Pioneer DVR-520H-S Is this a good recorder? Reliable? ect..

[Pink Pryncess]

I am thinking of replacing my jvc vcr/dvd combo (that I am sending back to crutchfield) with a Pioneer DVR 520H-S with a 80gb Hard Drive, I was wondering if someone could answer a few questions

Can you edit out commercials when you record to Hard Drive? I heard that you can't edit on Hard Drive.

Can you make wallpaper for movies from tv or is it just for home movies? The review says "make wallpaper for home movies" but it doesn't say anything about it working for other types like from tv, just home movies.

When you edit does it show you a preview before you delete?

When you edit can you pause and move extremely slow to get the exact place you want by the milisecond? The JVC did and it was flawless editing, but the toshiba I currently am trying just goes my the second and it SUCKS! I am returning it. The pause button is on the play button and when you try to pause your potential edit you have to hit it 2x to make it pause, IT SUCKS!

Feel free to offer any other reviews on this recorder, I am tired of sending them back!!! I want something that is reliable (JVC IS NOT RELIABLE AT ALL) and that edits nicely and EASY, the jcv edited so easily it was almost idiot proof, there was no mistakes made just adjusting when previewing.

Please reply ASAP I need to return soon.
Thanks

[steve2713]

I've got the 420, exact same machine minus the firewire port.

Commercials are easily edited out, right down to the very frame, on the HD as well as a DVD-RW.

Not sure about the wallpaper thing, they do have a choice from 8 different basic 'menus' at the start of a disc.

Yes it has a preview of where the video will be cut off playing over and over, in a loop, when cutting sections of the video.

Yes it goes frame per frame accuracy, as I said above. You can play it in very slow motion as well as frame by frame, very easy.

This Pioneer seems pretty close to being as good as I could expect at this point in the technology of the recorders. A good all around recorder so far.

[Pink Pryncess]

Thank you so much for you fast reply.

I am also looking at the Panasonic DMR-E85H that has a 120 gb hard drive.

Same questions apply as in my first post.
I would like this panasonic because of the bigger HD and is about $129.00 cheaper than the Pioneer.

Thanks

[Pink Pryncess]

Do either of these recorders play DVD-RW's?

[steve2713]

both, yes. If you format a DVD-RW as a standard video DVD when you record to them, almost any dvd player will be able to play a DVD-RW.

If you record to the DVD-RW as a 'VR' disc, which makes for easy editing, etc, that's another story. But with a HD built-in, I don't see much need to record to a DVD-RW in 'VR' mode, since you can edit on the HD and then just burn to a disc as a standard DVD Video disc, playable by most players.

[Pink Pryncess]

I have been looking at reviews and they all say that the recorder does not play DVD-RW's, it only says DVD-RAM and DVD-R's.

They even list it as a bad feature on some reviews, I know they are not really needed with the hard drive, but I have a few -RW's that already have stuff on them that I need to know if this recorder will play them. Some are in VR mode and some are in Video mode.

Do you know for a fact they they play -RW's or do you just think they do because your machine (420) does?
Thanks

[BobK]

I have been looking at reviews and they all say that the recorder does not play DVD-RW's, it only says DVD-RAM and DVD-R's.

Do you know for a fact they they play -RW's or do you just think they do because your machine (420) does?
Thanks

The manual for the 420 is also the manual for the 520. It says 'DVR 520' and 'DVR 420'. I have the 420 and it records to and plays -RWs just as the manual says. I think it's safe to assume that the 520 will also do what the manual says- record to and play -RWs. It does not record to DVD-RAM.

There's also the Pioneer website where the product description says -R and -RW.

I've seen a of couple places sellling the 520 that say DVD-RAM in their description. They're wrong.

[steve2713]

Comments:
Despite what Panasonic specifies in the operating manual, this unit does in fact play DVD+R/RW and DVD-RW without any problems.

I copied that from one reviewer in the reviews here, regarding the E85. I can't say for sure, I've never used one. I don't know if VR DVDs are going to be entirely compatible between different units and brands. I'm pretty sure different brands use different non-standard resolutions for some VR recordings also, so that may be another issue. What recorder did you record your VR discs with?

And BobK is correct in that the Pioneer cannot use DVD-RAM discs.

[Pink Pryncess]

Thanks for the reply

I am looking to buy the panasonic now so do you know if it can play -RW's. The product info at Crutchfield says it plays -r's and dvd--ram but it never says dvd-rw's.

Thanks

[Pink Pryncess]

I recorded the -rw's on a JVC "blah blah blah" lol I can't remember the numbers but it was 399.00 at crutchfield. They recorded great except sometimes it will have a white line at the top and it sounds like a pop.

thanks

[Frobozz]

There's a link to the manufacturer's manuals at the top of this forum. Good reading. Also, you can search the DVD Recorder database here at videohelp. It lists what media is supported by what recorders. There also are lots of owner reviews there. More good reading.

[Pink Pryncess]

JVC DR-M10 that was the name of it.

[steve2713]

Hmm, you might want to find out which recorders, besides the JVCs, will be able to read VR discs from a JVC. There's a good chance that you'd be able to get the VR videos off the discs on your computer too, and then do what you want with them from there.

[crazythunder]

i'm buying the pioneer as well as soon as crutchfield get's them back in stock. question-- can i take a 2 hour movie recorded in best quality on the hdd and split it to 2 dvd\r's? ie-2 one hour movies? thanks.

[steve2713]

Yes, splitting a recording is VERY easy to do on the Pioneer, you can find your spot on the recording and split it, frame accurately, in seconds.

[BobK]

I am looking to buy the panasonic now so do you know if it can play -RW's. The product info at Crutchfield says it plays -r's and dvd--ram but it never says dvd-rw's.
Thanks

The Panasonic does not record to RW. It only records to DVD-R and DVD-RAM.

[crazythunder]

thanks steve.