Hi, I would like a recommendation on a DVD/VCR Recorder combo that has the following: built in tuner, HDMI output, and an optical audio output, (open for other suggestions/options which I may be leaving out). Need the optical output since this is all that is available from my Yamaha receiver, (no other coaxial outputs that are open). I would like to convert old VHS tapes, (home movies), to DVD, while having the ability to playback VHS tapes, new DVDs and occasionally tape some TV programs. I recently purchased a JVC unit which did not have a tuner and returned it because the DVD audio playback was in Stereo as opposed to 5.1 surround sound. I don't see the point of having a DVD player w/an HDMI output which is not capable of producing surround sound. The unit had an optical and coaxial audio output but the signal was only stereo, (confirmed w/JVC). I have been doing some research and reading this forum but the info does not seem current, (on recommendations), and there seems to be alot of problems with the units I came up with. Thanks for any help!!!!
Frank

The state of current combos is quite grim. When I say current I mean ones with a digital tuner. If you didn't need the digital tuner I'd suggest a Panasonic EA-38 (tunerless). The tunered version EZ-48 has proven to be fairly problematic/flaky.
In theory the EZ-48 would do everything you requested and if you don't mind a referb I think they can be had for ~$150, they're ~$300 retail. Read the EZ-48 thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1014536) to see what you think. Panasonics can make some great recordings but the newer EZ lines are somewhat flaky IMO.

If you can't find one with an optical output, they make coaxial to optical converters.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10423&cs_id=1042302&p_id=2947&seq=1&format=2

Hi, I would like a recommendation on a DVD/VCR Recorder combo that has the following: built in tuner, HDMI output, and an optical audio output, (open for other suggestions/options which I may be leaving out) . . . I would like to convert old VHS tapes, (home movies), to DVD, while having the ability to playback VHS tapes, new DVDs and occasionally tape some TV programs.
Frank

Frank,

Be sure to consult the thread linked in Jeff's post.

There you will find my observations as to the best method to copy videotapes. Use an external VCR connected to a DVD recorder (without a built-in VHS section). The model that comes to mind is the DMR-EZ28 (with digital and analog tuners) a more satisfactory product than the DMR-EZ48. I own one EZ28, a good product.

As to your desire to "tape some TV programs" you need to know that videotape is only able to record analog signals (or digital signals that have been downconverted to analog signals). Analog and digital signals may be recorded to DVD by DVD recorders with "digital" tuners.

If you subscribe to cable and use a converter box supplied by the cable company you will be able to videotape digital programming that has been down-coverted to analog by the cable company converter box. With a digital tuner DVD recorder you will be able to record only those clear QAM channels the cable company lets through on their coax feed. Cable companies scramble, or plan to scramble, most of that programming except for the "must carry" local broadcast stations.

If you receive TV with an antenna then your recording will be limited to DVD once full power analog broadcasting concludes next month. The alternative is to use a Coupon Eligible Converter Box (CECB) connected to a VCR or tunerless or analog tuner DVD recorder and record from the input where one of those CECBs are connected.

So you are saying that one would be better off recording copies of VHS tapes by using a separate VCR rather than utilizing the VCR that comes with the combo unit? Why is this? Is the quality better? Doesn't this defeat the purpose of having a dual unit? (other than VCR playback). I actually wanted the combo due to space restrictions and for ease of transfer. Do these units play DVD's in 5.1 surround sound? Thanks for your help I will read the recommended threads.

So you are saying that one would be better off recording copies of VHS tapes by using a separate VCR rather than utilizing the VCR that comes with the combo unit? Why is this? Is the quality better? Doesn't this defeat the purpose of having a dual unit? (other than VCR playback). I actually wanted the combo due to space restrictions and for ease of transfer. Do these units play DVD's in 5.1 surround sound? Thanks for your help I will read the recommended threads.

I address some of your questions in this May 2008 post:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13955310#post13955310

I read through both recommended posts, it's getting a bit too technical. I am presuming that the difference between the DMR-ez28 and 48 is that the 28 is just the stand alone DVD recorder/player while the 48 is the combo unit. It also appears that there is more problems associated with the 48. I understand your points regarding the unit in which the VHS tapes where originally recorded may play a role in the quality of the transfer. Overall are you recommending 2 stand alone units over the combo? & since I had a problem with the JVC combo that I originally purchased, (in that it did not playback prerecorded DVD's in 5.1 surround sound), are both of these units or DVR's is general capable of playing back in surround sound/5.1?

Separates are almost always preferable to combos, especially the newer junkier combos. (DigaDo and some others had great luck with previous-generation, pricier Panasonic combos, but those are long out of production.) Panasonic has been pretty good with both audio and video playback on their DVD recorders, in fact they make the only recorders with decent HDMI output, so I should think you would not have any problems with 5.1 audio using an EZ-28 or EZ-48.

I think that there is somehow a belief that combo recorders will render a better picture than separates. I was of that belief when I bought my first combo (an '05 ES-30v). I thought that the combo might have a more direct connection between the VHS and DVDR section which would give it a better picture. While the ES-30v is a wonderful combo I can get just as good picture by hooking up a quality VCR to the composite line inputs of the ES-30v and recording to DVD. Personally I think the internal connection between the VHS and DVDR sections of a combo is similar to a external composite connection.
So IMO the only advantage to a combo is space savings. Note that is a big advantage to many and they will trade it for many of the disadvantages. Also in regards to the EZ-48 vs. the EZ-28 with a external VCR, personally I think the EZ-48 is too complicated for it's own good. It even tends to confuse itself causing lockups and such. Since the EZ-x8 line (including the EZ-48) has been around for over a year, some of us are hoping for a updated(read less buggy) model in the very near future. Of course updated doesn't always mean better, case in point the Magnavox 2160A DVDR w/HDD. Last years model has proven to be quite bug free, why they changed things is beyond me. Hopefully a firmware update will be in the near future. Firmware updates don't seem to fix the bugs in the Panasonic EZ line but I will say the x8 models are a fair amount better than the '07 x7 line.

For a couple of years I've been looking around for a DVD/VCR combo or a DVD recorder with a built in ATSC tuner that records in SD but passes through any HD it receives through the ATSC tuner. To date I haven't found any that will pass through the HD signal to a monitor. Does anyone happen to know if a unit with such a feature exists that I might have missed?

A couple of years ago I figured the day would come eventually where they made such a thing, but it looks like the market is actually going in the opposite direction and away from DVD recorders all together.

Does anyone happen to know if a unit with such a feature exists that I might have missed?

A couple of years ago I figured the day would come eventually where they made such a thing, but it looks like the market is actually going in the opposite direction and away from DVD recorders all together.There is none, and you're right about the second part.

You could consider a DTV Pal DVR and a separate DVD recorder. But if you're going to spend that much, you might as well just get a TiVoHD (with lifetime service), because then you could transfer the non-copy-protected stuff to DVD in HD with a PC.

According to the Tivo Community Forum, people are still finding the TiVoHD at some Sears stores going for $99.00-$148.00.

There is none, and you're right about the second part.

You could consider a DTV Pal DVR and a separate DVD recorder. But if you're going to spend that much, you might as well just get a TiVoHD (with lifetime service), because then you could transfer the non-copy-protected stuff to DVD in HD with a PC.

According to the Tivo Community Forum, people are still finding the TiVoHD at some Sears stores going for $99.00-$148.00.

Thanks for the info. It's not the direction I really wanted to go as I'm not familiar with transferring stuff from a DVR to a PC to a DVD, but I'll look into it.

You could always get the Tivo HD and for DVD burning just get a line input DVDR (like the Panasonic EA-18 for ~$180) to make quite nice looking DVDs. Of course you'd be limited to realtime recording from Tivo to DVDR.

What if I have a DirecTV HD DVR? HR20 I think is the model from a couple of years ago. Can I use the USB port on it to connect to my PC and transfer recordings through a USB cable?

What if I have a DirecTV HD DVR? HR20 I think is the model from a couple of years ago. Can I use the USB port on it to connect to my PC and transfer recordings through a USB cable?No.