TV-DVD-Combination Reviews

This product is exceptional in its quality and performance. I had originally thought I could save by buying a KONKA. My mistake! AMAZON issued return credit promptly and I immediately purchased the Panasonic. I've had a portable DVD for a few years and decided to upgrade to a bigger picture. This Panasonic has features I will never use but the ones I use are just what I had hoped for - easy use, good picture and good sound. On the other hand, the KONKA was a piece of junk. Wheather this review is helpful to you makes me "no never mind" but I can assure you that you can trust me more than that "person" from China who said he knows KONKA can be a quality product. He writes alot of reviews, none of which I would trust.

I just bought this tv/dvd combo set a week ago. And so far I've come away really impressed with the visual and audio this baby packs. It was the first dvd player I've ever bought, and naturally I saved money by getting this ([price]Costco) rather then buying a tv and a separate dvd player. Also in my opinion the panablack screen looks crisper and clearer then any other dvd/tv set I've seen(excluding HDTV).The sound is also excellent even impressing my parents with the great sound capabilities. Overal, I would recommend this unit to any dorm or single guy who wants a nice litte dvd/tv set that doens't cost to much and offers great picture and sound. You really can't get a better deal with your money. And this baby packs a lot of features for those of you who would like to add on sound capabilities later. Andrew Hanson

WE purchased this item when our VCR went out. We decided instead of having a VCR and a DVD player hooked up with all the wires running to the TV just to get one unit with everything. It has been great. Great picture, DVD plays perfectly and the VCR is nice to have for all the VHS tapes we still own. Makes everything look so much cleaner in the family room. I definitely recommend this piece.

I highly recommend purchasing this product. The video quality is superb, and the audio is much better than I expected. The price offered by Amazon was not to be equalled by any other vendor. The TV/DVD was delivered and set up by a professional. Kudos!!!

I have had mine for about a month. The picture is very clear much different with a flat screen. The color is very clear and when playing a DVD the picture is excellent. Looks much better than when I used a separate DVD player. The remote control is easy to use and glows in the dark. The sound is good except for occasional changing from speaker to speaker or blank outs which may be the reception from the cable. Its a little larger than expected with the side speakers and a pretty deep unit so if you are putting it in a small space measure first. Great for the price.

I purchased this tv about 1-1/2 to 2 years ago and at the time it was over 400 dollars- now they lowered the price and its great deal for the quality of it. Excellent picture and very conveniant with the dvd player built in. I purchased this for the look, and mainly for the dvd built right in because it was so easy to use. It also plays cd's, dvd's, and you can hook up your gaming stuff to it. Also has spot where you can plug in headphones in the tv and listen to it that way. Great value and look- perfect size for college kids or someone who isnt looking for a huge tv or too small- its perfect size and works great, Highly recomended. 5 stars.

The television picture is gourgeous. The DVD features are wonderfull. I taped a program on the VCR and the re-play was virtually DVD quality. However, it is a very low price for a flat screen TV. And I think the low cost is mostly in the TV console. It seems to be tin and plastic. And it does not travel well. My set arrived with a couple of dings in the console. Then I notice there was a spot where it was cracked and compressed as if from being dropped.

Therefore I give the Toshiba MW20FN1 20" Flat Screen TV-DVD-VCR Combo 5 stars for quality at that price. Exceptional. - 2 Stars for ruggedness and shippability.

Like another reviewer, I received the unit with some dents in the frame along the bottom, front-right side. The box and packing materials were in good shape, so this appears to be a Toshiba quality control issue, unrelated to the retailer or shipper. On the positive side, it was very easy to connect and configure. The user guide is adequate, reasonably easy to understand, and well illustrated. If you have special connectivity requirements, you won't find any of the necessary cables in the box. Picture quality on the flat screen is excellent, and the sound quality is also very good, better still passed through my bookshelf hi-fi system. This was true for cable TV, VHS and DVD playback. I chose an old tape for VCR testing purposes, and I was very happy with the color, sharpness, and audio. I picked a "difficult" DVD disk -- i.e., dual-layer, "funky" color/surface/reflectivity factor -- and was surprised that it played flawlessly, first try. This "killer" disk has defeated a number of other players, so I've decided to keep the unit I received, dents and all. Like they say, handsome is as handsome does.

3-25-2004
I got this tv yesterday and it is great... but I noticed that it had wavy,bloby colors around the sides on dvd,vhs,and tv on all channels and a tiny crack in the corner. So I just emailed Amazon to ship me another one and pick up the broken one at the same time. They emailed back and said they would.I haven't receid it yet.

The picture is great, the sound is great BUT the very first VHS tape I played shut down the entire system. It is now going to the shop AND I get to PAY to have it picked up and delivered ! Toshiba is adamant that this 80+ pound is a portable for me. Customer service knows to say I'm sorry, but are unwilling and unable to change the no-pay-for-pickup warranty terms. I'll update this review post the repair. So far, it's nice but too expensive if it keeps breaking. Buy with caution.

I find the 24" size ideal for the bedroom. It does play DVD-R discs as stated in the specifications, but not all media play equally well. Titles burned using the 1x Verbatim media I purchased at Sam's Club play fine so far; however, the HQT 1X-4X DVD-R media I purchased from CDR/DVDR Media(http://store.yahoo.com/cdrdvdrmedia/index.html) hangs and glitches occasionally during playback. I believe the reflectivity of that media is near the lower threshhold of what the unit can read. The Verbatim discs probably have a higher reflectivity index which makes them easier to read. I'll just shop around until I find some 4x media that provides decent reflectivity and isn't too expensive.

Picture quality is quite good; more than adequate for use in my bedroom. My biggest complaint by far is with the remote control. The basic playback controls in the center split all the other buttons into an upper and a lower bank, with row after row of evenly sized and spaced buttons with confusing, unclear labels. The only functions you'll be able to operate by feel are Power, Play, Stop, Rewind and Forward Scan, and Pause. To skip chapters, navigate DVD menus, or even change channels or adjust volume, you'll have to look at the remote. Really one of the worst-designed remotes I've ever used; very frustrating. A couple of other minor complaints include the logic of the unit. For example, you can eject a videotape and the unit remains off, but try to insert a videotape or even eject a DVD and the TV turns itself on. Still, the picture is quite good, the sound is adequate, and even tapes recorded in my S-VHS deck are watchable (if a touch soft and oversaturated). A better remote, smarter logic, and higher quality sound would earn this unit a five-star rating.

We have been looking and evaluating TV/DVD/VCR sets for over a year.
I waited until the price went down as when it first came out it was $599.
I am glad we have it. It does have the very best picture and is also the best looking. This is my first Toshiba.
It is so nice to plug it in and go.
Notice: as with most of the combos, you cannot watch another channel when recording another. You have to watch what is recording or turn it off as it will record when the TV is off.
It will also copy DVD's to tape if the DVD is NOT copy protected.

I wanted something for my wife and me to better manage our TV viewing, yet I'm completely against paying a monthly-fee for recording TV programs. The Toshiba SD-H400 with TiVo Basic turned out to be a perfect product for us, until Media Center PCs go mainstream.

I didn't really need another DVD player at home (we already have 5 other stand-alone DVD players), but if that's the only way to get TiVo Basic service, so be it. Plus, the price I paid for this Toshiba (no rebate) is only (a bit) more than a stand-alone Series 2 TiVo (after rebate). For (the money), I got a progressive-scan DVD player, progressive output for TiVo, AND free life-time subscription to TiVo Basic service. What a bargain.

TiVo Basic Service:
Okay, so I don't get the Season Pass feature. However, once you're set to record a show (say, Friends at 8PM this Thursday), you can navigate to the To-Do list and select that program, and change the recording option to "Repeat this recording". Change it to weekly, then you're all set. The only risk if that if NBC changes the time of Friends to 9 due to say the State of the Union Address, then you'll record 30 minutes worth of a bunch of people clapping at nothing. But that's a risk I'm willing to take.

One feature I don't get with the Basic service is the show search feature. However, we got the TiVo to help with managing the shows that we KNOW we want to watch. With young children, we really don't have time to watch the programs that we didn't want to watch in the first place but are suggested to us. So I won't miss that feature. For new movies we have had Netflix 4-disc service since 2000. You can always navigate using the program guide to set up recording if you want to watch something.

If you visit TiVo forums such as tivocommunity.com, you'll see that other TiVo owners complaining about the fact that you can no longer use TiVo Series 2 for anything, including manual recording, without paying the (monthly) fee. With the Toshiba SD-H400, not only you can use it for manual recording, you have a 3-day program guide available to you over the phone or wireless network.

If the Plus features are important to you, then you can always upgrade to the full TiVo feature for the same fee as a stand-alone Series 2. It goes without saying that we have no intention of upgrading.

To get program guide via wireless network:
My Toshiba came with version 5.1.1 of the TiVo software, but version 5.1.1b is required for the newer version of the Linksys USB Wireless Adapter (v 2.8). It took a few tries to download the new version of the TiVo software. It would have done it over night, but I was impatient and wanted to pull the sw manually. Note that landline is required to get the software upgrade.

To record one channel while watching another:
I can watch a different channel than the one I'm recording because I split my cable signal so that one cable goes to the Toshiba and one goes to the TV. While recording on the Toshiba, I can use the regular TV remote to switch to other channels.

Any cons?
Remote: The Toshiba remote is not as nicely designed as that of the TiVo, which had just been recognized by the NY Times as one piece of industrial design mastery. The Toshiba remote is long and hard to use if you change channel via numeral buttons often.

Wireless adapter: Since the TiVo software it comes with is version 5.1.1, it does not support the newer versions of the Linksys USB wireless adapter (I got a v. 2.8). You will need a landline to download a new TiVo software to upgrade to version 5.1.1b for the Toshiba to recognize your network adapter.

Video extraction or copying: Like the stand-alone TiVo Series 2, there is no easy way of extracting the recorded video from the Toshiba device without opening it up (voiding the warranty) and load some files onto the base Linux operating system. The only other way is to video capture (analog cable to digital to analog to digital again) it back into a PC. Not the most elegant solution.

Upgrade: according to TiVo specialists at Weaknees, it's not simple to upgrade the HD on the Toshiba. You can replace the 80G HD with a larger one, but it will not see beyond the first 80G. Weaknees is working on a solution.

The Toshiba SD-H400 has changed the way I watch TV, as I look back, I can't imagine watching broadcast TV with out it. As I evaluated my purchase, I read all of the review here, and found some to be very helpful, and others to be way off, here are my experiences;

1) Wireless / Wired Network support: It works, just not right out of the box. You have to connect via a phone line twice, once to subscribe to TIVO, the next to download the "b" version of the software with allows for connection via network. Once that's done, it's as simple as plugging in the adapter into the USB port and pressing a few buttons on the remote. Worked the first time.

2) Noise from fan: Yes, there is a fan, and it makes a slight noise, I have a Sony digital cable box that is alot louder so the low hum from the Toshiba is hardly a concern for me, if it was, I'd put all the components in a rack behind glass as others suggest.

3) Lack of tuner or cable box: This is a little kludgey, as the H400 expects you to set up IR connectors in front of your cable or satellite box. The other problem is the H400 only addesses two and three channel cable tuners, my Sony happens to use four digits for the channel number and the result is a delay in channel changing as the cable box waits for the timeout for the 4th digit before switching channels, minor annoyance when surfing.

4) Inability to record and watch different shows. I overcame this by splitting my cable signal and running one line into the H400 and the other into my TV. But it would have been nice if there way some way within the box to handle this.

5) TIVO: This is awesome, the ability to set up recordings and not worry about tapes, rewinding, and such is a dream come true. Just press a few buttons on the remote, and TIVO does the rest, can't ask for more. I may even upgrade to the plus service for the Season pass and other benefits.

6) No more commercials: Like to watch alot of shows but don't have the time, this device will cut your tv viewing in half, or allow you to watch twice as many shows. My wife and I start watching TV between 8:30 - 9:00, which is just enough time to get you to 11:00 and fast forward through all the commercials. That 2 hour American Idol really only lasts 55 minutes when you get rid of the intro's and commercials, its great.

7) Remote: Ergonomically, it's not perfect. The zero (0) is to the right of the numbers as opposed to the bottom, and the numbers are in two rows as opposed to the normal 3 or 4 on most remotes which can be annoying. The buttons are almost all the same size and feel except for the TIVO button, so until you get used to the button placement, keep a light on. This is probably my biggest gripe with the unit.

8) Progressive Scan DVD Player: Nice add-in would have been ok if it didn't have one or would have preferred a recordable DVD, but given the price, it's a nice freebie. Works great, though others have said they had problems with certain media.

Overall, I highly recommend the product, if they improved the remote, or added a recordable dvd or extra tuner, I would have given it 5 stars.

I've had it for about a week and did not have any problems setting the system up. I was able to sign into the Tivo service quickly and am in the processing of connecting it into the wireless network and removing the phone lines.

For those who would like to simplfy their electronic gadgets for their TV, this is an excellent product. I was able to free up a DVD player for another TV in the house.

The one I got has a poor-quality DVD player; it keeps skipping and hanging on brand new out-of-the-box DVDs. Plus after a year the remote control sensor in the TV itself broke and had to be replaced - out of warranty, of course.

Other than that the picture is sharp and clear, the sound is excellent, the on-screen controls are excellent, and the remote control is well-laid out and easy to use. I'm just knocking it down 3 stars because of the remote control sensor problem and the mediocre integral DVD player.

bought item in the store after weeks of research on comboTV's. i feel this was the best bargain ever in comparison to what is currently on the market. i am waiting for the catch to reveal itself. there MUST be a catch because this tv is too good to be true. the speakers fully surround the tv & project great quality sound with DVD's, CD's & CD-R's. i have not used the VCR for movie watching yet, but the test revealed it works nicely, too. TV fite perfectly in entertainment center & the flat screen projects a picture that is too good to be true! this purchase was a dream come true. this is a BIG television so i recommend it for people that have entertainment centers & tons of CD's! no need to spend thousands of dollars when there is a product like this one on the market! pure sound, pure picture, pure perfection!

I bought the PV-DFWhatever 27" two years ago and sold it when we moved--bought the PV-DF2703 last year (that was a major improvement--they shaved off 9-10" from the depth of the previous model (probably because of complaints that it wouldn't fit in entertainment centers unless they were away from the wall). Just bought the PV-DF2704 as a gift for my parents--and they love it! These are easy televisions to fall in love with--the quality is excellent, they're easy to set-up, you can run TV/DVD/VCR and most cable/DSS with the Panasonic remote. One plug in and one cable/DSS/antenna lead and you're all set--no need to run wires and speakers and stuff if you don't want to. The sound quality is far superior to ALL the other televisions I looked at (I think manufacturers assume everyone's just going to hook up a home theater system anyway.) Great product for technophobes and anyone that hates tangles of wires. Be forewarned--it's heavy and the dimensions are somewhat outsized because of the speakers to either side of the screen. If you have a 27" inch entertainment center it may not fit. I like it and my family likes it! A real value!

This is a great TV with great features. The only drawback is poor user-interface design.

I've seen more intuitive, easy-to-read and just plain BETTER on-screen menus on TV's from 10 years ago!

On the set itself all the control buttons are small, and look-alike. Each time I approach set I need to "figure-it-out" again. This isn't a problem for people who are tech-minded and can and undestand standard TV/VCR symbols. Toshiba is really showing their lack of polish and refinement by rushing this set to market in such a utilitarian configuration.

The remote control suffers from the same deficits. Most of the buttons look and are shaped the same way making it non-intuitive. Even more troubling is the way buttons are shared between the VCR and DVD functionality. To distinguish, there are two sets of colored labels. It's very hard to determine if the label is meant for the button above or the button below.

Lastly, I could find no-way to program the remote control to change channels on my Cable-box. I bought this TV/CD/DVD combo to SIMPLIFY things somewhat. With all the people these days with Cable, it's really annoying that you *STILL* need two remotes to work with this TV if you use a cable box.

Combo units sometimes get a bad rap because people assume that having everything together in one box compromises the quality one could have by buying a TV, VCR and DVD as separate components. With this Toshiba unit, there is absolutely no compromise, because everything is first rate. The flat screen TV renders an outstanding picture and the quality of the VCR and DVD are as good as if one would have purchased them separately. The remote, however, could be improved. The DVD controls are non-intuitive, and difficult to read. It took me watching about six movies before I could navigate my way easily around the menus. Thus, because of the remote, I can't give it a five-star rating. Otherwise, this is a great purchase, and kudos to Amazon[.com] for shipping it about a month before I expected it!

I bought this set to replace a JVC unit that I did not like the color or sound on. We have been pleased with the flat screen picture tube which has less distortion on the sides than other tubes and the sound and color are great. You can make fine adjustments via the menu driven controls on the remote. The VCR and DVD units are also easy to use and high quality to view. Everything is easy to control via just one remote. I would buy another one.

This is a great TV with great features. The only drawback is poor user-interface design.

I've seen more intuitive, easy-to-read and just plain BETTER on-screen menus on TV's from 10 years ago!

On the set itself all the control buttons are small, and look-alike. Each time I approach set I need to "figure-it-out" again. This isn't a problem for people who are tech-minded and can and undestand standard TV/VCR symbols. Toshiba is really showing their lack of polish and refinement by rushing this set to market in such a utilitarian configuration.

The remote control suffers from the same deficits. Most of the buttons look and are shaped the same way making it non-intuitive. Even more troubling is the way buttons are shared between the VCR and DVD functionality. To distinguish, there are two sets of colored labels. It's very hard to determine if the label is meant for the button above or the button below.

Lastly, I could find no-way to program the remote control to change channels on my Cable-box. I bought this TV/CD/DVD combo to SIMPLIFY things somewhat. With all the people these days with Cable, it's really annoying that you *STILL* need two remotes to work with this TV if you use a cable box.

Combo units sometimes get a bad rap because people assume that having everything together in one box compromises the quality one could have by buying a TV, VCR and DVD as separate components. With this Toshiba unit, there is absolutely no compromise, because everything is first rate. The flat screen TV renders an outstanding picture and the quality of the VCR and DVD are as good as if one would have purchased them separately. The remote, however, could be improved. The DVD controls are non-intuitive, and difficult to read. It took me watching about six movies before I could navigate my way easily around the menus. Thus, because of the remote, I can't give it a five-star rating. Otherwise, this is a great purchase, and kudos to Amazon[.com] for shipping it about a month before I expected it!

I bought this set to replace a JVC unit that I did not like the color or sound on. We have been pleased with the flat screen picture tube which has less distortion on the sides than other tubes and the sound and color are great. You can make fine adjustments via the menu driven controls on the remote. The VCR and DVD units are also easy to use and high quality to view. Everything is easy to control via just one remote. I would buy another one.