05 80 GB

November 12, 2007 | By Doug In DVD Recorders |

PHILIPS Hard Disk/DVD Recorder DVDR3440H/05 80 GB
Customer Review: Great product for non freeview digital users
Got this product as we have virgin cable and wanted something that could record onto a hard disc, which pretty much rules out everything with a built in freeview tuner.

Had the product set up in minutes, plug in the scart from the digi box and the other to the TV and thats it!

The recording buffer which automatically records whatever you’re watching is fantastic. Watched a DVD and found that the hard disc had recorded what was on the digi box which was great. Easy to rewind and pause live TV.

Fully recommended. Would get 5 stars if I could work out how to set the default channel to the decoder scart!

Fantastic.

Customer Review: Wot no Freeview?
Have just bought and sadly returned this item today. The built in tuner is analogue only, meaning that it’s not really suitable for me - it needs a separate Freeview box to be able to record channels others than BBC1 - Five. No Electronic Programme Guide means that if you’re after something that can be used like Sky+ with the added benefit of a DVD recorder, you’ve bought the wrong thing!

LG RC278 - Multi Format DVD Recorder
The RC-278 DVD/VHS player/recorder is a complete system that combines a DVD player/recorder and a HiFi Stereo VHS player/recorder. The RC-278 is compatible with several formats, so you can build up a true home TV programme and film collection. In DVD record mode, the RC-278 works with DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW and DVD-RAM formats. The 3D sound will add more realism to your films. Its 5 compression modes give you up to 11 hours of digital video. The VHS player has 2 recording speeds and includes the andldquo;Jet Driveandrdquo; fast-forward and rewind functions. The RC-278 DVD/VHS player/recorder also allows you to copy from DVD and VHS cassette and vice-versa, as well as simultaneous DVD play and VHS record. The RC-278 DVD/VHS player/recorder is a stellar home audio/video system that gives you numerous recording possibilities for your entertainment.
Amazon Price: ?137.20
Used Price: ?118.99

LG RH266 DVD Recorder - 160GB HDD
Customer Review: Not a review, but more of a comment
The statement by nigelr isnt quite correct, you will of course be able to record digital signals from a set top box or a satalite box after the analogue signals are switched off, so it wont be obsolete, what it does mean is that you will not be able to watch one channel and recorde another as you can do with a video now.
Customer Review: No Freeview
I haven’t got one, but must point out that this recorder only has an analogue tuner, so it has poor picture quality and will be completely obsolete within 1-4 years (depending on where you live). Quite alarmed that Amazon are selling it without making this clear.

Mustek R580 DVD +R/RW Recorder
Customer Review: Good Unit but poor Support
The record quality is very good with 5 quality options. To get a 2 hour film onto a 4.7gb DVD the quality setting needs to be on SP (The middle setting) and the reproduction is as good, if not better than the original. The 80Gb Hard drive is ample for fast recording and transfer to DVD, but if you are looking for a unit to store your favorite films on, look for one with a larger hard drive. The control facilities are better than some DVD players, they include Fast forward up to 80x and fast backwards also. The audio is supoosed to be 5.1 but my particular machine has an audio problem. I get sound for around 1 hour after power up and then it disappears until disconnected from the power for 1 hour. I have contacted Mustek and they have told me to return it to the factory at my own expense for assesment and to include the purchase receipt. This was a Christmas gift so I have no receipt. I will probably scrap this and Buy a Panasonic or something that has a better after sales service. A pity because all round the machine it self is well worth owning as long as there are no manufacturing faults with it.
Customer Review: Cheap and cheerful HDD/DVD recorder
It’s an HDD recorder, it’s a DVD recorder, and right now, it’s 120 quid. That’s a pretty tempting proposition. But the example that I bought has had a few problems. On my old TV, I had a lot of trouble with crackly sound (only from this player, not from any other source) though since changing TV’s, the problem has gone away. More annoyingly, the discs that this player was burning all had CRC errors on them, making them impossible to edit on the PC. I’ve downloaded and installed a firmware update from Mustek’s website, and (touch wood) that issue seems to have been resolved. Be aware that firmware upgrades are not without risk, and Mustek’s website expressly says that any units which die during a firmware upgrade will not be covered by their warranty. The interface is pretty clunky. Many of the buttons won’t do what you’d expect them to when you’d expect them to. For example if you stop the DVD disc and try to switch to HDD it won’t let you. You have to have pressed stop twice before it will let you switch. This can all get pretty frustrating, and I wouldn’t expect anyone who’s not ‘technically savvy’ to be able to get to grips with it. If you’re expecting to record stuff to HDD then edit onto DVD (cutting out the adverts for example) then be prepared for a disappointment. This unit is nowhere near that clever. Dubbing from HDD to DVD is really just a straight copy. If you want to do anything clever with the results, then you’ll need to manipulate it on your PC afterwards using the likes of VobBlanker and DVDShrink. If your budget will stretch, then buy a better model. If it won’t, and you don’t mind odd quirks and firmware upgrades, then this unit is a lot better thn nothing at all.