Which is the most RELIABLE DVD video recorder...

[waltchan]

I am planning to get a DVD recorder soon, probably at July 8. Since it's almost a year now after all the DVD recorders were released, can anybody tell me which DVD recorder is the most reliable one out there? Which one has the fewest reported problem? What make and model? Finally, which DVD video recorder, so far, will prove that it will make it to the Guiness World of Records as the longest lasting DVD recorder? I know this may sound kind of funny, but I am willing to take a shot at it. I still have my 19 year old Symphonic (Funai) VCR, and it darn can go on forever after daily use. It has already outlasted 10 new Funai-made VCRs and my old Panasonic and Fisher SVHS VCRs. The new Emerson and Sylvania DVD recorders will not be considered. New Funai is not the same as the old Funai. Thanks for your help.



Walter Chan

[lordsmurf]

Most of the best recorders are just a few months old.
Most of the older ones have major flaws in quality.

Come back in 5 years for this question.

I suggest JVC DRM10SL for the best recorder right now.

[Marvingj]

JVC has a new one, I hear it has great reviews. You need to check with Lordsmurf he has more detail information on it, but it sounds like the best.

[HoustonGuy]

Lordsmurf- I normally do not reply to your erroneous and totally inane posts but to say the "older" DVD Recorders are in some way worse than new models is patently absurd. Two of the most reliable "older" models are the Panny E-80H and the Pioneer 510H- They have a year of reliability that is unsurpassed in standalone DVD recorders so far. Now you will probably try to bring up hard drive problems on either. There is a feature called "format". It was put there for a reason if you segment all the time you need to format once a month. That is why they put it there. The newer models you allude to are totally unproven for reliability. Get it straight and quit feeding new adopters ridiculous wrong info.

[vcdforme]

My Samsung R4000 (6 months old) is still working.
It's the same as a Panasonic E50.
It does what it says, and will make some nice
looking DVD's, but only technically speaking.
the Menu is atrocious.
From a consumer point of view I'd say the Panasonic is
an idiotic cluster-fu** bad design. Frankly, I'm amazed it still
works. I've heard others say theirs are dead, right outta
the box.
I've ordered a Lite-on 5005. Lite-on is so loaded with features,
I couldn't resist taking the chance on one. I'll let you know if it
was worth it.

[hech54]

My Philips DVDR985 is over two years old now and is still going strong. Some say that is VERY rare for Philips DVD Recorders...and for the most part I tend to agree with them. I "blame" the long life of mine on the way that I use it....or more accurately....what I DON'T use it for.
The two main things...I believe....that have kept mine alive for so long are:
1) My 985 has NOT replaced my VCR for recording stupid stuff. My list of "stupid stuff" is a mile long.
2) I already have two DVD Players besides by Philips DVD Recorder(that just happens to play DVD's as well). I do not play commercial DVD's in my 985 and I RARELY even play discs I have recorded with the 985 IN the 985....basically my 985 is a "Record Only" machine....after all....that is why I bought it.....to record.

The Philips DVDR985 is discontinued and quite frankly I'm not sure I would replace it with another Philips once this one eventually goes to DVD Recorder Heaven. In any choice that I eventually make to replace the 985....I will most likely treat the replacement exactly like my 985. In my opinion these things are NOT ready to replace VCR's...especially for day-in day-out recording of stuff like soap operas...which are on TOP of my list of stupid stuff.

[lordsmurf]

Lordsmurf- I normally do not reply to your erroneous and totally inane posts but to say the "older" DVD Recorders are in some way worse than new models is patently absurd. Two of the most reliable "older" models are the Panny E-80H and the Pioneer 510H- They have a year of reliability that is unsurpassed in standalone DVD recorders so far. Now you will probably try to bring up hard drive problems on either. There is a feature called "format". It was put there for a reason if you segment all the time you need to format once a month. That is why they put it there. The newer models you allude to are totally unproven for reliability. Get it straight and quit feeding new adopters ridiculous wrong info.

In general, your older Philips, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba etc etc etc .... not very good quality, lots of issues, not reliable. Almost every recorder, ESPECIALLY the older ones has some HUGE fundamental flaw.

At least on newer ones, and newer brands especially, we are seeing less IRE problems, less macroblocks, less parts dying the first month, etc.

My statement stands.

[hech54]

That reminds me...
Also I thought it should be known that I have never complained about the picture quality of the recordings made in my Philips 985 OR other Philips recorded discs I have received from others.
I just question GREATLY....the ability of Philips DVD Recorders to replace an old fashioned VCR for daily use.
Once Philips gets off their asses and makes a super-reliable DVD Recorder....I think I will always pick a Philips over another brand just for the picture quality....especially in 1 Hour(HQ) Mode and 2 Hour Mode is also VERY nice in my opinion.

[tjdmobile]

Well, lets see - I have my LiteOn 5001 which has so far lasted 7 good months of daily use. I did buy a spare drive, and I DID modify the unit to keep it cool.

PQ is quite decent at 1 & 2 hour modes. Very intuitive design, though limited to 5 timers (whose idea was that?) including NO Mon-Fri settings

The longest lasting DVD recorder I have would still have to be my Hauppauge PVR-250 in my PC - 2.5 years old and still kicking.

Good luck. Now that recorders are finally under $200, as long as it lasts a year, I'll be happy.

I am curious about one thing....for those whose recorders are starting to make coasters, have you tried a DVD lens cleaner disk? Do they work?

TJD

[ejai]

In general, your older Philips, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba etc etc etc .... not very good quality, lots of issues, not reliable. Almost every recorder, ESPECIALLY the older ones has some HUGE fundamental flaw.

At least on newer ones, and newer brands especially, we are seeing less IRE problems, less macroblocks, less parts dying the first month, etc.

My statement stands.

I agree with Lordsmurf on his assessment of the older dvd recorders. I too have had issues with some of the recordings coming from my older machines (both are Panasonics). I've heard and have read many problems pertaining to quality and compatibility form other products from other manufacturers as well.

I too thought the E30 was the greatest thing since slice bread until I started noticing the black level bug. This made me look for another machine, so I decided to try the E50 and the black level bug issue was gone. Yet I still felt something was missing because some of my recordings were showing pixelated colored squares in dark areas. Also The color was a bit muddled, I blamed it on the source tape in which I was using to record from.

After looking into this further I started seeing people speak highly about the JVC-DR-M10SL. I decided to toss my hat into the lion's cage again and purchasing the JVC. I am finally happy with the quality and the compatibility that this recorder demonstrates.

The compatibility issue I spoke about earlier comes from using the Panasonic to record disks that only play well in Panasonic machines, as well as a few other dvd players. I sent a disk to my family in the Carribean and found out that they could not play the disk (created with the E50). I recorded the same video on the JVC using the same disks and the quality was much better as well as the disk worked on my families player in the Carribean with no problem.

I am a very picky person when it comes to quality, and I knew that there must be something out there that could give me close to the quality I was looking for. When I saw the pictures from the Titanic I knew this was the recorder for me, so far I have no regrets with my decision to purchase the JVC. I only have one regret and that is that I wish I could have created my past dvds using this machine.

[Sam Ontario]

I am planning to get a DVD recorder soon, probably at July 8. Since it's almost a year now after all the DVD recorders were released, can anybody tell me which DVD recorder is the most reliable one out there? Which one has the fewest reported problem? What make and model? Finally, which DVD video recorder, so far, will prove that it will make it to the Guiness World of Records as the longest lasting DVD recorder? I know this may sound kind of funny, but I am willing to take a shot at it. I still have my 19 year old Symphonic (Funai) VCR, and it darn can go on forever after daily use. It has already outlasted 10 new Funai-made VCRs and my old Panasonic and Fisher SVHS VCRs. The new Emerson and Sylvania DVD recorders will not be considered. New Funai is not the same as the old Funai. Thanks for your help.



Walter Chan

I have both Daytek DVR-P30 (Fancooled version of LiteOn LVW5001) and Philips DVDR75. I own the Daytek for about 4 months and the DVDR75 for about 4 weeks. Both of them are working fine and the firmware upgrading for these units, I believe are continuous. I reckon newer and better models will appear and the prices will drop dramatically, if you can wait for another, say 5 months.

[lenti_75]

right now, I would not buy one, the quality really sucks.
BUT, if I would, I would get Pioneer.

[ejai]

One more thing. After paying so much money for the Panasonic recorders and finding out that the disks were not compatible due to a different way in which they author was a big disappointment to me.

Most of us have to used the dvd recorder as a video capture unit and then use our computers to author. This is fine if you want nice menus and it was your choice. Under the present condition most of us have no choice but to author if not for anything else but to ensure compatibility.

I believe that I should be able to capture and author using the standalone and only use the computer if I want to create a more Hollywood style dvd.

The difference is WANT TO, not HAVE TO. 8)

[Sam Ontario]

I too thought the E30 was the greatest thing since slice bread until I started noticing the black level bug. This made me look for another machine, so I decided to try the E50 and the black level bug issue was gone. Yet I still felt something was missing because some of my recordings were showing pixelated colored squares in dark areas. Also The color was a bit muddled, I blamed it on the source tape in which I was using to record from.

After looking into this further I started seeing people speak highly about the JVC-DR-M10SL. I decided to toss my hat into the lion's cage again and purchasing the JVC. I am finally happy with the quality and the compatibility that this recorder demonstrates.

The compatibility issue I spoke about earlier comes from using the Panasonic to record disks that only play well in Panasonic machines, as well as a few other dvd players. I sent a disk to my family in the Carribean and found out that they could not play the disk (created with the E50). I recorded the same video on the JVC using the same disks and the quality was much better as well as the disk worked on my families player in the Carribean with no problem.

I am a very picky person when it comes to quality, and I knew that there must be something out there that could give me close to the quality I was looking for. When I saw the pictures from the Titanic I knew this was the recorder for me, so far I have no regrets with my decision to purchase the JVC. I only have one regret and that is that I wish I could have created my past dvds using this machine.

I am not a picky person. I am a general consumer. PQ on my DVD recorders are both fine with 4-hour mode or better. I do feel slightly better PQ then the source tapes with this 4-hour mode on my 32" standard NTSC TV. I have only one tape that recorded on DVD showed pixelation. The tape was very blur and old and was a PAL tape recorded to a DVD+RW on my DVDR75.

[hech54]

It's true that the Pioneers and even the Panasonics have proven to be much more reliable in the long run than Philips(again...I must say "In My Opinion" again or I'll get blasted by hate PM's)....but for compatibility right out of the machine....a Philips created disc really is hard to beat. Especially ones from my old 985.

[Sam Ontario]

For interchangeability of recorded DVD+RW discs, I cannot erase or edit any DVD+RW discs recorded by Daytek recorder or PC burners on my DVDR75.

[alanfox]

I have to agree with all the negative comments about the Philips DVDR985. Had mine serviced twice, updated the firmware MANY times, and finally found the problem: It is VERY sensitive to the brand of DVD+Rs you use. Best results with Philips or Verbatim Datalife Plus. Regular Verbatim Datalife and just about everything else gave nothing but headaches. Finally "retired" it and got a Magnavox MDV630R (yeah, I know that's a Philips DVDR880) but have had NO problems and record a LOT with it.

[lordsmurf]

This sounds familiar ... I hated the SONY mainly because it had no disc controls. It would only accept a virgin disc or a SONY-used disc. Anything else was seen as ROM and had to be FULLY formatted (not quick) before using. Sometimes it treated DVD-RW as DVD-R write-once. Total waste of time. Other recorders don't have this flaw.

And that to imperfect quality and difficult menus, as well as picture tweaks that did little to nothing.

...paperweight.

[handyguy]

My panasonic e30 still going strong for about a year & a half. Even the dvdram disks are the same & I use them about 5 times a day.

We used to have a neat recorder comment section on left column but it seems to be under dvd writers now.

[classfour]

Panasonic E-20 (UUUGGGGGLLLLLYYYYY menu on final disc)
working like always after 2 years. Replaced Terapin VCD recorder
(went through 3 in 9 months b4 breaking out the cash and buying the panny at $600 then).

It IS only receiving light use now - recording TV shows for later viewing. Works great with my desktop LFD521 drive (and newer Toshiba SDR5112) for computer editing.

I can't speak for the newer ones or other brands, but the "ancient" E-20 is going strong.

[waltchan]

Except for the Philips DVD recorders, usually the first year of electronics, regarding what brand, tends to be well-built with the best reliability available. For example, it appears that the Panasonic DMR-E20 will last longer than the new Panasonic DMR-E55. The first DVD player that released in 1997 proves to last longer than todays. If you like Sony, I suggest that you pick up your RDR-GX7 as soon as possible before it's discontinued. Sony tends to degrade their products after the first year to make it lighter, but more cheaper with cheaper parts install in their units, so they have a chance to fail at the early time. Thank god that I got my Pioneer DVR-210. My local Costco said that this is a discontinued item, and they are trying to get rid of all of them whatever they have left in stock. The Pioneer DVR-210 is an identical model to the DVR-310. This was Pioneer's first consumer-version DVD recorder and Pioneer's first DVD recorder to hit in local stores. I totally do not like the newer Pioneer DVR-220 and DVR-225 at all, because they are not the first year, and I can predict that it will not last long than the Pioneer DVR-210 and DVR-310. What's more, the Pioneer DVR-220 and DVR-225 are lighter than the previous models, so it's like buying a more cheaply-made item with lower quality. Othewise, at least the Pioneer DVR-220 and DVR-225 are doing fine for quality, but for the long-run, I doubt that they will last long than the previous last year models. This is just my opinion about electronics, and I know that there may be someone out there who disagrees with my opinion. But, if we all look at it carefully, usually this is true.





Walt(er) Chan

[classfour]

For the record: E-20s are going for $100 to $200 on ebay, including buy-it-now prices. The newer recorders from others are in the $150 to $300 range from reputable sellers.

Not much longer and they'll be as cheap as VCRs.

[ROBERT BLACK]

How about the reliability of the LiteOn LVW5005? the flexability of Dual +/- compatibility and cd-r/cd-rw recording sounds pretty good to me. They're have been reports of artifacting(macroblocking) on some recordings over at they're forum, however.

[lordsmurf]

How about the reliability of the LiteOn LVW5005? the flexability of Dual +/- compatibility and cd-r/cd-rw recording sounds pretty good to me. They're have been reports of artifacting(macroblocking) on some recordings over at they're forum, however.

That can happen because they use CVBR. You'll see that on any CBR machine too. And then poor VBR machines (like Panasonic). But it's only noticeable in 4-hour mode. In 3-hour or less, not noticeable.

[Sam Ontario]

Except for the Philips DVD recorders, usually the first year of electronics, regarding what brand, tends to be well-built with the best reliability available. For example, it appears that the Panasonic DMR-E20 will last longer than the new Panasonic DMR-E55. The first DVD player that released in 1997 proves to last longer than todays.
Walt(er) Chan

My sparingly used Panasonic A300 (1st generation DVD player) died in year 2000 just some 3 or 4 years after I bought it!

[Tubol]

I am\was thinking about buying a dvd recorder in the next weeks. But feel somewhat putoff by stories of reliability problems. I'm getting the impression that if used quite a lot I'd be lucky it it lasts a year?.

If so thats crazy. I mean would you go out & buy a vcr, tv, pc, hi-fi, dvd player, washing machine etc if it was only expected to last a year or so?, no you would not would you. So I'm very surprised to come on here to read that dvd recorders just dont last.

What I want to get one for is to really replace my JVC svhs recorder (still use it) & transfer the couple hundred vhs tapes to dvd & record on a very regular basis.

I've only been looking in the last few days since that Currys add for the supposedly half price LiteOn model (funny how they class these offers as "half price" when they are nothing like that at all. The only half about it is the original rrp when the Liton dvd recorder was first released probably about a year ago and the saving is probably only about £40 from the £190 is was likely before the reduction. Seen this at currys on many offers, a bit of a con & a total lie really).

Anyways what's annoying me is that the cheaper ones only record in the + format when I'm looking at buying a - format recordable model. With a limit of arounf £200 are there any suggestions?. My feeling is that if it's not really going to last much more than a year just go for the cheapest I can get my hands on till they become much more reliable.

Tubol

[RottenFoxBreath]

How about the reliability of the LiteOn LVW5005? the flexability of Dual +/- compatibility and cd-r/cd-rw recording sounds pretty good to me. They're have been reports of artifacting(macroblocking) on some recordings over at they're forum, however.

poor poor performance from the liteons.
i recently returned mine for a cash refund.
think ill be sticking to my capture facilities on my pc,rather than buy into hardware thats anything but reliable,and the problems with varied discs also pisses me off no end.
i think it will be a few years before they manage to get it right,but by then mass storage/disc size and the hard drive recorders will have taken over.
the best results im having just now is by using my sky digital box,and sending it to my pc to record onto dvd,perfect compliance,and the menus are to my liking.
i remember reading in the british press lat year that the trading standards were investigating as none of the brands that were being sold in britain and europe were incompatible with each other,like lordsmurf stated,discs are read as write once only,when in fact they are not.
this in turn forced companies like currys,dixons,comet etc,into lowering the prices and eventually removing a lot of models from teh shelves.
the latest one here is the liteon 5001B,which i returned as it was IMO,total shite.-a view held up by the staff of the store too,as more than a handful had been returned too.
anyways,there so called "sale price" of £300 reduced to £150 turned out to be false too as its on sale for 170euros,well below there "special" offer.

[chas0039]

I agree that Panasonic is very picky about discs and they NEVER offer any firmware updates (in my experience and according to their tech people) but they seem to last. I would make the assumption you will only get 2 years of use out of it before it is obsolete and I would buy a unit with a 1 year warranty using a credit card that adds an additional year at no charge. At least then you won't pay for repairs during the period of use. Then burn like a bandit and get your money's worth.

[waltchan]

Sam Ontario...

You should have not bought the Panasonic DVD-A300 DVD player. I am already aware that early Panasonic DVD players have problems with the optical pickup. If you would have bought a Toshiba or Sony in 1997 or 1998, it should still be running today. I'm still enjoying my old 1997 Toshiba SD-3006 and SD-3107 DVD players. In my personal opinion, I never consider Panasonic to be the best Made in Japan brand for quality. For example, early Panasonic SVHS VCRs, 1987-1990, tend to have problem with the SVHS video process board that fail in the early going. I have three Panasonic SVHS VCRs sitting in the closet as non-working. I am actually very furious about that because I've been spending $500 to find a working Panasonic SVHS VCR but still cannot find one that actually works. That's why, I will make sure that my new LCD and plasma television will not be a Panasonic.




Walt(er) Chan

[chas0039]

I am actually very furious about that because I've been spending $500 to find a working Panasonic SVHS VCR but still cannot find one that actually works. That's why, I will make sure that my new LCD and plasma television will not be a Panasonic.




Walt(er) Chan

There may be other issues but possibly you should look at JVC for an SVHS machine. I have 4 that have worked flawlessly for quite a while.