Whether you already own an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the SLV-D500P can deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Other DVD features include a 54 MHz digital-to-analog converter, disc bookmarking, picture zoom, parental lock, and a screen saver.

The VCR section offers everything from one-month, eight-event advance programming to commercial skip. Your camcorder or gaming console plugs right into the front panel for hassle-free connections. Its four-head design ensures smooth slow-motion play (forward and reverse) and clear still-frame images, and with hi-fi sound the unit records and plays back stereo audio tracks. Its 19-micron heads deliver the clearest possible picture when recording or viewing in EP (extended-play) mode. VCR Plus+ simplifies advance programming, commercial skip makes it easy to zip past commercials and unwanted "coming attractions," and the built-in Quickset timer dial lets you program the VCR with just a quick turn of the wrist (press the Quickset dial, then turn the knob to set the date, start time, stop time, and channel).

Connections with combo units are often inconvenient, forcing you to use separate video hookups for each section (DVD, VCR), a problem for some TVs. This playe