Review on 📀 Magnavox DV225MG9 DVD Player and Hi-Fi Stereo VCR with Line-In Recording by Mike Cassidy

Our Panasonic VCR broke a few weeks ago and we had to replace it. The TV we used it with is a 25 year old GE. This player works with our old TV and we can play VHS tapes, record VHS tapes and watch DVDs. I use a Comcast cable box. This device does not have a tuner, so you need an external one, e.g. B. a cable box. In addition, your TV MUST have RCA connectors on the back: 3 colored connectors - yellow (video signal) and red and white for audio. You need to buy another set of RCA cables if you want to record. A few things you need to know to make modern progressive scan players work with your analog TV. You MUST turn off progressive scan. This player has a small display on the front that says P Scan. When this indicator is lit, progressive scanning is enabled. To turn off, press and hold the play button on the DVD side until the indicator turns off.2. There is no TV/VCR button on the remote control or front panel. So, to watch the tape, you need to switch to the TV's video input. How you do this depends on the brand of your TV. For my GE, this means setting the channel to channel 91. This can be done using your TV's remote control, or by simply pressing the channel select button on the front of your TV if you're using a cable box. With Comcast boxes, channel control is limited to 4 on the TV and 91 on my TV. I suspect that even if you don't know how to switch video modes, simply pressing the channel switch button will likely toggle your options. To learn more about your specific set, download the manual for that player. Go to google and type magnavox dv225mg9 in the search box and click on the manual. Download it and go to page 6 for a list of different TV models and how to switch the video input. Once you switch the video input, you don't need to change it anymore. My Comcast box works fine when the TV is tuned to channel 91 instead of channel 4. If you suddenly can't see a cassette playing, it's probably because the video input was reset somehow. Just switch it back and you should be good go be good .3. Now set the date and time. Using the VCR remote, press the 'Setup' button at the bottom to bring up the menu and the familiar blue screen. Follow the instructions in the manual. Device connection - recording and playback1. I recommend connecting the TV directly to the cable box with a coaxial cable. Then use a set of RCA cables to come out of the cable box and connect to the VCR input jacks.2. Use a second set of RCA cables to connect the VCR output to the video input on the back of the TV.3. VERY IMPORTANT - You must use the rear inputs of your VCR to record, called the L1.4 input. Pages 12-13 of the manual describe how to schedule a timer recording. You'll find that part of the process involves selecting an input. You must select L1 if you want to record something on TV.5. It may seem obvious, but the cable box MUST be turned on. Some of the Comcast boxes are always on, like simple A/D converters. But the boxes can be turned off if needed, and when the box is off you'll only pick up snow as if you've lost your cable connection, which of course you have! 6. To activate the program you just entered, press the Timer Set button on the remote control. Toshiba does the same. This blocks the viewing of VHS tapes and you can only view DVDs.7. Finally, don't forget to turn off the VCR. It will not be recorded if you leave the device on. It should be able to turn itself on. To connect a playback-only device: 1. If you do not plan to record TV programs, the set of RCA cables that came with the device will suffice. I suspect that since this unit does not have an internal tuner that is why only one set of RCA.2 cables is included. Connect one end to the VCR output jacks on the back of the VCR and the other end to the matching color jacks on the back of the TV.3. Make sure your TV is set to video input and you'll be fine. Whenever you want to play a VHS or DVD tape, simply press play on the VCR remote and your selection will appear on your TV.4. You can skip setting the clock etc as you are only playing and not recording. I only rated this device a 4. Although I am very happy that the Magnavox manual mentions compatibility at the beginning of the manual and the manual is available online. So you can try it before you buy the device. I'm less than impressed with the design. The visibility of the controls on the front of the device and the buttons on the remote control is rather poor. White writing on a silver background makes it difficult to read. Be prepared to use a flashlight to read the front panel controls. The lack of a display means you'll have to check the time on the device before using the timer recording feature, unless you just want to keep your fingers crossed. To give it a 5, I think Magnavox would have to make 4 changes: make the front panel and remote controls more legible by changing the background color and/or icons, add a digital display that doesn't just show the time , but also served as a time counter when playing VHS or DVD cassettes. I researched for about 2 weeks to figure out how to get these new VCRs to work with our perfectly working, albeit outdated, TVs. I hope this information helps others with the same problem we are facing. ask, just ask. Personally, I've learned so much from Revain's customer feedback that I really want to share whatever I can to help others navigate the tech swamp.