Wich one is the best option?

[thenamelessthing]

Hi all!

I have an opportunity to replace my current Toshiba RX-XS32 with 80gb for a Pioneer DVR-450H-S with an 160 gb.

It's is a good option or toshiba unit is the best?

I know Pioneer have a bigger hard disk but except that.

I'm not HD actually and I doesn't have an home theater yet (but I work on that!)

I have read some post that mention Toshiba have one of the best option for recording (like soft filter, play list,etc) Do you know if pioneer have feature like this? I don't want to regret my toshiba unit after I got the pioneer.


I can also obtain Philips HTS5800 Home Theater with 80GB or PHILIPS DVDR3455H 160GB (it is better unit than my toshiba and Pioneer?)

Thanks for your advice.

[jman98]

People have been raving about the Philips 3575 model with a 160 GB hard drive. It's supposed to be really good for capturing VHS tapes. I don't know about the 3455. If I remember, I think people have said that the 3575 is better. Note that Philips has announced that they are leaving the North American market next year for DVD recorders, so if you want a Philips, get it while you can. Almost nobody makes recorders with hard drives for North America and even simple DVD recorders are becoming harder and harder to find with just about everybody here preferring a Tivo or similar PVR device over a DVD recorder.

[samijubal]

Toshiba can't be beat for picture quality and playback/record/editing/menus options. I would never consider trading my Toshibas for something else. The Toshiba HDD recorders are top-of-the-line. I don't know why you'd want something else.

[thenamelessthing]

ok, are you saying the future of dvd recorder with HDD is not sure? I also hear that device like Syabas Network media tank like popcorn hour it's very cool. but my concern is how to to record on dvd with that kind of device?

[thenamelessthing]

I want to change my toshiba for only 2 things, 80gb is not enough for my use and I want to burn DVD Dual layer but DVD-R DL are very hard to find at low cost.

[samijubal]

Only you can make the decision. There's no recorder made with better PQ than Toshiba. I'll never use anything else myself.

[jman98]

ok, are you saying the future of dvd recorder with HDD is not sure? I also hear that device like Syabas Network media tank like popcorn hour it's very cool. but my concern is how to to record on dvd with that kind of device?

I am saying that Philips is abandoning the market for DVD recorders with hard disks and everybody else will likely do so too in the very near future. I will be stunned if anyone even makes such devices for sale in 2010 in North America.
If Philips is pulling out, there is almost no chance that Pioneer and Toshiba will find it profitable to continue to make and try to sell these devices here. The bottom line is that the North American consumer doesn't want them. People that have them love them, no doubt about that, but heck, almost everybody who makes plain old vanilla DVD recorders without hard drives has abandoned the market, so there really isn't much demand for hard drive based models. People in North America use PVRs or Tivo and that is reality. I know it's hard for people who love DVD recorders to understand that, but that's how it is.

You CANNOT record on DVD with any streaming media player and that will probably never change as to provide such capability would add substantially to the cost of the unit and also add to the complexity of supporting it by the manufacturer.

[orsetto]

Since your Toshiba apparently still works fine, by all means keep it: a properly functioning Toshiba DVD/HDD machine is worth its weight in gold, as samijubal so often reminds me .

Dual layer is a gimmick that is usually not worth bothering with on DVD recorders. It has its uses on a PC, primarily for making 1:1 backups of DL pressed discs, but on standalone recorders they are a pain and very expensive. Unless you are incredibly anal about not wanting to switch discs in the middle of a four hour program, recording to the HDD and then splitting across two quality SL discs is the far better option- if for no other reason than there is really only ONE high quality DL blank (Verbatim), and the jury is still out on DL long-term durability.

I would advise keeping your Toshiba and buying a second DVD/HDD machine to get the extra features you want, if indeed you want them that badly. The Phillips 3576 is nice but quite a bit cruder in operation than your Toshiba, also it does not burn DL discs. It does have the advantage of an ATSC tuner, it is very affordable, and easy to buy in the USA for less than $300. But you'd likely be happier with the Pioneer 450: editing features more in line with your Toshiba (but still nowhere near as flexible) and it does reliably burn DL media. It can only be bought thru Canadian intermediaries and usually runs $300-350 delivered to a USA resident. (If you live in Canada, its a cakewalk: just drop by any CostCo and ask if they have a returned/new open box 450: they have tons, well below $300, just bring it on home!)

[thenamelessthing]

Hi! thanks for all your advices! I leave in canada and i have a deal for 235$ it's an open box. Actually my toshiba DVD drive have been replaced (by me) for an PC LG dvd drive with success but audio CD doesn't work. Actually it's the only thing who doesn't work properly with this unit. For the rest all work very fine. Except for a couple of missing feature like DVD+ and DL and MP3. I love this device. I have ask your opinion to know what you suggest if I want to upgrade for a device who have these feature and who are not less quality than my current unit. By the way anybody know what is the step to upgrade the hard disk un an Toshiba XS-32? I know other manufacturer have a service disc who can allow to replace an hard disk for a new model? Maybe if I can "boost" my current unit, I will keep it.

Thanks again for your comments!

[samijubal]

You can't get anymore HDD space. You can use a bigger HDD but the recorder will only format the drive to 80 gigs. It's a very simple process to replace the HDD in a Toshiba.
Here's the info you need:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=840132

[jackdup]

Before I bought my first DVD recorder I tried out a Toshiba, Panasonic, Samsung, and LG. Of those 4 the Toshiba had the worst picture quailty. It was not a hard drive model so perhaps the newer models with a HD have better quality. I tried recording from satellite as well as converting some VHS tapes. I have since purchased Pioneers with HD and really like them.

[samijubal]

The Toshiba D-R4 (non-HDD) has the exact same picture quality as the HDD recorders which is the best there is. I haven't used any other Toshibas except the newest one which I tried is all. I've used Panasonic and Pioneer both too, with an excellent quality source, c-band satellite, Toshiba is better.

[jackdup]

I don't recall the model number I tried as it was 3 or 4 years ago now, but the picture quality on that particular DVD recorder was comparable to a VHS tape. I can't comment on the newer models, but was certainly disappointed in the one I tried.

[samijubal]

The D-R4 is an '05 model. I never go over SP so I can't say what anything over SP looks like on any recorder.
The Pioneer I tried was a non-HDD recorder from a few years ago. The picture was pretty close to the source if I remember right but it was grainy compared to the Toshibas I have.

[FulciLives]

I love Pioneer. I think they rock. Having said that the burner in my Pioneer broke down about 1 year after I bought it but it was the "troublesome" 531 model. The 531/533/633 models all had some issues with the DVD burner that appear to have since been fixed and despite the DVD burner "dying" the quality and functionality of the unit: superb. I still use it as a DVR sometimes (the DVD burner doesn't work but the built-in HDD does). Also I bought (for short term use) a cheap $50 DVD recorder at wallmart and the quality is OK in 2 hour mode or less and I've used the Pioneer as a "front end" to it as the built-in TBC in the Pioneer still works in pass-through mode.

Pioneer is the only new DVD recorder you can buy with a built-in HDD that allows you to pick the recording time and therefore adjust the bitrate accordingly. Sure it has fixed modes like 1 hour, 2 hour, 4 hour etc. but you can also set it for 90 minutes or 130 minutes etc. and it will fit the disc to maximize the bitrate. This is a key feature missing from all new DVD recorders (well Panasonic sort of does it but their recorders are not to be trusted).

If I had the money I'd buy a new Pioneer ... alas money is tight these days for me.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[jackdup]

The D-R4 is an '05 model. I never go over SP so I can't say what anything over SP looks like on any recorder.
The Pioneer I tried was a non-HDD recorder from a few years ago. The picture was pretty close to the source if I remember right but it was grainy compared to the Toshibas I have.

Well I guess I am going to have to try another Toshiba just to satisfy myself. I know I was surprised at the time as I have had Toshiba products in the past that I was very happy with. Sure wish I could have said the same for the only one I tried.

[samijubal]

I don't know about the new Toshibas. I have one of them I tried recording a little Dish Network satellite with, first impression was it's not as good as the older recorders. The recording did look sharper with a little better detail but it also looked grainy, maybe just from the sharper picure. It's hard to tell how good a recorder is using DN since it looks pretty lousy. I haven't tried the new recorder with c-band.

[orsetto]

I love Pioneer. I think they rock. Having said that the burner in my Pioneer broke down about 1 year after I bought it but it was the "troublesome" 531 model.

We spoke a long while ago about repair ideas for your 531. Since that time, I have self-serviced many more of these machines and *may* have discovered a simpler-than-usual way for you to repair it yourself. Please PM me with a confirmation you are at the same mailing address, and I'll look into sending you the necessary bits. It won't at all hurt your 531 to try it, and will likely succeed in restoring the burner function.

[orsetto]

Phillips has just begun distributing an upgraded Magnavox model H2160MW9 via Wal*Mart and other retailers at approx. $237: a fantastic price for a new 160GB DVD/HDD recorder with ATSC. This model is a clone of the 3576 but reportedly has tuner and firmware updates that correct some complaints people had about the Phillips machines. The remote is the better Phillips remote, not the earlier junky Magnavox remote. Worth a look, and may be a precursor to an impending Phillips model refresh.