Toshiba SD-V290 DVD-VCR Combo
I Should Have Listened
Instead of being mindful of warnings about combos not to mention failing to read a single on-line review of said player I purchased Toshiba's SD-V290 DVD-VCR combo.  <br /> <br />I immediately regreted my decesion, despite being in need of a VCR. <br /> <br />The picture quality is less than stellar as far as the DVD portion is concerned. Unlike my old JVC XV-523GD (a great player by the way) on any given disc a thin layer of grain lays on top of the picture and some of the colors seemed overly bright while others were dull and lifeless. I have spent the last two years fiddling with my television settings -- mostly in vain. <br /> <br />The day after the basic warranty expired the DVD player began acting up. I would receive disc errors and had difficulty opening the tray to retrieve my DVD. This continued for the next 24 hours before I let it rest an additional 48. After that it behaved as if it was brand new...until last month. <br /> <br />More of the same, only this time it was accompanied by an internal clicking sound that mellowed as the picture froze and eventually shut down in error. <br /> <br />I never had a problem with the VCR, which I used a fair amount of times, and I'll more than likely keep it around for those purposes. Suffice to say I'll be looking for another DVD player after spending the last two years in agony. <br /> <br />You've been warned -- and judging by past reviews -- clearly by more consumers than just myself.