Lite-On LVW-5045 or Pioneer DVR-533H-S

[falberni]

In my neck of the woods, the Lite-On LVW-5045 is on sale for 400 $Cnd and the Pioneer DVR-533H-S for 475 $Cnd. I don't have any VSH tpaes to convert at the moment. Mostly, I would like to tape some shows off satellite for later viewing, or for editing out the commercials and burning on DVD disks. Which recorder should I get, considering their prices and performance.

I also have another question. I'm using Bell ExpressVu satellite. The box does not have component video output. I'm not very satisfied with the picture quality. I'm wondering if I can put the cable box aside and use the tuner of the DVD recorder? If that is possible, which one of the two recorders has a better tuner?

[Sam Ontario]

Where do you find those recorders at these prices?

[zamolxis]

costco.ca
last week, they actually had a $75 rebate on the Pio

[falberni]

Best Buy has the Lite-On on sale and Future Shop has the Pioneer on sale.

[falberni]

bump

Anybody wants to jump in and comment? Need your help to make a good decision please. LordS where are you? Dodpedro where are you?

[chas0039]

I am not familiar with either product but I have read a steady stream of complaints over the last 2 years concerning Liteon recorders (not the computer products). Over at CDFreaks there is a thread considering a class action suit. I don't think any of their recorders have ever worked as advertised.

On the other hand I have heard raves concerning the Pioneer products. When my Panasonic dies I have no question; I will look at Pioneer.

[donpedro]

Problem is that I don't know LiteOn products. Only from comments of others. This is what I feel about LiteOn. A lots of problems like failing, overheating.... bad MONO TV tuner and so on... but those might be issues with old models.

My recomendation would be Pioneer since I have one and I know that it is great recorder.

[johnahl]

I have owned the LVW 5045 since Jan. and paid $380 for it.

The remote control is too small.

The VCR+ function sucks. It becomes completely useless once the 16 timed events slots have been used. IOW the recorder never deletes the timed event even months after it has recorded successfully. If you try to use the VCR+ function when all the slots are filled, it replys with an error dialog box saying you have to delete one of the previous expired timed events before you can use that function. And it takes about 20 or more keypresses on the remote to accomplish the simplified VCR+ progamming.

The internal clock gains time. You have to reset the clock about every 2 weeks or you'll be a minute fast. This isn't too bad because you'll never miss the end of a timed event,.... but you may miss the beginning.

If you do too much editing with a lot of saved video, the hard drive becomes trashed and you may lose all of your video on the hard drive. This has happened to me twice. Consequently I don't do any editing anymore.

I would recommend not buying the LiteOn. But, I'll sell you mine for $200 and I'll buy the Pioneer. <grin>

JohnA(Kent,Wa)

[falberni]

It's Pineer for me then. Thanks for your comments.

[Sam Ontario]

I have owned the LVW 5045 since Jan. and paid $380 for it.

...
I would recommend not buying the LiteOn. But, I'll sell you mine for $200 and I'll buy the Pioneer. <grin>

JohnA(Kent,Wa)

John,

If you have not sold it, PM me and I will buy it.

[sync]

I also have another question. I'm using Bell ExpressVu satellite. The box does not have component video output. I'm not very satisfied with the picture quality. I'm wondering if I can put the cable box aside and use the tuner of the DVD recorder? If that is possible, which one of the two recorders has a better tuner?

Satellite signals aren't tuned. You need to use the satellite receiver.

[falberni]

" Satellite signals aren't tuned. You need to use the satellite receiver.


Thanks for clarifying that.