Pioneer DVR 3100

[gertbigones]

Anybody got any opinions and or reviews about this machine?? thanks in advance........[/b]

[Bartflaster]

I have a full review in a home cinema magazine, I could scan it in and send if you like.
I have seen it in action, and it looked good, but untill you have lived with it for a few days, its hard to tell.
Mine should be arriving by next weekend, so if you are in no hurry I can give you my full opinion sometime after next weekend.

[lawtonma]

Bought a DVD3100 over anything else for 2 main reasons;

- Records directly from an i-link port (for DV)
- Compatible with majority of DVD players when finalised

From this point of view I changed my mind - my original decision was to buy the Panasonic E60, but thought that DVD-Ram would be too restrictive, and if I wanted a Sony I would have to go for the higher-spec GX5 to get i-link.

The Pioneer was the ideal combination, and for £350 from Superfi was great value for money. I have been really pleased with all the features and the quality of the recordings. The compatibility of the finalised discs has been 100%, both DVD-r and DVD-rw working in all my players (Toshiba, Sony and Wharfedale).

Only 2 disappointments - (1) unless you use VR mode, you cannoy edit a recording once it has been made (I think this is a restriction of the media) and (2) does not allow you to record anything that has been near MAcrovision and I have not found a workaround yet - any suggestions?

Other than that, 9/10.

[Bartflaster]

Lawtonma, point 1: I THINK is a media restriction.
Point 2: You will need a video enhancer device/scart to get round that, it will be the same on any DVD recorder.
I managed to pick mine up for £317.25 delivered and multiregion unlocked

[gertbigones]

Thanks for all your help and replys, still scratching my head, but most reports and reviews are pointing to the machine mentioned, what is this macrovision? and will i be able to plug into the sky box and get digital recording off the telly? thnks again......

[Bartflaster]

You can record of sky, but not many of the pay channels (movies etc) as they have macrovision, its basically a protection against copying, it scrambles signals or mucks up colours etc.
AFAIK all DVD films have this and virtually all pre-recorded VHS cassettes.
I too, thought long and hard, and came to the Pioneer conclusion.

[gertbigones]

Hello Bart, thanks for your reply, are you happy with the machine? and if i could afford it do you think the HDD model 5100 would be worth consideration? are there any other differences apart form the HDD? i have several VHS tapes (home movies etc, etc) that i wish to get onto dvd and that is about all i want to do, maybe upgrade to DV camcorder in the future.........cheers........

[sunderland]

can get one here for 300 quid multiregion
http://homepages.force9.net/grahamash/magic/indexhome.html

[Bartflaster]

The machine has not yet arrived, should get it before the coming weekend, but Due to decorating I might not get to play with it straight away
I think the models are identical apart from the HDD, if you don't have a PC DVD writer to edit and play with, the HDD model might be worth the extra because you can edit the HDD recordings then burn them to disk, but for me it wasn't worth the extra, RW disks are plenty cheap enough to use as a recordable medium in the same way as you would a video cassette.

[Bartflaster]

can get one here for 300 quid multiregion
http://homepages.force9.net/grahamash/magic/indexhome.html

Plus £10 delivery, still a good price though, pity I didnt come across that when I sent in my price match.
Having said that they do state there is a 25% re-stocking fee if correctly supplied goods are returned non faulty, AFAIK that contravenes the UK distance selling act which gives you 7 days to return the goods for a FULL refund if you are not satisfied in any way, shape or form ?

[bobinga]

Love my 210

[lawtonma]

Has anyone used one of these Macrovision-removing cables? Do they work with DVD recording?

Can you recommend a model and where to get it from? I have found the "Macro Master Pro" at www.sonel.com - anyone tried it?

Thanks.

[lawtonma]

Has anyone used one of these Macrovision-removing cables? Do they work with DVD recording?

Can you recommend a model and where to get it from? I have found the "Macro Master Pro" at www.sonel.com - anyone tried it?

Thanks.