Customer Reviews

Toshiba SDV393 Progressive DVD/VCR Combination

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

 

 

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.

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!

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.

12/31/2010 - 5 years and still going strong! -BK

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.