Looking for a VCR/DVD player - tips?

[BoneSnapDeez]

This probably isn't worth its own thread, but I don't want to clutter up Random Thoughts either...

I'm looking for one of those combo units that plays DVD and VHS tapes.

We have one in the house, but it's not technically mine and I'll have to leave it here when I move out - plus, the remote is missing.

I have no means of my own to play VHS tapes and I'm getting sick of using consoles or a PC to watch movies.

I see these pop up at Goodwill from time to time, but I question their age/quality.

I'm shocked to see that these things still go for something like $90-$110 at retailers like Best Buy. Any place they are cheaper - either new or quality refurbished models? I'd like to spend under $50.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Keep hunting at the thrift stores and search for a name brand. My in-laws have a Panasonic DVD/VCR combo and it works wonderfully. (I bought them a Blu-Ray player for Christmas, however, so; if I can convince them to get rid of it, I will be sure they pass it on to you!)

[BurningDoom]

My advice: Stay away from the combo units. When I worked at ShopKo in high school, I saw more of those returned than any other units, BY FAR. One of the two components would always fail.

DVD players and VHS players should be cheap enough to get separately with no problems. And you can hook the DVD player directly into your VCR to have them hooked up at the same time, that's how my set-up is.

[Ziggy]

Why not just get a stand alone VHS player? If the combo players are something like $100, that tells me they're either trying to market them to a niche crowd and justify the price that way, or they're DVD recorders. If you don't need the recording capability, then why pay for it?

If space constraints means a combo player would be a better choice, then that's a different matter. Otherwise, a stand alone VHS (and DVD if you don't wanna use consoles anymore for that) player would cost you less. And you should be able to find a brand new VHS player around the internet for not too much.

Me personally, I wouldn't trust a VHS player from a thrift shop, you have no idea what abuse they took. A DVD player, not so much. You can clean them easily. But even with a VHS head cleaner, I question just how clean you can actually get them. I wouldn't wanna dirty my own tapes up from a dirty player.

If you don't mind getting a stand alone VCR, then maybe post a wanted for it here on RB. I'm sure there's plenty of us here that have spare VCRs lying around, you might be able to get a nice one for cheap.

[Ziggy]

And you can hook the DVD player directly into your VCR to have them hooked up at the same time, that's how my set-up is.

But that means your DVD player is hooked up via composite?


edit:
Since I don't watch VHS tapes too often these days... With my HDTV, my DVD player is hooked up via HDMI and I keep a VCR in the closet for the rare occasion I wanna actually watch a VHS tape on the HDTV. I just hook it up to the front AV jacks and put it back in the closet when I'm done. On the CRT in the man cave, I just leave the VCR permanently hooked up.

[BurningDoom]

And you can hook the DVD player directly into your VCR to have them hooked up at the same time, that's how my set-up is.

But that means your DVD player is hooked up via composite?

Yes, it does. How many people own an HD-DVD player, though? I'm sure if he was worried about Hi-Def, he'd be getting a Blu-Ray player.

[Ziggy]

Yes, it does. How many people own an HD-DVD player, though? I'm sure if he was worried about Hi-Def, he'd be getting a Blu-Ray player.

What about S-Video or component though? Pretty much all DVD players output component, except for the cheap drug store ones, and it'll look a million times better than composite. Regardless of HD or SDTV, it'll still look better than composite.

By "HD-DVD" do you mean the failed format that competed against BD? Or did you mean DVD players that can upconvert and output HDMI? If the later, I have one. I didn't think they were uncommon.

[BurningDoom]

I'm just talking the red, yellow, white connections. Which pretty much all regular VHS and DVD players have.

[Hobie-wan]

If you were closer I'd probably just let you have mine.

[Ziggy]

I'm just talking the red, yellow, white connections. Which pretty much all regular VHS and DVD players have.

Right, yellow, composite video. The weakest video signal of any DVD player. With the exception of DVD players that output HDMI, component (red, blue and green along with red and white for audio) will be your best picture quality.

You should consider checking out S-Video or component from your DVD player, if possible. It'll give you at least a little clearer picture. Possibly much clearer.

Although that reminds me, I wanted to point out something for BoneSnapDeez. If getting a stand alone VCR, and if getting it from a thrift shop, check the video connections on the back. Older units (and probably cheaper newer units) can output a mono audio signal. I would make sure it has stereo audio input/outputs.