19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
Surprisingly good
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...
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
Sometimes Inexpensive Is Just Cheap
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...
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
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.
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24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
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.
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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.
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This review is from: Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo (Electronics)
The VCR is dreadful when it works. I have hundreds of hours of tape that this VCR has problems playing. It always skips and you can never get the tracking down just right. There is no visial display in tracking.
Also, APEX customer support is factually non-existant. Their website answeres nothing and you can't contact them via email. Also, their tech-support hotline is open 8 hours and the signal is busy during those times.
You'll have to end up spending $30 to send the piece of crap back because buying electronic online is like playing Russian Roulette.
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This review is from: Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo (Electronics)
This is the third product from Apex I've bought. I've been very happy with each of them, including this bad boy. It'll play almost anything you shove into it which is really nice. If you want the quietest, highest quality player, why are you even looking at this? It's a GREAT DEAL on a nice unit.
You have to wonder about any audio or videophile commenting on this. If you're like 99% of people out there with a TV that needs a DVD player, this is a decent choice. If you've got a plasma screen with multiple thousands of dollars of surround sound home theater equipment, buy something more expensive.
Jeez. Kudos Apex!
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This review is from: Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo (Electronics)
I have had this machine for seven months now and I can't help but tell you how well it is performing. I was a bit wary of the all in one concept but this apex does everything it says - it records your tv programs while letting you watch a dvd or as I have done - connect my old stereo system and speakers to listen to mp3 cds. The recording function on this machine works much better than stand alone vcr's that I have used - it records high quality digital cable. I would certainly buy apex again.
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This review is from: Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo (Electronics)
I purchased and returned 4 different brands that claimed to play VCD's because they wouldn't play mine! This unit plays anything I put in it. I have many home movies I've put on VCD (before home DVD burners) and they were useless until I found this unit that was much cheaper than the other 4 brands! Needless to say, I'm more than happy!!
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This review is from: Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo (Electronics)
After reading not-so-good reviews on most dvd/vcr combos on this and other external sites, I decided to try my luck with the Apex 3800. My luck was not so good with this model, as I found when I hooked it up to our tv. The front LED display did not display anything--no clock or counter display, making us believe at first that the machine was not powered at all. After figuring out that the machine was working but dysfunctionally, we put in a DVD to try it out. Every 10 minutes or so, a loud popping sound would come out out of our tv speakers. This never happened before we had the machine. This may have been just a faulty machine..but I'm returning this one and looking for other brands that are out there.
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This review is from: Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo (Electronics)
I bought the APEX ADV-3800 from Sears for $99. Great price. The DVD player played everything I fed to it including DVDs made in China and VCDs made in India (PAL format). It even played DVDs I recorded in +RW but haven't finalized the disk. The remote is fairly easy to operate. The picture quality is pretty good. Can't comment on the progressive scan or 5.1 sound as I don't have supporting systems for those.
The hook up was as simple as it can get. I hooked up the unit to a DVD recorder and then to TV. The whole setup worked very nicely.
If it doesn't break in 90 days as somebody suggested, I think it's a great unit.
-update:12/1/05 the DVD door got stuck a month back and won't open and close automatically. Pretty much broke. VCR still works.
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This review is from: Apex ADV-3800 Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo (Electronics)
I purchased this device two weeks ago (May 26, 2004) from SEARS and straight out of the box, the DVD player does not play ANY DVD! I burn DVDs in many different formats (DVD-+RW) from different manufactures and none of them play. Then I tried to play a regular DVD (Anthony Robbin's Get the Edge) and it also will not play. I tried several other brand new DVDs and none will play. I even tried playing MP3 and WMP discs, with no luck. I knew I should not have purchased this product without researching it first but I was in a time crunch. I do not recommend this product! And I waited over 10 minutes trying to speak with a customer service rep, which is also unacceptable!
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