Not Yet A Replacement For Your VCR For Your Recordings
Written: Aug 23 '03
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Pros: Easy Setup, Reasonable Price, Easy To Learn To Use
Cons: Recording Quality Isn't That Great Yet
The Bottom Line: I would wait until better technology comes out for recording 2 or 3 movies on a DVD as most people do with their VCR tapes.
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| singleguy1974's Full Review: Philips DVD-750 DVD Player |
I recently got into the DVD recorder aspect to replace my VCR for recording my favorite movies & TV shows that I watch. I presently use 2 Super VHS VCR's which when you use them to record in the 6 hour mode the picture to me is very good. I took a look at DVD recorders to replace my VCR since everything now is going to DVD. It is easier to store DVD's then it is VCR tapes because of how small & compact they are. Also, since the price of recordable DVD's have come down they are now as cheap as a good VCR tape.
This DVD recorder lets you record onto DVD+R & DVD+RW. As like other DVD recorders that use DVD-R or DVD-RW or DVD RAM, the picture quality of your recordings is only good as the picture that is coming into your DVD recorder & of the quality of the DVD recorder when it records itself onto blank DVD's. If your looking to buy rerecordable DVD's then it is always cheaper to buy DVD-RW or DVD+RW rather than having a DVD recorder that uses DVD RAM.
I purchased this Philips model from Circuit City back on August 1st to try it out. The manual that came with it wasn't as clear as I would have liked it to be, but you can understand the basic instructions that come with it. The unit comes with a coaxial digital audio output, but no digital optical audio out. It would have been nice if they supplied you with both options. Especially since they do give you 2 sets of audio & video inputs on the unit as well as 2 sets of outputs on the unit for your audio & video. You can also hook up audio up through the analog stereo inputs & outputs on the unit. The connections on this unit include component video in, super VHS, composite video, progressive scan output, as well as your RF in & out connections. It also has a IEEE 1394 (Firewire) port for hooking up your camcorder to the unit if you need to.
The initial hook up of the unit was easy to do & the main menu of the unit was fairly easy to understand how to setup. After you setup the unit up, it gives you 6 different recording options depending on how much recording time you want on your DVD's. The recording options you have are for 1 hour, 2 hours, 2 1/2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, & 6 hour recordings. When I purchased the unit I was looking to record in the 6 hour mode so that I can get 3 movies or 6 hours worth of TV shows recorded onto 1 DVD as I do now with my Super VHS VCR. I noticed that either in the 4 hour or 6 hour recording mode the picture was very grainy & not crisp at all as well as it would make my eyes water when watching it. If you record in the 3 hour mode or less than the picture quality is extremely better! It is more crisp & vivid!
Other features with this unit is that it allows you to play your music CD's, MP3's, & video CD's, as well as your other DVD movies. It also have VCR Plus built into the unit which is good if your using cable or off air antenna for recordings. I also liked that it only used 28 watts of power when the unit was on & 3 watts of power if you turn off the clock LCD screen when your unit is powered off.
After using the unit for 2 weeks I ended up returning it to Circuit City since I was not happy with the recording quality in the 4 or 6 hour mode. Since most people who have VCR's record in the long 6 hour mode to get the most that they can on their video tapes, this is why I purchased this DVD recorded to do the same thing. I wasn't impressed at all with the 4 or 6 hour recording as I am sure anyone would be as well if they purchased this unit. My advice is too wait till the next generation of DVD recorders comes out since technology always gets better & cheaper with each generation of electronics they come out with.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 399.00
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Epinions.com ID:
singleguy1974
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Location: NE Florida
Reviews written: 227
Trusted by: 114 members
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