Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo

by Apex

Product Details

Product Manual [1.75mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 17 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000AVZMM
• Item model number: ADV-3800
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #95,171 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

  #96 in

  Electronics > Televisions & Video > Disc Players & Recorders > DVD-VCR Combos

• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 24, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com

Spin movies, music, photo CDs, and enjoy VHS tapes right from one handy device. The ADV-3800 from Apex includes a progressive-scan DVD-Video player with MP3 and WMA file playback as well as a four-head, hi-fi stereo VCR all in a single sleek, silver chassis.

Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the ADV-3800 stands ready to deliver the full potential of 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.

For non-HD-ready TVs sets, the unit's top-of-the-line component-video outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television. And, for standard 4:3 aspect-ratio TVs, the unit's Active Fullscreen Function (AFF) lets you view widescreen movies in full-screen, without black bars at the top and bottom of the screen.

The ADV-3800 also delivers the convenience of VHS recording and playback--a great way to time shift your TV viewing and share your camcorder footage with loved ones, and the only way to enjoy your extensive library of videocassettes. Your camcorder or gaming console plugs right into convenient front-panel jacks for fast hookups.

The VCR's four-head design ensures smooth slow-motion play (forward and reverse) and clear still-frame images, and with hi-fi sound the unit records and plays back stereo audio tracks. If you route the stereo output to an AV receiver, you can even enjoy four-channel (left, center, right, and monaural surround) Dolby Pro Logic mixes from TV and Dolby-encoded cassettes.

Product Description

It's easy to say "Out with the old and in with the new". For most of us there's a gradual transition. One can't part with our VHS VCR while adapting to new DVD video recordings. So Apex Digital has introduced the ADV3800 that combines a VHS VCR and a DVD Player in one unit so you've got the best of both. Multifunction FL Display On-screen programming using menus in your choice of English, Spanish, and French Dolby-Digital and DTS outputs A perfect component for your home-theater system For NTSC Remote Control included Manufacturers Warranty - 90 days labor; 1 year parts replacement

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, August 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo (Electronics)

This is a feature-rich player full of pleasant surprises. In addition to its VCR function (play/record) it also plays DVDs, audio CDs, MP3 and WMA music CDs you burn on your computer, as well as CDs with pictures made with your digicam. I have tested all of the above (except WMA) and it all works fine. Easy navigation of folders and subfolders with MP3/JPEG disks, with on-TV display and controls that are similar to a computer display. Each folder or subfolder with JPEG images becomes an instant slide show. When playing MP3s, your TV display resembles that of a good MP3 player (with tags, elapsed/total time, etc). Large number of connection options as well, including inputs in the front where you can plug your camcorder. This purchase was a quick, unresearched decision but it has turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I cannot comment on the durability of the product though, as I have only used it for about a month.

This would also make a great present for parents / grandparents as they could use it with any TV and they could display family pictures you send them on CDs you make on your computer. Although it has many modern connection options, it can also be connected as an ordinary VCR.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes Inexpensive Is Just Cheap, October 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo (Electronics)

Ignore the low marks from stupid reviewers who complain about shipping time or the fact that the Apex doesn't include a universal remote -- shipping time isn't the fault of Apex, and no DVD player includes a universal remote. There are plenty of other reasons to dislike this DVD/VCR combo, and let's focus on those.

I too had the same problems as another reviewer from NY -- the LCD tape counter didn't work properly, the tape player would make noises sometimes, and there was a loud crackle from the speaker once while playing back a DVD. Most distubing was the apparent overload of the DSP (digital signal processor) on a DVD that had a lot of "action" -- the DVD player wasn't able to handle all the data and the display showed color bands and distorted images for a millisecond. Overall the quality of the unit just does not seem to be that high. If you get one and it doesn't have these problems out of the box, you might be okay, but then again you might not. And with only a 90 day warranty, you may be out $100+ in just a couple of months. Even though there's just a chance that I got a bad unit, I decided that it wasn't worth the risk of it blowing out, nor the hassle of returning another one again. I decided to return this one, spend a little more and get a brand name I can trust.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Buy, But Not Perfect, October 10, 2003

By	The Dabbler (Boulder, CO, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo (Electronics)

Hey, for the price its great! Easy to set up, works like a charm. Quality and features are excellent at the price.

A few annoyances:

1. Even though it has dual audio outs, only one set seems to work with the VCR (I haven't tried the DVD yet), meaning I can't run audio out to my TV and my tuner at the same time.

2. The remote control looks and feels cheap. Small buttons, dense layout.

3. My universal remote doesn't know about Apex equipment, and so I have to use two remotes.