Sony SLV-D300P Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo

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Manufacturer: Sony
Price at amazon.com: Used & new from $69.00

List price $249.99



Product Features:

• DVD/VCR combo unit with progressive-scan DVD output and 1-month, 8-event VCR programming
• Plays a wealth of formats, including DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, MP3 CD, JPEG image CD, and S-VHS tape (at VHS resolution)
• DVD bookmarking, resume, and picture zoom
• 4-head VCR offers commercial skip, 19-micron heads for clear images from EP recordings
• Includes multibrand remote control that operates most TVs

Product Description:

This classy, versatile combination deck offers the convenience of VHS recording and playback alongside high-end progressive-scan DVD performance, all in a single, WEGA-styled silver chassis standing under four inches tall. Sony's SLV-D300P handles just about any conceivable media format, from VHS and S-VHS tapes (which it renders at standard VHS resolution) to DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, MP3 CD, and JPEG picture CD. From your library of VHS videos to digital music files and digital photos, the SLV-D300P lets you enjoy them all in the comfort of a living room or bedroom. Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the SLV-D300P can deliver the full potential of 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, providing higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Other DVD functions include bookmarking, one-disc resume play (which picks up where you left off after stopping), picture zoom, parental lock, and a screen saver. The VCR section offers 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. The VCR automatically marks the tape with an index signal at the point where each recording begins so you can easily scan back to the start of a recording using these signals as a reference. Commercial skip makes it easier than ever to zip past commercials and unwanted "coming attractions." 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, 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 audio and video to your TV, a multi-lingual onscreen display (English, Spanish, French), and a multi-brand 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.
From the Manufacturer Sony presents an irresistible combination . . . the SLV-D300P DVD/VHS component. By designing this special unit, we offer you all the features you would find in DVD and VCR separate components in one product. Features include progressive output for DVD (480P), DVD, DVD+RW/+R, DVD-RW/-R (video mode) playback plus CD, SVCD, VCD, CD-R/RW, and MP3 playback, and JPEG digital picture playback (CD-R/RW). Additional features include component video output and S-video output for DVD, a multi-brand TV... read more

Description from Manufacturer:This classy, versatile combination deck offers the convenience of VHS recording and playback alongside high-end progressive-scan DVD performance, all in a single, WEGA-styled silver chassis standing under four inches tall. Sony's SLV-D300P handles just about any conceivable media format, from VHS and S-VHS tapes (which it renders at standard VHS resolution) to DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, MP3 CD, and JPEG picture CD. From your library of VHS videos to digital music files and digital photos, the SLV-D300P lets you enjoy them all in the comfort of a living room or bedroom.

Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the SLV-D300P can deliver the full potential of 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, providing higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Other DVD functions include bookmarking, one-disc resume play (which picks up where you left off after stopping), picture zoom, parental lock, and a screen saver.

The VCR section offers 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.

The VCR automatically marks the tape with an index signal at the point where each recording begins so you can easily scan back to the start of a recording using these signals as a reference. Commercial skip makes it easier than ever to zip past commercials and unwanted "coming attractions."

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, 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 audio and video to your TV, a multi-lingual onscreen display (English, Spanish, French), and a multi-brand 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.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: SONY Still Makes a Good Combination Unit Rating:
The Sony SLV-D300P Progressive-Scan Combination VCR and DVD Player is excellent. The DVD playback is very good. It is interesting that the DVD image can be output by means of Component Video Output, S-Video Output, Composite Video Output and even RF Output. The VCR component is good. It plays and records standard VHS and can playback S-VHS recordings with S-VHS Quasi Playback. Pre-recorded tapes and recordings made on my other Sony and JVC recorders look good on this unit. The VHS recordings made on the SLV-D300P are acceptable. It does have Tuner und Clock, a 1 Month/8 Event Recording Timer and Auto or manual Tracking. The Remote is small and takes some time to get used to. However, every function is described in detail in the manual. In all I am very pleased with the SLV-D300P. Besides being a space-saver I find its performance remarkable and exceeded my expectations. It not only performs well but contains so many extra features that I did not expect. This is a good unit. In find that the VCR component is better than the other stand alone VCRs from Sony.

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Comment: Bad News Rating:
When shopping for a dvd/vhs combination player, I compared the various makes and models out there. Ultimately, I chose to pay a little more to get a Sony, based on my past great experiences with Sony products.

The unit worked fine until, as fate would have it, it suddenly stopped working, right after the labor warranty expired (90 days). It won't even turn on - it just died. In contrast, a Toshiba provided a few years of heavy use before it gave up the ghost.

This was a real disappointment. Now, I can chose to ship it to Sony and pay the labor charges to fix the unit (which will likely be more than buying a new unit) or I can throw it away and buy something with proven reliability. I should have done my homework. Unlike a lot of Sony products, this unit is made in China. I can only surmise that based on most everyone else's experiences, Sony has a serious problem with their factory there. I have a feeling we'll all get some class action lawsuit paperwork in the mail down the road.

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Comment: Won't play CD-R copies of my CDs, and hangs on every DVD. Rating:
Since 80% of the other reviewers have noted the hangs when playing DVDs, I won't add much except to say that it DOES happen with brand new pristine DVDs. Almost every time.

My biggest complaint is with this unit's inability to play CD-R copies of my music collection. Now that I finally have a home theater system, I want to take advantage of it, so I'm keeping some CDs next to the DVD player. Unfortunately, my kids think it's cool to pick up my CDs. To preserve my investment, I've started making copies of my CDs to play in the family room. This unit won't play them. I get an "Error" on the screen after about 30 seconds - 1 minute of action. I've tried multiple brands of CD-R, I've tried other options for recording, and as the manual says, I've made sure the CDs are "finalized". It's interesting that these CDs play EVERYWHERE else. Both auto CD players, my boom box, every computer around, my old Toshiba DVD player, and my really old Sony CD player (about 1989!). Bottom line - either this is some funky copy protection, or the unit is a piece of CRAP! Either way, I'm never buying another Sony product again. I' always loved them, but between this player and my Trinitron TV that died after 8 years, I'm done!

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)