What should I do? Need Help Buying Recorder

[D.A.R.J.R.]

Sometime in the next week I am buying my first standalone DVD recorder. i have about $250 to spend so I am a bit limited in what I can buy. I plan on using it to recorder TV shows from DirectTV while I'm at work and to transfer home videos from VHS to DVD. I plan on editing the discs on my pc using my Plextor px708a and Tmpgenc DVD Author

I have 3 different recorders in mind right now but I would be open to more suggestions.

The Liteon 5005 - I kinda like Liteon stuff because there are alot of firmware hacks out there. I also like that this recorder can record to VCD, SVCD and DVD+R(I have a ton of these.) I have also heard that some people are having firmware related problems with this recorder and some of them dont work right out of the box and they need to be sent back.

The JVC DR-M10S - I dont know too much about this recorder but I have heard that it is one of the best as far as video quality goes. My grandfather has all JVC branded stuff in his house and its all pretty reliable.

The Pioneer 220 - I can get this really cheap at Walmart. Kinda like Pioneer the brand so thats kinda what makes me want to buy it.

What do you think I should do?

Thanks in advance to anyone that replies!!!

PS: I'm sorry if this has been discussed before but I tried doing a forum search last night and I got a missing information error every time.

[gshelley61]

I don't think you would be disappointed in the JVC. It does indeed have outstanding picture quality. There are several discussion threads in the DVD Recorder forum on this unit.

[D.A.R.J.R.]

The only thing keeping me away from the JVC is the Macrovision and that it doesn record DVD+R/W.

I think I may go with the Liteon...

[samijubal]

The JVC is more lax on macrovision than my Panasonic was. I can use a cheap $20 stabilizer with the JVC and it works on everything I've tried, it would only work for videotapes with the Panasonic.

[Skylooker]

The JVC is more lax on macrovision than my Panasonic was. I can use a cheap $20 stabilizer with the JVC and it works on everything I've tried, it would only work for videotapes with the Panasonic.

I have a stabilizer that I bought many years ago (that still works like a charm after 12 years). I'd love to pickup a spare. Can someone point me in the right direction for this purchase?

[lordsmurf]

You've got 3 good choices lined up.
http://www.digitalfaq.com/reviews/dvdrecorders.htm (bare bones info)

[D.A.R.J.R.]

Thanks for your help. I think I'll be purchasing the Liteon 5005 this thurday, after I get paid. So far the cheapest Ive seen it at is $220 after coupons.

[Skylooker]

I was hoping for something more along of the lines of the Sima unit I purchased a long time ago for $49.00. It still works perfectly but I'd like to have a spare just in case. I mostly use that unit for connecting my DVD player to the TV by looping through the VCR. Since I can't see myself ever dubbing from DVD to tape, there's no copy protection issue per se. I just need to kill the Macrovision so I can play the DVD through the VCR and not need a switch to separate the two since I have only one set of baseband inputs on the TV in question.

[gshelley61]

Buy a multiple audio/video input switcher. They cost far less than a copy protection defeater and will add three or four inputs to your system.

[Skylooker]

Buy a multiple audio/video input switcher. They cost far less than a copy protection defeater and will add three or four inputs to your system.

Thanks, but I prefer the current method.

[Bob W]

Maybe consider on of these. I have one and use it mostly for recording from the TV and it always does a fine job.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=61241&item=5721347366&rd=1

[lordsmurf]

I think Magnavox was one of the many units Walmart quit carrying because of the return volume. They dumped Cyberhome, Apex, and quite a few others. Even the refurbs were being returned.

[overloaded_ide]

Just got an ILO $150 unit tonight, did the first disk and am surprised at the quality!!

Might be worth trying one? Wal-mart does have that return policy, like what 90 days if you don't like it?

Only does +r +rw, but works!
I may post something on it in a new thread.

[vcdforme]

Costco has the Lite-on for $199.
I bought 3 more for Xmas presents.

[overloaded_ide]

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1050127#1050127

I took my ILO apart
The link above is the thread for it.

The drive itself says Lite on corp on it!

[D.A.R.J.R.]

Just got an ILO $150 unit tonight, did the first disk and am surprised at the quality!!

Might be worth trying one? Wal-mart does have that return policy, like what 90 days if you don't like it?

Only does +r +rw, but works!
I may post something on it in a new thread.

After work tonight I picked on up. The thing works great and I saved alot of money becuase I didnt buy the more expensive ones. I'll give this one a shot for awhile then decide if I still want to buy the 5005 or the JVC.

[overloaded_ide]

I mentioned in my other post I linked to, watch to see if you get a skip at the chapter points. Don't know the cause yet and it may not actually be the chapterpoints but I get small skip in the video about where I think they would be, but testing I don't seem to be getting them everytime I play the same area so it could be disk or player related too. I am playing the Memorex +RW on my Norcent DP300 player.

Quality seems to be very good video in SP mode, I may use it as a capture device to RW then copy and edit that on my PC and then burn to -R disks for the final DVD. As a capture device right to DVD for further PC editing it may have value.

[D.A.R.J.R.]

I think I'm going to use mine as a capturing device also. The quality beats my capture card for sure.

I think anyone who has one of these should email the company and ask about a firmware update to unlock a 3hr mode.