Costco (Canada) has Pioneer 540H for $299

[Brent G.]

Costco (Canada) is offering and instant rebate on Pioneer DVR-540H-S for $299 ($349-$50) with 80gb drive. So if you're still shopping for XMAS (and who isn't?), now's your chance. :P

Brent

[InXess]

I'd pass, LG LRH-780 seems a better choíce (Futureshop). I have no regrets whatsoever. Excellent quality, no hassle upgrade to larger HDD and swappable DVD writer as per other posts here.
Few drawbacks - no S-video-in in the back (just front) plus no adjustable rec. modes (1,2,4,6 hrs). Otherwise, excellent.
Pioneer has no DV-in. Tuners (VCR+ with Pioneer) are useless for recording digital channels anyway(except for ch.3 of course). Pioneer would be an option only with an extended warranty (they die...) IMHO.

[Brent G.]

I'd pass, LG LRH-780 seems a better choíce (Futureshop). I have no regrets whatsoever. Excellent quality, no hassle upgrade to larger HDD and swappable DVD writer as per other posts here.

So the LG has standard IDE connectors on its HD and burner? Is so, that great! Because Pioneer will take you to the cleaners when it's time to replace them.

I mentioned the Pioneer DVR-540H-S because it looks quite good compared to my Pioneer DVR-233-S which I think is a brain-dead recorder.

But if LG has replaceable IDE drives, I'm sold.

Brent

[handyguy]

I thought they were getting out of the dvd recorder market?

[Brent G.]

I'd pass, LG LRH-780 seems a better choíce (Futureshop).

I read a few reviews on the LG LRH-780 and everyone like it, with some caveats.

1) Apparently it won't record some specialty channels in Canada because of copyright flags that are broadcast with the show. I'm not sure why this is happening because it is legal in Canada to make a copy of the recording you own. If you pay for the broadcast then you should be able to tape it. I think a class action lawsuit against the broadcasters would smarten them up some and also against LG for selling those units in Canada. I'm sure a smart group of lawyers could make a pile of money suing broadcasters.

2) Also something that I think is really really dumb is you have to remember to turn the machine off before it will record at a preset time. I watch TV from the AV outputs of the DVD recorder so if I have to turn it off, I lose the picture. Half the time I'd never remember to turn it off because it's on all day. I had one recorder that worked like this (Panasonic E55?) and I took it back to the store.

If LG fixes these 2 show stoppers, then I'd gladly run out and buy one. As it is, I'll have to stick with Pioneer for now. Maybe someday a manufacturer will actually read the user reviews and will fix all the pet peeves and come out with a recorder that isn't crippled in some way. I really do like the LG's ability to replace the burner or drive with something off the shelf (but I'm sure they'll fix that in the next release. :P )

Brent

[InXess]

1) Apparently it won't record some specialty channels in Canada because of copyright flags that are broadcast with the show. I'm not sure why this is happening because it is legal in Canada to make a copy of the recording you own. If you pay for the broadcast then you should be able to tape it. I think a class action lawsuit against the broadcasters would smarten them up some and also against LG for selling those units in Canada. I'm sure a smart group of lawyers could make a pile of money suing broadcasters.


Brent

Good point. I'll take it up with LG, see what happens.

[InXess]

Both Pioneer and LG utilize the same protection technology: CPRM as per Pioneer's & LG's manuals so it seems they are equally affected by it with exactly same recording limitations.

If picture rec. quality was the only criteria then LG seems to win hands down.