Sony SLV-D370P DVD/VHS Combination Player.
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11/23/06 REVISION:
Hello, G7

Time has passed and my new home has Satellite TV service. Music needs came from a creaky 5 Disc CD Changer (TEAC PD DI 200). The television monitor in use is a 1997 JVC 32" Model (that had an S-Video Connection). There was the oldest VCR I had seen in years and there is a collection of VHS VideoCassettes on the shelf. No DVD media. I had brought my Gateway/ViewSonic/SONY kluge system along but wanted to play DVD Movies out in the living room.

While my Partner/Companion was out of town (Vermont) for a week, I rearranged things and got a DVD Player that also played VHS Cassettes. I was in a rush but was elated to see that the change worked and we soon enjoyed "The Music Man". For an old TV, that JVC picture was surprisingly sharp. As for my Companion, she loved the rearrangement and the novelty of home video.
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All was well but an alarm bell began ringing in my alleged mind. "The Player". Who made it? SONY!. Would it play CD's? It did! I had not paid attention to the model number at the time of purchase so, I was astonished to see that I had swept up one of the despised and discredited products that I had so roundly condemned. I plead the 5th. Something had changed. I had, after all, checked the NEW box and it clearly stated that the unit contained within WOULD play Digital Music, CD-R and CD-RW as well as Record Video Cassettes. With apologies to Sony for what look like innuendo, I take it back - almost all of it, that is.
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FEATURES (from the box ad copy)

[Progressive Scan] - Progressive Output (480P) for DVD

[DVD+RW/+R] - Compatible with Multiple Recorded DVD discs
[DVD-RW/-R]

[DVD+RW/+R] - Digital Image & Digital Music Playback**
[DVD-RW/-R]
[CD -R/RW]
[JPEG & MP3]

[/FAST/ ///SLOW/ Playback with SOUND]
- Fast Play with Sound/Slow Play with Sound for DVD***

[Rewinds a T-120 tape in about 60 seconds]

[ABC Multi-Brand TV Control] Multi-Brand TV Remote Control*

The *, **, *** symbols are reasonable disclaimers, including comments that some formats cannot be played.

Further Ad Copy states:
DVD: Virtual Surround Mode, Component & S-Video Output
VCR: 4 Head Hi-Fi Stereo, 19 Micron Heads for Optimized EP Recording, Commercial Skip, Auto Head Cleaner
DVD/VCR: Child Lock

In all, the Package is loaded with convincing claims, sufficient to make this product "... leap off the shelves..."; which it certainly was doing at the local Wal-Mart. One more point is made in a yellow sticker, to wit: "IMPORTANT FACT: U.S. Law requires all over-the-air broadcasting to switch from analog to digital signals on February 17, 2009. After that date, this product will requiere a converter device in order for it to receive/record over-the-air broadcasts via an antenna from your local TV stations. If you are a pay TV Subscriber, your cable or satellite box should provide this functionality without additional equipment. Playback of recorded media (e.g. DVD or VHS movies) should remain unaffected."

The VCR portion of this player includes a 75 Ohm cable connector for signal reception. With a splitter, the signal from the Satellite Control Box could be routed to the input to record a broadcast or to allow use as a TV Station tuner.

SETUP

Excluding the time to obtain a needed connection cable, I had the SLV-D370P Player out of the box and running within minutes. I coped with details such as setting the VCR Clock manually, setting the desired language and scanning the Satellite Box for stations; without unusual delays nor problems. It was gratifying to have that S-Video input on the JVC Television Set because it allowed a separation of video source signals without "Wye" cables. JVC had already anticipated an extra audio source.

For those of us with newer Televisions, the SLV-D370P offers Component Video and Digital Audio outputs (Phono Jacks). Because of the unique setup here, I was unable to test the Component Video nor the Digital Audio performance. I did, however, observe that the Digital Audio specification is the same for a CD/DVD Player by SONY: DVP-NS55P that I have used with modern Television. The Component Video Specifications for these two players are similar; my conclusion is that the quality of video output would satisfy all but the very demanding and experienced users. I do not have any modern quality speakers so I have to pass on sound quality.

No setup is completed without the VCR Clock time; that, and the adjustment for PST, was done with the SETUP button on the RMT-V501E Remote. See Setup step 5, page 22 of the Operating Instructions (Part # 2-671-544-11 (1)

On Page 12, the manufacturer has provided two digit codes to allow control of non-Sony TVs. JVC was on the list, holding the POWER button down while pressing two buttons (0 and 9) and the remote took control of that JVC TV ! Amazing !

OPERATIONS

The player has performed as advertised for the featured capabilities I have attempted. To switch from Satellite to DVD/CD play, one only needs to turn on the player and insert a disc. The TV Remote governs the Player volume while the DVD/CD remote that came in the box handles Program and Track selections.

The VHS Recording Cassette is still very much in use after so many years of service. We have a balky gate closer on our Deer Fence that was misbehaving. The first VHS Tape played on the SLV-370P Player was one found in the packing material for that closer. With that one tape, I was able to put the VHS portion of the player through its paces. I did not try recording; wanting to save that for another day (and another cable we did not have). I have no reason to doubt that recording would be satisfactory to the typical user.

DVD Playing

Several films recorded on DVD Media have been viewed on our JVC 32" TV. Given the limitations of the 1997 era TV, the picture presentation from this player is at least equal to what we see from the Satellite Feed Dish 322 A/V - no Component Video outputs. That feed goes via 3 Plugs (Red, White, & Yellow) directly to A/V Phono Jacks on the rear panel of the TV. The DVD signal is run from the S-Video Out phono jack on the rear of the SLV-D370P to the S-Video phono jack on the rear of the TV.
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COMMENTS & OBSERVATIONS
This product would have been the delivery device to make my new ViewSonic N2750w TV deliver music and video in addition to Standard VGA/PC signals. Without this player, I had only VGA/PC and over the air TV, the latter via an RCA "Rabbit Ear" antenna.

Unfortunately, the SONY unit I got at Target could play DVD disc and VHS tape Films but would not play the common old Compact Disc. So, back it went. (I replaced it with a SONY DVP-NS55P CD/DVD Player, dropping the VHS feature altogether.)

In 1983, in JapanTown, San Francisco, I stood reverently in front of a strange new device. It was about 10" square and stood about 4' off the floor. Inside the very top was a spinning shiny disc that produced beautiful music! Price: $10,000.00, which made me think I would never own one of these things. Eventually prices fell and I collected some 150 of those newfangled Compact Discs. My sad experience noted above made me believe that SONY had decided to abandon their installed BASE and to force something new down our collective throat.

REFERRAL:

Epinions Member MONGKUT has already published a review of this product which is thorough, competent, and well-balanced.

That review by MONGKUT was the first and only full one in the Epinions database; I did not want to add to what is already an ample documentation. See his fine work at:

http://www.epinions.com/content_234287632004#ow

At that time in Summer 2006, the MONGKUT review was the only other review of this product on Epinions and it still is in November 2006. I did not think another review was needed but have been assured that I was wrong.

My problem with it stemmed from my typically different approach:

Whenever I see a Compact Disc Drive in a PC, I think it should play the Common and Standard Compact Music Disc, in production for 20 years. This player did not do so, PERHAPS because Sony is off on another tangent. Perhaps it will be SUPER CD or Blue Ray - both are now on the retailers' shelves.

Durability Versus Obsolescence:

Reflecting on the age of some of the VHS Tapes we own, one should expect a long life from that portion of the SONY SLV-370P Player. I would bet on 20 years being adequate; those VHS Tapes just don't wear out as many of us thought or were told. Unfortunately, the DVD section may prove to be the pacing component. Already, the manufacturers are vying for the standard for new technology that would put more information on smaller discs. Naturally, such a neat feature would not be backward compatible - I am incredulous to see the prices for the new players.

What I cannot understand is the lack of support for the 2.5" disc all of us could play if it were available. Yes, open your disc drive and there it is, the insignificant depression inside of the 4.5" diameter one for Compact Discs. The invisible 2.5" disc could have been thicker, had two sides, everything to make us happier. Obsolescence works for each new succeeding generation of users but the installed base is huge. I elected to restore the Entertainment Center by cleaning up and using "obsolescent" technology - even Laser Disc Players are still around. We can play Vinyl, Stereo Cassette, CD, VHS, DVD and JPEG + media and can afford it, too.

Having found a backup LaserDisc Player, I am reconsidering my planned disposal of the 2 dozen operas on that medium that I own. And those things cost plenty. The prime reason for my hesitation is the presence on our "obsolete" Pioneer VSX-455 Tuner of an input and output selection for Laserdiscs.

It is amazing how good those 1960 33 1/3rpm records sound using a 1997 Tuner. And a 1984 Technics Turntable.

Our installation is in the ancient cabinet under the TV, and the Satellite Tuner Box sits on the SLV-370P Player. The cabinet is a relic of the 1980's, sagging top (designed for much smaller TV sets) and wide swinging glass doors. It is a dirty location, being inches from the carpet. Still, the design seems to be capable of withstanding long use as is. I discarded a 12 year old VHS Recorder that did not have HI-Fi Stereo capability nor DVD capacity. Blame obsolescence for TV, Player and Cabinet; not lack of durability.

At any rate, I would expect that the SLV-370P will outlast the Technolgy and Me.

Thank you for coming so far with me.
ASOURDOUGH4

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 116.86