I do not like the Pioneer DVR-5/633H-S

[Nexxous]

I had occasion to test a Toshiba RDXS-32 and a Pioneer DVR-533H-S and I like the Toshiba model better.

Both are good machines but DVD recorders in general have a ways to go before they are perfected.

The things I do not like about the Pioneer are:

1. The EPG program is constantly accessing the hard drive producing a small annoying noise. I cannot watch TV and listen to quiet passages without this noise bugging me. This also means I cannot put it in my bedroom as I will have trouble sleeping. To some people it is minor, but for me it is a major disadvantage.

2. The fonts are too bright and thin. It is very hard to see the lettering unless you adjust your TV.

3. Editing is more awkward than the Toshiba. You can only store one playlist whereas the Toshiba can allow you to have more than one.

4. The special effects motion is jerky when in transition. Whenever I want to fast forward to go back, there is a slight jerk or hesitation. I find that annoying.

5. The TV Guide missed recording an important program. For this reason alone I went back to my old Toshiba unit without the TV Guide. I absolutely hate this TV Guide feature as it is slow and sluggish. One time it reset itself and I lost hours of customizing my channel lineup.

The remote is too busy and cluttered. The Toshiba has better spacing between functions and is not cluttered though I hate the flip lid.

Generally the recordings are quite good and both units are comparable. The true comparison would be the 160 GB Toshiba RDXS-34 but I still find the Toshiba better than the Pioneer.

The Toshiba 160 GB model has one major annoying thing and that is the fan is always on and fairly loud. They also took away some important buttons on the remote and removed the end time recording function from the 160 GB unit, which I find inexcusable. Sometimes an older model is better than a newer one.

In summary buy a DVD recorder if you have to, but beware of some annoying nigglys. I would wait a year until they refine these machines more.

[Frobozz]

Good observations. I have the Pioneer DVR-510H from a couple years ago and I love it. But I think I'd be less happy with the 533 because of your #1 complaint, and possibly #5 as well. I wonder if next summer's models will fix those TV Guide issues or if Pioneer is going to put all its development efforts into HD DVD recorders.

[redwudz]

I have the 633 and I agree about the hard drive noise and the slowness of the EPG. But I like it otherwise. It seems the the HD noise would be easy to fix by Pioneer, and I wonder why they released it that way. Doesn't bother me that much, as it runs mostly in the morning and it's in my living room. But still, it is an irritation.

I find the DVR easy to use without having to memorize the operating manual. I haven't been around the Toshiba unit, so I can't really compare.

I can live with the EPG. It's performance probably depends on the cable system accessed. I really got the unit for archiving old VHS tapes, but I find I use the HD more for time shifting and the TV guide recording has worked fine so far.

With many of these DVR units, I wonder if they really do much testing with consumers and beta units before they make the production version. It would seem these problems would be corrected before they produce a million or two units. Just doesn't seem to be sound business practice.

[Leoslocks]

#1 I consider a Fatal flaw. Still, I really like what I am able to do with it. You make your point much better than the Topic indicates. The main point being that the computer industry is rushing imature product to market because the consumer will buy it.

The Remote is not too difficult to learn either. Even as busy as it is, it is quite effective and functional. I consider the remote a strong point.
Toshiba has some learning to do with its implimentation of its remote technology also. Try usnign the DVDR/VCR remote with a Toshiba TV. There are no codes to learn for it.

#5 This may be a serious issue also. I have disabled the EPG/Hard Drive noise via the EPG Thread. Still, I have the machine try to program the channels while using menu for various tasks. This machine needs a firmware fix. They fix it and I would buy another one for the living room.

[FulciLives]

I have the Pioneer DVR-531H-s and I love it.

It does make noise but not enough to bother me.

The TV guide thing is totally worthless but it is very easy to set up a "manual" recording.

Pioneer has adjusted 7.5 IRE BLACK and 0.0 IRE BLACK input levels. Toshiba, last I heard, does not offer this AND it is set to 0.0 IRE BLACK meaning "black level bug" for 7.5 IRE BLACK sources like all NTSC (except for Japanese NTSC).

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Nexxous]

I have the Pioneer DVR-531H-s and I love it.

It does make noise but not enough to bother me.

The TV guide thing is totally worthless but it is very easy to set up a "manual" recording.

Pioneer has adjusted 7.5 IRE BLACK and 0.0 IRE BLACK input levels. Toshiba, last I heard, does not offer this AND it is set to 0.0 IRE BLACK meaning "black level bug" for 7.5 IRE BLACK sources like all NTSC (except for Japanese NTSC).

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

I never had a problem with the black level feature on the Toshiba. I have 2 settings I can chose as well on mine. Perhaps it is with older units that this occurs? All my copies play well on other dvd players.

[gshelley61]

The Toshiba RD-XS32 does not have a way to properly adjust for 7.5 IRE black level video sources, and you wind up with washed out looking blacks when recording VHS, analog cable or broadcast TV, etc. (also called the "black level bug"). They are not alone... Lite-On and several other machines have the same problem.

Toshiba finally added input video black level adjustments starting with their current line up (RD-XS34, D-R4, etc.) In fact, I have an RD-XS34 and like it very much.

All Toshiba models prior to this year's line have the black level problem.

[DVWannaB]

gshelley and others I have a refurbished Toshiba XS-52 and they apparently fixed the black level input. My machine can be switched to normal, enhanced and something else. I now regard the input black on the level of my JVC DR-MH30s. Interestingly enough, I still use a color corrector on both machines to achieve the proper depth of darkness and contrast.

I have a Pioneer 520 and love it. It is my favorite recorder (JVC RDR-HX715 due in today). Although the 53x/63x series are different DL burning, etc.

[StrikeEagle]

Ye I'm loving my 530H. The noise doesnt bother me.

I don't use the TV Guide, because the easy timer recording is well...easy. Also I don't trust any EPG's - tend to chop parts of episodes. With a HD you can afford to add plenty of padding (even 1-2 hours) either side of the recording incase the thing I record over-runs or starts late.

[pantangs]

The two things about this machine i dont like is the editing feature needs work.After editing i find its to jumpy and not all the frames you edit are out.Even audio you want to keep seems to be gone.The television guide sucks and is very loud when running.

[FulciLives]

The two things about this machine i dont like is the editing feature needs work.After editing i find its to jumpy and not all the frames you edit are out.Even audio you want to keep seems to be gone.The television guide sucks and is very loud when running.

I've never had editing problems with mine but mostly I just trim the start and end and do commercial editing on the computer.

I have done a few XP+ recordings with frame accurate editing and again no problems.

DVR-531H-s here.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[gshelley61]

gshelley and others I have a refurbished Toshiba XS-52 and they apparently fixed the black level input. My machine can be switched to normal, enhanced and something else. I now regard the input black on the level of my JVC DR-MH30s. Interestingly enough, I still use a color corrector on both machines to achieve the proper depth of darkness and contrast.

I have a Pioneer 520 and love it. It is my favorite recorder (JVC RDR-HX715 due in today). Although the 53x/63x series are different DL burning, etc.

I just recently heard that there may be a firmware fix for the input black level control on the XS52 and XS32 models... that must be the case if your XS52 refurb has those adjustments on the input side now.

But, just to double check -- are you certain those adjustments are on the recording side, not just the playback side of the unit? I think they always had black level output adjustments, just none on the input side where they are really needed here in North America (to compensate for our 7.5 IRE black level NTSC sources).