Questions for those with the Pioneer DVR 420 or 520

[ann coates]

I'm curious to try out this machine for dubbing video tapes but can't find any place in my area that sells them. For anyone that owns either machine, where did you purchase yours? Did you have to buy it online?

Also, for anyone who has dubbed old VHS videos using the 420 or 520, were you happy with how they came out? How true to the original videotapes were the recordings?

[akrako1]

Well, i've for the DVR-320 - which is a 420 or 520 just minus the hard drive. The video quality should be the same as the 420 or 520. I've found at 2hrs or less per disc, the quality is great. I haven't pushed it more than 2hrs per disc. Unless the tapes are low quality, you shouldn't notice any degredation in quality. Just my $.02 ....

[akrako1]

By the way, mine was a gift... sorry I can't help you there. I'd hit www.shopping.yahoo.com and do a search.

[zagortenej]

Where in the world are you - Canada, USA, or outside North America? If you are in Canada, you can buy DVR-520 model online at www.futureshop.ca or www.bestbuy.ca. But you can probably get the best deal on eBay if you don't mind doing your shopping there.

I have been a happy user of DVR-210 (same as 420 or 520 but without hard drive) for about a year now and have no complaints about it. I have used it mostly for transfering my VHS collection to DVD and am more thna pleased with the results. I also had an opportunity to test 420 unit for a while and it appears that its TV tuner is of somewhat lower queality than the one found in the *10 series. For more of my comments search Pioneer in 'DVD Recorders' section.

[ann coates]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm in the states, zagortenej. I was hoping to buy at a store near me rather than online and I can't find it at any shops near me.

Regarding Best Buy and Future Shop.. do you know if they carry it in their actual stores or only at their online shops? They don't carry it at the Best Buy near me. I'm right near the Canadian border so it might be worth it for me to have a look if you think they carry it in store.

I wouldn't be comfortable going with ebay as most sellers won't allow a return and I'm looking at this recorder solely to copy old video tapes. Therefore, if I'm unhappy with the job it does I want to be able to return it.

[steve2713]

I've got a 420, I bought mine on Costco.com, but it's very unlikely they'll be carrying it again, they had it clearanced out when I bought it. Wal-mart sells the 220 for either $228 or $248 I believe. Unfortunately a 420 or 520 is likely to run alot more, although I've seen the 420 go for around $300 on Ebay, new. Although they will have the same picture quality, for me the HD is an absolute must. I edit EVERYTHING I record to cut off commercials, etc. and I record alot, so I always record straight to the HD first.

For VHS captures, I've only done a couple so far, but the captures are excellent, I did one movie of about 100 minutes fit to a DVD and the results were essentially identical to the VHS. It's a great machine, you shouldn't be disappointed.

[Epicurus8a]

I own two Pioneer units: DVR 310s & DVR 420H-s. I purchased the 310s about a year ago from my local Costco. The DVR 420H-s was obtained via Coscto online a couple of months back. (They no longer stock either machine.)

I absolutely love both machines. If you find one, don't forget to switch on the Manual record mode. For best quality & compatibility stay within MN19 - MN23 (140 min. - 105 min.)

My conversions from VHS have been virtually identical.

NOTE: Unless you obtain your Pioneer machine from an authorized seller, the Pioneer warranty/guarantee is void. So, unless the seller offers their own warranty/guarantee (like Coscto) you are out of luck if something goes wrong. If you can't find one locally, you might have to try online or mail order. Crutchfield has always treated me very well.

[belder]

Ann,

Costco.com had them on sale for $249 and that made the Pioneer 420H the Bargain de jour on these boards. They sold out in a couple of days and I haven't seen it since. It was my understanding that Pioneer made this for Costco, but that may just be rumor.

Sometimes E-Bay will have a USA model for sale. The 420 is a European model number so you have to make sure you're getting an NTSC tuner for the USA and not PAL or SCART plugs. And, be careful of E-Bay. A friend on the TechoLio board got a dead unit the other day. Hope it works out.

I've had great luck with dubbing VHS tapes...and Betamax too! The Pioneer 420H has adjustments and settings to improve picture quality if you like. It's been the most trouble free and satisfying purchase I've made in a long time.

Best of luck!

[ann coates]

Ann,Costco.com had them on sale for $249 and that made the Pioneer 420H the Bargain de jour on these boards. They sold out in a couple of days and I haven't seen it since. It was my understanding that Pioneer made this for Costco, but that may just be rumor.

They had the Pioneer 420 for only $249!? With the 80 gig hard drive?? Oh man, I feel sick.

Thanks for the tip about the 420 being mainly a European model, I had no idea. I was wondering why they seemed to plentiful on sites in the UK with very few on US sites. Right now I can only find the 520 at Crutchfield and the price is a bit steep for me although I may just take the plunge.

I have a Panasonic right now that I'm happy with, and recording from TV it's great, but I'm not completely happy with the quality of my video dubs, unfortunately. I'd really like to give the Pioneer a try as I've heard good things about it.

Anyone ever buy at Etronics.com?

[steve2713]

I would personally take the gamble and get one on Ebay, although I'm sure others would disagree. Think of it this way, you're basically paying about $200 more for essentially the same machine (same minus the firewire port), the advantage being that you're going to have a warranty with Crutchfield. But I've NEVER heard of anyone having to send one of these units in for warranty work, they appear to be very reliable units in comparison to other buggy recorders (sorry JVC fans, I don't care how good the picture quality is if I can't even use all of its features without needing to send it in for repair).

If, in the unlikely chance that your Pioneer breaks down in a year or so, you can take the $200 you saved and probably buy a similar unit by then for about $200 or so anyway Of course this is all easy for me to say, I got mine at Costco for $250, albeit the warranty is not valid since Costco isn't an authorized reseller anyway.

[Frobozz]

Pioneer has the list of authorized resellers at its Web site, www.pioneerelectronics.com.

Pioneer announced in January a new lineup of recorders. I bought my 510 at a clearance last July, so the clearance sales on the 520s may still be a few months away.

[belder]

Interesting that when I tried to register my Pioneer 420H-s, there was no listing for it on the drop down menu. I know Costco's not an authorized dealer, but I wanted to see what would happen.

[ann coates]

Thanks for the replies. I'm curious if any of you Pioneer users have also used a Panasonic and can tell me what you think of the picture on both brands compared to each other? Particulary if you have used both to make DVD-r copies from video tapes.

[Epicurus8a]

Check this link,

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=259291

[ann coates]

Pioneer has the list of authorized resellers at its Web site, www.pioneerelectronics.com..

Thank you for this tip! I had no idea this was on their site. I found a small electronics store in my area that carries them.

[zagortenej]

Regarding Best Buy and Future Shop.. do you know if they carry it in their actual stores or only at their online shops?

Yes both stores have the recorders in-store, at least they do hear in Edmonton, Alberta. If you can order it on-line through the US BastBuy site and have a local BestBuy store in the area you can simply buy it online and, if you don't like it after you do your testings etc., return it to your local store for full refund. BestBuy has a no-hustle 30-day return/refund policy and they offer free shipping on all of their merchandise.

[Koleman]

Sans a TBC, amd I able to backup my protected VHS tapes? I noticed that some have macrovision and some don't, which I found odd.

For example, my Star Wars Trilogy VHS' don't, but my Titanic does.

Anyone know of an online list that has a database of protected ones?


Woohoo! First post.

[zagortenej]

The easiest way to deal with VHS backup is to get Clarifier. It does an excellent job (have one myself) and, if you have an extensive VHS collection, it is well worth investing into. You can get more info here:

http://www.facetvideo.com/xcart/customer/product.php?productid=83

[Koleman]

Thank you very much for the information.