Rating: 
Summary: What do I compare it with?
Review: This is the first DVD player I've owned, aside from my computer. I can play DVDs on the computer, but seldom do so since it has only a 17" monitor, and is designed for use by only one person.
We've a considerable library of VHS movies, which have been adequate for our use. I've found VHS quality just fine for watching films, and the selection available has been more than adequate.
And, judging from the reviews, most people who have DVD players spend most of their time complaining about the quality of the pictures they watch, anyway, rather than enjoying the movie. I guess that is to demonstrate their technological expertise. If they failed to complain, how would anyone know how discrimininating they were?
They should have been alive when all we had was radio, and the first televisions had to be adjusted with "rabbit ears," and the black and white images you received were exceedingly grainy, at best, and looked like you were watching a picture through a blizzard. Still, we thought they were wonderful. I bought the very first TV I ever saw. It was in a Navy hospital in New York. The screen was about 4" diagonally, the thing weighed about 40 lbs., and was close to a yard long. I was delighted with it. I'd just returned from the Korean War on a stretcher, and was amazed at the progress they'd made on the home front.
But, recently I've noticed that there are more movies available on DVD (sometimes exclusively) and I wanted a machine that would play either DVD or VHS, and I didn't want to spend a fortune on it. Also, I have a 20" dish, as well as an antennae for local stations, so I wanted to be able to hook up all of my available systems.
Those were my needs. The DVD player was wanted primarily so that I could watch movies available only in that format, while not giving up our extensive VHS library of movies.
This machine, the Apex-3800, fit the bill. It is inexpensive, it was easy to hook up and can play both VHS and DVD. I found nothing wrong with the quality of the pictures, and it does everything I expected of it.
Since I've never owned another brand, I have nothing to compare it with. I HAVE seen other machines, at my friends and members of my family's homes, but can't see any difference in any of theirs and this one. It's just as easy to use, and considerably less expensive than some others. The pictures are fantastically clear, but then so are our VHS movies, for the most part, and the programs we receive from the dish and the local stations we get on the antennae. There is little to complain about, these days, when it comes to television reception--at least in this area.
I'm donating the old VCR, which still works nicely, to a local school. No complaints here.
Joseph (Joe) Pierre
Rating: 
Summary: Calm down people!
Review: This is the third product from Apex I've bought. I've been very happy with each of them, including this bad boy. It'll play almost anything you shove into it which is really nice. If you want the quietest, highest quality player, why are you even looking at this? It's a GREAT DEAL on a nice unit.You have to wonder about any audio or videophile commenting on this. If you're like 99% of people out there with a TV that needs a DVD player, this is a decent choice. If you've got a plasma screen with multiple thousands of dollars of surround sound home theater equipment, buy something more expensive. Jeez. Kudos Apex!
Rating:
Summary: Does the trick
Review: Use it with an HD tv. Plays back VHS and DVD just fine. Does exactly what it says it does, and does it well.
Rating:
Summary: Does the trick
Review: Use it with an HD tv. Plays back VHS and DVD just fine. Does exactly what it says it does, and does it well.
Rating:
Summary: Bang for your buck .... a great machine.
Review: We bought this DVD player as we got an HDTV and needed a progressive scan player. Well my wife wanted a VCR as well for her exersize tapes. So after looking at a bunch of units for around $150, we then settled on this one. Needless to say so far it does everything well with both the VCR and DVD. We have not noticed any quality problems with the Progressive Scan DVD or the sound for DD 5.1. Works as described for a good price.
Rating: 
Summary: Good and cheap. Emphasis on cheap?
Review: Well, hate to put Apex down in any way because my last DVD player was a Apex too and it would play homemade VCD's which the previous Sanyo player could not. Apex does it all. And I seem to find info stating it does very well in this regard whereas other more expensive players cannot.
However, I had to return my first ADV-3800 to Circuit City after finding out it made a quick audio distortion noise (similar to cables being disconnected/reconnected) every 20 minutes or so. On top of that, the DVD title/chapter display would appear on screen randomly too and I could not keep it off.
This one now from Amazon could be another of these afflicted also. Ordered yesterday and delivered today, it was a very fast order being just the usual standard shipping. My serial number is similar to the last unit. At least in the several hours of use so far it has done only a few of the noises (whether Cable, Tape or DVD on), likewise with the onscreen display (DVD only). Deciding now if I can live with it for the price of just $95 versus the $120 at Circuit City. CC had a $20 rebate sale going recently but I bought the other unit a month ago.
So... I must rate this as 3 Stars, being otherwise decent DVD/VCR combo which I would have given 5 Stars! I'll just have to judge it worth returning or keeping after another few days of watching and listening.
Rating: 
Summary: Do Not Buy!
Review: When we first received the player, the VCR door would not shut completely. Considering this was such a cheap product, and the fact it did not effect the VCR playback, we figured it was something we could live with. Now, three months into owning this, the DVD player has stopped working completely! We're now in the process of retuning this piece of crap. Save yourself the trouble and buy something else!
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