No comments about Panasonic DMR-EZ485VK 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder / VCR Combo with Built In Tuner.

5 comments about Panasonic DMR-ES45VS DVD Recorder / VCR Combo with HDMI, SD Card, and DV Input.

1. I purchased this item a year ago and have been very pleased with its preformance. I have not had a bit of trouble with the machine for over a year now and I use it to record every day. I generally record on DVDs but occasionally use the VHS, especiallly when I am away from home. It gives me 12 hours of recording time when I am away using both. I record weekly programs on DVD-RAM for viewing within the week, then erase the title. This is an easy process, which I like. Setting up the recording schedule is fast. You also have the option of editing the schedule or putting a scheduled recording on standby, therefore not having to delete the scheduled program and start over. A really good feature for me.
   
   I have been transfering all my VHS recorded movies, etc. to DVD-R discs and that too is an easy process. I like the option of 1 touch recording or setting up a recording for a specified period of time.
   
   The only problem I have found is that when copying from VHS to DVD or vice versa, you cannot view the television separately, (at least I have not found it so but then, I haven't tried to break the connection while copying either - I will experiment soon). And the instruction book is a bit difficult to navigate, but once you figure it out, it becomes easier. The instructions are easy to understand and well diagramed.
   
   Altho' I am not a "techie", I am able to read and operate the machine competently and am very happy with my purchase. Would recommend this product to both experienced and novice operators.



2. If you want to use this to record or play VHS tapes, DON'T!! Read all the other reviews about the problems people have when tapes get jammed. Panasonic should be ashamed.



3. This combo works pretty much as advertised to copy VHS tapes onto DVD's of various formats. It isn't completely intuitive to operate, so, horror of horrors, you actually need to read the directions to operate it. The directions assume a level of competence I don't possess, so I'm still trying to figure out how to split titles and edit, but that will come with some experiementing.



4. I needed to save dozens of home made VHS tapes dating back to 1983! EACH ONE played perfectly in this deck. I transferred each to an included DVD RAM dis WITHOUT TROUBLE OF ANY KIND! The internal menu settings I routed through my computer monitor (I did not own a TV) and the simple remote control provided WORKED FLAWLESSLY! I then transferred the MPG files created by the DVD side of the deck to my computer and checked them! Perfect transfer, no artifacts of any kind!
   
   I then "formatted" the disc for the next transfer, in essence, erasing the info and setting it up for new data. When I used NERO on my computer, this process took 70 minutes! In the Panasonic, using the format feature, it took 4 minutes. I have since transferred thrity VHS tapes to my hard drive, using the one DVD RAM included in the box. It took days! But each "movie" played fine and even loaded into my Sony Vegas editing software without a hitch! Even older tapes, ones I had shot using old tube VHS cameras (back in 1983) came out looking good (or at least as good as the 25 year old video tape could afford to look!)
   
   If you're going to transfer video to disc (or computer files for storage) I highly recommend this Panasonic unit. I was going to sell it after wards, but have kept it becuase it also allows DV cameras using Firewire to transfer in real time from the camera to the DVD RAM disc! Even at $10 a disc, these discs are great! I have "used" mine on 30 plus transfers without a hiccup!
   
   This is worth every dime! Again, I highly recommend it!



5. Seems like a good unit. Works as advertised. But some features are very frustrating. Command response is SLOW. Press a button and wait and wait for something to happen. The controls are complicated. Be prepared to refer to the manual A LOT. And the manual reads like the instructions for a IRS 1040 form. Sometimes I set the timer to record a TV program onto and DVD and it doesn't go. I suspect that the unit responds to some kind of blocking signal from the broadcaster. This is not like a VCR were you can record whatever you want. Feels like this new technology is a move backward.

3 comments about Remanufactured Panasonic DMR-ES20S DVD Recorder Silver.

1. Literally. I thought I just purchased a stereo deck from 1978! The bright blue display is extra tall, and serves well as a night light, even in dim mode. Once I got past the looks, it was time to try it out. This unit was purchased to replace my VCR`s for everyday recording. A Philips I purchased last year wasn`t reliable enough, and now is used for dubbing only. Setup turned out to be problematic from the getgo. I have DirecTv, and no matter what I tried it insisted on "searching" for channels when all I needed was the IN2 setting. It will not let you start from the manual channel mode! No way is this acceptable in an age where the majority of users have cable, or satellite service. I finally got it to take a by using the timer setting to record a show. Using brand new Fuji RW- discs in the LP mode produced OK pictures. Comparable to a SVHS recording except for when the picture occasionally shuttered. Trying a different disc produced the same results. You also need to set your timer to record 1 minute early, or you`ll miss part of the beginning of your show due to the super slow startup. I deemed the unit as unreliable as my Philips, so back it went.



2. I have had this recorder for about 2 months now and I love it. I had some trouble, at first, trying to figure out how to erase the disk, but a call to Panasonic's help line solved my problem. I was very impressed with how fast my call was answered and how knowlegable the person was. I really like the feature that lets you watch your movie while it is still recording. This is my first DVD recorder so I cannot compare with other recorders but in any case, it more than meets my recording needs.



3. I liked this DVD-R enough to buy two. I find it is easy to use once you get the hang of the control. It's a bit more complicated than a VCR but being able to record and catch-up while the program is being recorded is a wonderful feature. It lets you get up to 8 hours on a DVD-R with the Extended Play and you can erase as you watch the individual programs. If you want to save a lot of programs, you can change out the discs (or buy a machine with a harddrive instead). This machine meets and surpasses the casual user who is looking to replace their VCR's.

1 comments about Magnavox MWR20V6 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo.

1. This machine plays and records well, however, I am not happy with the fact that the timer record feature does not work, which kind of defeats the purpose for the most part.

5 comments about Panasonic DMR-ES46VS DVD/VCR Recorder Player.

1. I purchased this machine refurbished from Panasonic for a total of $150, including shipping, making the imperfections quite tolerable. It does much more than my previous DVD recorder which was twice the price. I have a Sony Bravia LCD HDTV and the display from this machine is quite good. After setting up the format for my widescreen TV, it worked like a charm.
   
   I do not intend to use it as a tuner. I rent an HD DVR from Comcast for tuning. I really did not see much difference in the video quality on playback with commercial DVDs, but for my home recorded DVDs, the improvement is significant. VHS also will play through the HDMI cable, with some improvement too. These are formated for 4:3 aspect ratio and there really is no getting around it until you can get an input that supports high resolution 16:9 through component or HDMI interface. I was able to record from my OnDemand playlist through Comcast (something you cannot do on the rented DVR).
   
   As with other reviewers, I am puzzled by the lack of eject and open/close functions on the remote, which even the cheap sets have. However, this machine does have very easy to use buttons that are large and right next to each slot on the machine. My past machines had tiny buttons that looked like all the others for the eject and open/close functions, making the remote almost a necessity. You do have to get up and walk over to the machine to get your disk or videotape out anyway, so this was not a huge deal for me. However, it did have trouble recognizing some DVDs at first pass, and I had to open/close the tray a few times before it recognized there was a playable disc in the drawer. So, you may want to wait by the machine while it reads before you sit down to watch.
   
   The remote is fairly intuitive, particularly if you are used to DVD-R functions.
   
   A huge rave for me is in regard to the flexible recording option, allowing you to customize the recording time on the DVD to fill the DVD, regardless of the length of the recording. This way you have the best possible recording quality. This is quite similar to DVD recording on your PC. Finalizing is a snap and much quicker than my old Sansui recorder.



2. This DMR-ES46V was my third and last Panasonic DVD player, though my first recorder. I have yet to find one that will last much more than a year, using the device perhaps twice a week. Perhaps a refurbished one for under $150 would be worthwhile. While the functions are good for the price, product life for Panasonic players leaves much to be desired, at least based on my experience.



3. Purchased this at Sam's. Used it for 13 months. Of course, at 13.5 months, the power supply fan stops working and it keeps shutting down. Spent a looong time on hold waiting for help from Panasonic. After they transferred me twice (= more hold time), I got someone on who faxed me a form to send in for repair. No offer to extend the warranty. They just made sure I knew I would pay for parts/labor. I will not buy future video equipment from Panasonic because of their phone support and failure rate.



4. Received the refurbished Panasonic Model DMR-ES46VS from Jungle Discount promptly. Packaging was poor so case took a couple of dents. The VCR section of this unit will NOT play a tape made on any other machine. Oddball speeds and overall poor quality picture. Interference cannot be taken out by manual or automatic tracking. Closed captions are garbled. If you are thinking of using this unit to convert VHS tapes to DVD, PLEASE SAVE YOUR MONEY! Even brand new tapes recorded at SP jump all around. Tuner gives a very poor quality picture.
   
   The DVD section is very good. Manual covers a lot and is written at "power user" level. The unit has so many features that you will have to almost memorize the book because the most common usage is hidden. Poor writing and organization.



5. Panasonic does it again. I have always had good luck with Panasonic products. I owned a Phillips DVD recorder that created vertical sound bars across the screen. They were very faint but also very anoying. Phillips tried to fix the problem but had no success. I purchased the Panasonic DMR-ES46VS because it had all of the features I was looking for and the price was very good for a unit with all of the features. I have used the unit for 9 months and I love it. The picture and sound quality are great. I use the HDMI output to take advantage of the up converting. I would recommend this unit to anyone. You will not be disappointed.

5 comments about SONY® - DVD RECORDER/VCR : RDR-VX525 ( Home Electronics - DVD Players ).

1. I have mixed feelings after having purchased this DVD Combo this summer. Some DVDs play flawlessly, but others skip so badly they aren't viewable. Also, sometimes it's impossible to shut off subtitles. Even when going through the DVD menu, the subtitles will still play. You must click options on the player remote and shut it off that way. Several cases...the movie Spygame with Redford and Pitt. Skips and jumps through the hole flick, subtitles cannot be shut off at all. You can actually hear the DVD player head or something internal buzzing trying to do error correction. Transformers..first viewing was flawless. Now it skips towards the end of the movie. Last night wathced Talladega Nights, first 3/4 movie was fine. Got to last 30 minutes or so and and it started skipping. May wind up sending it in for repair. Spygame played flawlessly on my previous DVD only Panasonic.



2. My first test run of this item was copying an old VHS movie (out-of-print and unavailable on DVD) to DVD. I went through the process twice. Both times everything seemed to go well as far as there being no error messages displayed during the process, and everything going according to instructions. But both DVDs were blank or unreadable afterward (I tried on several DVD players, and on computers). It's going back.



3. Ok so it doesn't copy old vhs movies because of copyright issues. I was expecting that. but after 6 tries, I finally got an old vhs of some tv shows to record onto DVD-R disks. The manual is overwhelming and does a rotten job of walking you through a sample recording. So I finally figured out that I needed to Finalize the DVD, but guess what? the DVD was only usable (fully) on the sony unit. It would play on my laptop, but no chapters, I had 360 as one big chapter, plus the time index was only up to the 24 minutes. so chapter 18, at the 24 minute mark, was for minutes 24-360. Apparently the timer thing is busted on the sony recorder as well. because I had same 24 minute marker as the last chapter on it as well.
   
   The dvd wouldn't even play at all on a regular, DVD player hooked up to my TV.
   
   I want my weekend of frustration back.



4. I received this as a gift, it WILL NOT RECORD ANYTHING from my satellite receiver, says "copy protected" I planned on using this to record programs I could not watch becaude I was working. A dvd PLAYER would do all this product can do for a LOT less $$$.



5. I have just gotten this dvd player to replace an other of mine. Guess what???? I am taking it back. It will not play other DVD's that I have recorded on my other recorder, and oh yes they have been finalized and they will play with no problem on other dvd players. On the Sony, they will not play. One may play for a moment and then the picture will hang up and sound will stop a few seconds later. Just can't get any of the DVD's recorded to play.

5 comments about Panasonic DMR-ES20S DVD Recorder Silver.

1. I bought this unit late in 2005. I really put it to heavy use, converting my VHS library, and burning a lot of other stuff to DVD. Before it finally broke down, it began to make audible noises whenever it was powered up, it also began to freeze up often, and had to be rebooted. A couple of days ago, it threw an error, after failing to read a previously burned DVD. It froze up, and had to be rebooted. After restarting, I now get a fuzzy split screen image, instead of my normal satellite TV images. It appears the units primary video outputs have been fried. This unit has some good features like ease of use, and "flexible recording". This allows you to automatically record programs over 2hrs., at the best mode, on a single DVD. If you're looking for a heavy use DVD recording unit, this is not the one!



2. Worked great for the first few months. Then random freezes started popping up. Now it freezes every 5 minutes while recording to DVD-RAM or DVD-RW. I now save every 2 to 3 minutes while transferring video from my camcorder.
   
   Picture quality, even on the component outputs, was poor from day 1. So I record on this, then play on my Toshiba SD9200.
   
   Panasonic has some great products, this is definitely not one of them. In fact, today I visited their website to check for firmware updates for this model, and saw that the webpage is a mess too. I select the DMR-ES20.EXE file for download, and after accepting the Lic agreement, am provided the DMR-E100.EXE for download !!!! That is scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as support goes Panasonic..wake up !!



3. I have had this for over year now. I just love it. I wouldn't know what to do with out it now. I have recorded so many tv shows & movies with it. I have recorded every one of my favorite TV shows, so when I go to the lake where my travel trailer is set up I can catch up on my shows at night or when its raining. It is easy to use & set up. You do have to buy the right kind of dvds (DVD-R) so you can finalze & use on the other dvds.



4. It is my opinion one star is really about two too many but they made me do it. I have two of these Panasonic crazy makers. An ES-20 and an ES-10. I've fought with both of them and missed numerous recordings over the last two and three years respectively. The absolute worst part is when they pretend to be recording and then crash at the end of the program. I bought the ES-20 when the ES-10 died and was sent it off for repair. I guess that equates to shooting myself in both feet. They have both been nothing but trouble. They are extremely tempermental. In fact, the ES-10 just quit recognizing the DVDRAM, grunts, groans displays self check, and refuses to open. Bottom line, I think this week I'm either going Tivo or Cable DVR. Maybe I can use these "dvd recorders" as wheel chocks.



5. We had this product long enough for the warranty to expire, which is about the same time it stopped working, except for the clock. We missed a lot of shows because this thing would randomly malfunction, sometimes working great, sometimes freezing up completely so that the only way to reset it was to unplug and start over. I've had good experience with Panasonic in the past, so this was an unpleasant surprise. Luckily, our credit card covered the purchase so now we can buy another product, from another company of course.
   
   This market is way too competitive for low quality mess like this. Don't waste your money.

5 comments about Sony VRDMC3 DVDirect DVD Recorder.

1. Since i can't give it less than a single star...if this was a letter grade i'd give it an F minus!!!
   
   Right now i'm in my SEVENTH hour trying to record my cousin's wedding video for his widow, one of the only moving image recordings she has of him...so you can understand why she's reluctant to give it out to one of the photo stores in the neighbourhood.
   
   RIGHT NOW the PAUSE light is on although the RECORDING time meter is still running, and when i tried to view it on my computer on previous recordings i got no picture, although when i went to Roxio there was 4.4 gigs on the disc!
   
   Of course, when you go to the Sony site it's IMPOSSIBLE to get any tech support, and i can't blame it all on the Vista since it doesn't play on the regular DVD player...so it looks like Sony is no longer the premier name in electronics:(



2. I own this Sony VRD-MC3 for about a year now, and it performs better than my expectation. At first I used it mainly as an independent DVD recorder without connect it to a PC. After the internal (in my PC) DVD burner started to trash many new recordable DVDs, I connected the Sony VRD-MC3 to the PC and windows XP detected it without any problem. It has not failed me so far including all DVDs that the internal DVD burner failed before. Now if I want to use it with a PC, I just go to the menu and set it to PC mode; and if not I just set it to no PC. This device is more than an external DVD burner, it can be use even without connect to a PC which many reviews already mention.
   
   The Nero 7 come with it was a bonus for me. I wanted to buy a software package similar to Nero, and found that it is already included with this burner. The software at the time cost about $xx which is already included for free. Before install Nero, I first created a restore point in XP (I do this before any installation that I am not sure of...). After installed the included copy of Nero 7 the system seemed to work fine, I did not notice any problem. I have the option of upgrade Nero 7 to a newer version for free. I took the option and upgraded. For some reason, XP become very un-responsive after the upgrade. Without spending time to find out why, I un-installed Nero and restore XP back to the pre-installation restore point. I then re-install the included copy of Nero 7 and do a few tests. This copy of Nero 7 has been working fine for me since. I have been using it for about a year now.
   
   I think the Sony VRD-MC3 and the included Nero 7 price is very reasonable.



3. Easy to use. got good shipping. have already converted 1/2 our old vhs tapes to dvd and will then edit for content.



4. Product does a great shop recording from my vcr tapes. So glad I purchased it.



5. This unit did not work for me. I mean it did nothing at all. Would NOT recomend to others. I am sending it back. Did NOT work as advertised.Very disapointed. thanks SONY.

5 comments about Sylvania ZV450SL8 Dual DVD / VCR Recorder with Digital Tuner.

1. With all the hype of getting the next wave of electronics, we're only thinking about getting HDTV's. While that might seem like the only thing we need to change, we would also need to change our DVD and VCR's as well. The new signal, ATSC is what we're going to have to go into in all our electronics, as of 2009. Although it isn't as much of a hastle if we have HD in cable or other services like Direct TV. Sadly though, there are some of us who are unable to afford the services, and have to rely on just the antennas. Fortunately, there are new waves of DVD recorders that are capable of the new needs.
   
   The Sylvania ZV450SL8, is a DVD/VCR recorder that takes full advantage of the new digital tuner, ATSC that is compliant, at a convient price. You can playback your favorite DVD's and record your favorite shows onto DVD's. Not only that, you can also dub your favorite shows from your old VCR tapes, and copy them onto the DVD discs. It is simple, and easy to operate, and you can easily set it up, without too many problems. You can record your favorite shows on DVD in either the standard Video mode, which is compatable to all DVD players, or the specialized VR format, that you can easily use to edit commercials and explicitive content from your certain movies.
   
   Sadly though, like most DVD recorders, there are a few disadvantages with this DVD recorder Sylvajnia made. The first one is that you cannot playback certain DVD's that are in the DVD+RW and +R capable. It also doesn't playback Blu-Ray or HD DVD discs, because they are both new formats that aren't completely standard yet. They also aren't compatable in any of Sylvania's DVD recorders. The second problem deals with discs recorded in the "VR format", or specifically displayed "RW Compatable". Although you can easily record onto these discs and finalize them, they really aren't compatable in most DVD players, unlike the Video format. You'd have to look at other DVD players and specific brands like Zenith and JVC that are specifically capable of playback and recording in "VR mode". Otherwise, it might damage other DVD players.
   
   Still, Sylvania does make some excellent DVD recorders that do deliver not just in price, but in convience. I absolutely recommend the ZV450SL8 a whole lot. It records great High Definition TV, at a affordable price. It delivers great quality and convience for anybody who is looking into a new way of simple recording, that is worth a single push of a button.
   
   Price: B+
   
   Convience: B
   
   Playback: B
   
   Recording: B+
   
   Overall: B 1/2+



2. We have owned this machine for less than six months...recently started having funny problems. The machine shuts off automatically while watching TV after 5-10 seconds. It completely rejects our VHS tapes and shuts off after 5 seconds when we attempt to play them. Unplugging the unit will occasionally correct the problem with the TV signal, but not with the VHS tapes.
   Otherwise, we really like the unit. But these problems make it nearly useless to us...can't watch TV or play VHS tapes or DVDs.



3. I have owned this unit for 4 months. Product worked fine up until now. Then strange things began happening. I began fast forwarding the VHS tape and after a few seconds the VCR stopped and shut down. I tried to rewind and it did the same thing. I removed the cassette and attempted to reinsert it into the machine and it wouldn't go in. I turned on the power and it reluctantly inserted itself. I attempted to record a program and after 5 or 10 seconds the machine stopped and turned itself off. The warranty period is one year for parts and 90 days for labor. I contacted customer service and was on hold between 10 and 15 minutes. They agreed to pick up the machine for repair at their cost but I have to send them $45.00 with the product to cover the labor charge. After 4 months and a cost of $200 I have to pay $45 to repair a machine that should work for years without a problem. Anyone interested in purchasing the DVD/VCR should reconsider. I am really disappointed with this item. Previously I owned a cheap DVD recorder/VCR player combo ($60.00) and it lasted for a number of years. What's happening with quality control?



4. Please don't offer anything without a digital tuner if it's a VCR or a TV set on Amazon. These units are worthy only for donating to Goodwill.



5. We've had two of these recorders in a row. First one lasted seven months, second one lasted ten months. With both, we started getting DVD disc error messages "Cannot record on this disc." Of course, we got the message AFTER "recording" a program, so: a) we wasted our time, b} we lost the recording. We record a lot, and probably ran 300 discs through the last one. On both machines, this started out as an occasional problem, and then kicked into high gear, where nothing could be recorded on DVD. VHS works fine (who cares?) They were both DVD brand finicky--working only with Maxell discs. Now, no brand works. Smartest thing we did was to invest an extra twenty bucks for an extended warranty (this at a Fred Meyer store.) We keep all our machines meticulously clean and run a cleaning disc once a week. The extended warranty is essentially a side bet that you believe the machine WILL die. It's a good idea and well worth the investment, because: a) the machine WILL break, and b) you can bet on it. Oh, and we now buy only Verbatim brand discs. Another good investment.

5 comments about Samsung DVD-R155 Tunerless DVD Recorder.

1. I agree with Eric. It would be alright if it read all types of media it says in manual.
   It does not even read all -R's and all -RW's.
   So please be sure , a lot of the stuff you already have on discs is not gonna be read.
   If you are only beginning with dvd's buy good brand -r and -rw's.
   
   I sent mine back....



2. Bummer! I got this unit for the firewire input on the front. I plugged a camera in and it worked great! Saw the camera and allowed me to control it. Being all excited I put the equipment away ready to debue it for some people. When I plugged in the firewire, it did not work. Turns out the connector broke. I sent it in for repair and it took 2 months. When I just opened the box, the connector was still broken. The service person said they replaced it, but I see a broken connector with pins pointing in different directions. It is going back again...



3. I bought this recorder a month ago and thought it could not be easier to set up!
   Recording programs is a breeze...You need to choose between DVD-VR which allows you to
   edit you recording directly on the Samsung or DVD-V(easiest for me)where you just finalize(chapters will then be created) and it will play on any recorder...It is a Zone 1 recorder and will NOT play DVDs from Europe for example unless you get it zonefree.
   At $140, the quality it records in SP mode is close to perfect!



4. I bought this DVD player and recorder to enjoy the picture of my new Samsung HD LA32R81B LCD TV. I own a huge collection of standard DVD's. So I thought the perfect way to watch them with high resolution is upconverting the standard 480i picture to a higher one. Thanks to this machine, it can be converted to 576p, 720p or 1080i. My choice is between the last 2, and I found 720p good enough for action movies with a lot of movement, and 1080i excellent for normal movies and concerts. The picture becomes unbelievable. The player doesn't play HD discs of course, but it's wise to wait until the dilemma between HD and blue ray comes to an end. Speaking now about the recorder, it's so easy to use it specially using the exclusive Samsung EZ capability which initialize, finalize the recorded disc and make chapters to the DVD. You can choose between many recording speeds ( the EX is the best for quality and SP is the optimum providing perfect picture and enough recording time). Timer for recording could also be set according to your will, and the recording can be stoped any time. And if only 30% of the recording time is elapsed,the instrument finishes the job by itself and finalize the disc.For me I use DVD-R blank discs without problems.
   All you have for recording is to connect your external device output AV cable to the front panel AV2 input of the recorder, and don't forget to select the AV2 input with the remote until you get the picture on the TV.
   What is really nice is the free HD cable provided with the instrument. All you have is to connect it to the compatible TV, and you'll get the best picture and sound definition. Regarding compatibility the recorder provides the Aynet capability making using one Samsung remote control for all Samsung units used.
   Now it's about the area code. I'll provide the code used to make the player ALL CODE region, without affecting the warranty of the instrument.
   Press menu on the stop mode without a disc in the tray.
   Highlight setup
   Press the code 57538
   The number of your area either 1 for USA or 2 for Europe will appear on the left upper corner
   Press 9 ( all region) before your area code disappear
   Press off then on again and that's it.
   You can return to your original area code with the same manoeuvre.
   Enjoy this fabulous player and recorder.



5. I place a bid on eBay and won one Samsung R150 refurbished for merely 50$. It uses DVD minus discs. Has different recording mode, EP for up to 6,8hr of recording time, Or SP if you want better picture quality. After recording and editing just finalize the disc so it can play in other dvd player. Easy to use. A good DVD recorder for this price range.