Some DVDs you may see the darkening/lighting effect from the copy protection while simply viewing (I think it depends on the VCR model). My sister had this problem (I witnessed it). If you experience this, do not assume your DVD player is broken. You can buy an adapter at Radio Shack that will fix the problem.
It really depends on the VCR you are using and how it handles Macrovision. My VCR is an RCA and it is fine unless I try to record the DVD. That is when it darkens for me.
Similarly, or not, some really OLD VCRs are lacking in some high tech image correction circuitry that Macrovision uses to muck up your picture. Result: old VCRs = no macrovision.
i’ve had the most evil problems with my dvd player. my tv/vcr combo unit does have inputs but i keep getting scrolling bars on my screen whenever i try to play a dvd. i bought a rf modulator. didn’t help. i bought a replacement cable. didn’t help. am seriously suspecting that the blasted thing just hates my television and won’t work regardless of what i do with it.
i’m going to take it over to a friend’s apartment and attempt to set it up to his television after i return from vacation. if it doesn’t work with his tv, i’m shipping the thing back to rca and having them send me a replacement. if it does work with his tv, i’m just going to throw the thing out of the window and riot-in-disgruntlement inside my apartment, cursing that wretched rca dog (ya know, nipper) all the while.
Tv/vcr combo units are evil. On most models, there is NO way to connect a DVD player without triggering the copy-protection. Also, it’s fairly hard to get a 3rd-party remote to operate one properly. AND, if one part craps out, you may lose the other part as well. It’s almost always cheaper and easier to buy yer tv and vcr seperately, unless space is the main factor (i.e. you live in your van.)
BTW, if you own a tv with any other inputs than coaxial, USE them. Progressive is better than composite, and both of those are better than S-video, which is better than an RCA cable, which is still better than yer basic 75 ohm coax.