I just finished trying both the H2160MW9A and the DVDR3576 together.
The Magna came from Walmart Online and the Philips from Overstock.com (March 2008 model refurb).
The Magna tuner could only receive 4 of 108 digital channels from my digital cable TV. The Philips received all 108. The cable set top box is after the DVR in my hook-up (cable from the DVR to the cable box). That further confirms the tuning on the "A" version Magna is unacceptable. Returned it to the seller.
The Philips is GREAT! How'd I miss this when they first came out! The refurb unit was clean and didn't look like it was used at all. I tested the HDD and DVD without problems. The remote on the Philips has very small text and is very hard to read (knew that already though from this site).
Here are a few observations.
o Packaged in brown cardboard box with branded printing.
o Unit wrapped in bubble wrap with manuals, cables and remote loose. No damage.
o No batteries came in the box like in the Magna.
o Serial number on the unit was blacked out (Sharpie) but readable.
o Warranty disclaimer sheet to modify the warranty period.
o "Refurbished" is nowhere, even on packaging. It's clearly posted on the order site for Overstock.
This was my first purchase from Overstock. Shipped next day and everything was just like I expected.

Thanks go out to all the people who contributed to the posts on this products. It is a great help.

Trig5

I just finished trying both the H2160MW9A and the DVDR3576 together.
The Magna came from Walmart Online and the Philips from Overstock.com (March 2008 model refurb).
The Magna tuner could only receive 4 of 108 digital channels from my digital cable TV. The Philips received all 108. The cable set top box is after the DVR in my hook-up (cable from the DVR to the cable box). That further confirms the tuning on the "A" version Magna is unacceptable. Returned it to the seller.
The Philips is GREAT! How'd I miss this when they first came out! The refurb unit was clean and didn't look like it was used at all. I tested the HDD and DVD without problems. The remote on the Philips has very small text and is very hard to read (knew that already though from this site).
Here are a few observations.
o Packaged in brown cardboard box with branded printing.
o Unit wrapped in bubble wrap with manuals, cables and remote loose. No damage.
o No batteries came in the box like in the Magna.
o Serial number on the unit was blacked out (Sharpie) but readable.
o Warranty disclaimer sheet to modify the warranty period.
o "Refurbished" is nowhere, even on packaging. It's clearly posted on the order site for Overstock.
This was my first purchase from Overstock. Shipped next day and everything was just like I expected.

Thanks go out to all the people who contributed to the posts on this products. It is a great help.

Trig5

I have the previous version of both of those recorders.

The 3575 has black crush on the tuner, I hope they fixed that on the 3576. The Maggie tuner looks both appropriately bright and sharper to me.

I much prefer the philips remote button placement over the maggie. I frequently have to stop, turn on a light and find my reading glasses to do operations I can do in the dark with the philips remote.

I do not like the automatic buffer on the maggie, it is in the living room and the kids keep leaving it on, in my mind, I see the countdown to doom running.

I have an old HDWR 720, other than the lack of digital tuner and occasionally losing it's mind, it seems to be a better thought out design. It has the buffer but at least I can pull a program out of the buffer, send it to the HD and it will title the recording with the appropriate name.

I just finished trying both the H2160MW9A and the DVDR3576 together.
The Magna came from Walmart Online and the Philips from Overstock.com (March 2008 model refurb).
The Magna tuner could only receive 4 of 108 digital channels from my digital cable TV. The Philips received all 108. The cable set top box is after the DVR in my hook-up (cable from the DVR to the cable box). That further confirms the tuning on the "A" version Magna is unacceptable. Returned it to the seller.
The Philips is GREAT!

I purchased a "refurbished" 3576 (of February 2008 manufacture) from overstock.com back in April. The clear QAM tuner worked well for a while until there began to be problems. Each of several new channel scans lost more sub-channels, down from a total of around 115 to perhaps less than twenty and those few remaining sub-channels could only be accessed by direct channel entry with no QAM tuning accessed through the channel up/down buttons. As a clear QAM tuner my 3576 has become useless. This 3576 was pulled off the cable coax, connected to an antenna, and an antenna channel scan was run. This 3576 is providing satisfactory ATSC reception.

During the very same time that my 3576 was becoming useless as a clear QAM tuner my Magnavox 2080 (of July 2007 manufacture) continued to provide good clear QAM reception, around 115 sub-channels, while connected to the very same Comcast coax cable feed as was the 3576. (My 2080 continues to provide good clear QAM reception to this day.)

In July I purchased from J&R two "refurbished" Magnavox 2160 original versions (of May and December 2008 manufacture). Both 2160 recorders have provided good clear QAM reception, again with around 115 sub-channels.

In recent months I've also had experience with two other Funai-built digital tuner recorders, a Sylvania ZV450SL8 (of April 2007 manufacture) and the similar Magnavox ZV450MW8A (of August 2008 manufacture). Tuner performace varied greatly. The Sylvania 450 lost the clear QAM channels in much the same manner as did the 3576. Then the Sylvania 450 was set up for ATSC reception where it performed satisfactorily until it was given away. The Magnavox 450 continues to provide good clear QAM reception with around 115 sub-channels.

What I've learned from this is that one pays their money and one takes their chances.

I do not like the automatic buffer on the maggie, it is in the living room and the kids keep leaving it on, in my mind, I see the countdown to doom running.


Agreed! That's the thing I dislike most about the 2160. It's just shortening the life of the unit 99% of the time it's on. There should be some way to turn it off.

Agreed! That's the thing I dislike most about the 2160. It's just shortening the life of the unit 99% of the time it's on. There should be some way to turn it off.
Actually, it's increasing the life... HDD mfgrs rate their longevity in "contact start/stop cycles" not spin or working time. Spin bearings are non-contact air or fluid.

Actually, it's increasing the life... HDD mfgrs rate their longevity in "contact start/stop cycles" not spin or working time. Spin bearings are non-contact air or fluid.



I'm not denying what you say is true but wouldn't you think having the HDD running for hours isn't shortening it's life?

I'm not denying what you say is true but wouldn't you think having the HDD running for hours isn't shortening it's life?
I've read that most or many DVRs are constantly spinning, even when not "on" or working.

Also, the 2160's have the Hitachi Deskstar HDD that Google initmated is one of the best, or the best, for longevity...and they have the test stats... but they're not sharing the data... but did reveal that they're using Deskstars in many of their servers.

Very informative....I hope my 3576 tuner stays functional.
I've got it hooked up with a splitter now because the cable providers
Video on Demand won't work if the set top box is after the DVDR.

As for Funai. I had a chance to work with the company in 2002 and 2003.
I went to the HQ in Osaka, Japan and a production facility in Changping,
China (by Shenzen). Having worked with other electronics companies such as Toshiba and Sanyo, I was most impressed with Funai. I even got to meet Mr. Funai himself. So I view Funai very favorably. The people I worked with were very honest and quality conscious. They do run a tight ship and are passionate about keeping costs down. For example they use the Toyota Production System (Lean Manufacturing to the extreme). At that time they owned the Sylvania (TV/DVD/VCR), Symphonic, Emerson and Funai brands. They were doing a lot of business with Walmart and even had some partnerships with other companies. They did a co-design and build (China) for digital projectors with a past company I worked for.

Trig5

...I much prefer the philips remote button placement over the maggie. I frequently have to stop, turn on a light and find my reading glasses to do operations I can do in the dark with the philips remote.

I do not like the automatic buffer on the maggie, it is in the living room and the kids keep leaving it on, in my mind, I see the countdown to doom running.

I have an old HDWR 720, other than the lack of digital tuner and occasionally losing it's mind, it seems to be a better thought out design. It has the buffer but at least I can pull a program out of the buffer, send it to the HD and it will title the recording with the appropriate name.

I like the 720 on all counts except TVGOS, which causes its hiccups, and its confusingly laid out remote. I hate the 3575/76's tiny remote even though it's well laid out. I like the Maggy's remote better than either Philips' but it's far from excellent.

(The 6 hr. buffer's) the thing I dislike most about the 2160. It's just shortening the life of the unit 99% of the time it's on. There should be some way to turn it off.

For me by far the best thing about both 720 and 2160 is their unique six hour buffer. 3575/76's Mickey Mouse Pause Live TV is close to useless. I wouldn't get a 3575/76 if it was offered for free.

At least the HDD spins down when the unit is in standby (off).
Sorry, I will never buy the need to run a HDD 24/7 unless it needs to be in a 'hot standby' state for motion detection with a CCTV recorder.