Zenith XBV443 Progressive Scan DVD / VCR Combo

by Zenith

Product Details

Data Sheet [1.40mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 3.1 x 16.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00023CFCQ
• Item model number: XBV443
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,386 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #68 in Electronics > Televisions & Video > VCRs
  • #90 in Electronics > Televisions & Video > DVD-VCR Combos
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Saving space while simplifying your entertainment hookups, the XBV443 juggles most forms of entertainment media, from VHS videocassettes (recording and playback) and high-resolution DVD performance to CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 and WMA CD, and JPEG image CD so you can enjoy custom slideshows from your digital photos in the comfort of your living room. The unit's handy front-panel audio/video jacks simplify hookup with camcorders, video game consoles, and other devices.

Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the XBV443 stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television.

Other disc features include 4x to 16x moveable zoom, variable high-speed scan (2x, 4x, 16x, and 100x), parental locks, bookmarking, 20-track CD programming, and repeat play.

The VCR section offers 4 heads (for clear slow-motion and stop-action features) and stereo sound. The deck's 19-micron video heads maintain clarity during recording or playback in EP (extended play) mode, auto digital tracking adjusts for optimal picture settings for every tape you load, and auto clock set maintains the correct time and even adjusts for daylight savings. A handy Instant Recording button commences recording with a single touch.

For the simplest hookup with your TV, you can use a single RCA composite-video connection to handle both DVD and VCR outputs. If you want a higher-quality connection from the DVD player, you can use a component- or S-video cable to an additional input on your TV (the VCR image requires a composite-video or RF connection with your TV). You can choose between an optical and a coaxial digital-audio output to feed a surround-sound signal to your Dolby Digital- or DTS-decoding audio/video receiver.

If you don't have a surround receiver or 6-channel speaker setup, you can still make every movie night the ultimate experience: the unit simulates surround sound through 2 speakers (even the stereo speakers on your TV).

What's in the Box
DVD player/VCR, remote control, 2 AAA batteries, a user's manual, a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, registration card, warranty info.

Product Description

Progressive Scan DVD/VCR Combination; Only 3.1" High; Plays DVD Video/DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, Audio CD,CD-R,CD-RW, MP3, JPEG, Kodak Picture CD, WMA

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great deal for the price, February 21, 2005

By 

Kaptain Video "KV" (CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zenith XBV443 Progressive Scan DVD / VCR Combo (Electronics)

I've had this Zenith XBV443 DVD/VCR combo player for about a month now and have few complaints. Buyers who find that their players won't function properly right out of the box should exchange it for a new one. It's very possible that the unit got tossed around too much during shipping/transport and was damaged then.

The picture quality is very good on both the DVD and VCR. The VCR records at SP and SLP and plays tapes recorded on other VCRs without a hitch. The DVD player accepts DVD-R and +R with no problems -- better than my other players. You can scan (fast forward or rewind) DVDs at 4 different speeds: 2x, 4x, 16x, and 100x.

It is easy to modify the DVD player into an all-region unit with smooth PAL to NTSC conversion. It works better than my Cyberhome. The remote is very easy to navigate.

One function I really like is the DVD player's ability to "zoom out". Many DVD players allow you to "zoom in" on a picture (which this one does too) but few give you the option to "zoom out", thus allowing you to put in a fullframe DVD and watch it letterboxed.

It's also nice that you can watch a DVD at the same time that you are recording something from the TV with the VCR.

My only real complaint so far is that FFwd search on the VCR is a bit slow and you only get one speed.

A minor annoyance is that if you are taping from DVD to VCR, you have to manually shut off the player when taping is done; you can't just set the timer record and leave the player alone.

One thing to note: there are versions of this player that were "made in China" and "made in Indonesia" -- it is noted on the unit's box. I've heard that the Indonesian version is inferior to the Chinese version (less features), but can't verify this as I've only used the Chinese one.

For under 100 bucks, this is an excellent unit to have.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works great for me!, December 31, 2004

By 

K. Allen (Lake Tahoe, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zenith XBV443 Progressive Scan DVD / VCR Combo (Electronics)

After reading the previous review, I almost didn't buy this but decided to give it a try anyway. I needed a replacement DVD player and didn't want to spend a lot of money. I have had it only a week but so far it works perfectly. Both the DVD and the VCR give good clear pictures. It was easy to hook up and my kids can operate the remote easily. It doesn't have a radio reciever which I didn't realize when I bought it but that was my fault and has nothing to do with the performance of the machine. I'd say for the money (I bought it on sale), this is a great deal.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lotta bang for the buck, March 1, 2005

By 

Wallace Gromit "WA" (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zenith XBV443 Progressive Scan DVD / VCR Combo (Electronics)

Bought this unit last year and so far it hasn't given me any problems. The DVD side has played everything I've thrown at it (DVD, DVD-R, CDs, Jpeg files), with the exception of a couple of DVD-Rs that wouldn't play on any of my players. I don't use the VCR a lot, but I haven't had any trouble with the auto tracking or playback of pre-recorded tapes or tapes that were recorded on other players. The VCR picture quality is a little soft (particulary if you record at EP), but not appreciably worse than my Panasonic or Toshiba.

I don't know what the previous reviewer was smoking, but to say that the DVD player was great and then to give the unit only "one star" seems pretty lame. Media specialist or media idiot? This DVD/VCR combo is a great unit to have as long as you have some sort of knowledge on how to properly operate a DVD player or VCR. And that shouldn't be a problem for anybody with an average IQ or better.