingers, but most functions work from a universal remote, which generally have larger buttons. You still need to keep the remote handy, though, to switch back from DVD to VCR mode, if you can't find a button to do that on your universal remote.

That folks will review a product at 1 star because there's no tuner when the product listing says, "TUNERLESS"... anyway I got this for my kids' room. Needed an inexpensive DVD/VCR combo. I set it up last night, and watched a dvd with them, and found that it's quality is above what I expected for the price. The only complaint I have is the image quality when inactive (the sony screen when a dvd isn't playing). It flickers, but not noticeable when it is in play mode. It also could be the TV, as it is old and tired, so I can't say for sure that the unit is to blame. The rewind feature is great (Flash rewind a whole VHS is 120 seconds) and overall, I am happy. This may not be what you want if you are building a dynamo home theater system, but if you just want to play some movies and get a decent quality out of it, I would recommend this one. The remote is easy, and can be programed to work with most televisions as an alternative to two remotes (not a Samsung, though, so be forewarned if you have a samsung television).

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.

The Return Date? Seriously? It doesn't work. It just sits there and flashes at you. It doesn't even pretend to play a DVD or video. I tried several of each. It would allow me to load the items. But it would not start either type of media. By the way, the remote was not in any way related to the player and would not connect. Further, the player was dirty with spills and stains. AND last of all the item was not as pictured. What you see is pictured as a kind of double-decker kind of thing. What I received was a single-level flat, side-by-side machine. I would not have cared or even mentioned it, except for the general dishonesty of the entire affair. Just saying.

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.

This DVD/VHS player works great and enables me to use less space since it plays both in the same device. Remote and manual are easy to use. Instructions make sense. Sony is a great brand.

I would have given this product a 5 rating if it were not for the fact that this unit only records 1 channel per setting. That means whatever channel your cable box, satellite or analog TV converter box is set to and left on. Another words, one can not record ch. 5.1 from 8 to 9 and then ch. 7.3 from 9 to 10 unless you are there to manually change the channel. If this is possible and anyone knows how without spending $300 to $400 for a digital tuner, Please let me know how? The major reason that I purchased this unit was to be able to record from an analog antenna TV to a converter box do to the pending Feb. 17 conversion to all digital TV broadcasting which is now delayed until June 09. The old VCR system worked great. One could watch one station record another and also record multiple different channels at different times. Isn't change great! Hopefully, giving more broadcast spectrum to first responders is helpful. So why delay the conversion and make us less safe? One has to have lived in a Cave not to know the change to all digital TV broadcasting was coming!

Wanted to purchase and did a little research on the item. I found it does not transfer VHS to DVD and that was the main reason I wanted to purchase it.