TV-DVD Combos

TV-DVD combos are popular with buyers

While consumers seem to like TV-DVD combos for their simplicity and convenience, professional reviewers are less interested, though both CNet.com and PC Magazine report on one current model. Instead, the most guidance comes from user reviews such as those from Amazon.com, where user-written reports are lengthy and informative. The site has become easier than ever to use. Other retailer sites, such as BestBuy.com and Walmart.com, sell fewer models but have enough user ratings to be helpful. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Epinions.com. Few TV-DVD combos listed there get much feedback, and using the site is an exercise in frustration.

TV-DVD combos can be found in sizes from under 10 inches to up to 40 inches, and with standard-definition, enhanced-definition and high-definition displays. Most current TV-DVD combos are built around LCD displays. You'll also find a smattering of CRT (cathode ray tube)-based combo units.

Since Mar. 1, 2007, manufacturers have been required to include a digital (ATSC) tuner in all TVs regardless of size, including TV-DVD combos. The goal of the tuner requirement, which was mandated by the Federal Communications Commission and Congress, is to aid in the transition to an all-digital broadcasting system. Some stations have already made the switch, and others will do so in the coming months. All full-power standard (analog) broadcasting will end on June 12, 2009, though some low-power broadcasters and repeater stations may stay on the air after that.

Because of the switch to digital broadcasting, all current TV-DVD combos include a digital tuner. However, since stores are allowed to sell products with analog tuners until they are out of stock, you might still find some older TV-DVD combos on retailers' shelves. Though older TV-DVD combos without digital tuners could be bargain priced, they are not a good choice if you get any of your TV from over-the-air broadcasting. While you will be able to continue to watch TV broadcasts after the transition by adding a DTV converter box, that adds to the clutter and makes for a more complex setup -- two things that many buyers of TV-DVD combos are looking to avoid. On the other hand, the tuner issue is of little or no concern if you get all of your TV from cable or satellite, as they use a different scheme to distribute programming and are not affected by these changes. If you want more information on digital converter boxes, see the separate ConsumerSearch report.

If space isn't of the utmost concern, most experts say that you are better off buying a separate DVD player and television than a TV-DVD player combo. Standalone DVD players tend to be more full-featured than those included in combos and most perform somewhat better -- and if they break, they are more easily repaired or replaced than a DVD player that's part of a TV-DVD combo. Likewise, the TVs themselves often have fewer features. HDTV models typically can only display images in the lower 720p HD resolution. See our report on DVD players as well as our reports on LCD TV and plasma TV for more information and reviews.

Consumers like TV-DVD combos because they are easy to use and because they eliminate clutter. Getting rid of one component and its associated cabling is especially useful in places like kitchens, bedrooms, dorm rooms and the like where space can be at a premium. TV-DVD combos are easier to use because they generally eliminate hassles like input switching and using a separate remote when you want to watch a DVD.

Though TV-DVD combos sometimes seem like an afterthought to many manufacturers -- let alone reviewers -- the latest Consumer Electronics Show (in January 2009) indicated that things are changing. Several manufacturers made TV-DVD player combos a more important part of their overall strategies. Some, such as Toshiba, showed expanded lineups, while others, such as JVC, made a fresh commitment to the category.

Also on display was the first generation of TV/Blu-ray player combos. These sets sport advanced features, full 1080p resolution and bigger screen sizes. Sharp is expected to be the first to market with these sets, offering four models ranging from the 32-inch Sharp LC-32BD60U (*Est. $1,000) to the 52-inch Sharp LC-52BD80U (*Est. $2,300). Look for more information in our next update.