RCA RC 5231Z DVD Players

RCA RC 5231Z DVD Players 

DESCRIPTION

DVD / DVIX / CD Dolby Digital / DTS Player

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 32  
[Jan 19, 2000]
Robert
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

DTS

Weakness:

No coaxial
No supplied RF adapter
Circuit City

This my first DVD player. The main reason I bought this is for a reliable DD source for my new av equipment. I bought it at Circuit City where the salesperson tried his best to push a proscan model with built-in decoder for about $70 more (included $50 of monster av cables... what a deal). To his credit, he finally admitted that the rca was sufficient for my needs (begrudgingly). I received my free dvd's and blockbuster coupons last night and I almost feel like I stole it at $199. The only thing I regret is not buying it when the divx tower can toppling down. I would recommend it for a first unit because you know in your heart of hearts that everything you buy today is tomorrows clearance sale :)

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Oct 11, 1999]
Jean-Philippe
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

price and performances

Weakness:

lack of features

Great entry level DVD player. One could wonder why paying more for a Toshiba, sony or Panasonic? Maybe to get more features, but beside that this RCA is great.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 28, 1999]
Allen Chung
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

The onscreen display is very convenient.
Can dim the display during movies.
Universal remote.

Weakness:

DIVX.
Loud mechanism during playback.
A little slow sometimes.
The quality of the remote is not up to par; rough edges and cheap feeling.

I can't really compare this to other DVD players since this is the first one I own. My cousin has the above mentioned Toshiba, which I got to use once, I thought it was okay, but I find the RCA has better controls, easier to use and the onscreen display makes life a lot easier. I find it a lot louder than the Toshiba though, but with the volume up (who watches DVD's quietly anyway?) you can't tell the difference. The display dims, which is a nice feature. My biggest gripe is the quality of the remote, what a piece of junk! It feels sooo cheap compared to the Toshiba one, although it is a Universal remote, the keypad doesn't work for my TV, what a joke! I can't comment on if it's a good deal or not, since I didn't actually buy this, it was given to me.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba SD2109

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[May 21, 2000]
Adrian Adams
Audiophile

Strength:

DD, DTS, Better than VHS, Great sound

Weakness:

Did not come with RF adapter and after I found one it was over $60.00!= trade tv with girlfriend!

I bought this player at Circuit City for $129.99 because it was an open box buy. The guy told me it was a steal. It had lots of good features. I especially love the menu setup it was very simple to figure out. I had been wanting a player for a while now and I got one at a good price and I especially feel good with all the positives reviews I read. The only thing that the sales man did not mention was the fall of DIVX. I still have a year warranty on the product.

Similar Products Used:

jus the old flicker snowy VCRS

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jul 17, 2000]
Frank
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Nothing comes to mind...

Weakness:

Noisy and frail

After reading outstanding reviews about this product and given the cheap price due to the collapse of DIVX, I purchased the RCA thinking I was getting a bargain for my money.
I was very wrong...
First of all, this piece of junk won't even play all DVDs.
After renting a few DVDs, ie The Matrix, this player wouldn't even read it and once if finally started playing, it would give out. I thought it was because the DVD was a little scratched up, (which it was) but this happened with other movies as well (Run Lola Run & The Mummy).
Granted these DVD's were not in great shape, but this DVD player is WWWWAAAAAAYYYYY too sensitive.
Also, in just about every movie, there is ALWAYS a pause between chapters somewhere, which gets very annoying.
This player has no zoom either!!!
Even though I do enjoy watching movies in Wide Screen, it would be nice to have that option.
Last but certainly not least, when the DVD spins (plays), it makes an outragously loud noise that is extremely irritating.
Please don't buy this player!!!!!
I'll give it a decent value rating because it was cheap, but overall, it simply stinks!!!

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba SD 2200

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
2
[Jul 04, 2000]
Jarvis Cow
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Many strengths, excellent for first time user especially for the price, good load time, good picture, good sound so far

Weakness:

Slow mo could be a little better

Like i said this is a great beginner dvd system. I am right now getting ready to buy a sony but not becuz the rca is bad its very good but i have almost everything sony and i just want to get everything to one brand pretty much. I would highly suggest the rca to a friend as a beginner

Similar Products Used:

first dvd but have watched on many others

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jun 20, 2000]
mike g
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

cheap price

Weakness:

no component output
remote doesn't light up

This is an excellent DVD for the money. I used to work at a circuit city store and we had a number of these come back in. However, almost all them worked perfectly and I chalk the returns up to technology incompenent customers (I live in a rural area)and lack of proper qualifying by the sales associates. I own one myself and it is excellent for both movies and music. Every once in a while it won't decode a cd or dvd on the first try...it has never taken more than two attempts. This is clearly not an audiophile product, but at the price that it was offered (after DIVX fell)it was certainly a great value.

I also want to clarify the "Cicuit City system." Managers work for both wage and bonuses. Their bonus incentive consist of monster cable sales, open box sales, and most importantly ESP or extended service program sales. They also have the ability to reduce open box items greatly without having it adversely affect their bonuses (new product discounts kills their bonuses). Another point that needs to be made is that monster cable is one of the most marked up items in the store--near 100%.

The point that I am trying to make is that you can haggle down "open box" items fairly easily, especially if you get an ESP plan and/or monster cable. This is particulary true at the end of the month.

Work through the sales counselor when doing this. DO NOT ask to talk to the sales manager directly.

One more item of interest. If Circuit City is pushing a product such as DIVX, it is a certainty that managers and sales people are getting paid bonuses or large commissions. Take everything with a grain of salt.

Similar Products Used:

Everything Circuit City sells

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 23, 2000]
Spencer McCroskey
Casual Listener

Strength:

The Price is Nice & it has all the feature I need.

Weakness:

None--

Man this is an awesome system for the price. I had to return the first one however because it would not read the discs which had something to do with the DIVX chip being taken out I believe. The previous post described the problem I found with the first system but my second is just great. It is you average DVD Player, nothing fancy, it does, however, have many more features than others do at the same price. When this player originally debuted I believe it was around 400.00 which explains all the features. Anyway I am very happy with my system and as for the previous post you need to return your unit.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer DVD

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 25, 2000]
Zach
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

price, dts.

Weakness:

Lack of features

I too bought this on an open box sale for $150 and they guy threw in Monster Cables. I didn't order the free DVD's because I'm an idiot. It was worked extremely well for me and seems to give off great sound and picture. The only thing I would want out of a DVD player is maybe a changer, but that doesn't really apply here. Anyway, this is a great buy but I don't think you can find them anymore.

Similar Products Used:

none

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Mar 03, 2001]
steve
Casual Listener

Strength:

played dvd's- i guess...for the first 8 months anyway...

Weakness:

Tray would continue to rotate disc after it was powered down... wont play dvd's anymore-8 mo.old- used 3Xa week at most...RCA quality super dissapointing. alternate angles never worked with unit-

DONT BUY RCA-

The dvd player worked. That's all I wanted I guess...

One thing I could never get to work was the alternate angle feature- Press the info button- & up popped this feature bar on top of screen-it never worked...you could scroll thru it, but the nothing ever worked... weird.

Now, 8 months later- the DVD Player wont read any data from a disc... it wont play dvd's...cd's work, but it is a 8 lb. paperweight on my cd player now...

anyway... I would give it 1 star due to the fact It did work for 8 months... that must be a lifetime for RCA CO. DVD Players... hahaha.... I need a progressive scan dvd anyway...

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
Showing 1-10 of 32  

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