Editorial Review

DVD player and Viideo tape recorder without tuner ... Read more

Editorial Review

Dust off those video tapes and enjoy VHS movie formats with the Magnavox DVD Recorder & 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR. It features 1080p upconversion and 2-way dubbing, so you can record VHS tapes to DVD, or vice versa. Plus, the Magnavox DVD Recorder & 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR can record for up to six hours ?Çö so sit back and enjoy the show.* Magnavox DVD Recorder & 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR:1080p Up Conversion * Progressive Scan Video Out * 5-Speed for Up to 6-hours Recording * Dolby Digital Stream Out * 2 Way Dubbing (VCR>DVD, DVD>VCR) * Satellite Link Recording * S-Video Input/Output * HDMI Output ... Read more

Editorial Review

DVD player and Viideo tape recorder without tuner ... Read more

Editorial Review

This versatile unit plays both DVD discs and VHS tapes, delivering crisp pictures and high-quality sound. Samsung's DVD-V9800 includes a 4-head Hi-Fi VCR with the added visual clarity of progressive scan output and allows MP3, JPEG and WMA playback. ... Read more

Editorial Review

DVD/VHS Combo DVD Player ... Read more

Editorial Review

This product has been Factory-Refurbished to perform as if it were new. It includes a manufacturer's 90-Day Warranty. The DVD/VCR Combo by Philips combines both old technology and new technology to preserve your memorable moments. Not only does it play video cassettes, but also DVDs as well, so you can watch your child tapes on VHS and also the latest action-flicks on DVD without having to operate multiple devices. It also has the capability of viewing images along with MP3 and WMA music files. Play MP3 or WMA music (also while viewing pictures) Progressive scan doubles the vertical resolution of the image for crisp, flicker-free picture Hi-Fi stereo VHS plays true stereo VHS Compatibility - CD, VCD, DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R, DL-, VHS MP3, WMA audio formats JPEG digital images Unit Dimensions - 17.13 W x 3.7 H x 9.17 D ... Read more

Editorial Review

Playable Formats: VHS Hi-Fi, DVD-Video, DVD-RW/-R, +RW/+R, CD, SVCD, VCD, CD-R/RW, JPEG Digital Still (CD-R/RW)Timer-Link RecordingTunerlessSQPBVHS Hi-Fi StereoJVC HR-XVC11 MULTI REGION CODEFREE DVD Player with VHS Recorder ALL MULTI REGION CODE ZONE FREE DVD PLAYER VCR COMBO. Guaranteed to Play all region 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 PAL or NTSC DVDs on any TV, VHS will play NTSC tapes only. Color BlackProgressive Scan OutputDVD to VHS Direct Rec.*14bit/108MHz Video D/A ConverterStylish, Slim design 3-1/8" (79mm) High ... Read more

Editorial Review

This dual DVD VHS player is perfect for recording TV programs.The player includes Timer Link, a quick and easy solution for program recording.VHS player has a four head hi-fi play-back. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Description: This SDV393 DVD/VCR combination unit was engineered with all the advanced features and cosmetic appeal you've come to expect from Toshiba. Housed within a sleek, silver chassis that adds a stylish exclamation point to the look of most entertainment systems, it provides a full array of home theater-ready connections, including component, S-Video, and composite outputs. A coaxial audio output provides full compatibility with Dolby Digital and DTS digital systems. Readily accessible front-panel audio/video inputs permit easy connection of a camcorder for simple dubbing of home movies to the VCR. Enjoy a wide variety of discs with this player including DVD-Video, DVD-R/-RW, Video-CD, Audio-CD, CD-R/-RW, and WMA/MP3 files. You can even watch a DVD while simultaneously recording a program on the VCR. ... Read more

Reviews

Hookup comparison--no contest!, December 28, 2005
I received two DVD/VCR combo players as gifts at the same time--the Toshiba and the comparable Sony model (SLV-D360). Based on Amazon reviews, I tried installing the Sony first. The only way to do so is by running the cable through the DVD, which for me caused problems with my cable reception. In contrast, the Toshiba comes with wires that allow for coaxial hookup or hookup through the television's video port, which I did. We've had no problems so far and are very happy with it (no skips, etc), in cotrast to the Sony, which we will be returning shortly!

good buy, November 6, 2005
So many people from previous reviews complain about this model but mine works PERFECTLY fine. Every DVD I have stuck in there plays very cleary with no problems and the VCR tapes just fine as well. What annoyed me at first when I was taping something was at the beginning the display stayed at 0:00 for awhile but then I realized the numbers change every minute it tapes. I bought this since it was cheap and something I could use in a college dorm...but get this the description says it only plays DVD-R discs. All the homemade DVD's I have are from DVD+R discs and this model played them! I was pretty happy about that. So yeah unlike all the other reviewers before me I am very happy with this DVD/VCR combo.

Great picture and sound quality, easy to use for the techno-challenged, May 7, 2006
This was one of the best gifts I've ever received. The buttons make sense; both DVDs and videotapes play perfectly. I've had mine for a year and a half. I see that other folks have written that they have had problems, but I have had no problems at all. Although I primarily use it for DVDs,I really love this machine, and would recommend it to anyone who still has videos, and who hates complicated buttons and/or directions on their remotes.

Works for me, February 16, 2006
I needed a Video recorder with a programable timer to record all my TV shows and now I can watch DVDs at the same time! Good picture, easy to hook up, easy to use. I love it.

Not As Advertised, June 29, 2005
I called Amazon to complain about the description of the item. It does not have the "Up Conversion and Memory Slot" described in the product listing. There used to be a picture of the product, which showed the memory slot, and I was frankly surprised that the unit lacked it. So clearly they had a picture of another unit, as the model number is correct.

P.S. The machine completely died after about a year of very light use.

Unsatisfied, August 13, 2005
I am dissappointed with this DVD player. As I do not own it, my mom's work has this exact unit, and the people at work are very unhappy with it.

DVD Player -

The DVD player was good, but not as good as it could be. Some discs with some minor-medium scratches and/or fingerprints would sadly refuse to play. The fingerprints could be wiped off, but some DVD with only a few scratches had to be purchased at the store again. Otherwise, the DVD picture is very clear and crisp (using a 19" Samsung TV) and sound quality is above average.

VHS Player -

Just awful. Old tapes, damaged or perfect, would not play. Mainly tapes before 1997 would play with bleeps every second, with the tape being in good condition, but would play fine in an old Samtron (unknown brand). Another dissappointment, which is the biggest one, is that it WOULDN'T PLAY RECORDED TAPES!!! This was SO dissappointing, recorded tapes, from Funai to Sony to TDK, nothing would play. Everything refuses to. Either the picture quality was way below average or it would make all of these grinding sounds and spit the recorded tape out. People planning on using this for home movies, recorded from TV, and recorded from camera to recorded tape, you should NOT buy this. This was so dissappointing, almost half of the library was recorded tapes.

Functions/Remote -

Normal DVD/VHS player function. Play, pause, stop, rewind, fast-foward, the DVD/VHS switch, etc. The remote was very useful, but it's not universal to change the TV channel to the player. The remote had all of the DVD player's functions. The DVD player doesn't have every function so keep the remote in a safe place.

Overall -

Do not buy this unit. The DVD player works well, but having an old, unknown brand VHS player working better than a Toshiba...that's sad. My mom's work will likely be looking for a new unit without Toshiba on it.

P.S. - You'll find that my review is the same for the SDV392. This is because they are the same unit, only the V393 has a built-in-memory, which is useful, but I still don't recommend it.

Warning: Does not have Up Conversion and Memory Slot, September 10, 2005
What the headline description should say is "Progressive Scan DVD/VCR Combination." This is how Toshiba refers to the SD-V393 on their website. Except for this error, the product is fine.

Great idea, bad technology, July 25, 2005
This is the 3rd DVD/VCR unit (not necessarily Toshiba products) that I have purchased and each unit develops the same problem over a 3 month time period. On this unit the VCR part has not worked at all, eats the tape and turns the unit off until you can pry the tape out. The others had the same problem - one the DVD stopped working as well.

When this DVD player stops working I think I am going to replace with just one unit.

WORKS GREAT - LESS FILLING ! !, April 10, 2006
I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS OF NOISE OR POOR QUALITY WITH THE TOSHIBA SD-V393. I HAVE ONLY USED IT A FEW WEEKS BUT SO FAR - SO GOOD! I DO AGREE THE REMOTE CONTROL IS VERY SMALL.

A.P.

Beware this and other Toshiba DVD players, August 31, 2005
This player does not play DVDs. I would estimate that only 10% of my DVDs play without skipping or pausing on this player. My mom also has a Toshiba TV/DVD player combo, and it does the same thing.

Also:
The remote is cheap and the buttons are too small.
The response time on menu navigation is slow. ... Read more

Editorial Review

It'll change the way you watch movies forever! This Samsung lets you enjoy VHS videos, DVDs and take advantage of HD technology! Everything you need to immerse yourself in the past, present and future of A/V technologyperfect for maximizing your VHS video investment while migrating to DVDs! This versatile Samsung combo unit has an advanced progressive scan DVD player plus a 1080i HDMI output that let you enjoy the best possible picture quality from your DVDs. Plus it has a 4-head hi-fi VCR that's great for watching movies and home videos of the kids. Features MP3, JPEG and WMA playback capability, compatibility with popular DVD and CD formats, Dolby Digital surround sound, component and digital audio outputs and DivX playback. Approx. 10-3/4 x 17 x 3-1/4. 90-day limited warranty. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The SLV-N750 Hi-Fi VHS Video Cassette Recorder was made with your home theater in mind. It has a 17" Home Theater Size Chassis and a silver finish that complements your WEGA TV. ... Read more

Editorial Review

All functions might not work on Non Multi System TV's. ... Read more

Editorial Review

FACTORY REFURBISHED Pokemon Pikachu VCR Video Cassette Recorder with 19 Micron Head and 2 Remotes ... Read more

Editorial Review

No Pioneer USA Warranty DivX playbackHD JPEG PhotoViewerVideo Adjust function with Sharpness/Brightness/Contrast/Gamma/Hue/Chroma Level/BNR controlZoom functionPAL/NTSC Dual System with PAL-NTSC video converterAudio Features192 kHz/24-bit D/A converterWMA/MPEGAAC/MP3 playbackDialogue EnhancerSound Equalizer (Rock/Pop/Live/Dance/Techno/Classic/Soft) (DV-410V-K(-S))Virtual Surround-Coaxial output ConveniencesUSB Terminal -CD -> USB recordingPHOTO + MUSIC MIX (JPEG Slideshow with Music)Advanced GUI -Disc Navigator for easy browsingLast (Position) Memory - 5 (DVD)/1 (VCD)Resume functionScreen saverAuto power off ... Read more

Editorial Review

PAL NTSC Playback of ANY DVD / This unit requires multi-system or PAL TV to operate / DVIX Compatible / Code Free DVD player (Region 0 - 6)) PAL playback on PAL TV Playback of PAL DVD movies will require a Video converter or a Multi-System TV.VCR Player NTSC playback on PAL TV ... Read more

Editorial Review

Don't miss a minute of your favorite video? Get Sony's SLV-N55 VCR today! You'll enjoy features like Flash Rewind, Commercial Skip, and Instant Replay. ChildLoc circuitry is provided for parental guidance. You can rewind your T-120 tapes in less than 60 seconds, flip past commercials with the touch of a button, and replay sports or movie scenes you didn't catch the first time. Also featuring front A/V inputs, and Plug & Play, which enables easy set up for auto tuner preset and AutoClock set, this VCR is the perfect choice. ... Read more

Editorial Review

JVC Multi System DVD/VCR COMBO Player. This Multi-System DVD/VCR Combo Player has some of the most advanced upgrades and features such as 32Mb built-in digital signal converter, allowing you to play PAL/SECAM/NTSC DVDs as well as Region 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, encoded DVD discs, and NTSC VHS tapes, this unit will not play PAL tapes. This unit is Tuner-Free which means that you are not paying for something you don't need, most television sets sold today already have a built in tuner, therefore paying for two makes no sense. For example your TV or set-top cable box has an ATSC/CLEAR QAM digital tuner and the appropriate outputs, you have everything you need to connect this Region Free Machine and Enjoy the ride. The VCR portion on this unit will not play PAL tapes. There's even more to this versatile video machine than first meets the eye. In addition to DVD, DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW, DVD PAL, DVD NTSC, DVD Region 0,1,2,3,4,5,6, you can also enjoy audio CDs, VCD, and CD-DA/R/RW discs. Even JPEG images (on CD-R) can be enjoyed with this amazing A/V wonder. You can record on the VCR during DVD playback, and even copy your DVD to the VCR (non-copyrighted material only). The shuttle search and variable slow options will help you find your favorite scenes in no time or slow down for a closer look. Check out cool scenes a frame at a time if you like and zoom in on details you may never notice otherwise. It all goes to show, JVC is as serious about entertainment as you are. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Why bother with lesser known brands when you can get a fine VHS VCR by Panasonic? The Panasonic PV-V4520 is an excellent performer loaded with features that make it fun and easy to use.The double-azimuth 4-Head video system produces superior, jitter-free special effects for a clear and stable picture during still/pause, slow motion, and forward/reverse search. Digital Auto Tracking Allows playing of most VHS tapes without the need for manual tracking adjustment by continuously adjusting the tape's tracking across the video heads during playback. Receive and record stereo sound from MTS (multi-channel television sound) stereo TV broadcasts, where available. The VCR Plus+ System simplifies VCR programming by reducing programming entries. Program the VCR by entering PlusCode programming numbers that can be found in most newspapers and TV listing magazines.This VCR provides stunning sonic performance, with dynamic range approaching CD levels of quality. With today's incredible sound effects in movies, Hi-Fi Stereo is an essential part of any home theater. Illuminated Universal Remote Control allows you full TV control in the dark. Besides providing total control of the TV, it also controls key features on most brands of VCRs and Cable Boxes. Additional features include Trilingual On-Screen Display for on-screen programming instructions in English, Spanish or French and Auto Clock Set with 24-hour Back-up that automatically sets the current time and date and updates the clock in the event of a power failure. Index Search is included for simplified access to various programs on a tape. Program End Search function will let you find the end of a recorded program, while Tape Position Display identifies your current position on a tape with an indication of remaining tape length. ... Read more

Reviews

Solid VCR, June 2, 2000
This is a very solid VCR. It does a good job at recording as well as playback. Programming is very, very easy--I didn't even need the manual to figure it out, there are on screen directions which are real easy to follow. The only weak part of this unit is the remote. The channel and volume buttons are really small, so it is a little difficult to use at first, especially in the dark. This isn't a real big deal to me, but it would be nice if these buttons were bigger. It is also nice that you can use all the functions of the VCR without the remote, which is nice for those of use who have the tendency to lose the remote.

Inexpensive, a bit noisy, but worth it, October 10, 2000
I've owned 6 Panasonic VCRs, each one better than its predecessor. I am not sure that the same holds for this one, though the price is certainly too good to pass on.

If you've owned a Panasonic VCR before then you expect reliability and ease of use. This unit delivers on that...while including 4 heads, commercial skip, a lighted remote (finally!), and the entire bevy of features now standard on every VCR.

The real negative is that it is much noiser than the model it replaces; particularly when it is rewinding. We are talking a good bit noise, enough that it makes me want to turn up the TV volume while it is rewinding.

I actually went out and purchased a JVC VCR to consider as an alternative, but returned that one and kept the Panasonic becaese the JVC was way too confusing to program.

So why did I keep this one? It is very inexpensive, I like the features, and I can live with the added noise. I think this one is a keeper unless the noise will drive you crazy.

Bravo Panasonic!, August 9, 2000
I consider myself to be a video junkie and consider the ownership of a good VCR a sacred thing. My 9 year old Mitsubishi which I loved and cherished for being an excellent VCR for so long started to die so this is why I went shopping for the best VCR under $140.00 US. I initially purchased the Sony SLV-N50 and returned it, then moved on to trying an Hitachi VT-FX6510A both of which are in the same price range of the Panasonic. I have since returned the Hitachi and have found a new love with this Panasonic PV-V4520. It's not the top of the line but it sure beats the other 2 I tried first and foremost in recorded picture quality. The PV-V4520 is comparable to the Sony SLV-N50 when you record in SP, but the PV-V4520 kills the Sony SLV-N50 when recording in EP/SLP. The Sony SLV-N50 fell apart in EP mode where the EP of the PV-V4520 was amazing! The Sony SLV-N50 also falls short on features when compared to the PV-V4520. The PV-V4520 offers VCR+, and the ever crucial Index Search function which the Sony does not. You need to upgrade to the Sony SLV-N70 to get that feature. The Hitachi VT-FX6510A has pretty much the same features but also does not compare with the PV-V4520 when recording in SP or EP. The Hitachi has the worst recording quality of the 3 in all speeds.

The PV-V4520 offers a rare LP record speed and that is nice when you want to tape up a 3.5 hour movie on 1 tape with the Panasonic's excellent picture quality in LP... It's worth every dime and then some. The PV-V4520 is made in Japan making it even more attractive to buy because you know it will last longer than one that is not.

On a last note, the Sony SLV-N50 and the Hitachi VT-FX6510 both come equipped with the so-called 19 micro head technology to give better recording and playback in EP. After seeing the PV-V4520 record and playback BETTER than the others you tend to wonder if this micron head business is a marketing stunt and nothing more.

What more can I say, Panasonic has the quality in sound, picture and the best reliability in the business. So the choice should be easy for you!

PS: I don't work for Panasonic and this is my first Panasonic piece of equipment.

Quality unit, May 22, 2000
This is a solid performer. Its features are very average for this generation of VCR. However, it is a joy to operate. I loved the remote(although it did take some getting used to). The major drawback is the lack of 19-micron heads(also called enhanced EP). 19-micron heads improve EP record and playback. It is rare to find a unit in this price range without them. If you do a lot of EP stuff, find a unit with 19-micron heads. Otherwise, this is a fine mid-range unit

Okay For General Use, October 10, 2000
This is basically a good VCR for general recording and play back and offers some nice features: a remote that can be VERY easily programmed to control your TV and cable converters channel and volume functions; easy switching to SAP (Spanish), stereo or mono; fairly good slow motion for frame to frame viewing; a commercial skip function to fast forward thru your tape 60 seconds at a time (not 30 seconds like one review states); easy on screen programming and setup; a cool indexing and searching feature to help scan the tapes in your library once marked; and if your cable service supports it, the VCR can automatically program all the channels and time/date with a couple of button pushes.

However the unit isn't perfect. Although the remote will back light some keys it only does the biggest, easiest ones to figure out in the dark (play, stop, rew, ff, vcr, tv, dss cable) and ignores the rest. The manual for this VCR is somewhat poorly written and should be read at least once before plugging in the unit to avoid any problems. The layout for the buttons on the remote can be annoying especially having the record and tape speed buttons right next to the channel up and down buttons. The unit also only displays the tape counter on your television screen and not on the unit itself. When forwarding through a tape looking for a specific time, the counter disappears making it difficult know exact where you are on the tape, until you return to play mode or stop the tape. The plug was also shorter then my old unit by about two feet, requiring an extension cord to reach the outlet in the location the unit was being used.

The noise is a serious defect., November 10, 2000
I have to agree with the other comments here. What good is a VCR if the sound it makes whenever a tape is in motion (playing, rewinding, or forwarding) interferes with the sound coming from your TV? Plug in this VCR, and you'll suddenly feel like you're living under humming phone wires.

A Great VCR, November 14, 2000
I just bought my PV-V4520,i just love it,mine is quite , sound and picture are very good.My unit was made in Japan they are made also in another Asia Country,i suggest to get one made in Japan.I have 3 speed record and playback.I see some of the reviews say they can't record in LP mine does,get one that was made in Japan it does make a difference.No complaints here.

Good, no-frills VCR, November 13, 2002
I purchased this VCR as a gift for my parents. They've been using it for playback and recording for almost two years now. It has had no problems and has functioned as expected.

The controls, remote, and hookups were easy to figure out, with enough -ins and -outs for the basic AV system. This VCR functions much quiter than the one it replaced.

Great Little VCR!, August 28, 2002
I was lucky and was able to find this model back in Sept 2001. It's Panasonic's 2000 model year entry level VCR, and it's really reliable. Picture quality is clear & brilliant, and it plays tapes very clean. It doesn't add noise to older tapes like some other VCRs do. The only drawback is the motor noise, but once you get used to it, you don't notice it. It's compact and fits into limited spaces with ease. It's one of the last VCRs that was made in Japan by Panasonic for the 2000 model year.

The Best Ever, December 13, 2000
I must say that I spent a pretty pennie on this but its worth it.I was looking on the internet trying to find the best vcr ever(I love movies),an I found it.The picture is great,the moter is a little bit nosey but I can live with it(unlike some people).If you want a great vcr this is the one for you. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Allows use of NTSC or PAL or SECAM video formats / Dual Volt Capable / HiFi Stereo / 4 Heads 1-Month/6-Event timerQuick-Start Mechanism and high-speed fast-forward and rewindDigital Auto TrackingFL DisplayReal-time CounterTape-Remaining DisplayFront and Rear A/V inputsWireless remote control with jog/shuttle control (includes 2 AA batteries)Dual-volt power supplyAlso includes A/V connecting cable and AC plug ... Read more

Reviews

Worldwide VCR, December 31, 2000
I got the Samsung Worldwide VCR for Christmas and am really satisfied with it. It's not just an excellent worldwide VCR, but it also plays video images in such a crisp and clear quality, much better than my standard VCR's. When I play a video from Germany the quality is exactly the same as when I play a video from the US or from any other country. However, we did have a little trouble trying to set it up. Since it's a worldwide VCR there was no TV channel that I could set it to ( 3 or 4). So the worldwide VCR had to have extra cable wires hooked up to my TV for it to work. And then my second VCR had to be set to the channel Line. It was also a huge inconvenience to call Samsung Technical Support, it took me two days to get someone to help. There is another item with the VCR that I noticed, when a program has to be tracked it will automatically track it. But for some reason the color goes black & white (for about a split second). Overall I really enjoy the VCR.

Samsung SV-5000W: Overall, quite good., December 7, 2000
This particular Worldwide VCR comes with a wide variety of options- so many, in fact, that it is likely that you will never use them all unless you are very heavy into format conversion. The setup and implementation of the conversion, all digitally handled within (requiring no separate input or output converter) makes it very convenient to view PAL, SECAM, or other variant video tape formats with any type of TV. The best part is that the input format is normally selected automatically (output must be manually selected, but this is very easy), and the VCR produces a very clean, crisp image.

Of course, two or three times conversion produces grainy and/or fuzzy images, but this is to be expected with any system. Do not expect to record NTSC in SECAM and then be able to view that on an NTSC TV without loss of image quality. Conversion of PAL to NTSC, then viewing it on an NTSC TV, on the other hand, is marvelous.

Overall, this is a superb VCR. My only qualms with it are the inclusion of some rather idiotic features (ART mode, which makes the image look "artlike"; Strobe mode, which displays images from the video stream in single frame fashion), as well as the inability to select a recording program that records on Weekdays only.

Why it doesn't work on SECAM - L (FRANCE), October 10, 2001
To the folks who have had trouble using this unit for recording
(or viewing) SECAM - L tapes, THIS UNIT WON'T DO IT - PER SAMSUNG. Buried on page 18 of the Owners Manual it clearly states "*SECAM L (FRANCE) is not available on this VCR.
I called Samsung and the confirmed. If you want to do SECAM L (France) you need to step up to the SV7000-W VCR. Supposedly it's about the same price according to Samsung Cus.Svc. but so far the only price I got was $190 higher !!! I'm still looking.
The vendor I'm delaing with Elite Video recommended the Emerson
EWW7070 (which amazon offers too) but I don't think the specs are the same. I don't think much of Emerson VCRs either (had 2
other regular Emerson VCRs crap out) Hope this helps some of you.

Works perfectly, November 18, 2002
I wanted to do just one thing: watch PAL tapes from England
on my American NTSC TV. The price of this Samsung was low
enough to take the risk -- and I'm happy to say it works as
perfectly as any U.S. VCR I've ever had. It took less than a
minute to hook up (the video/audio cable was all I needed, since
I attached the player to a TV I only use as a monitor; I'm not
using this machine to record off-air TV/cable programming).
Picture quality, tracking, fast-forwarding, etc. -- nothing presents any problem at all. Tapes from the UK play completely
as normal. Couldn't be more pleased.

Don't buy it, Cheap & Nasty, Poor Quality, Terrible Heads, February 27, 2003
I really don't recommend this. I bought it a year ago and had to repair it many times. After only 3 months, with regular cleaning, the heads shows wear and the picture quality was poor. Also, the displays on the VCR are absolutely useless. You don't know whether it's playing or rewinding. It doesn't tell you. The machine itself is cheaply made.... This is the worst product I've ever bought. Now with its short life, it keeps ejecting my tapes and I can't play anything. I bought this machine because we moved from Australia to USA and had plenty of Aussie PAL tapes, mainly for my kids. We also have 2 other VCRs, it's not like we overused it. Learn from our mistakes, never Samsung again.... I'm really mad. I could have bought a really nice top-of-the-range VCR that plays PAL & NTSC from Australia for half the price. All I had to do was buy a power converter from 240V to 110V. My next trip I will be doing that.... Hope this helps, I hate for anyone else to waste their money. I'm so dissapointed.

Your Most Accurate Assessment ... ? And a late 2008 Update!, February 1, 2006
I say this assessment is the "most accurate" only because -- having read all previous reviews here, good, bad and middling -- I can categorically state that nobody's wrong and everybody's right. Here's the deal:

The Samsung SV-5000W is a complicated but comprehensive unit. It does all the tricks it's supposed to. Once you figure out how to set it up (not altogether easy, ESPECIALLY if it's in a daisy chain of devices; being a "worldwide" model it has different protocols) it's a pretty impressive and useful "toy." But here's the problem:

Quality control on this product line clearly doesn't much exist. Based on prior reviews, and my own experience, you have as good a chance of getting a functioning unit as a lemon. My tale?

Without checking prior reviews I somewhat impulsively bought the SV-5000W from an eBay "Buy it Now" vendor located in NYC. It was weird out of the box. I did experience the chronic "snow" in the video (described by others) but there was even more disturbing stuff -- the onscreen counter display showed numbers that had nothing to do with the actual location the tape was at; somehow the unit even demagnetized and corrupted a couple of cassettes. I was about two weeks into the purchase and that last was the definitive clue: It wasn't that I hadn't mastered its unusual operations, it wasn't that I didn't understand fully how it should work, whatever its complexities: the unit just sucked.

THEN I did my research and saw the furious mix of reviews. I called the vendor. His eBay listing had specified a NO RETURNS policy. But I brought the bad reviews to his attention, in addition to my own problems with the unit. I asked if he had another worldwide make/model ... I was happy to trade up. He did not: the Samsung was all he carried -- but he couldn't have been more reasonable. He said, "Let's exchange the one you have for another. If that one also doesn't work, you'll get a full refund." Well, okay.

I'm into the third year of ownership now and so far the replacement has held up. It goes long stretches without being used (I have other VCRs for normal use, so I try not to tempt the gods by taking it for granted) but when I do use it, it gets a fair workout. And it does a very decent job.

2005 Update: Shortly after posting the text above, I too experienced the snow problem. The way to correct it is to effect a partial reset: Eject your tape, go to the front panel and hold down the PAUSE and STOP buttons at the same time for ten seconds. Turn off the machine for ten seconds. Turn it back on. (Note: A previous reviewer mistakenly identified the reset pair buttons as PLAY and STOP. When this didn't work for me, I re-examined the panel and realized that PLAY/STOP were rather far apart, whereas PAUSE/STOP were contiguous "Twin" buttons: the most likely, design wise, for a "hold down together" protocol. And indeed this proved correct.) Head cleaning cassettes should not be used to clear the snow problem; however, used SPARINGLY they can sharpen the picture when the resolution becomes grainy. I discovered this by accident. I tried head cleaning for the snow before I learned the reset steps. It of course did nothing to clear the snow ... but on my test cassette (a PAL version of the miniseries SHOGUN) the colors and definition became immediately more vibrant.)

To address a question posed by an earlier reviewer: this is not the model to buy if you need to view or convert tapes from the SECAM-L format (used in France). The SV-5000W has only one converter onboard, which handles the more common NTSC/PAL/SECAM play and convert variations. But SECAM-L is different from straight SECAM, and requires an entirely separate converter. The more expensive SV-7000W model has the second converter built in.

One more caution: The onboard clock runs fast and tends to pick up a minute or so each month. So you have to periodically reset it if you plan on using it for off-broadcast recording.

2008 UPDATE: The "snow" problem finally hit permanently about a year or so ago. My collection of PAL cassettes is so small, with most having been replaced by DVD or media-file equivalents, that I haven't raced to get the thing fixed (for my limited purposes, I can't see where it would be cost effective anymore). Not chucking it, may indeed fix it some day, but I would say nonetheless and on balance I got less use out of this machine than expected for the price -- even refurbished, less than what's listed here. Given its frequency of use (as opposed to calebdar age), it lived about as long as cheaper "off-brand" electronics (the kind you buy on impulse just knowing they'll only fill a temporary gap) do. And with that said, two more notes.

Note #1: In 2001 I bought a dirt-cheap Broksonic Hi-fi stereo VCR. One of those aforementioned "off-brands." And yet ... the darn thing is a warhorse. Three speeds, excellent picture, great sound, and despite clunky load-sounds and a poorly designed remote, it's maybe the best VCR I've ever owned. I bought another, even cheaper, off eBay for my lady friend's house and that one has proven just as sturdy. I mention this because Broksonic ALSO makes a universal VCR (albeit supposedly only for the South American market). I don't know if it's Hi-Fi stereo or not, but if you can find a way to purchase the unit from them, I daresay it'll outlast and outperform the Samsung. Look up Broksonic on the web.

Note #2: I've owned three Samsung products in my lifetime:
-- The Worldwide VCR under discussion;
-- a 2006 DVD Recorder (with a tuner I never used);
-- and a pre-millennium GX three-point surround TV set, 12 inch screen (designed, I am told, for gamers, batwing doors over the screen; flip them open and they're the left and right speakers; looks very cool).

The TV has some inherent imperfections I didn't notice right away and won't catalog here, but I made allowances as it has been (and for a while will remain) a decent bedroom set of its type -- and it's still fully functional; though that's likely because all it needs to do is power on. I don't use the tuner and there are no moving parts within.

The DVD Recorder was finicky about blank disk brands (and types) out of the box, and though the manual warned that it would only support certain brands, it became even more finicky with time, eventually refusing to record on any disk of ANY brand (the deterioration was fast enough that I came in six weeks under the wire on the Tiger Direct protection plan, which gave me a full refund, so I was lucky).

Thus assessing all three products side-by-side, given their different functions and dates of manufacture (spanning about a decade), I'd have to say, in the end, Samsung products just don't deliver the goods. The designs are inelegant, the electronics range from imperfect to unreliable, and they don't stand the test of heavy use over the long haul.

Did not survive more than THREE MONTHS!!, September 10, 2003
The first impression of this product was very positive. It was working fine on both PAL and NTSC cassettes. The VCR is easy to operate.

Unfortunately why buy a VCR, when it gives snow in couple of months without heavy use. We played not more than 3-4 movies a week. All cassettes were in good condition and the snow gets worse and worse, to the point where it is almost unusable. Cleaning the heads didn't help. Manual tracking(What is manual tracking these days anyway??) didn't help either....

Samsung support didn't help much too. The phone system of their main support number 1-800-SAMSUNG kept me in loop, when I did the proper selection. The email support request didn't get answered for days(still waiting). The local service center responded with "WE do not work on VCRs anymore, they are throw-away these days..".

I hope SAMSUNG cannot expect from me to accept that a 300$+ unit is a "throw away" in couple of months.

CONCLUSION: Look some other company with more reliable product and support.

The Good, Bad, Ugly and the secret solution., January 12, 2005
Bear with me I have the snow solution (AND 2 UPDATES) at the end but, I need to vent my frustration. Ok, I read some glowing reviews about this VCR and really had little choice as most multisystems are PAL based to play NTSC, not the other way around, and need an outside converter or multisytem TV that converts to work. Samsung's site praises the video heads as life long and needing no cleaning. I don't live in a region that would have any of these for sale so it was online for me. Wow, this thing was expensive! However, I found a demonstrator model on ebay for half retail and grabbed it. The first few months were fine, although the PAL conversion to NTSC was understandably sub-quality (NTSC uses more scans per inch than PAL), but softening the picture helped. Then the snow began to fall. ALL of you have heard of this and believe me I was floored when it happened. It looked like a tracking problem so I manually adjusted, no luck. Maybe the heads so I cleaned them, ditto. Then I went to Samsung's site and quess what I found? That's right, this problem in their FAQ section! Lo and behold the answer. Play a pristine blank tape for an hour to clean the heads (?!). If that didn't work, get a commerical "WET" head cleaner and wait about ten minutes after cleaning to play another tape. Well, I went to the store and picked up both. Played the tape, aargh! Used the head, Yaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Samsung just made me spend $15 bucks for nothing. Their no-need-to-clean-heads VCR had dirty heads. I have a twenty year old RCA that played better and I never clean the heads on it.

Then I read the second page of reviews here on Amazon. Oh brother, were there a ton of complaints about this problem. I did notice that when I rewound a tape and played it the snow cleared up. But after a while it returned and I fast forwarded numerous tapes just to play them. I had hoped to retire my RCA, but there seemed little hope. Out of options I decided to call Samsung's support. Mind you, I read horror stories about getting complacent CSR's and getting the runaround so I prepared myself. I got the friendlist woman who really listened to my problem gave me the advise that the site already did and when informed those methods didn't work, gave me a case # and transfered me to the tech division. After 10 minutes of music I was cut off. Huh! Called back to second helpfull CSR, transfered and hung up on again. RRRRR! Called back third time and asked not to be transfered. Well this guy somehow accessed a tech page and told me to eject the tape, hold down the "Play" and "Stop" button at the same time for 10 seconds and turn the VCR off for 10 seconds. Turn back on and play tape. What does that do? It is a reset to factory standards that doesn't make you have to go through the user set-up again (you know that little reset button under the "record" button you should NEVER push). Nope! Well call back tomorrow and give case # to be transfered to tech help again. Right!

Pushed the play button for the heck of it and zoinks, a perfect picture. I really worked! Put in another tape. Yeah! Put in third, Uh Oh. Tried reset again and found I had to do it a few times but it does work. I won't be using this as my main player, just for imports and a few tapes that have surround (the RCA is mono).

I know this isn't the greatest climax to the story, but give it a try. It may take a few times but it will happen. One thing I did notice is that this thing gets as hot as the sun and takes a couple of hours to cool down. This may be a big part of the problem and though I've not tried it a fan blowing in the vent couldn't hurt. I really hope this helps everyone with this problem because this machine can play like a champ when coaxed.

UPDATE 1:
I recently moved and left this player unplugged for a couple of days. When I put together my system, Voila! No problems. Since then I've had absolutely no snow whatsoever. Hmmm? Could it be this unit needs a break every once and a while? My new place is a lot cooler too so I still believe that has something to do with the problem and not the heads because it only appears during playback and not recording. Yes I have actually recorded with it. Although I bought it as a player, it does a damn fine job recording.

UPDATE 2: I recently had the snow problem come back and unplugged the player, as before, for a week. This time, however, the snow persisted when I played an NTSC tape. I tried several movies and also the reset to no avail. Hmmmm? I noticed the "though" button was lit (this means that what you play is not converted) so I switched to NTSC and put in a PAL tape. Still the snow. Frustrated I put in an NTSC and it played perfectly. This sucker is touchy and you have to work with it. Kind of a shame because this player has some great features that I've only seen on high-end players.

One other thing, I highly recommend getting a video enhancer, such as Sima. This player does not like the older Macrovision tapes and the picture fuctuates between over and undersaturation. Not great for viewing older rentals.

Great, but short-lived, November 14, 2003
A friend of mine and I were both impressed with the features of this system and each purchased one. We used it for NTSC as well as PAL videos, hooked up to a US TV. It was very flexible and offered a great set of features for the price. The high speed rewinding was also a bonus I appreciated. Each of our VCRs broke within 2 years of purchase. It's never a good time for your VCR to stop working, but additionally, repairing the device would have been more expensive than purchasing a new one. I will not purchase this item again and really hope that these features will be available in a reliable VCR in the future. I'm still frustrated and VCR-less (basically we just play our DVDs now). My friend purchased a multi-system TV and cheaper multi-VCR. This item is NOT reliable. I strongly suggest that you not purchase this VCR, unless you are willing to view it as disposable.

Great conversions, but only adequate playback., November 24, 2002
Conversion quality from this machine is truly excellent. Comperable if not better (in my opinion the latter) than both the Panasonic AG-W1 and the Aiwa MX-100, both of which I have had experience with using.

However, where this product falls down is playback quality. Images seem dull and washed out. I'm especially having trouble with my almost 10 year old PAL tape collection. These tapes play back with visible streaks of "noise". New tapes do not show this artifact, so I don't know if there is degridation on the older tape stock or a problem with the unit. These same tapes show well on the yonks old Panasonic multi-system deck that I have, so I'm currently using it for playback and the Samsung as a standalone converter. An acceptible solution for now.

Would get 5 stars from me if playback quailty was better. A nicely engineered deck with fabulous converson quality. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sony's SLV-N51 VCR includes a host of high-end features in an economical package - hi-fi stereo recording, MTS stereo broadcast reception, a four-head design for cleaner special effects, and the rare ability to make slow-speed recordings with fast-speed quality, thanks to its 19-micron heads.Sony's SLV-N51 Hi Fi VHS Recorder is great for renting movies and recording your favorite sitcoms. You can rewind a T-120 tape in just 60 seconds with the Flash Rewind feature. Use Instant Replay to catch a line of dialogue or an awesome touchdown just one more time with the touch of a button. Also utilize Commercial Skip to automatically advance the tape 30 seconds with your remote so you can watch your shows without interruption. Digital Auto Tracking keeps the rotary playback heads in sync with the recorded tracks. It adjusts itself so you don't have to.For those who recently smashed an old VCR just to get rid of the flashing 12: 00, the SLV-N51 includes auto clock set, which uses a clock signal from your local PBS station. Other features include auto head cleaning and a one-hour timer backup, which will save your clock settings and program information in the event of a power failure. Sony has also included front A/V inputs, an eight-event/one-month timer, a multi-brand remote control, and a multilingual on-screen display. ... Read more