Looking to buy a TV with a built-in DVD, perhaps for a bedroom or the kitchen?  Living in the UK?  Confused by all the different features on offer?  Stay with me for the next five minutes.  I’m going to list some vital things to look out for when choosing a TV DVD combi.  Simply read the list, then you can go ahead and buy with confidence!

TV DVD Combi

• Digital Tuner – this is an essential component of any TV now that the UK is switching or has switched to digital TV transmissions.  Some old models still on the market only have an analogue tuner, so be careful to check this just in case.  The best option if you live in an area that does not yet have a good digital signal is a TV DVD Combi with dual analogue and digital tuners, so that you can tune into the analogue signal until you can go digital.

• Freeview – models with built-in freeview often cost no more than ones without these days.  If the TV is for a bedroom or kitchen and you don’t want the inconvenience and untidiness of a separate freeview box, then this feature is for you.  Dozens of extra channels – all free – who could resist?

• DVD Player – the built-in DVD player is a great space-saver especially if your TV is going in the bedroom or kitchen.  Look for a player that can cope with different formats of DVD – such as DVD-R and DVD+R.  A bonus is the ability to view still digital photos from a DVD, and to play MP3.

• Contrast ratio – this is not easy to evaluate as every manufacturer measures it differently, but as a rule, a higher ratio such as 1000:1 is worth looking for, and is an indication that black colours will be truly dark and white colours will be bright white.  It also means that there is a bigger range for all of the colours in-between.  Therefore, a higher contrast ratio such as 1000:1 usually means a better quality picture compared to lower ratios such as 500:1, but please remember that other factors such as response time contribute to the overall experience as well.

• Response time – this is the time it takes for a new image to be “drawn” on the screen.  About 20 milliseconds (20ms) is a good benchmark, and eight milliseconds (8ms) is considered excellent, and will ensure that when you are watching fast-moving pictures, such as running athletes, there is no blurring of the picture.

• HD (High Definition) TV – Many people buy a TV DVD combi for the kitchen or a child’s bedroom, for example, which often means that there is not enough room for anything more than a 26 inch screen, often less.  With a screen of this size, a true HDTV is not going to give any real advantage but will cost a great deal more.  In practice, you are better off saving your money and getting an HD-ready TV rather than true HDTV.  With HD-ready, you can still view high definition programs, and there’s little difference in quality on these smaller screens.

• Wide-screen – did you know that some LCD monitors are designed initially for use as computer monitors and then re-branded as TVs!  What is the problem with that?  Well, computer monitors  usually have more height compared to width, so if you get one of these and the ratio is fixed at the computer setting, people’s heads will look stretched!  You need to look for adjustable picture ratio so that you can set the correct wide-screen ratio of 16:9.

• EPG (Electronic Program Guide) – a user-unfriendly EPG can make your life a misery.  It’s basically the on-screen programme list, and some of them are s-l-o-w to load and only show very limited information.  Look for a fast, easy, seven-day EPG, and you will be enjoying your TV and not spending the next few years cursing it.

If you are short of time and just want to see an amazing TV with built-in DVD that meets ALL of the above criteria; is currently available at a great price – and has received rave reviews from people who bought it – I am currently recommending an excellent model from the reputed Toshiba stable.  To get a very competitive price and check current availability, just click the link: TV DVD combi.

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Basically, it’s Tuesday 8th June as I write this, and it’s just about NOT too late to buy that TV DVD combi for the bedroom if you need to replace that old portable. Why would you want one? Well, I’m not saying this is applies to you, but I wouldn’t mind betting that in many houses up and down the country the “other arf” might just complain a little when every single World Cup game obliterates the normal household viewing of soaps and reality TV. The word “divorce” might even be mentioned!

So, if you think there is a chance that you might be “affected” in this way – that you could be banished to the bedroom or maybe the kitchen, now is definitely the time to get choosing that LCD TV so you don’t get stuck trying to make out your favourite striker on that manky old portable TV.

In case you don’t know, one of my jobs is to scour the market for what I reckon are the most popular TV DVD models, and we have them on the shop page. Just click the big red button on the top right, choose your TV and you will be all set!

By the way, if you have any questions before ordering, just send me a quick message via the contact page and I’ll do my best to answer.

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It’s Samsung’s first TV DVD combi and it’s very obvious that they have spent a lot of time and money on developing something really special here – it’s going to wipe the floor with some of the competition.

Samsung LE22B470 TV DVD Combi

One of the main things I like about this model is just how easy it is to set up.  Everything is very easy and you will have it up and running in minutes (even if you can’t be bothered to read the manual..)

The unit is sturdy and well-constructed and has that “I’m-going-to-last-for-many-years” look about it.  So it’s just as well it’s a good looker, with Samsung’s trademark Merlot-coloured stripe along the base of the screen.

The picture quality of the HD-ready LCD TV is superb, nothing less, whether you are watching freeview (yes, this TV DVD combi also has a digital freeview tuner), or your favourite film on DVD.

The built-in DVD player really is a great bonus, as it takes up little extra room and means you can do away with all those messy, dusty cables!  As usual with a TV DVD combi, the added DVD player does not add a lot to the price, so makes the whole unit excellent value.

This sounds like a 100% endorsement for this product rather than a balanced review, but honestly, I can’t find anything bad to say about it.

You can check the latest price and availability on this model here: TV DVD Combi.

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TV DVD Combi Toshiba 19DV615DB

Just about everyone is buying these little combi televisions to get their bedrooms or kitchens ready for the digital switch-over.  Their success has to be down to their great value not just in terms of money but in use of space too, because the built-in DVD player barely increases the size of the unit at all – an important consideration when space is at a premium in the bedroom or kitchen.  Let’s take a closer look:

Toshiba 19DV615DB (Glossy Black TV DVD Combi) – Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the picture quality like?

Customers who review this model say some really good things about picture quality, and the experts seem to agree.  In my view, with Toshiba you generally get a higher quality of picture for the same money when compared to other manufacturers, and the 19DV615DB is no exception.  It’s bright, contrasty and punchy, and you are not going to have any problems here.

Does it have Freeview?

Pleased to say yes, it does.  The Toshiba is also said to have a very good receiver too – better than many a TV DVD Combi – so there is a fair chance that you will get a full set of the available channels unless you live in an area that has a really bad signal.

Can my Gran use it?

Well, that depends whether you let her.  Buy this for your Gran and it could well end up in your own bedroom and never reach her house at all, with the kids sworn to secrecy until you can save up for another one to give to your Gran!  Seriously, it’s an easy model to use, with very easy on-screen menus, a far cry from some of the other TV DVD Combi models out there, believe me!

What about size?

This stylish glossy-black unit is compact – after all, it’s specially designed to occupy a space where there’s – well – not much space!  Slim and discreet, it’s 33.3cm high by 47.6cm wide and 6.7cm deep.

How heavy is it?

What, planning to carry it around are you?  No, seriously, it’s 4.5kg so although I would not recommend balancing it on something rickety, it’s not going to need a reinforced concrete shelf.  By the way, if you need to attach it to the wall, take a look at this TV DVD Combi Wall Bracket.

Is it well-wired for sound?

I think you mean what are the speakers like, yes?  Well, they’re OK.  I mean, I am a bit of a power freak when it comes to sound, and personally I would have liked a bit more than 3W per speaker, but the Toshiba is certainly up to the job and has the same strength speakers as many TV/DVD Combi models of this size.  Basically, they’re designed for anything up to a large bedroom and myself, I’d be happy with it as it is but if you want to blast the sound out, you can always plug in external speakers as there is a socket for that.

Is the built-in DVD player a cheapo?

Erm, no!  I know this is a bugbear of many a combi television – you know, the TV working but the DVD player giving up after a short while.  That’s why I don’t recommend any old model.  I would not recommend this if I thought the DVD player was not up to scratch.  It’s another reason why you really should pay a little extra to stick with a reputable manufacturer – better value in the long run.

Verdict

This TV/DVD combi makes a really economical replacement for old that bedroom or kitchen portable.  Not only will you be going digital as you cook or lounge on the bed, but you will also get a quality unit at a great price that should last you for years – and the built-in DVD player is such a great bonus as it costs little more and takes hardly any extra space.  I’m giving this little beauty 9/10.  (Nobody gets 10/10, OK!)
Anyway, that’s enough of me going on – listen, if you want a nice little model at a great price, delay no longer and click the link because there are some great offers right now: TV DVD Combi – Toshiba 19DV615DB.

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TV DVD combi August DA110BD

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the quality compare to other TV DVD Combi portables?

Well, for a start it’s won loads of awards.  Channel 4 voted it Top 3 small screen TV and it has been recommended by What Hi-Fi magazine and won an award from Sound and Vision Magazine.
The picture quality of the 800×480 display is especially good for an 11 inch LCD TV and this is one of the things that reviewers tend to mention.  The unit is very well made – better than some others I could mention that cost more money, and you also get a great set of features for the price.

Does it have Freeview?

Yes it does.  Not only does this smart little TV DVD Combi have a digital Freeview tuner, but it also has analogue too, which you can choose to use if you haven’t “gone digital” just yet.  You can also put in an aerial cable if you are using the TV at home.

How easy is it to use?

It’s all pretty intuitive, designed for ease of use even though it is such a compact unit.  The build quality of the remote control is the only thing that some people have criticised, but I thought it was fine myself!

Does it run off the mains as well as 12v?

Yes – it comes with a 240v AC for use at home and a 12v DC adapter that plugs into your standard in-car power socket.

How big is it?

It’s a true portable unit, so it’s light, small and easy to carry.  It weighs in at a very light 1.62kg, so you can forget about carrying it to tone your biceps.  Size-wise, well, it really is portable at less than 30cm wide, 21cm high and just over 6cm deep.  By the way, you can get a seat harness to hang it from the back of a car seat too.

How good is the built-in DVD player?

For such a little TV DVD Combi, I am continually surprised at the quality – What Hi-Fi magazine said of the DVD player – “The built-in DVD player is relatively slick and quiet”.  It plays all the main DVD formats, not to mention avi and mpg videos.

What’s the sound quality like?

As with any TV DVD Combi as compact as this one, there have to be some compromises and you are not going to get the surround sound experience of your home cinema.  Most reviewers describe the sound as “acceptable”.  Having said that, this model beats loads of others in its class on sound.  It’s worth noting that there is a headphone socket which gives a great sound experience with any decent headphones.

The Verdict

A fantastic Christmas present, birthday present or a TV/DVD combi for university, the August  DA110BD is the portable TV of your parents’ dreams – now a reality thanks to this UK company.  Solid build quality, good components, easy to use – and loads of built-in features for the price.  I give this nine out of ten. (Mental note – must write some reviews of some of the products I DON’T like!)

Being a popular model (customers rate it 5/5 at Amazon), this is in demand.  You can check the latest offer price and see if it’s available by clicking here: TV DVD Combi.

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Here are some questions that I often hear:

How does the picture quality compare to other makes?
The Toshiba brand name is a guarantee that you will get excellent picture quality – Toshiba take a lot of care on this aspect of manufacture and design, and this model is no exception.  Many people who bought this model of TV DVD Combi have praised the picture quality and it is absolutely true to say that you would have to pay more money to get the same quality of picture from some of the less reputable manufacturers.

TV DVD Combi by Toshiba

How easy is it to use?
This Toshiba is in fact very easy to use, totally intuitive.  Just follow the on-screen menus and you really can’t go wrong.  It’s a welcome change from some other models that I could mention.

How big is it?
This is an incredibly slim and compact unit, and by the way, it also has a stylish, quality, glossy white finish.  It measures 33.3cm high by 47.6cm wide and 6.7cm deep (front to back).  Oh, and it weighs just 4.5kg, so it’s not going to damage whatever you put it on.

Does it have Freeview?
Oh yes, this TV DVD Combi has a Freeview tuner, and a powerful one at that.  One buyer said it “found more channels than any other TV in the house”! What this means is that if you live in a Freeview area, it is quite likely that you will get the full choice of channels.

How good is the built-in DVD player?
Being Toshiba, again you know that you are not getting rubbish.  So often with cheaper makes you hear about the built-in DVD player failing, but not with this combi television, I am pleased to say.  You can also play back your photos too.

What is the sound quality like?
To be absolutely honest, ideally I would have liked a little more power from the built-in speakers.  They are fine in the bedroom, kitchen or any small room, but this compact unit is not designed for a big family living room where there is a lot of background chatter and in this situation you will need a bigger, more powerful model.  Don’t get me wrong, this is a really minor point against a whole load of positives for this model, and as I say, in the bedroom or kitchen it will be just fine.

How “green” is this model?
When it comes to green credentials, this is as good as it gets unless you do without a TV at all!  This TV DVD Combi has been designed specifically to use less energy than many other models.

THE VERDICT
Overall, the Toshiba 19DV616DB gets 9/10 from me – I have taken one point off because personally I would have liked slightly more powerful speakers, but it’s a minor point.  All in all this is a great model and you will have to go a long way to find a TV DVD Combi offering this quality at such a great price.

Please Read This:

Talking of price, just now this particular model is a bit of a steal as there seems to be some rather competitive pricing going on, although I don’t know how long it will last.  You can check the current price and stock availability by clicking this link:  TV DVD Combi – Toshiba 19DV616DB.

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Hama Bracket for TV DVD Combi

Supporting the VESA standards for LCD TVs, compatibility should not be an issue, and this bracket is designed for any TV or TV DVD Combi from 10 to 32 inches in screen size, with a weight up to 20kg.  With a depth from the television to the wall of only 11.5cm, the bracket is a real space saver.  It swivels horizontally up to 160 degrees, with a vertical tilt range of 90 degrees, so you can always position the screen for ideal viewing – from the bed, the kitchen table or even the the cooker!

Let’s take a look at what some of the existing customers have to say about this bracket:

“So much smaller than the old type TV wall brackets thank goodness!”

“Really pleased with the bracket. Price and delivery also very good. If you’re fitting a larger TV then you’ll need 2 people with the final fitting (just to be on the safe side!”

“Had this bracket over a year now. Was easily installed and it holds the TV (19″ LCD) very close to the wall but allows for angling up/down/left/right. No complaints.”

“A great tv bracket for a budget price. I have just put up 10 x LG 32″ flatscreens using these brackets, in our Hotel, and have had no problems at all going on to a variety of different walls.”

A word of advice:  It is fair to say that when mounting any TV DVD Combi on any wall bracket, you need to use screws and plugs that are suitable for the wall.  If you have a solid wall, you will need to use a hammer drill to make the holes, and use solid wall plugs, perhaps even metal sleeves.  If you are mounting on a stud wall, into plasterboard, you need to be especially careful.  Here, you will need specialist plugs that open out behind the plasterboard when the screws are tightened, to spread the load.  Whether you have a solid wall or plasterboard, it is important to use screws and plugs that are long enough – and wide enough – to bear the weight of your TV DVD Combi.  If in doubt, err on the side of caution and go bigger and longer, but make sure that the screws will fit through the holes in the bracket.
For less than £20 at Amazon UK, this bracket is excellent value.  If you decide to go ahead and get one, I hope that having read this you can now go ahead and fit that TV DVD Combi to the wall with confidence!

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TV DVD Combi

There are actually several ways in which you can view photos on your TV, but some of them get bogged down in compatibility issues and others require you to buy extra pieces of equipment.  The methods I describe here may not be the most technologically advanced, but they are easy to do and will work with most modern TVs with built-in DVD players.

A basic option for viewing photos on your TV DVD Combi is not to use the DVD player at all, but to connect your digital camera to the TV using an AV (audio visual) cable that is usually supplied with the best digital cameras.  This allows you to view photos but only the ones that happen to be on the camera’s memory card at the time, and you can only control the slide show by using the camera controls.

A better solution is to use the DVD player that’s built into your combi television.  This costs pennies now that writeable DVD disks have come down so much in price.  You will need a computer with a DVD writer, of course, and you will also need a DVD burning program.  Many computers come with DVD burning software installed, but if you don’t have a DVD burning program, you can easily download a free one from the internet.  Two popular free programs for DVD burning are ImgBurn and CDBurnerXP – just search Google and you will find them.

The first thing that you need to do is prepare the “show” by getting on the computer and deciding which photos you want to burn onto a DVD.  Usually, you just drag the files into the window of the DVD burning program and then follow the instructions to burn the disk.  It’s very easy to do.  Then you simply whip the disk out and slide it into the DVD player of your TV DVD Combi.

One drawback of the above method is that you will in many cases need to use the TV remote control to move onto the next photo, and you will get no special effects like fading in and out. It will make for a far more interesting experience if you can get a little more advanced and  add things like fading, zooming in and out and perhaps a few captions and credits.  You can do this pretty easily by using a simple video editing tool such as Windows Movie Maker, which comes with Windows XP and Vista, or iMovie which comes with Macs.  If you don’t have either, free alternative video editing tools are readily available on the internet.  Using a video editor means that you can create your own slick slide show, zooming in on areas of interest, fading between images, sliding the next image in from the left, or the right and so on.  You can also add text to the images and maybe put some credits on at the end.  It just makes the whole slide show that little bit more appealing when you show it to your family and friends on your TV DVD Combi, and you don’t need to click anything to move onto the next picture so you can just sit back in your armchair and enjoy the show.

I hope you found this interesting and that you have some fun making your slide shows and viewing them on your TV DVD Combi.

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