More of This Feature • Part 1: Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Combos • Part 2: Popular Combos • Part 3: DVD-VCR and TV-DVD Combos

Related Resources • About Home Video/DVD - An Earlier Article on Combos

From Other Guides • About Home Theater

TV-VCR combos, which are available with TV screen sizes varying from 9 to 27 inches, are the most popular of the combos at this writing, even though videotape is dying as a medium for watching movies at home. However, this popularity makes more sense than you might first think because most people—including me—still want to have videotape capability, even if they expect to use it only occasionally (say, for watching older and foreign movies not available on DVD). Another factor in favor of the TV-VCR combo is that many of them carry low price tags. For example, I saw a major brand 20-inch monaural TV/2-head VCR combo for $220. You could add a $65 DVD player to this, and for a total of only $285 a budget-minded person would have a lot of capability in only two boxes. Of course, you might prefer to buy a stereo TV/4-head VCR combo, but it will generally cost more. Also, you might want a bigger screen for better viewing or a smaller TV for easier portability. Finally, if you buy a $65 DVD player, be prepared for the possibility you might have to return it and exchange it for one that works.

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