Sony SLV-D350P DVD / VCR Combo

Although my player still works, and gets used almost every day, I have never been happy with this machine. I'm sorry I did not read online reviews before buying this in 2006.

DVD picture quality is poor compared to the other 4 DVD players I have used. Picture is dark and does not reveal detail what I can get from the same DVDs on different players. No amount of toying with the video settings for this player have helped.

Videocassette produces some kind of static dots on screen that can only alleviated or removed by tapping or hitting the top of the player at the rear top, just left of centre. I can't believe I have resorted to hitting solid state electronics to make them work! My old GE VCR from the early 1990s works better than this Sony.

I agree with others' comments about the remote. After two years of daily use, I still have to re-read the remote buttons to access special features. On other remotes, you tend to remember the logical places for things and can locate them without thinking.

So, the thing still works, but I have never been happy with this player and regret the purchase. It is now in the basement getting used for exercise videos. This was my first and likely my only Sony purchase. I'm now into Blu-ray and went with Samsung instead.

Edit:
DVD died one month after the original May 2008 review, and Setup feature cannot be accessed any longer. Slow death of a machine that was never a pleasure to use.

I've had this player for a little over 2 years and was happy with it until the middle of last week. Now after reading through some reviews, it looks like I'm just one of the many that had the DVD side of the player fail completely.

On a positive note, up until the point it failed, both the DVD and VCR worked great. But while watching an episode of The Family Guy on DVD last week, the scene froze and no buttons had any effect. I unplugged it and it hasn't read another DVD since. It tries for a few seconds and then I get the word "Error." Just for fun, I even tried opening it up and fidgeting with the laser, moving it back and forth, but it looks like the DVD functionality is gone for good. :-(

Two of them have died early deaths - like everyone else the DVD just stops and won't play. I can't beleive that Sony put their name on this worthless boat anchor.

DO NOT buy this Unit if you want to watch Dvd's LOL...seriously don't waste your money. I purchased this particular machine 2 years ago. Worked
great for awhile then the glitches and inherent problems surfaced. I seem to be having the same problems as many other reviewers ...will not read DVD's anymore at all, Dvd load compartment door will not open (make sure you have a butter knife handy to pry it open, we kept one next to the player til it stopped playing) Even brand new DVD's froze up and would not play. On the plus side the VCR works great . Anyway I will be shopping for a new combo unit today and will have to think real hard before I purchase another SONY.

For nearly two years, this product served us well. Actually, we didn't use it all that much -- on average we would watch a DVD every 2-3 weeks. A few months ago, it would occasionally fail to recognize a DVD, or would otherwise freeze. I used a DVD cleaner, which I think "maybe" helped one evening, as we were able to get through a movie with just one instance of freezing. Not worth the frustration anymore, so tonight I am online shopping for a new device. I won't buy this model again. P.S., When it worked, it worked quite well -- good picture, easy remote, conveniently placed output ports. Not a bad product if you get a good price, but I think I could have done better.