TV-DVD Combos Reviews

While consumers seem to like TV-DVD combos for their simplicity and convenience, professional reviewers are less interested. Instead, the best 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 CircuitCity.com, 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. Few TV-DVD combos listed there get any feedback, and using the site is an exercise in frustration.

TV-DVD combos can be found in sizes from under 10 inches 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, but those are disappearing fast as LCD TV-DVD combos become less expensive.

Since March 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 FCC and Congress, is to aid in the transition to an all-digital broadcasting system, which will take place in February 2009. After that date, all standard (analog) broadcasting will end.

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 perform somewhat better -- and if they break, they are more easily repaired or replaced than a TV-DVD combo. Likewise, the TVs themselves 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 HDTV for more information and reviews.  ... Continued

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User reviews provide the best current insight as to which TV-DVD combos are the best options. Among those, the 32-inch Toshiba REGZA 32LV67U stands out as a top performer. Its impressive feature lineup includes an upconverting DVD player and great connectivity. The Sharp LC-19DV22U is the best choice among 19-inch TV-DVD combos, but slow channel-changing is a sore spot with some. If you need an even smaller TV-DVD combo for a kitchen or dorm room, the 15-inch Toshiba 15DL7V77 is an easy pick. Most budget TV-DVD combos get lackluster owner reviews, but the 26-inch RCA L26WD26D and 32-inch L26WD26D stand out above the crowd.