Samsung DVD R122/XEU Multi Format DVD Recorder - Silver
Samsung DVD R122/XEU Multi Format DVD Recorder - Silver
Customer Review: Floral head scarf
Generally this is lovely piece of kit. It never seems to crash or misbehave. I've had one failed finalisation attempt with mine, which left the disc empty, but I've no reason to think that this was the recorders fault - it reported a data error (perhaps the disc had just failed). My main gripe with it is that, I can't for the life of me get it to record from it's input SCART using the RGB signals - it all seems to be stuck on composite video. This, for me has meant that the picture from my freeview box is noticeable poorer than if I wire the freeview box directly to my TV. The picture quality is still good, just not excellent. It also has a fan in the back, which is whisper quiet, but seems unnecessary and might perhaps pull dust into the unit over time - we'll see.
Recording time is up to 8 hours. For 1 to 2 hours, the picture quality is pretty pristine, after that artefacts do show a little - most noticeably on overlaid text. Still quite useable, mind and better than VHS.
Trimming of video clips is possible only on DVD-RAM or DVD-R formated as DVD-VR which is incompatible with most DVD players, and is really only a fairly rough affair - enough to remove adverts, but not to edit a wedding video.
Divx and MP3 playback work a treat. It does seem to be able to play SVCDs and VCDs, but unable to play MPEG1 and MPEG2 files (which seems odd). There's also a multi-region hack available on the web, which works a treat.
As a rule, it's dead good. If only I could get it to record from RGB signals though.
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Philips DVDR5520H/05 - 160 GB Hard Disk/DVD Recorder 
The DVDR5520H from Philips is much more than just an ordinary DVD player/recorder! The DVDR5520H is equipped with a hybrid TV tuner, allowing you to record analogue and digital TV directly on its 160 GB hard drive. You&rsquoll also be able to record your favourite films and TV programmes to DVD and share them with others and enjoy them for a lifetime. The DVDR5520H can display images in high definition thanks to its 1080p HDMI connection, and is compatible with most formats, including DivX, MP3 and JPEG for added convenience. ?The DVDR5520H includes a USB 2.0 port for easy file transfers, and a pause and rewind function that you can use while you&rsquore watching an episode of your favourite soap for example. Designed to give you an unforgettable viewing experience, this DVD player/recorder won&rsquot disappoint!
Amazon Price: ?251.94
Philips DVDR7260H - DVD Recorder With 160gb Hard Drive - With Freeview 
Customer Review: VERY GOOD - COULD BE BETTER
On the whole my first 2 weeks with this recorder have been very good. It is really quiet if a little big. Connection and set up was easy and well documented, although it did take about half an hour to automatically search for all the digital and analogue channels, which left me wondering if I’d set up properly. The pause live tv function is really usefull, basically when you turn the machine on it automatically records the current channel being viewed to memory (and every time you switch channels it records that). It does this for 6 hours then starts writing over the begining of the 6 hour cycle. It means that anywhere within the 6 hours you can rewind/forward/pause/jump to live, etc. It is then very easy to transfer any part of the recording in the memory to the HD to keep or burn to dvd. CAUTION - if you turn the machine off you lose what was in the memory unless you transfer it to the hard disk - and the tv guide button is too near the standby on the remote, I’ve done it a couple of times! Recording to Hard Disc (HD) is a doddle. There are a couple of ways to do it. Just press record when your on the channel you want, (another press will do half an hour, a third an hour and so on. The first initial press will record for 6 hours if a second/third press isn’t applied). Using the Guide + is just like Sky + (which I don’t have), It’s a menu showing a grid of all channels and programmes for 7 days ahead - just highlight the programme and press record, then forget about it, you can do up to 25 timer settings. If your not going to be around when the recording is about to start (which is normal) then you need to put the machine in standby, but if your watching something else you don’t as it will give you a warning 10 minutes in advance, then you can either follow the instructions or cancel. The GUIDE+ also has search functions for films/soaps/sport etc that can be tailored, and repeat recordings for Eastenders/MOTD etc. TIP - add a few minutes onto the end of your recording so you don’t miss anything, it’s easy to do with the press of one button increasing the end time by 5 minute intervals with each press. It also has the video plus system, but that only works on the analogue tuner. Recording in standby - When the machine is recording you can turn the machine on and watch the begining of the recording whilst it carries on recording the rest of the programme, and use the pause/rewind/ff etc. You can then turn the machine off and it will still carry on recording. Recording ‘live’ - if you hit the record button to record what your watching, you can turn the machine off and it will carry on recording to the end (great for late night programmes when you can’t stay awake!). You can record a programme whilst watching a dvd too. I’ve read that people find it a problem not being able to record direct to dvd from the tuner. This is true, but I think this is a plus. How many times have you lost a recording due to faulty discs/finalising problems? I have many times! Not any more ‘cos it’s on the HD until I’ve checked my dvd disk works. Also copying to disc is really quick (about 12 mins for standard play 2 hour {2gig} programme). Recording quality is really good, with pin sharp picture and good colour, the sound is good too although I’m only using my TV, I don’t know what it would be like hooked up to anything else. It records onto all kinds of disc + and -, and r, r/rw, as well as dual layer (I havn’t tried yet) and the firewire link for digital camcorders is perfect. I would have liked a USB link too, but there isn’t one. I would give this product 5 stars, but I don’t feel that any product is perfect. So now for a few bad points- It has two tuners, 1 analogue and 1 digital (freview), but if you’re recording anything you can’t access the other tuner! Waste of time having the analogue one in there! (This may be the same on all other machines, but I don’t know). I’ve read some people have a problem with the machine not responding on start up. I’ve not had this problem but it is slow starting up, I counted about 25 seconds, but then I suppose it’s got to access the hard disk and tuners. There is also an annoying delay in changing channel, once you hit the button (channel up, for instance) it may take a second or so to actually change. Doesn’t sound much but really annoying when channel hoping. The quality for recording is set in the main system preferences and can’t be changed quickly for individual recordings, a problem when a film goes over the 2 hour mark. Once recorded to the hard drive the quality of the recording can’t be altered, so you can’t shrink it to fit a disk. Saying that if something is longer than 2 hours then it can be split on the hard drive and put onto a number of discs. I would have liked the ability to record to to the hard drive from the disk tray but that can’t be done. You have to hook up another dvd player to do that. Maybe it’s got something to do with copyright. It has a 160 gig hard drive which really should give you 80 hours of standard play but you only get 68. I assume it uses the other 12 gig for the 6 hour continuous `buffer’ recording, so it’s worth the 12 gig `loss’ I suppose. Finally, I think it’s a little expensive. Not in comparison to it’s rivals, but just in general. It’ll probably be half the price in 6 months time The good points far outway the `minor’ bad ones. I would reccommend this machine, even the missus can work it!
Customer Review: Solid, silent but slow!
I’ve had one of these players for about 2 months now and while it is good in some ways - the build quality is very good, it’s very quiet and features such as the timeshift buffer are useful, it does have some major flaws. My main problem with it is the speed of unit. When it’s plugged in, you press the on/standby button on the unit or the remote, nothing happens, you press the HDD button on the unit or the remote, nothing happens, you then press the TV tuner button on the remote and hey presto it comes to life. Sometimes it does work with the first press, but for the most part, it does not. I’ve pressed my ear to the unit to see if there is any sound coming from the HDD after the first or second press of the on/standby button, but there is no sign of life. The other main problems are the inability to change the quality of recording for one program - this is all down to the timeshift buffer - you can only record at the current setting so if you want one program in HQ and one in LP, you can’t do this. The other main drawback is the inability to record direct to DVD, everything has to be recorded to HDD, then copied. The copying is fast however. Having paid less for this unit than I would have done for a similar unit from Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic or Toshiba, I can forgive the shortcomings, but it’s just a shame that a company like Philips can fall short of the mark.
Alba RDVD1001XI DVD Recorder 
Amazon Price: ?87.04
Used Price: ?67.99
Customer Review: Good for the price
Bought this dvd recorder as its was a cheap product for me to get my programs off of my sky+ This allows me to plug it into a scart socket, hit record and away it goes. The one thing you need to remember is that it will only burn onto DVD+R and not DVD-R As its a cheap unit it does look a bit plasticy with a giant bit on the front which i can see scratching quickly. Apart from that, for the price you cant beat it and as something for backing up programs you can go wrong with it
