I bought this unit to have a combo unit that could playback and record VHS tapes and DVDs, and to be able to record two television shows simultaneously using one unit. The dubbing feature is a bonus but I don't use that feature much.

The DVD recording works great- you can write to almost any format (DVD-R, DVD-RW, etc.) and mastering into DVD format is simple and fast. I would argue that the DVD recording is better than the VHS (VCR). VHS recording has some problems with variability in speeds, so image quality is not always perfect. You can also record directly from firewire connection to DVD from your DV/mini-DV camera. There is also a feature to record a DVD and watch an earlier part of what you are recording simultaneously, which works fine.

Also I have owned several DVD players, including Samsung, Toshiba, and Sony, and the picture quality for DVD in this unit is the best I have found so far.

The basic features are easy to figure out, but to do anything interesting you definitely need to read the manual before you try to do anything.

Now for the bad. After owning the unit for several months, two problems developed. The unit suddenly started stopping in the middle of DVD playback, loading, or recording, and started flashing "loading". It will eventually turn itself off, or you have to unplug the unit, plug it back in (it will still flash "loading" for a minute or so) and let it shut itself off. If you turn the unit off completely and let it rest, and it will start working normally again.

The unit also developed an issue during DVD playback where the screen would slowly turn green. This would also disappear by turning of the unit for several hours.

I am not the only one who is having these kinds of quality problems with this unit, but not all of them are lemons. So if you buy this, make sure to get the extended warranty!

Recommended: No

Amount Paid (US$): 438