I should have known better
Written: Oct 13 '03
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Pros: Nice picture and sound
Cons: Sound balancing system didn't seem to work, DVD player defective
The Bottom Line: Maybe I just got a dud, but returning an entire TV because of a faulty DVD player is not fun or necessary.
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| LinneaB's Full Review: Toshiba MW24FN1 24 inch TV/VCR/DVD Combo TV |
I finally decided that my trusty 20" RCA TV that I bought 15 years ago needed a vacation, so I started looking into getting a flat panel TV that was slightly larger. I wanted to be able to hook up a DVD player and also to connect the TV to my stereo system that happens to have surround speakers.
I found this unit at Sears and was very hesitant to buy it because if the DVD player or VCR broke down I would be stuck with 2/3 of the original unit, or I would have to lug this monster into a repair shop and be without a TV while one of the other components got fixed, something that would not be a problem with separate components. But this TV was so sexy I decided to give it a try, and the salesman told me that they have been very reliable. Toshiba has a great reputation, so I bought this against my better judgment.
I am not much of a video buff (obviously, given that my only TV is a 15-year-old 20" model) so I don't know if my expectations were too high, but I was disappointed for a few reasons:
1. The TV is supposed to have a sound system that prevents the commercials from blasting you out of the room. It is a feature that you have to turn on, which I did, but I have to say that I did not notice any difference. The commercials were still too loud. I tried it both with the TV speakers and with my stereo and it didn't seem to help either way.
2. Perhaps this is true of all integrated TV/VCR units, but you cannot watch one TV show while taping another. If you are taping a show, the TV is either turned off or you are watching the channel you are taping. With my old VCR I could watch one and tape another. I guess I see this ability as one of the reasons for owning a VCR.
3. Most importantly, the DVD unit did not work. It would play a DVD for about ten minutes, then the screen would turn solid red or green or gray and the entire unit would freeze, leaving me with no option but to turn it off and start over. I tried three different DVDs and had the same problem with all of them. When the machine locked up, I thought that I smelled a "hot" electrical odor, but maybe it was my imagination.
I returned this model to Sears and have learned my lesson about all-in-one units. Don't get them. I'm just glad the lesson was learned early in the game when I could get a cheerful refund, which I did, thanks to Sears.
On the plus side, I liked the remote control and the menu features. They were easy to figure out. The sound was good, especially the surround sound that came through my stereo (which probably has more to do with the stereo than it does with the TV). The picture was good, but I don't have much to compare it to.
My next move is to get a 24" flat screen solo TV. I would certainly still consider a Toshiba, just not an all-in-one unit.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 450
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Epinions.com ID:
LinneaB
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Reviews written: 66
Trusted by: 3 members
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