Help! Need opinions on the Sharp DV-RW2U

[stilinsm]

I'm looking at this recorder, but can't seem to find any opinions on it. I know some of you have this and just want to know what you like and dislike about it.
Thanks

[piano632]

It's a good basic machine if you just want a VCR replacement. Don't pay more than $400 for this however - not really worth the $800 list price considering the limited features. You can get it at pcmall.com or ecost.com for that price - more expensive everywhere else. I suspect it may have some Pioneer parts in it, though I can't say for sure.

Likes:
Solidly built (somewhat larger than the Panasonic machines).
3-D Y/C separation on composite input (which basically "upgrades" a composite input signal to s-video quality).
3 sets of inputs (2 in back, 1 in front) composite & s-video.
Progressive scan output (as well as composite, s-video & RF) 1 of each.
Firewire input & output on front panel (yes, it goes OUT too - I've tried it).
Tamper Proof setting will keep kids from messing with your machine.
Will never overwrite any part of a rewriteable disc without you telling it to erase it first.
8-event timer.
Thumbnail pictures on menu screen (but only when used with this recorder - on any other machine you will just have a text menu).
"Exact Rec" will vary the video datarate based on the length of the program and the time remaining on the disc (only works with timer recordings however).
Digital Noise Reduction & Digital Super Picture image quality enhancements on playback (selectable settings).
Digital Gamma when "on" brightens dark areas of the picture on playback.
Picture quality in FINE mode (same as XP on Panasonic's) is excellent, however pixelation starts to become noticeable on SP speed if program has lots of motion (though I think ALL standalones are the same way). (Incidently, the FINE mode actually gives you 72 min. of recording time even though the manual says 60 min. - I suppose this is because there is no PCM audio to take up the extra space.)

Dislikes:
No PCM audio on any setting (only Dolby Digital 2.0) but audio is very good as is.
Firewire does not work properly when used directly with PC video card (must use camcorder).
Don't think this machine has a TBC on the input - no mention of it in the manual - though B&H Photo says it has one.

I've had no problems with mine yet - but then again, I've only had it for 2 weeks.

[piano632]

Wow! I just looked at the pcmall site and this thing is now selling for $349 with a $50 rebate applied. That seems to be the cheapest price on a standalone yet At this rate, they'll be down to $200 by December.

[stilinsm]

Thanks Piano, that's exacty what I was looking for. The cost of this unit is very attractive.

[GREGACALICO]

I too would like some opinions on the Sharp DV-RW2U, but my needs are more in line with the quality, reliability and durability of the machine.

I am considering purchasing this model but I like to get information on this unit from owners of the unit. Is the audio and/or video quality up-to-speed with similar models (Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba etc...)? What about recordings on slow speed vs. fast speed ? Does it have a problem reading and writing to most available blank media ? Does the unit have any problems mechanically ? What about problems with the software ? ETC ......

I do not think this unit is equipped with TBC, as some others are. Also, I do not think this unit is equipped with VBR technology.

I usually consult the consumers report when purchasing most of my electronic components, but obviously this unit is too new to make it in their report. I do not like to purchase items unless they have been reserched by this organization or others in the same capacity. I suscribe to this service and check it often, but as of today it still has not received a review. I also tried to utilize other sources for opinions (consumer product reviews, epinions, review finders, etc...), but there are not a lot of information, opinions, and/or reviews on the web for this item.

To my knowledge, this is Sharp's first and only DVD recorder, and as such I question it's reliability.

I have narrowed my search down to this Sharp model and the Panasonic DMR-E50. Panasonic has been around for a long time and their quality is un-matched. In addition, this is their fifth generation DVD recorder so it seems logical they have worked out the "bugs". Plus, the previous panasonic model to the DMR-E50 (the DMR-E30) has made it in the consumers report top three list last year.

Only drawback with Panasonic model is the DVD-RAM recording issue for playback on most comercially available DVD players. That's why I like the Sharp with it's DVD-R/-RW recording capability.

Thanks

[PhilipL]

Withdrawn

[dudley07726]

Purchased this unit 1 month ago and I am perfectly happy with this unit.
I have mainly used it to dub from a laser disc and have done about 15 discs. I tried the timer and it had worked fine. I have only used fine and sp speeds and I see no difference between the two. Paid $399 (plus a $50) rebate at PC mall. I do not regret this purchase. Highly recommended!

[pighead]

I really like this machine, I have done some live video capture with this instead of a vcr and it works great..after finalizing a DVD-RW you can copy the VIDEO_TS directory off of the RW to a computer for post production. The "iLink" works great with sony camcorders but is not yet functional as a firewire port.

I used the VR mode and I was able to cut out commercial from tv broadcasts on the unit, it does require a tool that recognizes VR mode disks to playback on a computer (TMpeg Video Author says it support VR format).

Shortcomings are few but a big one is extreme sensitivity to Macrovision.

[Saminai]

I can't seem to find this Sharp recorder online. Neither ecost or pcmall carry it anymore.??

[piano632]

Must have gone out of production. I think bhphotovideo.com still has some in stock, but they have jacked the price way up to $599. Probably not worth it at that price.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/homeO=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=287204&is=REG

[Saminai]

I found it for $461 at buy.com
I'm tempted to get it.
By the way, what media brands have you tried with it? I know some drives can be very finicky. I don't need to use cheap Princo crap, but I do like using Ritek G03's or G04's and I like using Verbatim....

[bikerval]

Cheap Princo crap? Ha ha! I've been using the cheap Princo crap (1x Leda [Princo] whitetops from www.Shop4Tech.com at about 85cents [in 100 pack]) for well over a year now and have had very, very few problems. In fact, last 250 disks have had zero due-to-bad-disk coasters. I use them in my Sony PC to burn and I use them in my Sharp dvd recorder. No problems at all. They burn to the edge (used to be a problem with Princos) and last. My first ones still play fine. And they play on both my Toshibas (portable 2500 and tv/dvd combo), my Sony and Koss players and my pal's Apex as well as many many other players tried. When hunting for portable dvd player, tried these disks in many players... worked everywhere more expensive brands worked. If a player will play a Memorex, Maxell, Panasonic, TDK then it will play one of these Princos.

Recently got 25 of the Leda (Princo) 1x whitetop DVD-RWs from Shop4Tech and they are working just fine too. No problems. These play everywhere my Maxell, Memorex, TDK DVD-RW disks play too.

Meanwhile, I also love my Sharp dvd recorder. It works just great as a "vcr" that burns to dvd rather than to tape. The video quality is excellent and since I burn onto -R or -RW using the Video Mode (not VR) then I can just DVDShrink or DVDecrypt or DVDXCOPY or whatever to get the disk to my harddrive and then edit/burn. I've had my Sharp since mid-summer or so.

Also, I have a Sony PC and can hook up the Sharp directly to the Sony via the firewire and record back and forth. I can record on Sharp using RW, capture from Sharp using firewire to Premiere, edit out the commercials, then firewire back into the Sharp onto DVD-R directly. Works great. I imagine there's some quality loss but not so much that I notice/care. I just want the tv show and it's LOTS better than VHS. I lived with VHS quality for years... dvd is even better so I'm not going to quibble. I don't need "digital perfect" for my tv captured shows. If I want perfect then I'll capture direct into my PC and work with avi.

I also capture my camcorder footage straight to the Sharp. Love it for a quick copy of the footage to show folks. When I want to edit it, I capture onto PC, edit in Premiere, then output 2 hours worth (SP) to the Sharp via firewire. Is EXCELLENT for this! I don't need fancy menus and specific chapter points. I just want to be able to watch my home movies right away. This is MUCH faster than converting to avi then to mpg (or even straight to mpg) then burning. The Sharp converts and burns all at once. 2 hours of footage takes 2 hours to get to disk instead of 3 or so hours to convert to mpg and then 2+ hours to burn. I love my Sharp.

[pighead]

The only thing I don't like about my sharp is that it is on sale at Fry's for $299.00, I paid $499.00 8 months ago and I have really dogged it with no adverse effects to the unit...bought a video enhance device to back-up some VHS that I'm sure isn't going to master to DVD and it allowed me to defeat the the macro.

This unit is very sensitive to copy protection !