You Might Want To Go With GoVideo!
Written: Nov 22 '02
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Pros: nifty unit, easy to use, inexpensive
Cons: remote may be confusing
The Bottom Line: For entry level DVD/VCR combos, you can't beat this unit.
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| tkerodd's Full Review: Soyo DVR4000 DVD Player / VCR Combo |
I will be the first to admit that when it comes to electronics, I tend to lag behind the curve. When new technology comes out, I am usually among the last to embrace it. An example of this is the DVD craze. My thought was that this would go the way of the Videodisk and Beta tape: nice ideas, but not applicable to our society. Go to your local Blockbuster and you will see that I was dead wrong. The DVD is fast becoming the medium of choice for video rentals and sales. To that end, I decided to replace my old, malfunctioning VCR with a newer model. When buying, my process turned toward the DVD / VCR combos that have come in the last couple of years. What better way to combine the old technology with the new?
The research I did led me to the GoVideo DVR4000 DVD/VHS Player. At first, I was a little skeptical. The price was pretty inexpensive (ie, cheap) and I was not familiar with the GoVideo brand name. So I did some checking. I found out that GoVideo is the company behind the Diamond Rio MP3 player and other “cutting edge” items. Most of the reviews of their products were very positive, although there were a few questionable items. But the combination of low price and decent quality gave me a comfort level that led me to make that purchase. I can tell you whole-heartedly that I have not regretted it one bit.
In a word, this unit is awesome! Hookup is simple – just plug it in, hook it to your television set just like your VCR, and go. No difficult configurations necessary. If you need help, the instruction book for this unit is very good. In fact, it may be the best instruction book I have seen in a very long time. You will find that everything is easy to understand. Normally I purchase Sony products; if you have ever tried to follow their instructions, you will understand what I am talking about. This one is a big improvement!
For versatility, this unit cannot be beat. You are able to play DVDs, CDs, and VCR tapes. Want to record your favorite show while you watch a DVD? No problem – this unit will allow you to watch a DVD and record from the television at the same time. It also has a “copy” feature that will copy DVDs to videocassette. However, most DVDs are copy protected; you may find that you are unable to copy the recent popular movie releases. You can play CDs on this unit as well, with sound that is comparable to other CD players on the market.
The DVD player has done a great job for us so far. The picture quality is really good, with a clear picture and no problems during playback. With this unit hooked up to my surround sound system, it makes the movies come to life in my living room. As you would imagine, this unit has CD quality sound. All of the features in your average DVD player are here – zoom, pause, etc. You can also change sound settings and playback view for DVD video.
In watching videos, I am impressed with the VCR deck as well. There is a clarity in this unit that my older VCR did not have. Even when rewinding or fast-forwarding you can very clearly see what is being displayed. The unit runs so quietly that you can’t even here when the tape has finished rewinding. You have the option of setting the VCR to record on standard or extended play format.
The front panel of the unit has all of the controls easily marked so that you can quickly learn how to make everything work. One feature that I especially like is that there are plugs on the front. If you run your camcorder through your VCR for playback (as I often do), you no longer have to reach around the back of the unit to hook it all up. Simply use the plugs on the front for easy hookup and playback.
One negative about this unit is the remote. Frankly, it is too busy. It is not a universal remote, so you can’t use it as your primary remote control. But there are so many functions on there that it can be confusing. Almost every button has two functions – one for the DVD, and one for the VCR. Thus, they are double labeled. The red lettering is for the DVD and the black lettering for the VCR. So for the first couple of weeks I spent a lot of time reading the remote to try to figure out which button to use. Even after using it, I still find myself having to analyze this control to find out exactly what I have to do.
When compared to other units, this is a real bargain. We were able to get this unit for just under $160, including shipping. To this point, I could not be happier with what this unit can do. Sure, I could have paid more for a fancier name that had more features, but this one does everything that I need. Save a few dollars yourself, and give GoVideo a chance.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 160
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Epinions.com ID:
tkerodd
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Location: Jackson, MS
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