Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - vcr/dvd combo unik

With this unit, a dvd shows a good picture in a new flat sceen tv, but with a vhs tape the picture is lousy. Is this due to the dvd being digital and the vhs tape is not?

Basically YES. Your DVD player puts out a picture with a much higher resolution than your VCR. This difference in picture quality is made more obvious by HD TV's, as well as the overall bigger screens people tend to be buying. You may also find watching regular analog TV stations won't be as clear as on older TV's, as analog broadcast TV wasn't a lot better quality video than VCR's.

Here are a few ideas that may or may not help you get the best possible picture (within the limitations of a VCR).

-If you are recording, use the SP setting (but you will only get 2 hours).

-Buy a stereo VCR if you don't have one. Video may not be different, but the audio will be better.

-Use RCA cables instead of the coaxial cable to connect it to the TV.

-Be sure your TV is set to the correct aspect ratio. For a widescreen TV, there should be black on the sides.

-You may be able to buy a DVD version of your movie for as low as $5. Also, many movies are being re-released on blu-ray.

-Sit as far away as possible from the TV.

It also depends on what's on the tape. If it's home video footage, the low quality of the camera also comes into play.

If a tape has been played a lot (especially kids' movies, which tend to get watched 100 or more times) it will wear out.

The heads in the VCR also get dirty and require periodic cleaning. Cleaning tapes are widely available.