Zenith XBV243 Dual Deck DVD-VCR Combo

Other products by Zenith

Product Details

Product Manual [195kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 14.2 x 16.9 x 3.8 inches ; 11.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 15 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000065BNZ
• Item model number: XBV243
• Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,264 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #59 in	Electronics > Televisions & Video > VCRs > VCR-DVD Combinations
  #68 in	Electronics > Televisions & Video > Disc Players & Recorders > DVD-VCR Combos

• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 15, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The XBV243 handles all your movie and music needs: VHS cassette recording and playback, superb DVD performance, fast and easy spinning of MP3 CDs. This combo unit saves space and simplifies entertainment hookups. The XBV243 plays CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, MP3 CDs, and standard DVD-Videos, from which you can easily make VHS copies (though copy-protected commercial DVDs cannot be recorded). It even has front-panel audio-video jacks for ready camcorder and video game access.

As an MP3 player, the XBV243 performs better than average. We were impressed with its ability to read MP3 discs that give other players trouble, and the navigation between files and folders is intuitive and fast (it even lets you queue one song while another plays). The one downside is, the onscreen display shows only rudimentary folder and file names. If you know what's on the discs, it's a breeze; otherwise, be prepared to do a little file fishing.

The DVD player has a typically clear, strong picture, especially through its component-video outputs (for use with a compatible TV). Features include 4x and 16x movable zoom, simulated surround sound, parental locks, and the ability to receive upgrades through CD-ROM. The VCR section offers four heads (for clear slow-motion and stop-action features) and stereo sound. We found VHS images to be a little less focused than images from other combo units. Its tracking is excellent, however, delivering stable images from old and new tapes alike, with none of the gritty audio noise associated with excessive tracking maneuvers. Commercial skip works well. The deck's 19-micron video heads maintain clarity during recording and playback in EP (extended play) mode, and auto clock set maintains the correct time and even adjusts for daylight savings--perfect!

For the simplest hookup with a 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 a TV (the VCR image requires a composite-video or RF connection with a TV). A coaxial digital-audio output feeds a surround-sound signal to a Dolby Digital- or DTS-decoding audio-video receiver. Packed with the combo unit are an S-video cable, composite-video cable, RF cable, stereo analog-audio interconnect, two AAA batteries, and a user's manual. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Easy setup, two-in-one convenience
• Plays hard-to-read MP3 discs
• Good MP3 file and folder navigation
• Fast DVD and CD access times
• Excellent VHS tracking, fast rewind
• Flexible setup options
• Small but nicely configured remote

Cons:

• No file names from MP3 tracks
• Soft VHS picture with slightly muted colors
• Loading a VHS tape interrupts DVD or CD playback
• Does not support JPEG image files

Product Description

XBV243 is a state-of-the-art DVD/VCR player. It combines a nifty design and a high functionality with the comfort you need. XBV243 features various playback options, MP3 decoding, component video output, 4x and 16x moveable zoom, Hi-Fi stereo, front A/V jacks, auto clock set system, and more.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

142 of 144 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very few drawbacks, August 16, 2002

By A Customer

For a combo player, this one is pretty good. If you can get over the silver color .. I'd prefer it in black, the mirrored front is cool though.

Please note .. if you're a serious AV person, this should not be the center-piece of your Home Theater. However it makes a great second/bedroom player.

I bought this unit after returning a Samsung DVD-2000 that I was just not pleased with. This unit's operation was much quieter than the Samsung, plus the DVD's video performance was slightly crisper (using the S-Video jack) and the audio was very noticeably better. This unit has played every disc I've put in it, DVD, CD, CD-RW. It has played a disc of MP3s that were encoded anywhere from 128kbps to 320kbps.

The VHS quality, is well, VHS quality. It's just a standard VCR. Other than HiFi, there are no frills. On the plus side though, it plays tapes fine, isn't loud, and hasn't eaten any of my tapes.

The only problem with this unit is that the auto-clock feature doesn't seem to work, or I have some setting wrong. Either way, that's a problem .. it's a pretty basic feature.

The remote isn't a universal, which is only a minor annoyance.

120 of 124 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First time DVD buyer, September 16, 2002

By A Customer

This is a GREAT player. Selling factors of this unit were versatility, some of which are connections including component, composite, S-Video, digital audio out, RF in and RF out. This is especially great for folks with older TV sets wanting to go DVD. I can also attach it to a newer digital quality TV when I'm ready. I happened to like the silver and mirrored front, esp. if your going for that monochomatic, mirrored, sleek look for a smaller area or bedroom. It has played every disk that I have put in it, DVD, CD, CD-RW. You can switch between DVD, VCR, or Cable TV all with one button on the remote!

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very pleased so far..., December 18, 2002

By	John E. Kolb (Georgia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While I haven't had the unit for very long I have been very pleased with it up to this point. It is silver with a mirrored band along the bottom where most of the buttons reside. Although this can make reading the button label a bit tricky I think it gives it a slick look. Set-up was easy on my 27" analog set and the instructions covered many different potential configurations. The remote is not universal nor is it back-lit but it is small and handy with an efficient button layout. This was fine for me because I've grown tired of so many large remotes cluttering up the coffee table.

I have only watched a couple DVDS but have had no problems. The VCR functions also seem to work fine at this early stage so no complaints there. The timed recording function is solid with programming being fairly intuitive. My only comment is that there does not seem to be a way to set the time to record without scrolling through each minute. If that is the worst I can say about it then I have had a good experience. The unit was a bit noisy when I tested it out on the floor but once I set it on its shelf under the TV it operated quietly.

The MP3/CD Audio functions work only OK. The music plays well and it is nice to be able to set up play lists from a disc but I haven't figured out how to shuffle an entire MP3 disc. Especially if the MP3s are burned into seperate folders by album. Perhaps more reading of the manual will help but it looks like all the MP3s need to be copied into one directory to do any meaningful shuffling. Good job all around though.