COBY DVD-615 Karaoke 5.1 Channel Progressive Scan DVD Player

Rating:
Summary: Works Great for Karaoke
Review: I have had a number of DVD players. Currently, I use a late model Sony for DVD and CD audio. I also have a Karaoke machine for those "Lost in Translation" moments. I have a decent collection of CD-G audio discs, and I keep buying more.

I purchased this player for my parents, so they could enjoy CD-G based Karaoke, DVD movies and audio CDs in their small retirement condo. My father loves to sing.

I had the unit sent to my home and I tested it with over a dozen CD-Gs, audio CDs and a couple dozen movies in numerous formats. The Coby player plays everything. CD-G lyrics appear on the screen and the microphone works. I did not test mp3s only traditional CDs.

I don't need a manual to hook up a DVD player. But, the manual included with this unit, while sparse, does explain how to hook up everything INCLUDING the microphone. My advice to the other reviewer is to try taking the only cable that fits the microphone and attaching it to the mic. Then, take the other end of the cable and attach it to one of the two mic inputs on the front of the player (labelled mic input 1 and 2 as I recall). At this point, insert the CD-G and hit play. The music starts and lyrics appear on the screen. You can adjust the volume and "echo" using the two dial controls under the front panel of the player. The "echo" feature helps people who can't sing (like me) sound less terrifying.

This player is a great value and the key issue for me will be reliability, which no reviewer has yet addressed. If the player breaks I'll just buy my parents a new unit which plays the same formats. The unit costs about as much as a very cheap standalone Karaoke player and if it lasts I'll be very impressed.

On the downside, the player controls are not as elegant as my more expensive Sony and I could see them breaking over time as the seem a bit cheap. And, like all Karaoke players I've owned, to get good vocal projection from the mic you'll need to hook this unit to a video/stereo (AV) receiver. If you only hook this Karaoke system to a TV, expect poor vocal levels.

I gave this unit five stars, not four, to partially offset the one star review and due to the low price of the unit. I would not have purchased this unit if the only review was so negative as I was primarily interested in getting my parents a unit that would play movies, audio AND support CD-G based Karaoke.


Rating:
Summary: No instructions for Karaoke function.
Review: I purchased this product for the Karaoke functionality. The included instructions are very minimal; in fact, they are the briefest instructions for an electronics item that I have ever seen. There is absolutely no mention of how to activate an attached microphone. I have been unable to get any sound from the microphone despite turning the function on using the remote control. I am beginning to suspect that the product is defective.

Additionally, the instructions make no mention that you must first connect the unit using RCA connectors and then adjust a setup menu before connecting using component video cables.

If you are looking for a cheapo DVD player, this one may be acceptable, but don't buy it for the Karaoke function.

I left a message for Colby USA customer service, but they have not returned my call.

Update 1/05

Ultimately, I was able to use the microphone by connecting the unit using old analog RCA cables. The microphone does not function if the unit is connected to a receiver using a more modern optical cable.

Colby USA did not return my two messages to their technical assistance group. I suspect they were flooded with calls from other unhappy customers.