Any opinions on Toshiba RD-XS32?

[bats10]

I am about to purchase my first DVD recorder and am considering the Toshiba RD-XS32 mainly because of the great price and the fact that it can read JPEG files and has a hard drive. I have read some posts here about the black bug problem with the Toshiba recorders. My other choice was the Panasonic DMR-E85 but I do not think it can read JPEG files (anyone know whether it can or not?).

Can anyone give me any insights on how serious the black bug problem is and your general impression of the Toshiba. Also, how easy is it to hook a VCR to the DVD recorder (I hope to transfer all my VCR tapes to DVD).

Thanks for any help you can provide. This is all so confusing with all the choices out there!

[Synergy]

My other choice was the Panasonic DMR-E85 but I do not think it can read JPEG files (anyone know whether it can or not?).

Can anyone give me any insights on how serious the black bug problem is and your general impression of the Toshiba.

The Panasonic DMR-E85 doesn't support JPEG files, but the Pioneer DVR-510H and the upcoming 520H do and they are a little easier to operate than other brands. This may be important for first time users who are not good at reading manuals.

If you are serious about the Toshiba model, then the following thread should provide plenty info on the RD-XS32, maybe too much:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=f50073f5c4bd6d6cb640d3b0c8ac4a16&threadid=396416

[spiderman2k1]

Toshiba has a black level problem. Get Panasonic Pioneer bad TBC not good for backing up VHS.

[Justin42]

The black level bug is, IMHO, overrated. It took me 2 weeks of trying to discover it to even really notice what the problem was. Granted, once you see it it can be bad, but in general, it's not HORRIBLE. I think some people blow it out of proportion, without having actually seen the results of this problem.

I think the unit itself is incredible. It's really a tweaker's paradise, you have an immense amount of control over edits, video quality, sound quality, menus, etc. I think the picture quality is *significantly* better than the Panasonic E80 (I managed to pick one up on clearance for comparison).

But going back to the black level issue-- basically, if you have a DVD player that cannot be set to "enhanced black" mode (or similar), your recordings MAY look washed out. I say "may" because I have done some on the XS32 that don't look washed out at all (and some that do) so it seems to depend on the source to some level as well. This really isn't an issue if you only make discs for yourself, or only limited trading, as you can always play discs back on the XS32 itself (if you have no other player that can do 0IRE/Enhanced Black). Where it's an issue is if you plan to do a good amount of trading with people who you can't really get into black level issues. I do bet that most people wouldn't even notice it.

So, yes, it IS an issue, and definitely what keeps the XS32 from being the 'champion' of this generation. All of the units have issues-- the Pioneer TBC apparently sucks (which if you are going to transfer VHS tapes is *crucial* unless you have a nice VCR with TBC built in), the Philips break a lot, the Sonys are too expensive, etc. (I'm generalizing here, please no flames!)

The Panasonic units are probably the best 'all around' units; they're kind of a "jack of all trades, but master of none". I can't speak for the E85 but after using my XS32, the E80 has been painful at times. I don't regret my XS32 purchase one bit after having the E80 for 2 weeks. (I was worried I'd get this E80 super cheap and have buyer's remorse over the Toshiba, but now I am just glad I have the Toshiba to do most of my work on If you have ANY amount of computer video editing experience, the Toshiba will be very easy to figure out as it works very similarly.

[Lucien]

There's a RD-XS53 coming out in August. Hopefully that would fix the black level 'bug'. Looking at the manual the possibilities/flexibility is amazing. Wish that all recorders could do that.

Note that by setting output to enhanced black you lose some of the details in the black areas since US TV's are setup for +7.5 IRE.

[Art99]

I bought one of these yesterday at Best buy (can still take it back if needed) and did not realize it had the black level bug. So far i'm quite impressed wityh this machine but there is a big learning curve and much to remember so I'm taking it slow. I did manage to save a tv show on the hard drive and record it to a dvd-rw without a hitch. It played fine in both my dvd plkayers as well as my pc. The picture on my 2 other dvd players looked ideentical to when i played it in the toshiba to the best I could tell. I used the highest quality setting for it. granted one test is not much top go one but based on what I saw the black level prob may be over blown like jason said above. If they come out with a similar machine with that problem fix and the same features the Xs32 has i would definately reccoment it though a larger hard drive would be nice of course but unless you record all your shows on the highest quality setting the drive in this shoiuld suffice for most ppl I think.