Sony SLV-D550P DVD/VCR Combo

plays DVD-Video, DVD-R & DVD-RW, and DVD+R & DVD+RW * plays CD, Video CD, CD-R & CD-RW, MP3 CD-R & CD-RW * plays digital photo CDs (JPEG) * selectable progressive-scan mode for smoother video with HD-compatible TVs (via the component video output) * optical and coaxial digital outputs for Dolby? Digital/DTS/PCM * composite video output for DVD/VCR; S-video & component video outputs for DVD only * Virtual Surround Sound * designed for use with "Region 1" coded DVDs * VCR Plus+ * QuickSet timer dial * Flash Rewind * 4 video heads * Quasi S-VHS playback (VHS resolution) *

Enjoy DVDs, VHS videos, and your CD-based digital media files right in the comfort of your living room or bedroom with the Sony SLV-D550P DVD/VCR combo unit, which handles almost any conceivable media format, from VHS and S-VHS tapes (which it renders at standard VHS resolution) to DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, and DVD+R/RW discs. It also offers playback for CDs, Video CDs, CD-R/RWs, and MP3s, while also displaying JPEG images onscreen through the included image viewer.

The SLV-D550P fulfills the full potential of your DVDs thanks to its progressive scan function. Referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, progressive scanning creates a picture with twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving owners of high-definition TVs higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Audiophiles will appreciate the multiple sound options, including audio output for PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS, and a virtual surround option that simulates surround sound effects from a traditional two-speaker stereo setup. Viewers can also choose from several aspect ratios that optimize the image to the TV's dimensions. 4:3 letterbox, for instance, displays the entire movie image on a traditional 4:3 TV with black bands along the top and bottom, while 16:9 is the ideal setting for a widescreen TV. Additional DVD features include disc bookmarking, a handy zoom feature for closer looks at scenes, multi-angle playback, parental lock, and slow-motion frame advance.

Meanwhile, the VCR component is easy to program and set up, with a Quickset timer dial for setting the recording date, start time, stop time, and channel. A quick turn of the wrist is all it takes to activate the record function. In addition, the VCR's four-head design ensures smooth slow-motion play (forward and reverse) and clear still-frame images, and its hi-fi sound records and plays back stereo audio tracks. The unit's state-of-the-art 19-micron video heads deliver the clearest possible picture when recording or viewing in EP (extended play) mode, while the VCR Plus+ setting simplifies the advance one-month, eight-event programming timer. The VCR also offers commercial skip for zipping past commercials and previews, 60-second Flash Rewind, auto tracking, and an auto head cleaner.

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 TV 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 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 AV 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 multi-lingual onscreen display (English, Spanish, French), and a multi-brand TV/DVD/VCR remote control.

What's in the Box
DVD player VCR combo, Cinema Illumination remote control, 75 ohm coaxial video cable, RCA-type AV cord, two AA batteries, user's manual.

1 Sony's Junk DVD Player
This DVD player should not be sold by anyone. This product lasted less than 30 days and I purchased it as a gift for someone else. I also own the SLV - D350 combo which was working at the time I placed the order on this one. It has since broken less than 8 months from the original purchase date and I barely used it.

I would suggest that money spent elsewhere on practically any other manufacturer would be better spent.

The sad part is I love Sony and have a television and digital camera which they manufacture and I love them! Someone needs to get them out of the DVD business and make them stick to the things they know best!

2 NICE UNIT
These combo units are nice. Save space and wires and still meet your needs. Ive had the 550 now for two months. It comes with a standard "F" connector cable and and RCA cable for composite outputs. The back of the unit has componet,composite and "S" video outputs for tv hook-up. Also ther are 2 seta of audio outputs (RCA type). The VCR side was a pleasent surprize to me. I tape stuff in "EP" mode and the picture was pretty good. It rewinds at a lightning speed and plays rentals fine too. The DVD part is what we will use the most though. It has a zoom feature that I like alot. When a movie has black bars I zoom into the center to get rid of them. You lose the sides of the picture a little bit though. Its a progressive scan dvd player so if or when you get a hi-def t.v. you will get a great picture. I use the interlaced mode and It is very good on my 32" t.v. Layer changes lag a little as do switches between menus on the disc. It is almost silent when running. My only gripe so far is with the remote. I have to be careful to aim it directly at the combo or no command will register. This is getting to be a hassel when I jump arond on a disc. CD's sound very good through my stereo, much better than my regular DVD player. The menus for setting up the player are kinda bare. Initial set-up was as basic as Ive ever seen. There is a sub-menu on the DVD side that gives you more options for picture modes and black levels. Good video cables help the picture also. For some reason they did not include internal DVD to VHS dubbing. Why I dont know, you cant copy new discs anyway so why leave this out?? Overall though it was the best of the combos I looked at. It also has digital coax and optical audio outputs.

3 not bad
This piece is working fine. But it does not have much features particularly PICTURE MODES.

4 Not a good buy
I purchased this DVD/VCR combo and for a few months it worked fine. After this it became a nightmare, first the picture would break up, then it would just stop working and turn itself off. After a couple of days of this, I called for service to Sony. Getting it serviced under warranty was even worse. This is why if you want to buy a DVD/VCR combo I suggest you find another brand that will make itself responsible for it's product.
Good Luck

5 Why a DVD/VCR Combo?
In years to come, we will look back at VHS tapes much as we do 8 tracks today. Big, clumsy and slow by today's standards, in twenty years we have gone from seeing them as miracles to third rate technologies.

But here is the problem. We have lots and lots of those third rate technologies in our houses with everything from the kid's first birthday party to that Alaska trip for which you even haven't finished paying. And there is still no easy, cheap transfer medium.

So that means the old VCR needs to be around, but the stack of TiVOs, Satellite receivers, digital cable boxes, and DVD players fill up the space under the TV with bulk and wires. A combination makes perfect sense.

And if you get one, get a good one, because the reality is the good ones don't cost that much more than the cheap ones. Progressive scan is a must, and so is 5.1 Dolby. Remember that the main thing you will watch on this is DVDs.

As to the VCR side, you may want VCR+ which this model has, but who do you know that actually uses it? If the problem is that VCRs are too hard to program, how does a feature that takes half a day to program for the technically savvy help the VCR illiterate?