Toshiba SD-V391 Progressive Scan DVD-VCR Combo , Silver
nice unit
I always enjoy writing good reviews...almost as much as I enjoy writing really bad ones.  This is a good one.  This unit is very nice to look at, it feels nice when you push the remote control buttons, and it even makes very nice recordings.  I should have bought an editing VCR years ago, but instead I play with multiple VCR's, my PC, DVD players, phonograph players, cassette players and recorders and whatever I can patch in to my menagerie in genersal.  I didn't really need another DVD player but since it came with this machine I figured it never hurts to have another source to throw into the mix.  I love this machine.  It makes really nice sounds when you fast forward or reverse, the remote control feels nice in my hand and has a good feel when I hit a button.  I just completed my latest video creation using this Toshiba SD-V391 as the middle and main recorder for my mind-boggling production, whatever may be at fault with my production is not to be blamed on the Toshiba.  To make a long story short....it worked great and after making the original tape at SP speed and playing it in my Sony and copying it back on the Toshiba, it is actually hard to tell which is the original tape.<br />I guess my only complaint is that they just don't make em like my old RCA Hi-Fi VHS recorder from 1985 which had a VU meter and seperate audio input controls etc etc...but which cost $250.  The remote control does have some absolutely illegible red type on a dark grey background in one section that baffles the mind and causes serious eye strain when attempting to make out the letters.  I'm used to little hard to see buttons, but when you can't even read the type with your glasses on under a good light you gotta think someone screwed the pooch.  It's just one of those things you have to work around and soon you are familiar with the functions of the buttons and don't need to read em anyhow.<br />The DVD works well and when I tried some CD-R disc's with photos and MP3 files it showed and played them as advertised.  I had some trouble with some MP3 files but it may have been a fault of mine when I did something somewhere along the line before they got to the Toshiba.  I haven't messed with MP3 files for a couple of years and need to play with them more now that they could actually be usefull to me.  <br />When you insert a tape or DVD and eject one or both of the afformentioned, it makes a nice sound and gives you a feeling of confidence and pride of ownership.  These things are important.  My Sony is starting to make rough and clunky noises whenever I hit the eject button...just a matter of time before it achieves critical mass and fractures a servo... or worse!  I have a JVC Super VHS ET in line too and that has been a good, if not inspiring, machine for a couple of years. Anyhow,  I would recommend this machine to anyone looking for a DVD/VHS combo and likes to play with editing sound and images.  The input select button on the remote control is nice, once you figure out where it is..haha.   I would buy this machine just for the VHS..oh yeah, I did...