Pioneer DVR Model Clarification?

[Razortceps]

So I notice theres a pioneer Dvr-510h a dvr-520h and a dvr-533h which all have 80 gb hard drives. Are they all the same, cause they all seem to be the same. Could someone give me the scoop

[DeepOne]

You can probably download the .pdf manuals for each model from Pioneer's website.

I own a 520 and a 633 (the 633 is like the 533 only with a bigger HD). The biggest difference between the 520 and the 533 is that the 533 includes the TV Guide Electronic Program Guide which may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point of view (I don't like it primarily because it causes the hard drive to chatter 24/7, but it can be disabled). The 533 is a newer model and supposedly has a better MPEG encoder, but it also lacks a few features that the 520 has (e.g. you may prefer the 520 if you have satellite TV). The 533 supports dual-layer DVD-R discs although I've not heard of anyone actually using one in it (they seem to be difficult to find and/or expensive at the moment).

I'm not familiar with the 510.

[Razortceps]

Hey since you have a 520 and now your newer higher end 633....do you really need two DVRs....if not and maybe youd like to sell your 520...let me know....if youd sell it at a somewhat reasonable price you might be looking at a potential buyer

[Frobozz]

I own a Pioneer 510 (not for sale) and the 520 is very similar. The 520 has a faster DVD drive for high-speed copying and has a reverse-skip button that isn't on the 510. It also had some refinement in the editing menus (although they do the same things). Others have reported that the 520 copies poorer-quality VHS tapes better than the 510 which has the screen go black when the incoming picture has problems.

The 510 has a jog shuttle control on the front of the unit that was removed from the 520. The 510 is heavier and bigger which may suggest that it is a little more solidly built (or just older).

It all adds up to the 520 being more desirable than the 510 although the 510 is still a great machine.

[Razortceps]

Whats this I hear about the 510 being specifically made for Austrila...does that mean that it doesnt play the proper formats that US DVDs use. Like for instance PAL NASCA or whatever all that stuff is. I mean could you tell me the difference between the two systems and if the 510 is US compatiable.

[jet757f]

what is the difference between the 531 and 533?

[gshelley61]

The 510 was the first generation Pioneer hard drive equipped DVD recorder. The 520 was the following year's update to the 510, with some styling changes and several functional improvements. The 531/533/633 are this year's models, and have been redesigned. They are smaller, have a new MPEG2 encoding chip, an updated GUI, have the TV Guide on screen program listing feature, they can burn dual layer discs, etc. The 533 and 531 have 80GB hard drives and are identical except the 533 has a DV input and the 531 does not. The 633 is identical to the 533 except it has a 160GB hard drive.

[TBoneit]

I guess I've been lucky with my purchase of the 531h, I never hear the disk chatter that others complain about when it is getting the epg. That's in my bedroom too. So I think I'd hear it at night when everything is quiet. Other than that it is sleek, works fine, and runs cool. But most importantly quiet!

And to go back to the question I suspect that my preference for anything equipped with a hard drive is new since the drives won't last forever.

Cheers

[Razortceps]

No one answered my question about the formats though )=

[DeepOne]

Hey since you have a 520 and now your newer higher end 633....do you really need two DVRs....

Actually, I have three of them (a PRV-9200 also), and I use them all.

No one answered my question about the formats though )=

Since the guy with the 510 is apparently located in the US, I would guess that the 510 is an NTSC machine (try looking it up on Pioneer's website).

[donpedro]

Whats this I hear about the 510 being specifically made for Austrila...does that mean that it doesnt play the proper formats that US DVDs use. Like for instance PAL NASCA or whatever all that stuff is. I mean could you tell me the difference between the two systems and if the 510 is US compatiable.

EU (PAL) versions of Pioneer DVD recorders play PAL and NTSC DVD's. But I am not sure about format conversion.... since my TV understand both formats.

[TBoneit]

My USA 531h played a PAL Region free that I put in as a test, however it was in B & W and distorted, IOW My TV is NTSC only, I have to look further and see if there is a capability to output PAL as NTSC, I've been busy lately and haven't had a chance to look into that.

Cheers

[donpedro]

My USA 531h played a PAL Region free that I put in as a test, however it was in B & W and distorted,

It means that output signal was PAL

[m3]

I have noticed the 510 (also the 310), or in Europe known as the 5100 and 3100 seem to have quite a "soft" recorded image, even at the best quality ...

therefore I wonder ...

since the 531/533/633 use a new MPEG2 Encoding chip, does the recorded picture now look any sharper ?