Customer Reviews

RCA DRC220N DVD Player

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Having just moved into our new apartment, we were looking to furnish the place with all the gadgets and gizmos anyone could want, while also on a budget. We needed a DVD player. So off we went to Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart prices on the electrical items are hard to beat, so we were really pleased when we found this little beauty in the store. Being originally from England, i had never heard of RCA before though my wife tells me that they are a very good make, so i took her word for it and brought the DVD player. it has just been reduced in price from $130 to just under $100 which i thought was a really good deal.

First thing that struck me when i took it out of the box was it's styling. It looks a lot more like a very expensive player with its mirrored silver finish. I love the way the buttons are positioned on the player. it doesn't look to cluttered like some players do. Hooking the player up was easy! There are 3 connections on the back Composite video output; S-video output and a Component video output i chose the s-video output, because you get a much better picture quality.

This DVD player can play virtually any disc! it can play: DVD, DVD+RW, DVD-R, Video CD and JPEG and when it comes to music cds it can playback: CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and MP3. I was very impressed with the incredible versatility of this machine.

The sound reproduction is very high too! It can boast: Optical and coaxial Dolby Digital/DTS surround sound outputs And it has Analog stereo output it also has Virtual surround sound for 2 speakers and a headphone jack with separate volume control!

It has all the features of the bigger players! 2x and 4x zoom, English, French and Spanish on screen displays, parental locks, so you can stop you kids from seeing stuff they do no need to be seeing, a built in screen saver to stop any image burning into your screen (very handy for those with projection televisions) and the remote control will also operate your GE and RCA television sets. The remote also comes with 2AA batteries and a you also get your video cable so it is ready to go straight from the box.

The player is very quiet when it is operating, and it does everything you tell it too very quickly. I have yet to have a DVD that refuses to play or a DVD that jumps on this player yet. You will love this player if you buy it. Do not be fooled by the price

I, too had problems with voices not being heard. If sound is sent to stereo tv, the voices disappeared. But when playing in dts 5.1 mode through my receiver via digital connection, there is no problem at all. It seemed to me, though, that the problem was with the dvd itself wanting to output in dolby 6 channel sound, and those dvd's didn't have plain old 2 channel stereo output as an option. A problem created by the dvd itself and not the player imo; seems many dvd's are wanting to output only in dolby digital for a home theater system with 6 speakers and those who want to pipe sound through a two speaker tv are out of luck...?

So, I highly recommend this player, for price, quality, and value. The dolby digital sound output is flawless when hooked up properly to a dolby digital dts 5.1 compatible receiver, and the picture couldn't be more pristine. I am extremely happy with my purchase!

This RCA player is a nice buy for [X]. It does almost anything that non-progressive DVD players can do. The compatability with different formats is impressive, as I can do slide shows with JPEG pictures, or burn those pictures onto VCDs using Nero 5.5. Actually, you don't need JPEG compability if you do the latter, but you do need VCD compatability.

The list of features is broad. There is zoom up to 4x, and I like the headphone jack with volume control. The fast forward and reverse is limited to 16x max, which is too bad. The remote control is cheap and inconvenient small buttons don't make things easier.

Like the previous writer, I've had problems with voices in Surround Sound mode. First I'll get crackling noises with all the sound intact, then I'll lose the voices entirely! This isn't good, but you can fix it by taking out the DVD, shutting down the player, and starting over.

Also, I notice that menu text shows artifacts when selecting a choice, a sign that the laser design is a little cheap. There is slight jitter or shimmer of still frames when in pause.

Other than those quirks, I enjoy using this player. It's in my bedroom, so having a headphone jack is a must....not that many DVD players have this feature.

At [X], this is a worthwhile unit to consider.

I have a unique situation. I needed a player for my MP3s and to watch DVDs. Only my TV and sound systems are on opposite sides of the house. I needed the MP3 playing to show, at least, track numbers (I don't use folders). In spite of what the instruction manual says, this unit scrolls each track label at the beginning of a track and maintains the track # and time while playing MP3s (burned with iTunes 2). DVD playing through my VHS and spare amp is all I need. All the features work. For less then $100 (another goal), I am set!

I had a problem with the center (voice) channel on surround, but
after unplugging it for 15 seconds, it came back. It plays cd-r
media great and liked to view my jpeg pics. on it. Side by side
with my vcr was no contest.

The only thing this player has going is that it plays VCDs. Half of my dvd collcetion (60) will not play on this bug-ladden player. And they are all region free discs! You will not get much help from the folks at the RCA custmer service website. Avoid this player like the plague. I had to give this player 1 star because you can't leave a zero.

I received this player as a Christmas gift, and I am not disappointed! The sound and video quality are very high. The player plays almost anything, including VCDs. If you have a CD burner, that's invaluable!

The controls are easy. I was able to work it without even reading the instructions. The on-screen displays are pretty straight foward. The only problem I've had is that sometimes VCDs will temporarily freeze up if you try to "rewind" them. However, I think that's mostly due to the original quality of the video file.

All in all, this player proves that RCA is still WICKED in the electronics world!

I am so disgusted with myself for not looking into the problems I have had with this DVD player before now. I just replaced it after putting up with it for a year. I have had numerous problems with this player from the start. Since the player was new, I assumed there was something wrong with the different movies. Now I am playing dvds on my new Pioneer with no problem that previously had "freezes" - "skips" - and some that just weren't recognized by the RCA DRC220N player at all. I am just sick sick sick to know that I put up with this for a year. Take my advice! If you have any DVDs that won't play in your player TRY ANOTHER PLAYER. I wish that I had tried my "problem movies" in a friend's player a year ago! I spent $150 on this player and got nothing but aggravation!

I've had this DVD player for about a year now and have been completely satisfied with it. I don't have a fancy TV setup, nor surround sound, so to me "bells and whistles" aren't important... functionality and dependability are. And this player hasn't disappointed.

Soon after buying the unit I DID have problems playing certain DVDs, for reasons I still don't understand. However, after checking the RCA customer service website, I went through their Troubleshooter procedure, and it was recommended to try "soft" resetting the unit, which is accomplished with an easy button combo between the remote and the unit itself. I tried... the result? Played the problem DVD's perfectly. These DVD's still occasionally do not read, but resetting the unit in this manner has worked every time.

Some may see that as a hassle... and I guess in a way it is... but it happens VERY rarely, and is corrected in a matter of seconds (and hey, I've got to get up to put the DVD in anyways, so it's not like it's costing me extra energy).

Other than that I have had no problems with it. DBD's play well (other than a couple odd balls), audio CD's play well (including self-made CD-R's), the remote is full-functioned and simple.

All in all.... nice looking affordable, well-made, and dependable product.

GOod stuff.

This item is made by Thompson Electronics along with those carrying the GE name tag. My GE DVD player mo.#1101P lasted a little over a year before breaking down and full-exchange warranties for this brand is 90 days. After that you pay labor i.e. your better off buying a new unit! The moral of the story; go with better name brands that have longevity. My Onkyo CD player is over 8 years old and works great still, including the ability to play CD-R's that weren't even around back when this unit was made. Quality + duration is true value!