Toshiba SD-22VB

My only serious complaint about the Toshiba SD-22VB is I'm having trouble playing DVD-R discs (which it's reported to support). Any advice welcome! It's Generally easy to use. DVD playback and video recording quality v.good. But it has a complex remote. Some set up difficulties. Problems playing DVD-R.

The Toshiba SD-22VB is a great DVD/VCR Combi once you get used to the complicated recording set up. The problem is that it keeps switching itself off when you have gone to bed. It seems it can't comprehend the concept of recording through to a new day. The DVD failed after half a dozen films and the engineer who came to mend the thing advised that the laser is "done". Apparently a known fault acknowledged by Toshiba, but it will cost £75 to get exchange - Some customer service? I am very dissapointed.

This is one lovely machine....

Straight out of the box connect it to the satellite box and TV, switch on and away you go - fully auto channelized and clock updated.

Note:- the clock remains updated throughout use.

The VCS records and plays beautifully - I have some very old tapes that on other machines they record quite badly, but put these tapes in the Tosh and you would not believe what you see or hear (crystal clear).

Providing you can find a tv program that offers Programme Delivery Control (PDC)this makes recording a breeze.... you simply set the date and time and press the Timer Record button. Now if the program should start and finish early/late PDC will take this into account and ammend automatically - thus you never miss those crucial recorded bits needed.

The remote however should have had further thought - it has small buttons that with VCR use you have orange text on a light grey background which makes using the remote difficult if your eyesight is poor.

The DVD picks up colours and contrast lovely (the dark opening scenes in Gladiator are shown with little problem).

I have not had any problems using any CD-R's or CD-RW's with this machine - it seems to support the ones I have tried (Memorex/TDK/Phillips/Verbattum).

VCD recordings from the PC play without fault (all my home made movies and photos are displayed clearly) However, SVCD is not supported.

The machine is region 2 only and I have'nt seen a hack to alter this to multiregion (not that this is an issue with me as UK disks are all I need) However, an undocumented report which I have seen and used that displays the firmware, simply using the supplied remote, switch to DVD and press zoom 6 0 6 zoom.

MP3 tracks are displayed clearly on the On Screen Display and are easy to select. However, ensure you only burn no more than 200 tracks to the CD as any more will not be displayed or played.

The remaining features of the Combi are quite extensive - Parental Lock,Multiple Camera Angles,Multiple Subtitle & Language Tracks,Variable Zoom (1.5/2.5/4),Pan around Zoom, the list goes on.

Suffice to say... in the period of time I have used this machine, I find it an exceptional buy (Curry's was the cheapest around at the time I purchased £199.01 - Yes 01p. They undercut even the online traders, some by quite a margin).

Forgetting the grumbles of the remote - the machine is easy to operate and totally reliable. It gives a first class VHS recording and playback. DVD has no problem issues and MP3 coupled with CD-R CD-RW/DVD-R DVD-RW/VCD is an added bonus.

Get it - you will not be dissapointed.

It's fairly high spec for the money. I got mine from comet store £199. It was cheaper in the store than on-line.

It is reasonably easy to use. I got it yesterday, so far the quality seems good. When I got it home I realised it is bigger than it looked in the store. The remote uses Black and orange letters. The orange ones are real hard to read and my eye sight is good. For me, this is the best Combination unit for the money. If there was any doubt then that would be getting two separate units. This would cost a bit more for the same spec. There are pros & cons for separate units & Combination units.