Symphonic SD200E DVD/CD Player
Excellent DVD quality and unbelievable value
This Symphonic SD200E DVD player is excellent, and an almost unbelievable steal in terms of price. It has an S-Video (Super-Video) hook up, which I put through to my 32-inch RCA stereo TV, yielding a stunningly vivid image which seemed to look better than from my previous $1,000 Pioneer combi player. It also has a standard video coaxial outlet if you need that and standard L & R audio hookups. It comes with a full-function, high quality-feeling remote control with 2 AA batteries included. Installing the whole unit took me about ten minutes using the detailed instruction manual. One previous reviewer claimed that the unit damaged his DVD's, so I first put in a new DVD which I didn't care too much about, and it caused no damage that I could see. I just finished watching the full length DVD of The Omen, and the movie looked and sounded spectacular. This was a rental copy, but the machine experienced no difficulties in reading it. Contrary to what a previous reviewer wrote, the unit _does_ have a coaxial Digital Audio Out, although I did not hook into that, because I didn't have the cable. But my audio through the standard hookups was excellent nonetheless. The unit comes with a video cable and a combination L & R audio cable.<br /><br />I bought this unit because the Laser Disc portion of my old combi player was breaking down, so I wanted to replace the entire unit, even though its DVD was still working. But I'm tired of paying hundreds of dollars through the nose as the electronics companies keep upping the ante and bringing out new format after format, so I didn't want to buy a high-priced DVD player. BluRay DVD is coming out soon, so why spend $300 on a fancy DVD player now when they've basically just become commodities? Also, I've come to realize that the only critical components in a video system is basically the TV screen and amplifier/speakers; the DVD, cable box, VCR and DVR players are really just boxes of standardized computer chips and tray mechanisms. Once you get past the case design they're all the same, manufactured in all the same places. All that really matters is the quality of what you see and hear out of. I decided to take a chance with this Symphonic DVD player, because, at a price of under $30, if it didn't work, I could just throw it out or donate it. As it turns out, it's much more than an adequate machine. It has the look and feel of basic quality, the tray door works well and solidly (keep in mind the unit has no front display, but you can display the functions on the TV screen via the remote), and I like the feel of the remote (although the remote's buttons are a little hard to locate in the dark, but no big deal, I can get used to it). The Symphonic SD200E delivers beautiful, high quality exquisite video and audio, at a ridiculously low price, so I highly recommend this as one of the best deals I've encountered in a long while.et past the case design they're all the same, manufactured in all the same places. All that really matters is the quality of what you see and hear out of. I decided to take a chance with this Symphonic DVD player, because, at a price of under $30, if it didn't work, I could just throw it out or donate it. As it turns out, it's much more than an adequate machine. It has the look and feel of basic quality, the tray door works well and solidly (keep in mind the unit has no front display, but you can display the functions on the TV screen via the remote), and I like the feel of the remote (although the remote's buttons are a little hard to locate in the dark, but no big deal, I can get used to it). The Symphonic SD200E delivers beautiful, high quality exquisite video and audio, at a ridiculously low price, so I highly recommend this as one of the best deals I've encountered in a long while.