Which recorders have you/do you own? [Text View]

RonDawg

11-29-05, 07:48 PM

My first DVD recorder was a Philips DVDR-985. Stopped working after 2 1/2 years, which I understand to be rather long-lived for this model.

I then replaced it with a Philips DVDR-520 (no relation to the Pioneer) which was really a clone of the iLO HDD-equipped model, down to the owners manual. Nice features and PQ, but the firmware got increasingly buggy which forced frequent unplugging of the machine. Finally returned it after 30 days.

I then replaced it with a Pioneer DVR-520H. Nice machine, but it refused to dub any of my old Philips-made discs onto its HDD. I reluctantly returned it.

I then went with the Sony RDR-HX900. I bought it despite its limitations, because it would dub my old Philips discs onto its HDD. I later discovered its excellent PQ both for recording and playback, and I eventually discovered the joys of being able to record downconverted HiDef in its native widescreen thanks to its Component Inputs and the ability to set the flag.

When Costco offered the Pioneer DVR-420H for $249, I as well as many AVS Forum members bought it. I liked the 520H except it wouldn't dub my old discs, so when this came up I decided to get one. I put this in my bedroom so I can record programs off my old TiVo. I then discovered that the Sony's -RW(VR) discs are fully editable on this machine, and will even finalize on this machine.

When Pioneer discontinued the x20 series, I picked up a 225s from Best Buy for $160. The original intent was to put this on my big living room TV, so that when I go into editing mode, at least the "postage stamp" picture will be a lot bigger. I ended up putting this in the bedroom with the TiVo, and putting the 420H in the living room along with the Sony.

spyder696969

11-29-05, 08:00 PM

Oh man. It seems like I've had a thousand. Probably at least 35 of all different makes and models. I like to try everything out in my own "mini lab" and see just what I really like. I probably only keep 5-10% of the stuff that comes through my home.

Robin

11-29-05, 08:51 PM

Panasonics!

1 - DMR-HS2
1 - DMR-E50
3 - DMR-E100
6 - DMR-EH50

Robin

UnWillyn

11-29-05, 09:16 PM

Only one ....

Pioneer DVR-533H-S

Happy as a clam :-)

rudytx

11-29-05, 09:53 PM

Sony RDR-GX7 16x9 and good integration with Sony camcorder
Pioneer DVR-531HS Excellent PQ, hard drive edit, high speed dub, double layer

both quality machines

Budget_HT

11-30-05, 12:41 AM

First one, a Pioneer 210 (Costco version of a pioneer 310).

This unit helped me understand the value of having a hard drive.

Second one, a Pioneer 520.

Now I am happy with my hard drive. But, I could not create properly flagged 16x9 recordings from my HD TiVo unit.

So I now successfully use Toast 7 on my Macintosh to modify the unflagged anamorphic 16x9 recordings that were originally created on my Pioneer DVD recorders. With the flags added the DVDs automatically play properly on both 16x9 and 4x3 TVs.

My thanks once again to HealeyGuy for steering me to this solution for my Pioneer/Mac environment.

RichardT

11-30-05, 01:47 AM

Panasonic DMR-E100 Love its Playlist scene definition: START and END times
Panasonic DMR-E85 Can real-time dub dvd-r to hdd

bobkart

11-30-05, 02:24 AM

In order of purchase:

- Panasonic DMR-E50
- Toshiba D-KR2
- Panasonic DMR-E85H
- Pioneer DVR-633H

Still have them all, and they all still work as well as they ever did.

ernet

11-30-05, 04:19 AM

In order of purchase too:

1) Pio DVR-5100

2) Pio DVR- 520

3) Pio DVR-530 ( because of JukeBox ). Unfortunately the worst of them all IMO.

gigaguy

11-30-05, 10:52 AM

Have had 3 total - all Pannys

1 Panasonic E30 - sold
1 Panasonic E80 - sold (didn't really need/use 2 of em)
1 Panasonic E80 - in use

Kelson

11-30-05, 12:45 PM

I have only 1 unit (I feel like the poor relation).

Panasonic E-85

I only write RAMs on it for transfer to my PC.
I do 99% of all my editing/authoring/burning on the PC.

computerman3

11-30-05, 12:58 PM

Panasonic E-80
Panasonic E75VS--Upstairs one.

Mom thinks i"m nuts already, especialyl during marathons, scheduling 8 hours of recording on E75VS, and 6 hours on E-80, or 4 hours, or however long marathon is. I got so many rams, I hardly know what's on each one anymore, I just have to put them in and check direct navigator. and sometimes I record on VHS, if I don't know if I'm gonna keep it or not, but usually I end up keeping the shows.

Me3

11-30-05, 03:52 PM

My first and only recorder to date is the Toshiba RD-SX34.

So far it has been perfect. Excellent PQ, never misses a recording, and more features than I'll ever use (at least at this time).

I HIGHLY recommend this machine.

Cons:

1.) Could use a better layout on the remote control.
2.) All those features means one actually has to read the manual. :rolleyes:
3.) The usual TVGOS issues. (I know, it's not a Toshiba issue but it still bears mentioning.)

Regarding TVGOS, I did not buy this machine because it had an EPG. I was looking to do manual setup of recordings (which this does flawlessly). However, when the EPG is working it is incredible.

Billm_07456

11-30-05, 04:11 PM

Panasonic DMR-ES10 - my workhorse. This machine is used just to copy movies that were recorded on my Scientific Atlanta PVR/cablebox. It was my primary unit before I had a cablebox PVR, and the RAM media was nice, but with a HDD unit RAM is unnessesary.

Pioneer DVR-531. My bedroom unit - used mainly for the HDD for disposable sitcoms, also used for any archival recordings to DVD that need editing. I'm using it more often for movies as the hi speed copy is great for recordings under 2 hrs. Also great for copying DVD's that aren't encrypted with copy protection. Machine is a little noisy and I had many problems with EPG. Great machine otherwise.

Rammitinski

11-30-05, 06:53 PM

Panasonic E85H - totally satisfied, except for two things - 1.) I wish they would get someone with a better understanding of the English language to compile their manuals, and 2.) I wish TVGOS worked with satellite.

DaveC E100

11-30-05, 07:58 PM

Panasonic E100 - my workhorse
Panasonic E85 - still in the box, never been powered up and the warranty has expired.
Panasonic E95 - used last 4th of July when some programs I wanted were on at the same time.

My basic problem is a lack of shelf space to hold all 3 of these units. Someday I will get organized but for now I have 2 backups in case my E100 drops dead.

Dave

Nocturnal

11-30-05, 09:17 PM

Pioneer DVR-520H
Pioneer DVR-633H-S (EPG disabled)
Pioneer PRV-9200

NickG

11-30-05, 09:28 PM

just one recorder -- Panasonic E20, though i also have a Pioneer 563A player for DVD-A/SACD enjoyment.

mattack

11-30-05, 10:12 PM

Toshiba RD-XS32.

It corrupted its hard drive. I bought another 80 gig drive on ebay in the admittedly unlikely hope that someday someone will have figured out how to recover the video. (But to give them a tiny bit of credit, the manual DOES spaz about doing lots of editing -- though I know almost exactly what I was doing when I had to power down and it corrupted.. If I can get the new hard drive to reformat, I am likely to try to reproduce the *hang* that I originally ran into which made me powerdown, which knowingly can cause it to format.)

I've also had two DVD-RAMs corrupt. One repeatedly so I've stopped using it.

Even with this many problems, I absolutely like the *feature set* of the recorder. If only they could have a more robust filesystem. (Basically, a Tivo with the editing capabilities of the XS32 would be worth $1K to me.)

luckylisp

11-30-05, 11:52 PM

Pioneer 531
Panny E85

turu1

12-01-05, 12:18 AM

Toshiba RD-KX50

It's a brand new machine; only been in the stores for a couple of weeks. You can get it at Best Buy for $399. I'm quite happy with it.

JeffWld

12-01-05, 09:26 AM

Panasonic:

Dmr-e20 (2)
Dmr-e30
Dmr-hs2
Dmr-e-80
Dmr-e-100
Dmr-es10

Sony:

Rdr-gx-300 (2)
Rdr-gx-315

Pioneer:

Dvr-310
Dvr-520

jobedo

12-01-05, 11:14 AM

Panasonic
e30
e80 (2)
e75
Pioneer
220 (returned)
Liteon
5005 (returned)
Ilo
H04 (returned)
HD04
JOE

Oldemanphil

12-01-05, 11:45 AM

Phiips:
DVDR75 my first recorder, died after 18 months (600 DVDs).
DVDR77 (2) Poor remote control, Flexible units with fragile electronics.

Panasonic:
ES10 - good for VHS tape input, RAM editing ok, video editing sucks.

Ilo:
R04 - easy to use, compatability issues - returned.

Liteon:
5101 - many issues - returned.

Sony:
GX300 - well built, good video, video mode editing sucks - returned.

Pioneer:
225 - video mode editing sucks - returned.
531H - workhorse, no EPG for me, many useful adjustments, not perfect but easy to edit/use.

Toshiba:
Haven't tried one yet, but understand that they have the most DVD menu creation options by far, including chapter menu options.

Lack of decent burned DVD menu options is one of my major complaints with Sony, Pany and Pioneer. Even my old Philips 77 let me pick a DVD menu thumbnail AND background from within the video on it and shows the user no "unused/blank" menu choices. :rolleyes:

squonk

12-01-05, 05:00 PM

Oldemanphil

12-01-05, 07:01 PM

True,
I should have said DVD-RW editing sucks in general compared to DVD+RW editing. The Philips, Ilo and LiteOn clones can edit fairly well on a video mode DVD+RW without a hard disk and no finalization is required to play the results on standalone DVD players.

I'm not recommending anyone buy the Philips et al. However, the ease of DVD+RW editing spoiled most of the DVD-R/RW non-HDD DVD recorder (Pany, Pioneer, Sony, Toshiba) models for me . I was sorely disappointed when I found how little editing could be done on DVD-RW media, if you wanted to read it in a DVD player. VR mode??? Duh...

DVD-RAM is the only other DVD format besides DVD+RW that has decent editing and I don't have anything (player or PC) besides the Pany ES10 that will read/write DVD-RAM. So the DVD-RAM format is useless for me.

I'm not trying to start a off-topic flame war here... just my personal opinions...
;)

videonut

12-01-05, 10:51 PM

E-10 (paid Over 2k, And Blank Rams Were Around 16.00 At Discount)
E-20 (paid Close To A Grand)
Hs2
E-80
E-85 (my Least Favorite)
E-95
Pioneer 533 (i Really Like This Machine's Picture Quality)

spa

12-01-05, 10:55 PM

Sony HX-900 (sold after 6 months)
Toshiba RD-XS54

Bill1313

12-01-05, 11:13 PM

Panasonic DMR-E55 (Christmas Gift For My Daughter). She loves it & it has been a real workhorse & it's still going strong :)

JMas

12-01-05, 11:51 PM

Panasonic HS2 - I only use it as a player or for time-shifting because of the black-level problem.

Panasonic E80 - I do all my editing and dubbing on it, but I get freeze-ups and blocking with 8x discs.

John

sunnycrest

12-02-05, 12:25 AM

Liteon 5001 (died)
Pioneer 210 (died and returned to Costco) replaced with Panasonic E-10
Panasonic E-85
Panasonic E-95
Panasonic E-30 VHS combo unit
JVC DR-MX1 VHS / HDD combo unit
Go Video VR-3930 (unopened Black Friday purchase $147) VHS combo unit
(I have a lot of VHS to dub)
But most of my recording is now done directly on the PC via a Hauppage tuner card and Beyond TV software.

Chingu

12-02-05, 02:51 AM

E-10 - (paid $399 from Amazon)
E-20 - (paid $650 and sold it for $450)
Hs2 - (paid $700 - lasted 4 months - sitting in closet)
E-80 - (Paid $600 in July 03 - has problems reading dvd-r's, dvd-roms, and dvd-ram) - still under warranty needs to be repaired
E-500 - (Paid $450 in July 05 - what can I say just love that 400 gig hd)

WaltA

12-02-05, 07:49 AM

My first was a Toshiba DR-1. One of the first available DVD recorders.

The drive died in it, and after finding out that it would cost me over $300 for just the replacement drive, doing the labor myself, I decided to simply buy a new unit.

My second, and current, is a Toshiba RD-XS34.

| Oh, I almost forgot... I do have a LG DVD burner on my PC which supports DVD-RAMs. :D

StuJac

12-02-05, 07:56 AM

Panasonic DMR E-95. Quite happy with it - no problems in almost a year.

rgazzara

12-02-05, 08:00 AM

rgazzara

12-02-05, 08:02 AM

E-500 - (Paid $450 in July 05 - what can I say just love that 400 gig hd)

You got a good price. I paid $550 last August...400 gigs is XP heaven... :D

ncaahoops

12-02-05, 11:52 AM

Only one so far: Panasonic ES20. Got it two months ago, and have been using heavily (150 discs so far).

Planning for a hard disc based model in 12-18 months or so, at which point I will be using the ES20 mainly for unedited VHS-to-DVD transfers, tuner recordings, and as a backup.

JMas

12-02-05, 11:56 AM

Did you update the firmware?

I don't have a burner on my computer to download the upgrades and I haven't been able to get Panasonic to send them by mail.

John

rgazzara

12-02-05, 01:57 PM

I don't have a burner on my computer to download the upgrades and I haven't been able to get Panasonic to send them by mail.

John

I think that I responded to a post of yours in another thread. Try and get someone to burn the CD for you.

dircom

12-20-05, 07:52 PM

Pioneer 520H

Very easy to use, editing capabilities seem good

Unable to duplicate some personal DVD's ... don't know why
--------
off topic.... what is the easiest way to copy a few minutes off a commercial dvd?
dvd shrink onto dvd -rw... and then on to HD?

KenW

12-20-05, 08:03 PM

I have the DMR-ES10. Just a starter unit to see if DVD recording was going to work for me. I have a TiVo I use for disposable programs, so the DVD recorder is for travel programs, mostly movies.

sv_chamelea

01-08-06, 08:31 PM

Liteon 5045 (ret'd to Costco)

Liteon's editing was very time-consuming and difficult. Worst problem was that the HDD became corrupted, retaining the file headers & thumbnails, but lost access to the actual content. In Microsoft OS terms, this seemed like the disk directory became completely detached from physical file locations. Gave up and returned the unit to Costco. (Owned from May'05 until Nov'05, but only used for about 60 days).

Pioneer DVR-633H-S (EPG disabled) Excellent PQ, hard drive edit, high speed dubbing, DL is bonus.

My primary capture is via DirecTiVo, so I don't need EPG, disk is silent with it disabled. Pioneer is used only for manual recordings from TiVo, converting camcorder tapes to DVD, or VHS dubs, flawless so far. Editing on the Pioneer is a magnitude beyond the Liteon, very user friendly. (Received in Dec'05, used for one month)

gr8scott

01-10-06, 09:15 PM

1. Panny EH-50: Had this about 6 months now with zero problems, except for the TV Guide-Cablevision problem, but since I just discovered this forum, I've learned I'm not the crazy one and disabled that feature. This was a replacement machine I received from Panasonic after my previous one (the EH-50 predecessor, can't remember the model number) was in the shop several time for board and drive failures. Panny finally figured it was easier to replace my machine than keep fixing it. Until then, I never would have bought another Panny, but I'm very happy with this one.

2. Go-Video R6750: Only have this because it was $99 about a year ago and I was looking to replace a dying Sony DVD player in the bedroom. Since it doesn't have an HD, I only use it to dub camcorder tapes and occasionally tape things I don't need edited or in high quality, such as Tivo'd program to show somebody.

doxtorRay

01-11-06, 02:14 AM

Panasonic DMR E80H (2)
Pioneer DVR 520H
Pioneer DVR 420H
Pioneer DVR 531H
Panasonic DMR ES30V (2)

My favorite for overall ease of use is the Pioneer 420H, with the 520H a close second. My favorite for PQ is the Pioneer 531H, but its user interface is very cumbersome.
The ES30s save a lot of time in transferring video tape that I don't need to edit. Dubbing is much faster in terms of operator time than dubbing tapes using a HDD recorder. For editing, while the ES30 does allow more options than I had anticipated, a hard drive recorder is still the way to go.

Budget_HT

01-11-06, 03:14 AM

doxtorRay,

What differentiates the 420 from the 520 besides the FireWire/DV port? I had the impression that they were otherwise the same.

tomkle

01-11-06, 11:14 AM

All Panasonic models for me, dating back to early 2002 if I recall correctly

E20 (now collecting dust on a shelf, but still works just fine)

E30 (now collecting dust on a shelf, but still works just fine)

E50 (now collecting dust on a shelf, but still works just fine)

HS2 (now collecting dust on a shelf, but still works just fine, I had two of these and I
gave one to my brother)

E80 (3, one now just sitting on a shelf, one used exclusively for my daughter playroom, recording the Disney channel and playing back a lot of discs, it's a real workhorse)

E85 (3)

E95 (3, 1 is still new in the box and may end up on EBAY)

E500(1 - $449 at Buy.com was just too much of a bargain to pass up, I wish I had gotten two of them!!)

EH50(3)

I really like the EH50 a lot, if we could just add the 400 gig hard drive from the E500 in the EH50 I'd be pretty happy with things. And yes, I know I'm crazy for having so many recorders, even my wife has stopped mentioning it anymore, so she knows I'm hopeless.

rgazzara

01-11-06, 12:54 PM

dsmith901

01-11-06, 01:56 PM

Panasonic E80H
Panasonic E10S
Plextor 716A (PC)
Plextor 740A (PC)

VideoRoy

01-11-06, 02:46 PM

Pioneer DVR-633H-S

Sony DRU500A (PC) Best in class for it's time
Sony DRU710A (PC) Lite-on based and they lost the recipe
Plextor PA716A (PC) Totally awesome

SA 8300HD Non-DVD DVR from TWC

squonk

01-11-06, 03:33 PM

buster37862

01-11-06, 11:19 PM

Panny HS2 (just replaced DVD drive - works perfectly)
Panny E85 (works great - never had a problem)
Panny RP82 (all copy protection removed)
Panny RP27

PC Hardware: (all read/write +/-R, +/-RW and RAM)
Iomega Superdrive (internal)
Qty 2 --- LG 5163A (external -- dual layer)

boconnor55

01-12-06, 05:13 AM

First machine in 2002 was the Philips DVDR-985...I just loved the component inputs
It lasted about 2 years with very heavy use (mostly Direct TiVo recordings of NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and some HBO programs and of course "24"..I don't edit much so it was a very good machine for me..
In early 2004 I bought the Sony RDR-GX-7. I have been very pleased with the PQ in both recording and playback. Recording Hi-Def looks very good (not really HiDef, I know) and as I said, I do not edit much and use the GX-7 mostly for dubbing down TiVo recordings and some DV to DVD as well
About a week ago I was looking for a second recorder for a rather modest setup in the bedroom (40HR Series 2 TiVo, Digital Cable, Sony Wega CRT) and was very lucky to pick up a brand new in sealed box Sony RDR-GX300 for just $98 on Clearance at Tweeter...
I have been very pleased with it and aside from not having the "Firewire" or "iLink" input, it has been perfect....I had several dozen +R discs from my Philips days and couldn't use them until now...I like the fact that this recorder is extremely well built, performs well, has outstanding PQ and records all four single layer formats (DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW)...
My next machine will be a dual layer recorder perhaps in the late fall of 2006...

tomkle

01-12-06, 08:16 AM

How many TVs do you have and can you possibly have enough tuner sources to feed all these? Do you have 10 different satellite hookups or something?

I have 4 TV's throughout the house and 7 of the recorders currently connected to a tuner, but just regular cable TV with a lot of splitters and a good amplifier and then two digital cable boxes for recording premium channels. In reality I'm only recording on maybe 4 of the units on any given day and sometimes not even that. The other recorders that I do have set up are mainly used for dubbing and editing from VHS tapes.

gee

10-22-06, 09:10 PM

Hi Bill,

Is this the one with the 200GB hard drive. what do you record? I am interested in the dmr-eh55s and don't know if this is the same model as yours. I want to record from directv hd dvr HR20-700 and was wondering if you ever recorded tv episodes.

Any feedback is much appreciated and thank you,.

vferrari

10-22-06, 10:18 PM

I'm not Bill, but Bill1313 was referring to an earlier model Panasonic w/o the HDD (the E55 vs. the EH55). The EH55 had not even been released at the time. Before your post (and mine), the last post to this thread was January 2006!. If you still want to contact Bill1313 you would have more luck posting in a more recent thread or sending him a PM directly.

Good luck.

P.S. Do a scan of recent threads here, I think there is one dedicated to the EH55 (besides the EH55 VS. EH50 thread you posted to) http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=684277 and those folks may be able to relate their experiences recording from a HD DVR box. Also, you may want to check out the thread titled It's all about the input - Recording Widescreen here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=736599

I own the cousin to the EH55, the EH75 (has a built-in VHS deck in addition to the HDD and DVD burner). Since the Pannys only have S-video and composite inputs, it might be hard to record an anamorphic 16:9 HD feed since they are usually output from these HD boxes via component outputs (the s-video/composite outputs are usually letterboxed). If you just want to record letterboxed/4:3 HD or if your DVR outputs anamorphic 16:9 on s-video then the Panny should work OK as long as you record to DVD-RAM (there are some other gotcha's if you record to other DVD types> search on Keywords such as "setting 16:9 flags" for further info).

Plasmacat

10-22-06, 10:24 PM

Panny E-85

jtbell

10-23-06, 02:04 AM

Panasonic DMR-E85H, bought almost exactly two years ago. Initially it recorded analog broadcasts directly off the air (I don't have cable or satellite), but now I record via the line inputs from my Sony HD DVRs, since I've switched to OTA digital.

Even though I don't use it for DVR-type functions any more (timeshifting, chase play), it still gets a lot of use for archiving: two daily syndicated series, plus two weekly series, plus occasional specials, plus (right now) the World Series. (Go Tigers! :) )

CCRomeo

10-23-06, 09:29 AM

two Liteon LVW 5005
ReplayTV RTV 5040

sivartk

10-23-06, 09:37 AM

I own the following:

SD: Panasonic DMR-E80H
HD: Sony DHG-HDD250 (x2) - this is a DVR only.
VHS: Panasonic VCR (circa 2005 with only 3 uses since new)

Semaphoric

10-23-06, 11:16 PM

Panasonic E80H, for timeshifting and archiving. Sure wish it could HS dub playlists.

Panny ES20, for when I want to record two shows at once. <$100.

Oldemanphil

10-24-06, 12:44 AM

Updated from my orginal response in this thread. :o

Philips:
DVDR75 my first recorder, died after 18 months (600 DVDs).
DVDR77 (2) Poor remote control, Flexible units with fragile electronics.

Panasonic:
ES10 - good for VHS tape input, RAM editing ok, video editing sucks.
update:
ES15- tried/returned it, no improvements for me over ES10.

Ilo:
R04 - easy to use, compatability issues - returned.

Liteon:
5101 - many issues - returned.

Sony:
GX300 - well built, good video, video mode editing sucks - returned.

Update:
Polaroid 2001G hdd recorder..Tried an "D" build for a few days, had a lot of problems and returned it. Currently have a "G" build model and everything seems to work on it. The remote is accepable, picture quality is good from component in. Have time shift shut off. Issues are: Very short title names, no image adjustments, VR only recording mode and mpeg audio (not AC3). However it has decent DV input and provides lot of bang for the buck. :)

Pioneer:
225 - video mode editing sucks - returned.
531H - workhorse, no EPG for me, many useful adjustments, not perfect but easy to edit/use. Easily controlled from my cable STB. :)

update: added a Pioneer 640H to my collection, missing some features from the 531H but has better extended time (2:30+) recording quality. Works nicely in my setup using the the 531Hs remote control.

Toshiba:
Haven't tried one yet, but understand that they have the most DVD menu creation options by far, including chapter menu options.

update: Tried and returned Toshiba Xs35 hdd recorder.. had a lot of features, "false positive" copy protection on my cable system, had a disk fragmentaion problem after editing a few movies on the HDD. complicated to learn "hidden" menu system. :rolleyes:

Lack of decent burned DVD menu options is one of my major complaints with Sony, Pany and Pioneer. Even my old Philips 77 let me pick a DVD menu thumbnail AND background from within the video on it and shows the user no "unused/blank" menu choices on a finalized DVD.

Willypinhead

10-24-06, 06:30 AM

Hi All,

Only one - Toshiba RD-XS55. It was given to me as a Father's Day gift from my lovely,wonderful wife!Editing is a breeze.And even more so from my PC,making it more easy to perform all functions from the unit.I never used the "email recording" function,I see no need for it(personally).

nextoo

10-24-06, 09:36 AM

Panasonic E30 - gone
Cyberhome 1600 (2) *
Samsung R100
Samsung R120 - gone
Samsung R130 - gone
Polaroid 2001G (2)
Toshiba DR-K2 (2)*
Toshiba DR5

* I picked these up "as is" on eslay and repaired/replaced the drives. I've got about $35 into each plus shipping. They work as new but the Cyberhomes are a ticking time bomb. The D-KR2's are excellent machines.

The Polaroids are nice machines for a lower end HDD model.

The Samsungs bothered me because of the recording modes.; There's a big gap in my mind. 1-2-4... hours. I could never get the flex record to truely work using a time record. If the recording was 2:15 long the flex feature would record in 4 hour mode. Perhaps I was doing something wrong.

The Toshiba R5 is a nice machine with HDMI upconvert for an HD television I have. This newer Toshiba has moved to recording modes as opposed to the D-KR2's which allow me to set the bit rate. I actually like the D-KR2's better because they offer more options/features.

Earthquake Mike

10-24-06, 01:16 PM

Philips DVDR 75 (still working, but getting a bit tempermental when cold)
Pio 520H (love it...works great)
Pio 640HS (just delivered yesterday) :) :)

stickywicket

10-24-06, 01:42 PM

Sony RDR-HX900
Sony RDR-HX715

kbrigby

02-15-07, 03:09 PM

My first and only recorder (post-VCR era) is a Toshiba RD-XS34 that I've had for nearly two years.

Yeah, the TVGOS has been hit and miss (mostly miss) but I did not buy the XS34 for that. My son is homeschooled and receives many of his classes, both live and recorded, via satellite. After many years of getting out of bed in the wee hours of the night to swap VHS tapes for multi-hour blockfeeds, I decided it was time to find something more convenient and reliable (I sometimes forgot to swap out full tapes or wasn't home to do it). I had previously burned through many VCRs and had seen the steady decline in brands like JVC that I once respected.

We are now in our second school year of HDD recording and, overall, things have been going well. The non-live classes are broadcast twice per week in 1.5 to 2.5 hour blocks so I usually have a backup in case one of the feeds was bad due to weather (common) or technical (less common) issues. I review the blockfeeds, chapter dividing and labeling the title into the usual 5 classes and then I delete the second feed if the first one is clean.

This is the primary use for the XS34 and it is generally recording about 20 hours a week plus a few time-shifting jobs for NCIS, 24, and other assorted TV shows.

A couple times per year, the recording function will stop working without warning but a quick power cycle (unplug) will restore operation.

I have also burned many DVDs with the XS34 and have lately found that Staples DVD-R discs have been reliable.

Ken

FullOnShred

02-15-07, 03:56 PM

In order of purchase. Still own/use all three daily.

1- Panasonic DMR-ES10K.

No HDD. Capable of recording and playback of all Formats except DVD+RW. Daily "throwaways" recorder using RAM so I can chase play/speed play. Fast erase with RAM discs. Also use as a backup for important "1 shot only" recordings such as basketball games.

2- Philips DVDR 3455/37

160 gb HDD. No DVD Ram support. Main unit for editing and archiving titles to DVD +/-R.

3- SV2000 WV20V6

DVD/VHS no HDD. Made by Funai. No DVD-RAM support. Use to archive VHS to DVD and for daily "throwawy" recording. Has rapid play feature. Also use as a backup for important "1 shot only" recordings such as basketball games.

Whidbey

02-15-07, 04:19 PM

Lite On 5007

My first and only. I have had some problems with this machine, but it is good for time shifting TV shows. Whenever it starts acting up, a firmware reinstall has fixed it. Lately though, it's been kinda hesitant to eject discs... maybe it's finally starting to die so I can get a new DVD recorder with an ATSC tuner. I'll miss the TV Guide though, I haven't seen a ATSC tuner equipped DVDR with built in TV Guide yet.

Jay

crabboy

02-15-07, 05:43 PM

Updated

Panasonic ES-10 (Set up at home, still going strong) Still going, although the display is fading

Panasonic ES-15 - Travels with me by car all over Nevada and Southern California. Another workhorse. Has to deal with hotel cable systems and an RF converter. Other than extremely minor issues, satisfies me every time. Retired to home. Still ticking.

Got a new SV2000 WV20V6 by mail from Wally World. Couldn't pass up $57 + shipping. Still in the box!
Gave to Dad as a present. he never used it, may get it back.

Brand new (refurbished) Samsung VR330 that I got for a bedroom unit. Still checking it out. So far, so good for the price. ($99 with $20 rebate from Tiger Direct). Use mostly as a player now, but has never failed me.

Had briefly: A small Lite-On that I sold to a friend, and the Magnavox currently running around $99 at Wal-Mart. Both good machines with some limitations. Got another Lire-On which I now use on the road. Tricky to set up, but works well.

FullOnShred

02-15-07, 06:20 PM

crabboy, I love my ES10K. It has been a rock, and I love the sweet, sleek, shiny black look of it. Almost everything else available was silver when I bought mine.

crabboy

02-16-07, 03:50 AM

crabboy, I love my ES10K. It has been a rock, and I love the sweet, sleek, shiny black look of it. Almost everything else available was silver when I bought mine.

A rock is right. Mine's silver, but I don't mind.

goots1

02-16-07, 06:54 AM

Sony RDR-HX900
(2) Toshiba RD-XS55
Toshiba RD-XS35
Panasonic DMR-E85
(2)Sony RDR-GX300
Pioneer 531 (Sold)
Panasonic DMR-ES25S

Out of all of these Toshiba Leads the way with the Sonys Second.

haley-SEA

02-16-07, 10:06 AM

Panasonic DMR ES-10

Love the DVD-RAM capablity, and three inputs. Still works great after nearly 2 years.

Downsides: no HDD and no bulit-in ATSC tuner.

Just hope the upcoming ATSC-equipted recorders are as solid.

MissIrisMG

03-14-07, 12:03 AM

I'll break up the Panasonic fan club.

1 - Samsung DVD-R130 5/06-1/07; lets just say I got rid of it
2 - same model 1/07 to present.

First one developed problems nobody could help me figure out; it gave me a headache, learned a good lesson about not throwing out source material. Bought a new one same model, because I do like it, it's black, and the picture quality, at least on my standard def JVC 20" TV, is outstanding. It even makes my TV sound better. I wish I could buy the Samsung hard drive version they sell in Britain, the HR730, and I would except I'm afraid the tuner would be in PAL rather than NTSC. Anyway, so far, so good with the new one, I almost expect I'll be buying another one by Labor Day if not sooner. We'll see.

FullOnShred

03-14-07, 04:14 AM

In order of purchase. Still own/use all four daily.

1- Panasonic DMR-ES10K.

No HDD. Capable of recording and playback of all Formats except DVD+RW. Daily "throwaways" recorder using RAM so I can chase play/speed play. Fast erase with RAM discs. Also use as a backup for important "1 shot only" recordings such as basketball games.

2- Philips DVDR 3455/37

160 gb HDD. No DVD Ram support. Main unit for editing and archiving titles to DVD +/-R.

3- SV2000 WV20V6

DVD/VHS no HDD. Made by Funai. No DVD-RAM support. Use to archive VHS to DVD and for daily "throwawy" recording. Has rapid play feature. Also use as a backup for important "1 shot only" recordings such as basketball games.

4- Add the Sylvania HDRV200F. Made by Funai, and very similar to the SV2000, but limited to -R and -RW discs and adds a 160gb HDD. I like it. Has some shortcomings, but edits are much nicer than with my Philips, and no "Skipping Problem" when playing back edited DVDs on other players. Wish I could say the same for the Philips. :( Due to not having the "Skip Problem", and better editing, the Sylvania has become my new Main Drive for editing and archiving Titles to DVD.

Chuck44

03-14-07, 04:07 PM

LITE-ON HD-A760GX
Polaroid DRM-2001G (Retired)

westgate

03-16-07, 04:06 PM

i started w/ SANYO (dont know model #) from wally world, july 04, the laser fried itself after a month and the pause function ruined the recording, didnt work properly.

next was TOSHIBA dr2 which is basically xcellent, ran it mercilessly for 18 mos, fried transport, sent it off to lowell, ma for new transport, its now 2 1/2 + years old and working so well that i searched the net for another one, found it, bought it for a c note (the 1st was 2.6 c notes), the reason i like these machines is they properly record anamorphic/letterbox dvds.

my newest is PANASONIC dmr es-15, which is great for 4:3 stuff and movies over 130 mins. u can add black to the input (& output) signal which sometimes really helps. it also relieves a lot of the load off the dr2s which will hopefully let the machines last longer.

im hoping the new 07 pannys and other makers will have 16x9/4x3 recording options.<<<<< SEE THIS DVD RECORDER MANUFACTURERS?!

so currently:
2 toshiba dr2s
1 panasonic es15.

DVDRECORERJUNKIE

08-17-08, 12:52 PM

MissIrisMG

08-17-08, 01:31 PM

I thought this might be an easy reference guide if we put a list all in one place, so that when people have a question about a particular recorder they know who to ask. Of course, for that reason we may get some people who don't want to list their recorders, but lets give it a shot. And by "own" I mean have used for more than a week or so and then returned--lets say a minimum of one month as a baseline. Let's keep it to standalone DVD recorders to avoid confusion with PVRs.

Me--Pioneer 520H
Sony GX300
Samsung DVD-R130 - owned for over 2 years. May soon replace it for one with a digital tuner, however am currently running a Magnavox digital box through it. Records well, and as a player it does well for my needs. Still own SDTV.

mickinct

08-17-08, 05:43 PM

CURRENT own,dmr-e10 just bought brand new for 150.00 , 1 DMR-EH50, 5-dmr-e20's, 2-dmr-eh55, 3-dmr-eh75vs, I ALSO have spare HDDS FOR ALL OF THEM.....AND SPARE BURNERS........LOVE THEM ALL..

suplex

08-18-08, 10:58 AM

Toshiba D-R1
Toshiba D-R2
Pioneer DVR-640H-S
Philips DVDR-3575H

Have loved all four of them, only use the Pioneer and Philips now.

CitiBear

08-18-08, 11:40 AM

Have:

Pioneer 510
Pioneer 531
Pioneer 540
Pioneer 450

Had:

JVC DRM100
JVC DRMV5
Pioneer 633
Pioneer 640
Toshiba RD-SX32
Toshiba RD-X20
Phillips 3576

Most of the Pioneers were purchased VERY cheaply as "broken as-is" and then repaired by me using tips from online forums. I reckon I've saved hundreds of dollars this way. The JVCs were good for awhile but became less appealing due to no HDD, the Phillips was really nice but difficult for me to integrate into an all-Pio system, I sold it after realizing I didn't use its ATSC tuner much (I'm cable dependent for a signal). The Toshibas were incredible units but I gave up on trying to repair them when they suffered meltdowns (this was before extensive threads appeared here with advice for fixing them- otherwise I might still have those :().

alb2

08-21-08, 01:54 PM

Toshiba RD-XS52
Toshiba RD-KX50

bron

08-23-08, 12:50 AM

Toshiba D-R5 (Best DivX player ever, solid, well built machine, easy to use, great PQ, a favorite of mine)
Toshiba D-R400 (Nice all around unit, cheap, skimpy features, plays DivX well)
Toshiba D-KR10 (Same as the D-R400, decent pq, no tuner)
Toshiba RD-XS35 (Excellent unit, great editing features and PQ)
Toshiba RD-XS55 (Same, bigger HD, networking)
Sony HX-900 (One of the best ever built IMHO, outstanding PQ, maybe the best ever?)
Phillips 3575 (Haven't used it much yet)
Liteon 5005 (In the closet for now, Records anything, but basically a cheap unit, Nice EZ-Guider menu system, cut my teeth on it, but mono tuner, ugh! Does record CD's - a nice feature.)

CCRomeo

08-31-08, 11:14 AM

1 Panasonic DMR ES25
1 Panasonic DMR EZ27
2 Liteon LVW 5005 (drives replaced)
1 LG RC797T

Had
1 APEX 9000
1 Panasonic DMR ES15

westgate

08-31-08, 11:43 AM

DigaDo

09-20-08, 02:58 PM

CURRENT own,dmr-e10 just bought brand new for 150.00 , 1 DMR-EH50, 5-dmr-e20's, 2-dmr-eh55, 3-dmr-eh75vs, I ALSO have spare HDDS FOR ALL OF THEM.....AND SPARE BURNERS........LOVE THEM ALL..

Many of my Panasonics (and a Philips 3575) are described and pictured in this and the following posts:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14568295#post14568295

Since these posts I have reconfigured my "recording centers." The Philips 3575 was moved to the bedroom and the bedroom DMR-ES30V has been set aside for standby service. The Philips is now a master with the RF feed from the Comcast Motorola box. There are now two DMR-ES15 models in daily use in the bedroom. As before, the Philips feeds its amplified RF output to a DMR-EZ17 slave in the home office. The Toshiba M745 VCR from the home office has been set aside for standby service.

I have just added a fifth DMR-ES35V. This one appears in every respect to be new, now serviced and set aside for rotation into regular use. A DMR-EZ28 "in good working order" will arrive within a few days.

That totals fourteen functional Panasonics, three Panasonic parts machines, and the Philips:

(2) DMR-ES30V (2005)
(1) DMR-ES40V (2005)
(5) DMR-ES35V (2006)
(3) DMR-ES15 (2006)
(2) DMR-EZ17 (2007)
(1) DMR-EZ28 (2008)

(1) Philips DVDR3575H/37B (2007)

(2) DMR-ES35V parts machines
(1) DMR-ES15 parts machine

jjeff

09-20-08, 05:53 PM

DigaDo

09-20-08, 06:45 PM

Digado, whats up with the EZ-28?, not a bad unit and if I had to only have 1 DVDR(and no CECBs) I'd probably have a EZ-28, but I'd sure miss the HDD.

Jeff,

The EZ28 is somewhat of an insurance policy as it may be swapped into the place of an EZ17 when one of them gives out. The EZ28, purchased at a very reasonable price, may be set aside for standby use or set up as a slave to a Zenith DTT900 converter box to free up the ES35 for exclusive dubbing use.

I need at least two machines with digital tuners in my home office. One EZ17 is the number four machine enslaved to TCM (through RF pass through from the Philips 3575 in the next room) or this EZ17 may be connected to a direct Comcast coaxial feed through an A/B switch. The other EZ17 is on a direct Comcast coaxial feed.

The ES35 is also on a direct Comcast coaxial feed with an input set to the Zenith DTT900. After setting aside the Toshiba VCR the ES35 is my only currently active VHS dubbing setup. The ES35 also feeds its RF output to a stand alone RCA CRT TV.

All three of the current home office DVD recorders may feed the Dynex HD LCD TV through direct component or switched composite connections through a Pelican System Selector that has a variety of inputs/outputs. The Pelican accommodates four DVD recorder inputs. If I run four Panasonics in the home office I may set up the ES35 somewhat offset to avoid remote conflicts with the other three Panasonics. The practical benefit to this arrangement is that a single remote may control two Panasonic recorders. I expect to use my EUR7659T70 remote that has a Drive Select button (a remote supplied for my second EZ17) for the ES35 as well as the EZ28 (where the Drive Select button is used for switching to the memory card). The EZ28 remote seems nearly the same as the EUR7659T70 except that it substitutes FAVORITE for DELETE. The other EZ17 is using its original EUR7659T50 remote. The "new" EZ28 doesn't include a remote.

jjeff

09-20-08, 08:05 PM

You caught me:o I had deleted my OT question shortly after posting, but you must have quoted it before I had time. Anyway I wish you luck with your EZ-28 and think you'll find it less buggy that your EZ-17s.
Now all we have to do is get you into a HDD Panny. Once you do you'll wonder how you ever lived without one for so long:D
BTW if my count is correct, after reading this whole thread, I think you're "king" of the DVDR count:cool:
I think I may have had that title for VCRs but lately have been selling many off. Gotta keep the classics though.

ClarkeBar

09-22-08, 10:26 AM

Man, there are some serious recording junkies out there.

I have the Toshiba XS32 and DKR2. Have bought and returned the Philips 3575 due to strange PQ issues with my equipment.

The XS32 is now on its third HDD (160GB Maxtor) but not due to anything other than full capacity on the original 80GB and the replacement Seagate 160GB. Have never experienced any HDD errors of any kind while recording or editing, even though I routinely keep the HDDs full and often quick edit in a chop/shop kind of way. Rarely use the formal editing features so plentiful on this machine but love them when I need them. Have also replaced the burner as the OEM burner is a POS and finally settled on an LG model which can read and record everything. Same model OEM DKR2 burner has also been replaced with an older LG warhorse.

Am starting to encounter more and more Copy Once flags on even analog channels from the Comcast HD DVR so useful life seems to be waning some. Oh well.

rickie

09-22-08, 01:20 PM

In order of acquisition:

Aspire (don't recall model) Returned after about month
Emerson EWR10D4 -
Pioneer 531 (Hard Disk corrupted - out of service)
Magnavox 2080
Philips 3575
Magnavox 2160.

The Emerson if by far the oldest (must be getting close to 4 -5 years by now). For last year has been used only occasinally.

(I believe that other than the Pioneer - all of the above are actually built by Funai Corp).

Rick

Rammitinski

09-22-08, 02:43 PM

Am starting to encounter more and more Copy Once flags on even analog channels from the Comcast HD DVR so useful life seems to be waning some.Even with your older units? That's disappointing to hear.

You should look into one of those video filters.

Unless some of these people that own a ton of units are into some heavy duplicating, I don't know if they're necessarily "recording junkies" as much as "recorder-owning junkies".

jjeff

09-22-08, 03:03 PM

I don't know if they're necessarily "recording junkies" as much as "recorder-owning junkies".

:D:DThat would be me:o

ClarkeBar

09-22-08, 03:08 PM

Thanks Rammitinski, I have been considering getting a filter now that Copy Protection is becoming more of a problem. I have to say I was quite surprised to encounter it even on some TNT HD older programming. Latest surprise came from a recording of 'Stealing Beauty' from an SD Movie channel, forget which one. It's weird...sometimes it's one recording after another...then nothing shows up for awhile.

jjeff...does your wife know about this love affair? :p

Church AV Guy

09-23-08, 12:27 PM

Unless some of these people that own a ton of units are into some heavy duplicating, I don't know if they're necessarily "recording junkies" as much as "recorder-owning junkies".
Hey! I resemble that remark. My wife would certainly agree with your assessment, but she has 12 place settings of china, I am just past half way there in DVD recorders.:D

DigaDo

09-23-08, 01:59 PM

Unless some of these people that own a ton of units are into some heavy duplicating, I don't know if they're necessarily "recording junkies" as much as "recorder-owning junkies".

The DVD recorders and combo recorders are used for time-shifting from TCM my favorite early talkies through the film noir era. I also copied selected portions (around 5,200 titles) of my near twenty years of home-recorded videotaped recordings to DVD. These were mostly from The Nostalgia Channel in the 1980's and AMC in the 1990's. Today my home-recorded DVD index has around 19,300 titles, all time-shifted or dubbed recordings.

Along the way I have turned into a "recorder-owning junkie." Some of my machines have needed a little TLC to keep them going with the huge demands placed upon them. Along with my daughter and the cat these machines have become my "babies." (Well, actually, the cat thinks of me as "grandpa.")

Rammitinski

09-23-08, 02:10 PM

Somehow I had a feeling exactly which ones of you were going to respond to my comment. ;)

DigaDo - I wish I could have a cat or a dog myself right now, but it's not really feasible. I've taken to buying the cheapest dry dog food I can find from Aldi and feeding the raccoons in the back of my house at night. I've brought up two different "families" in the last two summers. The neighbors hate me for attracting them, but they seem to forget that before I started feeding them, they were a bigger terror getting into their garbage (I've got woods across the way from me where they live). Now, the only time they do that is when I stop. They should really be thanking me, but you know how cranky some neighbors can be. I wait 'till it's completely dark and do it on the sly.

Those are really my only "babies" right now.

DigaDo

09-23-08, 02:36 PM

CitiBear

09-23-08, 03:22 PM

The DVD recorders and combo recorders are used for time-shifting from TCM my favorite early talkies through the film noir era. I also copied selected portions (around 5,200 titles) of my near twenty years of home-recorded videotaped recordings to DVD.

Ditto.Ditto. Ditto.:D Except my backlog of VHS that needs to be transferred is closer to 3,500 than your near-20,000:eek:. I'm actually very glad I haven't gotten around to a lot of my old AMC stuff yet: my current Pioneer recorders are much better encoding cable TV sourced VHS than my JVCs ever were. Have you noticed a sudden drastic drop in TCM image quality in the last few weeks? They used to have a nice clean signal, now its nothing but overcompression to the point that backgrounds in B/W classics shift like a heartbeat: left, right, left, right. Its obscene that Turner tolerates this and isn't kicking up a fuss with Time Warner about it, although they aren't alone: aside from the major networks and the premium channels, all of basic digital cable has now dropped to the equivalent of an 8-hour DVD-5 here in New York City. Disgusting. If this keeps up I won't have any need for multiple recorders after I finish dubbing my tapes.:mad:

DigaDo

09-23-08, 03:58 PM

Ditto.Ditto. Ditto.:D Except my backlog of VHS that needs to be transferred is closer to 3,500 than your near-20,000:eek:. I'm actually very glad I haven't gotten around to a lot of my old AMC stuff yet: my current Pioneer recorders are much better encoding cable TV sourced VHS than my JVCs ever were. Have you noticed a sudden drastic drop in TCM image quality in the last few weeks? They used to have a nice clean signal, now its nothing but overcompression to the point that backgrounds in B/W classics shift like a heartbeat: left, right, left, right. Its obscene that Turner tolerates this and isn't kicking up a fuss with Time Warner about it, although they aren't alone: aside from the major networks and the premium channels, all of basic digital cable has now dropped to the equivalent of an 8-hour DVD-5 here in New York City. Disgusting. If this keeps up I won't have any need for multiple recorders after I finish dubbing my tapes.:mad:

Viewer difficulties with TCM quality come up with some frequency on the TCM message board. TCM has a few of their people that respond to posts from time to time. Tcmprogrammer has mentioned that TCM output is of the best quality they may provide (short of HD) but, of course, TCM has no control of downstream signal quality once it's delivered to satellite and cable providers.

We also have Comcast HD and OTA HD in our household so we may compare signal quality. We have noticed problems related to compression/bandwidth with our local Comcast service. Some of our local OTA broadcast stations are transmitting as many as five subchannels (one of which is HD) so compression/bandwidth is also an issue with broadcast stations. The clamor is for "more HD channels" with little emphasis on "quality." Our local AVS Forum OTA and Comcast threads have regular discussions of these matters. I expect that these discussions of signal quality are also common elsewhere.

DigaDo

09-27-08, 08:59 PM

I've recently added a fifth DMR-ES35V (in new condition), a DMR-EZ28 (in new condition) and a third DMR-EZ17 (that appears to be in "good-enough" condition--EZ17 owners know what I mean by "good-enough").

That totals fifteen functional Panasonics, three Panasonic parts machines, and the Philips:

(2) DMR-ES30V (2005)
(1) DMR-ES40V (2005)
(5) DMR-ES35V (2006)
(3) DMR-ES15 (2006)
(3) DMR-EZ17 (2007)
(1) DMR-EZ28 (2008)

(1) Philips DVDR3575H/37B (2007)

(2) DMR-ES35V parts machines
(1) DMR-ES15 parts machine

jjeff

07-24-10, 04:03 PM

Have(all Pannys):
'06 ES-15 (3)
'06 ES-25 (1)
'05 ES-30 (4)
'07 Canadian EH-55 (1)
All are in occasional use except a ES-15 not being used. The EH-55 accounts for ~90% of my current use.

Had:
'05 Panny ES-20 (lacked features, returned it)
'07 Panny EZ-17 (5) they all DIED! Exchanged all except last one which I got money back for. Total POS, IMO.
'07 Panny EZ-27 died, returned
'05 ILO, returned poor PQ
'05 Sony, returned, poor PQ, quirky
'05 Cyberhome 1600(I think), Poor PQ,
'05 Centrios, returned, Poor PQ
'05 Pio ??? DVR/VHS model, Poor PQ LP
'05 Liteon 505, returned, Poor PQ
'05 LG LRA516, returned, Poor PQ
'06 Sony RDRGX315, returned, Poor PQ
'07 Philips 3575, gave to father who's loving it. I had poor contrast and didn't like PQ in speeds 2 1/2 hrs/disc & over.
'08 Panny EZ-28 (3) returned, never died but too quirky for me. Missed several events.

My god! I've returned 18 DVDRs :eek:but ended up not returning 10. My odds would have been better if not for that damn Panny x7 series;)
In hind site I would have liked to try a XS series Toshiba and maybe a decent Pio, probably not one with TVGOS though:D
My next purchase will probably be a TR-50, if the initial reviews aren't too bad, although I get a pretty darn good picture with my EH-55 and CM-7000 CECB. Makes waiting bearable. If I didn't have a CECB or a digital tuner DVDR I'd probably have a Sony DHG-HDD250/500. I can't stand to record SD anymore:cool:

If I had have only 1 DVDR(and no CECBs) I'd probably have a EZ-28, but I'd sure miss the HDD.
DVDRECORERJUNKIE-Thanks for keeping this thread out of the archives, kind of a fun idea.

Dug up this classic Squonk thread to see how things have changed.
I currently have 14:eek: DVDRs(OK I'm sure Digado has me beat but not too bad:cool:) all but one are Panasonics, they are as follows:

(1) EH-59 (one of my most recent purchases, International Panasonic w/hdd)
(2) EH-55's (recently picked up the second on Craigslist)
(1) Toshiba XS-35 (picked up from the same guy I got the EH-55 from) haven't even tried it out, I'm still trying to read the book(manual). Man this thing does everything except butter my toast, he said he used it little and AFA he knows the burner is good.
(1) EH-50 (pawn shop purchase that I've been using quite a bit lately)
(1) EZ-28 (Craigslist purchase that I've used little, looks like new)
(4) ES-30v combos that refuse to quit (one regular use, 2 rarely used)
(1) ES-25 (regular use)
(3) ES-15 (one shelved, 2 in somewhat regular use)

To this list add 13:eek: DVD players, as follows:
(8) Sony's (4 regular 4 upconverters)
(1) Pioneer 410 upconverter
(1) Sammy 845 upconverter
(1) Philips (rarely used, not the best PQ)
(1) LG DVD/HDTV tuner (shelved, poor PQ on DVD side)
(1) Harmon Tec (shelved, POS)

OK all of you other collectors, how has your collection changed recently?
Oh I never bought the TR-50(and glad I didn't) but I purchased a lifetime Tivo HD and upgraded the internal hdd to 1TB. I use it for the majority of my timeshifting.

artwire

07-24-10, 04:29 PM

Let's see.... nowhere near your totals
besides the 4 magnavox 2160As, I still have these working non-hard drive pannys

DMR E55 (or E50, cant recall and it's boxed up now til I can get around to cleaning it)
ES10
EA 38
ES 35V at work

they've been trusty companions lo these many years :D

(only DVD 'player' left standing is my yamaha s1800; only vhs standalones are cheapo Sony and TDK models, and the only beta hi fi ... (but, I digress ... :D)

DigaDo

07-24-10, 04:46 PM

Dug up this classic Squonk thread to see how things have changed...
Toshiba XS-35 (picked up from the same guy I got the EH-55 from) haven't even tried it out, I'm still trying to read the book(manual). Man this thing does everything except butter my toast, he said he used it little and AFA he knows the burner is good...

This is from another recent thread:

It's interesting to read Toshiba Owner's Manuals from the days when Toshiba built their own recorders. These read like internal engineering reports addressing design theory and/or position papers justifying design criteria. While these "owner's manuals" are heavy on technology they only hint at how to actually operate Toshiba recorders.

As genuine Toshiba recorders were cleared out of Toshiba warehouses in 2006/2007 and the warehouses started filling up with Funai-built recorders the owner's manuals took on the same practical look and feel as those supplied with all the other Funai-built recorders, well organized and an easy read...

Are you enjoying the XS-35 Owner's Manual?

jjeff

07-24-10, 05:00 PM

Are you enjoying the XS-35 Owner's Manual?

Actually their are (3) :eek: manuals that came with it. The first is a brief operational manual, the second is about the size of the Panasonic models and the third! is the bound book manual which explains such things as bitrate for each of it's MN settings(I believe similar to Pioneer) among all the other things this baby can do. Many of things I've wished about my Pannys the Toshiba is supposed to do. Such as ability to set at which point default thumbnail is generated(Panasonics use 1min 5 seconds and I'd prefer it to be set at the 0 second mark), ability to have thumbnails for each chapter, ability to resume each title on HDD(like the Philips/Maggy can do), ability to create automatic chapter marks(similar to Philips/Maggy and also my EH-59) among many other options.
It's all quite confusing now but once I start using it, it will probably make more sense. I really do worry about the burner but I believe the previous owner rarely used it, instead most of its use was limited to timeshifting off the HDD and little archiving.

samsurd2

07-24-10, 05:05 PM

Samsung DVD-VR330 - bought new in 2007, still going strong, in main HT set-up
Magnavox ZV427MG9A - bought refurb (Overstock.com) in early 2010, no problems to date, in secondary HT set-up.
Both get used to dub VHS -> DVD and to permanently save things from the DVRs.

DigaDo

07-24-10, 06:07 PM

Dug up this classic Squonk thread to see how things have changed.
I currently have 14:eek: DVDRs(OK I'm sure Digado has me beat but not too bad:cool:) all but one are Panasonics...

This is a tough assignment to detail the recorders right off the top of my head, but here goes.

There have been four 2005 DMR-ES30V models in our household, two of mine and my daughter has two of them. Mine were fully functional when set aside as standby recorders with around 4,500 (my first Panasonic purchased in September 2005) and another with around 3,000 recording hours. Some months back one of my daughter's ES30 models started overheating after around two hours use. I found that the cooling fan was non-functional. After swapping in known good fans the same situation persisted leading me to believe there was a problem with the Digital PCB. I gave her my ES30 with the 3,000 recording hours. She used that for a time until she encountered the "hello" situation that usually indicates capacitor failure. I reasoned that it would be easy to swap in the power supply PCB from the ES30 with the fan-control problem. So the power supplies were swapped but the result was the same "hello" situation. Then I gave her my other ES30 with the 4,500 recording hours. She has used that ES30 for several months now. (I offered her a DMR-ES35V but she insists that she will use only the DMR-ES30V models.) So, for practical purposes the household is down to two functional ES30 models, with two ES30 parts machines.

There is one little-used 2005 DMR-ES40V that has only 355 recording hours from new in December 2005. This model's LSI CPU carries the operating system that was used as the prototype for the 2007 and later EZ combo recorders. I used this recorder only briefly, fighting it all the time to maintain functionality. This has spent nearly it's whole lifetime back in it's box stashed in the back of a closet. I brought it out a few months ago when my daughter had difficulties with one of her ES30V models. It soon came back upstairs with a note attached, something like "this is piece of s**t." This is true.

With my earlier listing of 2006 DMR-ES35V models I had five of these purchased in 2006 and 2007, plus two parts machines purchased in 2007. One of those parts machines, after swapping around Digital PCBs and DVD Drives, has been brought back to a fully functional condition and is in heavy daily use, perhaps more than 120 recording hours per month. That restoration and other projects are mentioned in the "swapping DVD Drives" thread. Two other DMR-ES35V models are in light daily use, each used for around 30 recording hours per month. Three DMR-ES35V models are set aside for standby use. Two of these have more than 3,000 recording hours, another is still near-new in it's box. The seventh ES35 remains a parts machine.

There are four 2006 DMR-ES15 models, three fully functional but set aside as standby recorders, one of those has around 3,000 recording hours. One ES15 is "dead" even after capacitor replacement.

There is one 2006 DMR-ES25 in heavy daily use, perhaps 120 recording hours per month.

There is one 2006 DMR-ES46V that was purchased as a parts machine in 2009. Those parts, a near new Panasonic replacement RAM/Digital "module" (DVD Drive and Digital PCB) have given new life to two heavy-use DMR-ES35 models that developed problems. While the ES46 is "complete" it remains in the "dead" condition I found it in upon setup. If I were to manage to bring this ES46 back to life it would remain non-functional as it now has problematic parts, a defective Digital PCB and a DVD Drive with a failed laser assembly that were swapped in from those two ES35 models.

There are four 2007 DMR-EZ17 models. Three of these were in regular rotation in and out of daily use. Early on the fouth began having problems with the clear QAM tuner and could not retain scheduled programming for more than a few hours. That EZ17 gave up it's DVD Drive to another EZ17 that had a laser failure. One EZ17 is still in daily use, with perhaps around 70 recording hours per month. I'm amazed that this EZ17 continues to function. I expect this EZ17 to fail at any time, an easy enough job swapping in another Panasonic, even one with a modulated RF output, as this EZ17 is the last recorder in a daisy-chain. Another EZ17 was set aside as a standby recorder after around 2,150 recording hours. Two EZ17 models had laser assembly failures last fall after recording hours in the 1,500 to 1,700 ranges. There are now two EZ17 parts machines.

There is one 2007 DMR-EZ47 purchased last month for $25. I swapped in some VHS mechanism parts from the ES35 parts machine to resolve problems with VHS functionality. After this work the EZ47 was set up, configured and found fully functional. In all other respects this EZ47 is in near new condition. This EZ47 is set aside as a standby recorder but I regard this EZ47 as a "parts machine" if I wish to use the EZ47 DVD Drive to restore one of the EZ17 parts machines to functionality.

There is one 2008 DMR-EZ28 in daily use, with around 80 recording hours per month. This EZ28 has had two freeze-ups in the last month or so. Otherwise it has been my most reliable EZ series recorder in continuous use beginning in 2008.

I have one Philips 3575 in daily use. This 3575 is enslaved to a Motorola DCX3200 HD converter box as the first recorder in a daisy-chain that includes a Magnavox 2160, a 2160 "A," a Panasonic DMR-EZ28 and DMR-EZ17, all of them in daily use. With the S-Video connection to the DMR-ES25 and composite connection to a DMR-ES35V this Motorola DCX3200 feeds it's Turner Classic Movies signal to seven recorders.

Another Magnavox 2160 is connected to a Pace DC50X DTA as is a DMR-ES35V.

There is one Magnavox 2160 set aside as a standby recorder.

A Magnavox 2080 is in heavy daily use as a clear QAM turner/recorder.

There is one Philips 3576 in heavy daily use with dual connectivity as an ATSC tuner/recorder, also with a composite connection from a Motorola DCT700 converter box.

There are two Magnavox ZV450MW8 combo recorders, one of 2007 vintage and the other an August 2008 "A" version, both decent recorders that are currently set aside as standbys. The 2007 ZV450 recorder is sometimes tempermental about opening the disc tray so it mainly used as the "player" when dubbing videotaped recordings to the hard drive in the 2160 "A."

For a brief time I had a somewhat similar Sylvania ZV450SL8, a model that lacked the 2.5 and 3 hour recording mode (found on all my Magnavox, Philips and PYE recorders), had a non-functional "Make Recordings Compatible" feature (the Owner's Manual, mentioning that feature found in the "Recordings" menu "is not functional with this unit.") The Sylvania had a non-functional clear QAM tuner, a sometimes functional ATSC tuner and other sample defects that rendered it a "functional disaster." No wonder the original owner dumped this on Craig's List. This Sylvania was given away.

The next three recorders are Funai-built entry-level models from 2006:

There is one Magnavox MWR10D6 set aside as a standby recorder for use in special projects. This recorder regularly loses the timer scheduled programs.

There is one PYE PY90DG set aside as a standby recorder. (PYE was the Circuit City house brand.) This is a useful and reliable recorder.

There is one Toshiba D-RW2 set aside as a standby recorder. This recorder lacks the 2.5 and 3 hour recording modes and the "Make Recordings Compatible" feature important for swapping unfinalized discs for additional recording or finalizing with other Funai-built recorders.

Have I missed any recorders? Perhaps so. But who's counting? Not me. I'll update this post if more recorders occur to me.

This post is making my head spin.

jjeff

07-24-10, 07:29 PM

This is a tough assignment....

.... But who's counting? Not me....

This post is making my head spin.

26 working DVDRs if my counting is correct(16 Pannys and 10 Funais) I don't think anyone will top that:cool:
Yes I was kind of dreading adding up all mine but after a recent period when I bought 3 DVDRs(all with hdd) in a 3 day period, I figured I kinda should:o It also took me some time to crunch the numbers since I have them squirreled all over the house in various work stations and even one at a neighbors house.
I guess if this thread resurfaces in another couple years I'm hoping to have acquired a classic Pioneer w/hdd(preferably one without TVGOS). I've been looking for quite some time but at least around here they are as rare as hens teeth. I've slowly been selling, giving away, my VCR collection and only keeping the classics or well built ones, although other than the occasional use by my kids they are mostly just collecting dust. They never use the DVDRs but use several of the 13 DVD players in the house.

DVDRECORERJUNKIE

07-24-10, 08:32 PM

Panasonic Fan Club Time:

E50 (1)
ES10 (2)
ES15 (3)
E85H (1) (Bought as-is on the internet & will be sending to Panasonic for flat rate repair)
EH50 (2) (Bought 1 brand new in 2005 & 2 weeks ago found one in perfect brand new condition in original box for get this: $50! The guy who sold it to me works for Panasonic & had it in the box for 3 years because the TV Guide feature doesn't work with sattelite. Lucky me!

I now have the following Panasonic DVD Recorders:

E50 (1)
E60 (1)
ES10 (2)
ES15 (4) One still unopened in box purchased for $50 on Craigslist
E85H (1) Still haven't sent it in to Panasonic for repairs
EH50 (2)
EH55 (1) Just acquired this machine on Craigslist for $100, used in excellent condition plus the HDD wasn't never used at all (the owner didn't understand how to use it). Believe it or not, I drove 140 miles round trip for this great machine (I am a DVD RECORDER JUNKIE you know).

I bought an E80H DVD Recorder 2 years ago for $40 on Craigslist & immediately sold it on Ebay for $280. That model not having HS dub didn't appeal to me.

Super Eye

07-24-10, 10:14 PM

I guess if this thread resurfaces in another couple years I'm hoping to have acquired a classic Pioneer w/hdd(preferably one without TVGOS). I've been looking for quite some time but at least around here they are as rare as hens teeth.

jjeff,
You should of picked up a brand new RDRHX780 the last time you were in Canada. I doubt that you’ll have another chance by next year. After all it’s just a Pio clone. I had mine for 11-months now without a single error message so far (knock on wood) I burned well over a 100 discs so far and only had one failure. A X16 Maxell CMC MAG AM3. I time-shifted numerous hrs on the HDD and not one disc-repair message so far (knock on wood)

DigaDo,
You have so many hours of experience – how many hours of HSD burning should a laser assembly in a stand alone last?

DigaDo

07-25-10, 01:09 AM

...DigaDo, You have so many hours of experience – how many hours of HSD burning should a laser assembly in a stand alone last?

All my Panasonics are "standard" models without hard drives. Five of the six Panasonics with more than 3,000 recording hours accumulated most of those hours during my ten month long project transferring around 5,200 videotaped titles to DVD. This project was punishing for these outstanding "workhorse" DMR-ES30V and DMR-ES35V recorders, usually at least four and as many as seven of them running up to eighteen hours per day, six days a week. During that project I kept logs that allowed me to space out regular but brief time-out periods for each machine. During the hot summer days I had as many as four supplemental cooling fans circulating air around the two recording centers in my west-facing home office while the one recording center in an air conditioned bedroom does not have supplemental cooling fans.

The DMR-ES30V and DMR-ES35V workhorses rather established my expectation (or "standard") for Panasonic laser assemblies--no fewer than 3,000 recording hours. Four of the six heavy use recorders, with 3,000 or more recording hours, are still fully functional or were fully functional at last use.

I tend to think that Panasonic models that do not have cooling fans, such as the DMR-ES15 and DMR-ES25 models, or are closed up in a cabinet or stacked with or near heat producing devices will likely have a reduced longevity for laser assemblies.

On the other hand, one of the heavy use recorders, my first DMR-ES15 purchased new in August 2006, had heavy use in the bedroom while the dubbing project was under way in the home office. This ES15 often kept up a punishing schedule of recordings, sometimes up to twelve hours a day seven days a week. There was a tandem programmed recording schedule between the two Panasonics in the bedroom. (Two other Panasonics were rotated in and out of daily use in the bedroom during the same period that the ES15 was kept in its place.) The tandem recording strategy allowed more leeway for swapping out discs. That first DMR-ES15 had accumulated more than 3,000 recording hours before it was set aside as a standby recorder.

Three of my four DMR-ES15 models were purchased used from DealTree. One arrived in near new condition, currently rotated to a standby status with around 1,200 recording hours. Two of the ES15 models arrived with failed laser assemblies. The eBay listings were clear for those two, "as-is" with a "non-functional DVD Drive." This was of little concern at the time as I promptly swapped in good DVD Drives from my two DMR-ES35 parts machines. One of those DVD Drives later had it's own laser failure after nine months of heavy use in a ES15. The other DVD Drive was later swapped back into the other DMR-ES35 parts machine in order to restore that recorder to full functionality (as reported in my earlier post) where it continues to accumulate around 120 recording hours per month.

With Panasonic DVD recorders purchased "used" or "factory refurbished" I did not check the laser use hours (through Service Mode) before placing these recorders in my service. It is only through my use of recording logs that I track recording hours for Panasonic DVD recorders while in my service. So, my "recording hour" figures for Panasonics purchased "used" or "factory refurbished" do not take into consideration prior owner usage.

When DVD Drives are swapped between recorders I attribute the DVD Drive recording hours to the recorder receiving the DVD Drive and attribute the recording hours of the removed DVD Drive to the DVD Drive itself. This procedure makes it somewhat difficult to assign recording hours to some recorders. (Now if someone understands this paragraph, perhaps that person will explain it to me.)

While my EZ17 models do have cooling fans, it's been my practice to keep them near supplemental cooling fans in the home office. There are no supplemental cooling fans in the air conditioned bedroom. Two EZ17 models, one in each room, have had laser assembly failures in the 1,500 to 1,700 recording hour range while another EZ17 from the bedroom was set aside as a standby after around 2,150 recording hours. While I haven't reviewed my recording logs since February, I estimate that the one EZ17 remaining in current use in the home office has around 1,630 recording hours. I don't expect much more service from that EZ17.

I haven't kept specific recording logs for my Funai-built recorders, instead relying on laser use data found in the SKIP utilities of the HDD models. Since none of my recorders are used as DVD players, nor are the HDD models used for recording directly to DVD, the SKIP data is sufficient to track usage. (The SKIP data hasn't been reviewed for several months.) I've not had a laser assembly failure with my Funai HDD models, some of which have had heavy high-speed dubbing use--but that usage does not roll-up real time laser use. In fact laser use for a fifteen minute high-speed dub of a full DVD runs up only a few minutes of laser use. Perhaps Wajo has posted more specific data--or a formula--for determining actual laser use data per DVD when using high-speed dubbing. My Funai-built "standard" DVD recorders have had only limited use. I have not maintained recording hour logs for "standard" Funai-built DVD recorders.

Super Eye

07-26-10, 08:53 PM

doug877

07-26-10, 09:45 PM

Toshiba DR4
Toshiba DR5
Toshiba rd-KX50 (3)
Toshiba RD-XS35 (2)
Philips (forget the model number) 160 gig HD - sold it
I really like the Toshiba recorders. Philips I did not care for much
No experience with any others

CitiBear

07-26-10, 10:06 PM

My current recorder lineup:

Pioneer 531
Pioneer 540
Pioneer 450 (x2)
Pioneer 460
Magnavox H2160A

Regarding burner lifespans: while DigaDo of course has shared invaluable info on Panasonic DVD drives gleaned from heavy use over many years, its important to note that drives as used in recorders vary tremendously from brand to brand, as well as drives used in PCs. It would be a mistake to assume data compiled on Panasonic recorder burners will apply exactly to any other brand.

Panasonic recorder burners are almost supernaturally durable: other than the requirement for periodic cleaning they are almost impossible to wear out. About 1 in 5 suffers from the electronic board failures DigaDo describes, and those cannot be easily salvaged, but most Panasonics just go on and on and on and on. DigaDo and others here typically report racking up 3000-5000 hours with a Panasonic. Magnavox H2160 has also proven surprisingly durable, with very few reports of needing to replace burners in the last three years. Magnavox spare burners are very reasonably priced should they ever be needed.

Vintage Sonys, vintage JVCs, vintage Pioneers and vintage Toshiba XS were all ticking time bombs, no amount of "spindle cleaning" would keep those running when their biological clocks ran down. They could be infuriating, because heavy or light use made no difference: as many machines died within two years after burning two dozen discs as those that burned 1000. Repairing these is sometimes possible with factory replacement burners (rare, $$$$) or by swapping parts with similar generic PC burners, but it isn't easy.

The Pioneers of 2006 and later, and the derivative Sony 780, are somewhere in the middle of the curve: not remotely as durable as Panasonics, but not as random and dicey as other classic machines. The proprietary Sony burners inside these models is very rugged and consistent, but it has the same "dirty spindle" flaw that periodically brings down the Panasonics. The big difference is the Panasonics can almost always be cleaned and brought back to life, but the Pioneers and Sony 780 cannot. Once a 2006-2008 Sony recorder multidrive gets dirty, it begins a slow decline and nothing will stop it. You can arrest it for a very long period (years) by switching to 8x media once you notice frequent failures with 16x media. But nothing else short of a complete burner replacement will help. Since 8x media may not be available much longer, owners of a Pioneer x40, x50, x60 or Sony 780 should stock up now. I've been monitoring a number of 540, 640 and 550 machines (mine and friends') and they all seem to lose their grip on 16x media within two years of hard use ("hard" meaning one high speed burn per day). The Sony 780 is a hybrid of the Pioneer 640 and 550, so can be expected to fall within similar range.

DigaDo

07-26-10, 10:29 PM

Thanks for the very thorough answer DigaDo.

I had no idea that laser assemblies last for so many hours. So far, in the last 11 months, I burned around 120 discs in HSD mode and under a dozen discs in real time mode. I expect to do around the same number in the next 11 months. At this rate my Pio-clone should last a very long time...

I did read up on the information posted by Wajo and yourself regarding the above. This really stumped me as I always thought that HSD would be harder on the laser in a minute-to-minute comparison. Good to know that I was wrong.

Thank you for taking the time to give me such thorough facts. Much appreciated.:)

I liken the high-speed dubbing process to a period of "spooling" where the laser "rests," alternating with laser "bursts" where each "burst" writes a "block" to the DVD. It seems to me that I first became aware of some such process with this or a similar situation:

I set up a high-speed dub of seven 26 minute programs (recorded at LP) to be high-speed dubbed to a single DVD. I hadn't realized that a timer recording was upcoming. (For some unknown reason the recorder did not warn me that the a timer recording was approaching.) The high-speed dub was in process when the recorder stopped the high-speed dub a minute or two before the timer recording to hard drive was to begin. Then the timer program was recorded to the hard drive.

After the timer recording concluded I turned my attention back to the high-speed dubbing process. I found four titles had been high-speed dubbed to the DVD and three others hadn't been recorded. The disc menu showed enough vacant time to resume the high-speed dubbing of the three remaining programs.

Then I set up the remaining three titles for high-speed dubbing. Those three titles no longer fit the remaining space on the DVD. What did I do? I set up the high-speed dub for two of the three programs and there was enough room for those programs. Those two programs were then high-speed dubbed and then the DVD was finalized.

That lead me to believe that a portion of the fifth show was actually burned to the DVD with the "burst/block" writing process but the interruption came before that title was "written to disc." I reasoned that the "write to disc" process adds that program's data/statistics to the DVDs "table of contents" but since the interruption came before the "write to disc" process that information was "invisible." Since that incomplete fifth program took up a certain amount of space on the DVD, there wasn't enough space available for fitting the three additional programs to that DVD.

At the moment I have a dozen recorders in daily use. My average monthly total is around 150 DVDs burned directly to disc (Panasonic) or high-speed dubbed to disc (Magnavox/Philips). That figure does not include duplication of a weekday commentary program, edited of commercials in order to fit five 40 minute LP shows to a single "master DVD." With my CopyPal I make duplicates of the "master DVD" for distribution to others. Those duplicated DVDs add another 60 or so DVDs per month so, for the time being, I'm using around 210 blank DVDs per month.

knightrdrx

07-26-10, 10:54 PM

toshiba dr420ku
doesn't have many options and can't seem to get it working w/ vcr

Super Eye

07-27-10, 12:04 AM

The Pioneers of 2006 and later, and the derivative Sony 780, are somewhere in the middle of the curve: not remotely as durable as Panasonics, but not as random and dicey as other classic machines. The proprietary Sony burners inside these models is very rugged and consistent, but it has the same "dirty spindle" flaw that periodically brings down the Panasonics. The big difference is the Panasonics can almost always be cleaned and brought back to life, but the Pioneers and Sony 780 cannot. Once a 2006-2008 Sony recorder multidrive gets dirty, it begins a slow decline and nothing will stop it. You can arrest it for a very long period (years) by switching to 8x media once you notice frequent failures with 16x media. But nothing else short of a complete burner replacement will help. …The Sony 780 is a hybrid of the Pioneer 640 and 550, so can be expected to fall within similar range.

That’s a bummer. I should have bought the 3-year extended warrantee.
Funny that the Pioneers are so highly rated decks with such a serious flaw. Sounds like the Panasonics are THE BETTER decks for longevity. It can get pretty dusty at my place.

So if the Pio issue is a “dirt accumulation over time” issue, does that mean that the laser stays strong and it’s a motor slipping issue only? If so, after the slipping starts, will the decks still (HSD) burn X2 DVD-RW discs? Not that I would archive on RW but I could immediately clone the RW with a –R using my PC burner and re-use the RW discs. Pretty tough to get X8 discs in Canada. X2 RW are plentiful.

DigaDo

07-27-10, 12:06 AM

toshiba dr420ku
doesn't have many options and can't seem to get it working w/ vcr

You haven't described the specific problem(s). It would be helpful to know what kind of signal source you have, cable, satellite or a converter box (for antenna reception) with your tunerless DR420. You should also describe the interconnectivity of your signal source, the DR420, the TV and the VCR. Then it would be easier to address functionality or other issues.

DigaDo

07-27-10, 01:34 AM

That’s a bummer. I should have bought the 3-year extended warrantee.
Funny that the Pioneers are so highly rated decks with such a serious flaw. Sounds like the Panasonics are THE BETTER decks for longevity. It can get pretty dusty at my place.

So if the Pio issue is a “dirt accumulation over time” issue, does that mean that the laser stays strong and it’s a motor slipping issue only? If so, after the slipping starts, will the decks still (HSD) burn X2 DVD-RW discs? Not that I would archive on RW but I could immediately clone the RW with a –R using my PC burner and re-use the RW discs. Pretty tough to get X8 discs in Canada. X2 RW are plentiful.

With a Panasonic DVD drive the problem is dust, debris, smoke and skin oils soiling the rubber hub that runs around the outer edge of the spindle (turntable). The rubber hub grips the disc as the spindle rises to clamp it against the guide wheel on the underside of the DVD drive lid. Once clamped against the guide wheel, the spindle spins the disc. When the rubber hub is soiled there is disc slippage, causing read, write and finalizing errors and failed discs. That's why the routine lens and rubber hub/spindle cleaning is necessary for Panasonic DVD drives. As to the lens and the laser assembly, a service mode utility allows one to identify ranges of performance deterioration over a period of time. But my experience has been that a Panasonic laser assembly performs well one day and is non-functional the next day--a sudden failure rather than a gradual deterioration on the way to failure. (The first photo shows an unmounted, opened, 2006 model year Panasonic DVD drive with the DVD drive lid beside it.)

With regard to Funai-manufactured DVD drives I've observed that the spindle rim is not rubber but is of a more rigid material. Atop the spindle hub there is a thin "inlaid" rubber-like material that appears more delicate than the robust rubber hub used in Panasonic DVD drives. At the moment I would discourage attempting to clean the rubber-like hub in Funai DVD drives. Instead, if cleaning is indicated due to a soiled hub, wait until the recorder is cold after several hours disuse, then open the disc tray and use an air can to gently blow dust off the hub/spindle area. Do not use an extended air blast as the air becomes too cold for use when directed toward such parts as the laser lens and related parts. (In the second photo the red pointer indicates a somewhat lowered hub/spindle with the disc tray extended part-way. The photo shows an unmounted Funai DVD drive manufactured in December 2008.)

DigaDo

07-27-10, 03:46 AM

...Pretty tough to get X8 discs in Canada...

This is one source:

https://www.blankmedia.ca/proddetail3.asp?id=303

Colloquor

07-27-10, 10:11 AM

Panasonic DMR-ES10
Panasonic DMR-EA18
2 ea. Magnavox 2160MW9A

CitiBear

07-27-10, 01:40 PM

Funny that the Pioneers are so highly rated decks with such a serious flaw. Sounds like the Panasonics are THE BETTER decks for longevity. It can get pretty dusty at my place.

Like everything else in life, its all relative. The durability of a Panasonic relies on the owner both being aware of the grime issue and having the tech savvy and inclination to disassemble and clean their recorder. Its all well and good for DigaDo and me to casually toss around advice to clean the spindles, quite another for joe consumer who really has no clue to go about doing it. The web is littered with nasty complaints and bad reviews of Panasonics from bitterly disappointed owners who were none too thrilled when their $600 recorder tanked within six months. Some are aware of the cleaning trick, many aren't, and a lot of owners rightfully feel it shouldn't be necessary in the first place. It can be a royal pain to remove a Panasonic from your gear stack just to clean it, and the reassembly of certain Panasonic burners is extremely tricky- screw it up and you're hosed. A similar grime issue applies to a great many Panasonic DVD players, which is why they get universally panned on user forums (although my own ancient Panasonic player still works flawlessly). Every brand includes a compromise somewhere.

Pioneers were highly rated because they combined the most intuitive, flexible interface with decent reliability and excellent compatibility with poor cable and tape dubbing sources. Those who perform a lot of editing prize their Pioneers for having the most bulletproof chaptering and section-delete functions out there: its unheard of for a Pioneer to crash. Aside from Panasonics, they were the only DVD/HDD machines with DVD-RAM recording features, making them a good "backup option" when Panasonic DVD/HDD models started disappearing from stores. Of course now the Pios are also gone, leaving just a handful of leftover Sony 780s, the dreadful new Samsung/Sonys and the LGs in Canada. Americans are left with just the Magnavox H2160/MDR513, which may migrate to Canada when Canada goes ATSC. The only alternative is the very expensive grey market Panasonic EH-69 available via several importers.

So if the Pio issue is a “dirt accumulation over time” issue, does that mean that the laser stays strong and it’s a motor slipping issue only?

Yes, the laser stays pretty strong, based on my experience with the Pioneer versions. The Sony 780 has a slightly different burner which does not have DVD-RAM burning ability: I don't know if its the same burner with RAM turned off, or different burner altogether. They look the same from internal photos I've seen, but the 780 is not available stateside so I haven't been able to test it. The grime problem primarily manifests as inability to grip a 16x disc during HS burning: the machine repeatedly spins up then fails with a truly terrifying "braking noise", over and over, until it gives up with a "copy failed" alert. From start to finish the entire failed copy operation can take a good 15 mins, there's no way to interrupt it, so I advise immediately stopping all use of 16x media the first time your machine exhibits this symptom.

In the "dirty" Pios I've tested, 8x DVD-/+R and 2.7x R/W and DVD-RAM all still work normally, only the 16x media is disabled. My two four-year-old 540s stopped accepting 16x two years ago, but I frequently burn all other media in them with no problem. Unless you have no access whatsoever to 8x media it shouldn't be a big deal, and there are workarounds like using R/W in the recorder and then transferring to a PC for a 16x archive copy. 8x TY/JVC and Verbatim DataLife Plus media should be available to Canadians thru the US media vendors supermediastore.com and rima.com. I find the shiny all-silver 8x grips better than the discs with white inkjet coating over the hub area.

There are far worse burner failure experiences, just ask a Toshiba XS or Sony 900 owner:(. You shouldn't have any regrets over not buying a three year extended warranty for your Sony 780, Super Eye: those warranties are useless when applied to unpopular products like DVD recorders. By the time your 780 ever fails, it will be long out of production and Sony is notorious for repair parts shortages: the extended warranty would probably just stick you with whatever replacement DVD recorder was available at the moment, likely a non-HDD model. Extended warranties are not a good deal for DVD recorders.

doswonk1

07-27-10, 01:49 PM

Daily service:
Panasonic DMR-E85 (Currently fed from a Zenith DT-901 CECB, the VCR, and the FM Tuner (for audio time-shifting)
Philips 3575 (Most of my daily OTA time-shifting and TV show archiving.)
Panasonic DMR-ES15 (also audio time-shifting to DVD-RAM discs)
Pioneer DVR-450 (rotating in for the big push in the VHS-to-DVD dub-o-thon)

Backups, reserves, impulse buys:

Pio DVR-450
Pio DVR-460
Philips 3575
Magnavox H2160
Poloroid DRA-01601A HDD machine (NOT the one that had the component-in connections)
Panasonic DMR-ES15
Panasonic EZ-17
Panasonic EZ-27
Panasonic EZ-47
Pioneer RVT-502
Some loose Samsung, no-frills, no-HDD models.

Sheesh! Is this a hobby or an obsession?! This is what happens when you move to a rural area with the nearest major city ca. 40 miles away. You spend more $$$ "feathering the nest."

The E85 could "wake up dead" tomorrow, of course, but I've always kept it out in the open, not in a rack, with no other hot gear around it. I never let the HDD have less than 10 hours of SP free space, usually more like 20 or 25. The disc drive is used ONLY to burns discs and then spot check through the chapters of each newly burned (burnt?) disc to make sure the burn worked. I feed it only TY and Verb 8X DVD-R. I've played with +R discs in the 3575 but really see no benefit in return for the higher price for blank media. It burns the TY/Verb 8x just fine, so I don't see a need to feed it anything else.

Church AV Guy

07-27-10, 02:57 PM

I was really surprised when I realized that I had over ten DVD recorders. that's the number I associated with obsession! I have gotten myself down to nine, so I am no longer in that category (in my mind anyway).:D

My first recorder was a Panasonic E85. I have/currently own:

E85*
EH50 (2)
EH55 (2)
EH75 (2)
EH67*
EH68*
EH59
EH69
Polaroid <something>

The ones with * I no longer own. Notice all the DMR-EH%% models. I was originally a Panasonic user, and I have stuck with Panasonic. One of my big gripes is: the MN system used by Pioneer is superior to the FR system used by Panasonic. Maybe not for novices, but for serious users like myself, I wish Panasonic had enabled an MN type of recording, but we use what we have. Other gripes: they desperately need a keyboard solution for text entry. The "telephone keypad" text entry method works, but it very slow and clumsy. They also need a way to make a copy from the hard drive TO the hard drive. Right now, if you want to do that, you need to copy the title or playlist from the HDD to a -RAM disk, then back to the HDD. It is cumbersome and unnecessarily slow. AN HDD to HDD copy would be much more useful.

I had one laser assembly go out in one of the my (heavily used) EH55s. It made a series of tones whenever I attempted to use it, a sort of bip, bip, bip. bip, burrp. I sent it to repair, and they confirmed that the DVD drive had failed, so they replaced it and the controller board for the flat rate of $130. That's the best value anywhere! Cleaning was of no help, the drive was toast!

After about 1250 VHS (mostly EP) tapes to DVDs in my dubbing project, I think I have quite a few hours on some of my machines, but they all still work flawlessly.

I am very much an advocate of HDD recorders (as you can see). I have a very difficult time recommending non HDD recorders to anyone. My opinion is, eventually almost everyone will want the functions that only an HDD recorder will provide.

I bought the Polaroid because it was cheap ($80). As a recorder it's quite primitive compared to my Panasonic EH%% models, and I have never burned a disk with it. The reason I own it is, it has component inputs, it strips CP from any video source and it can function as a component to S-Video converter. I guess I use it as a video processor, not a recorder.

doswonk1

07-27-10, 07:27 PM

In the "dirty" Pios I've tested, 8x DVD-/+R and 2.7x R/W and DVD-RAM all still work normally, only the 16x media is disabled. My two four-year-old 540s stopped accepting 16x two years ago, but I frequently burn all other media in them with no problem. Unless you have no access whatsoever to 8x media it shouldn't be a big deal, and there are workarounds like using R/W in the recorder and then transferring to a PC for a 16x archive copy.
Or record on slower-speed RW media, then burn a permanent -R copy on your dedicated DVD duplicator. ;)

Does using 16x media when the recorder is new accelerate the rate at which the drive goes "slippy"? In other words, if you stick to 8x from the git-go, will your Pio burner last longer?

I find the shiny all-silver 8x grips better than the discs with white inkjet coating over the hub area.

Interesting. I find that my Panasonic seems to like the white-coated media just a little better, like the coating gives the hub/spindle a little more "tooth" to grip onto. The burns seems marginally quieter, even than ones I run with shiny-top 8x media.

I was alterted to the intersection my burner's age with of the growing quality problem with 16x media when my E85 started make previously unheard noises as it chomped on the discs. Even so, I got few coasters (most attributable to over-editing the program on the HDD). But I moved to an 8x-only policy for all my recorders shortly thereafter.

I bought the E85 in June 2004 with a pack of 4x DVD-Rs, then life intervened and fired the thing up the first time two years later (it stayed snug in its box through moves to two houses), and 16x discs were all I could get at the usual retail locations.

Of course, lately, I've been shifting more work to my Phil 3575 and, soon, my new Mag 2160. I need to keep starting logs like DigaDo....

Super Eye

07-27-10, 07:31 PM

Magnavox H2160/MDR513, which may migrate to Canada when Canada goes ATSC.

It would be a nice welcome to see the Magies make an appearance in Canada. Just came from Wal-Mart, they still carry the Magnavox DVD/VHS deck, so let’s hope the DVD/HDD deck makes an appearance. BTW, The major CDN cities are broadcasting in ATSC (here in Vancouver the four major nets are in “HD” ATSC OTA.) It’s just that the NTSC OTA won’t be shut off ‘till Aug. 2011. You can no longer buy an old fashioned NTSC-only set at BB or FS or Sears… At least I haven’t seen one in a couple of years. Wal-Mart may still have one or two.

Yes, the laser stays pretty strong, based on my experience with the Pioneer versions. The Sony 780 has a slightly different burner which does not have DVD-RAM burning ability: I don't know if its the same burner with RAM turned off, or different burner altogether. They look the same from internal photos I've seen, but the 780 is not available stateside so I haven't been able to test it.

My “guess” would be that it’s the same burner with the RAM recording turned off.

In the "dirty" Pios I've tested, 8x DVD-/+R and 2.7x R/W and DVD-RAM all still work normally, only the 16x media is disabled. My two four-year-old 540s stopped accepting 16x two years ago, but I frequently burn all other media in them with no problem.

Well, if that’s what should happen to my 780, that’s not so horrible. I’m not a super-power user and sticking in a X2 –RW, then cloning it with a X16 –R in PC shouldn’t be a big deal for me.

Regarding the extended warrantee: I knew when I purchased the deck that within’ a couple years there’s a good chance that the deck will be out of production without a new model replacement. I asked the salesman what they would do with an extended warrantee and he said in such a case they apply store credit towards “any product” in-store. Now that CitiBear states that the –RW 2X work-around should work in a slipping Pio – I’m happy and have no regrets not purchasing the extended warrantee.

As for buying X8 media from the States? The Canadian Government will do everything in its power to hold the items in customs for as long as they can AND they will slap it with EVERY tariff they can think of.:mad:
DigaDo did provide a Canadian link to X8 media.

This is one source:
https://www.blankmedia.ca/proddetail3.asp?id=303

But, I still find it a pain-in-the-ass having to order online such products as blank media. In all honesty once I won’t be able to locally purchase blank media for my 780 – it will be time to get rid of it and build a media-center from a dedicated PC that will connect to my A/V system. Hope I don’t have to do that soon as I love using my 780. In any case, I’m seriously considering building a RAID system to back up and play-out all my DVDs. With 1TB HDDs so cheap now and with a RAID system being almost fail safe against losing data, it seems like a wise step to take in the near future.

As far as longevity is a concern using regular x16 media – I know I’m taking a leak against the wind here:o but I’ve been burning/trading DVDRs (using my PC) for a few years now and I have had not one failure so far.(as long as the disc works after the initial burn) I believe in proper storage and taking care of things. I hear horror stories here about newer JVC VCRs busting apart within’ a couple of years but I had my 2002 HR-S3911U since 2002 with very, very heavy use and it still works like new. It was my one and only time shifter / archiver ‘till Sept. 2009. I hear horror stories about VHS tapes not tracking properly yet I have tapes dating back to 1983 and all my tapes track just fine, including Hi Fi tracking. I attribute this to using SP, storing and handling tapes properly and certainly not stacking any weight on top of tapes as I see many folks doing and wondering why their tapes no longer work. I think the same principle applies to DVD R discs. 1) record in proper X speed. 2) store and handle properly. 3) DO NOT STACK dvd r discs on top of each other.

Sorry for the loooong rant and thank you DigaDO and CitiBear for all the great info…I still get amazed at all the stuff you guys share.:)

doswonk1

07-27-10, 07:48 PM

But, I still find it a pain-in-the-ass having to order online such products as blank media. In all honesty once I won’t be able to locally purchase blank media for my 780 – it will be time to get rid of it and build a media-center from a dedicated PC that will connect to my A/V system. Hope I don’t have to do that soon as I love using my 780.

Living out in the boonies where retail options are limited, I guess I'm just getting used to ordering, basically, everything but groceries over the Internet. So I find it relatively easily to monitor my inventory and order up 200 or so (or 2,000) blank discs as needed. But then, I've also never had a used for cash station machines.

But the customs hassle remains for you, so I see your point.

Building the dedicated media-center PC is surely the power user way to go, and I may follow you some day. But I just like separate, discrete, dedicated components. (Oddly enough, I've spent more than the cost of a rather snazzy HTPC on my multiple back-up HDD DVD recorders!)

As far as longevity is a concern using regular x16 media – I know I’m taking a leak against the wind here:o but I’ve been burning/trading DVDRs (using my PC) for a few years now and I have had not one failure so far. I believe in proper storage and taking care of things. I hear horror stories here about newer JVC VCRs busting apart within’ a couple of years but I had my 2002 HR-S3911U since 2002 with very, very heavy use and it still works like new. It was my one and only time shifter / archiver ‘till Sept. 2009. I hear horror stories about VHS tapes not tracking properly yet I have tapes dating back to 1983 and all my tapes track just fine, including Hi Fi tracking. I attribute this to using SP, storing and handling tapes properly and certainly not stacking any weight on top of tapes as I see many folks doing and wondering why their tapes no longer work. I think the same principle applies to DVD R discs. 1) record in proper X speed. 2) store and handle properly. 3) DO NOT STACK dvd r discs on top of each other.

Much good common sense here. A lot about equipment longevity depends on (1) luck of getting a well-made one to begin with and (2) how you use it and take care of it. Every piece of A/V gear I've ever tossed looked like it had just come out of its original box, minus some fingerprints and light surface scratches (few of those even, really).

I'd make a point about my first JVC VCR, which lasted barely 5 years, and was on an iron lung for the last 1.5. But I also had a Mitsubishi, the brand I'm a big fan of, die after only a little longer time (and another obtained in 1998 that's still running fine). I found that JVC and subsequent ones I've owned to be a little finickier with *marginal* tapes than the Mitsus, but I've dubbed a *lot* of T-160, even T-180 tapes recorded at EP to DVD using a JVC deck and it worked just fine.

Anyway, I'm rambling.......um, what he said! :cool:

DigaDo

07-28-10, 12:23 PM

Breyean

07-28-10, 02:48 PM

Daily Service:

Family Room:
EH55
E500
EH75
EZ27
EZ47
Mag 2160 (upgraded to 500gb hdd)

I use the digital tuners on the EZ27 and 47 to feed to the hard drives on the EH55 and 75, which with their upconverting give pretty good pictures on my plasma tv.

Bedrooms:
E85
EH50 (2x)
EH75
EZ27(4x)
EZ47
Mag 2160 (500gb hdd upgrade)
Philips 3576
Philips 3575

These are used for long term backups of movies/tv shows.

I also use an E500 and an EH50 to copy and dub movies/tv shows I get from the library.

Spares:
EH55(7x)
EH75
E500(5x)
EH50(3x)
EZ475(2x)
EZ27
T6070
T3040
Mag 2160(2x) with 500 gb hdd upgrades

Wow. Don't show this list to my wife. I didn't know I was this bad!

FullOnShred

07-28-10, 03:03 PM

In order of purchase.

1- Panasonic DMR-ES10K - living room

No HDD. Capable of recording and playback of all Formats except DVD+RW. Daily "throwaways" recorder using RAM so I can chase play/speed play. Fast erase with RAM discs. Also use as a backup for important "1 shot only" recordings such as basketball games.

2- Philips DVDR 3455/37 - living room

3- SV2000 WV20V6 - currently not connected

4- Sylvania HDRV200f - living room

5- Phillips DVDR 3576H - living room

6- Magnavox H2160MW9 - living room

7- Magnavox H2160MW9 - bedroom

8- Hauppauge WinTV HVR1600 TV Card - computer room

Church AV Guy

07-28-10, 04:15 PM

Summary of post:
E85
E500 (7x)
EH50 (6x)
EH55 (8x)
EH75 (3x)
EZ27 (6x)
EZ47 (2x)
EZ475(2x)
Mag 2160 (4x) (upgraded to 500gb hdd)
Philips 3576
Philips 3575
T6070
T3040

:eek:Um, GULP!:eek:

I count 42 recorders. 42*:eek: (Eight! EH55s! Really, eight?!?)

I thought I was bad. You are now my idol! I am humbled to be on the same forum as you.

jjeff

07-28-10, 05:13 PM

I'm glad Breyean doesn't live in my town, I'm guessing many are purchased used on Craigslist and alike and I'd never have a change to snag one up. The way it is I probably grab 20% of the Panasonics I see and probably 50% of the ones w/hdd that I see. I did once see a great deal on a EH-75v(something like $120) but I let it slide. I don't care so much that the combos are so tall(~2x of a non VHS Panny) and several inches deeper. Besides I knew I'd never use the VHS part and I felt I should give someone else the great deal. I was surprised it stayed listed for at least a week, anyone who knew that recorder would have known what a steel it was.
I think Breyean even has Digado beat, and that's saying a LOT!:D All take a bow to Breyean:cool:

Breyean

07-28-10, 06:38 PM

You know, I didn't even know I had all of them until I looked to list them in this thread. The Mags are recent additions, but the Pannys I've been accumulating over the years.

Yes, most of them I got used, but I have one brand new EH55 sealed in a box at the bottom of my closet. I figure when the Panasonic service center runs out of parts this will be my last stand machine.

I actually had more a couple of years ago, but when my son got out of college I gave him two EH55s and a T3040. Plus we swap an E500 back and forth that we use for old tv series that we each like to share and watch. I do that sometimes instead of dubbing a bunch of discs. I just swap it out when we visit.

doswonk1

07-28-10, 06:44 PM

I like Breyean. He makes me feel like I have total control over my habit. My collection seems positively modest in comparison to his. :)

But this Craigslist the jjeff speaks of......I paid a quick visit and checked out the local offerings. Hmmmmmm......

BTW, back in 2006, I picked up my first DMR-ES15 (from CircuitCity.com, BTW), with the idea of using it as a backup for my HDD recorder and, when said HDD machine cacked, getting a "poor man's HDD" by using RAM discs in the ES15. Where the PQ of EP-speed VHS tapes never bothered me, suddenly the idea of Panasonic LP PQ--and getting *only* 4 hours of record time at that--seemed unacceptable.

The whole scheme was superseded by the relative ease of getting Pioneer DVD-450s and -460s from Canadian eBay sellers.

Also, I've been thinking of using the EZ-17 and EZ-27 simply as tuners. The tuner PQ from those things is very impressive. But.....I have a Samsung TIR-451 HD tuner sitting around, too. (I have no need for the HD output, but fortunately it offers composite and S-video outputs.

Anybody else feel the need to start a database to document your hardware holdings?

panasonicman06

07-29-10, 02:40 AM

Well, finally, I can add in my listing here.
I had an Original First U.S. Run Pioneer Elite DVR-7000.
I recently got a Pioneer 640H.
I'll try to show you some pictures.

wajo

07-29-10, 10:41 PM

Today I removed the rear cover of a Funai DVD drive, model N78E0CUN, manufactured in February 2006. I snapped several photos, three of which are attached.
That's not the DVD drive in the Philips 3575/6 or Mag 2080/2160/2160A, so which Funai recorder is it from?

DigaDo

07-31-10, 12:41 PM

That's not the DVD drive in the Philips 3575/6 or Mag 2080/2160/2160A, so which Funai recorder is it from?

Post #124 now has a photo of a Funai DVD drive manufactured in 2008. Notice the cautions in that post.

jjeff

07-31-10, 12:53 PM

Well add another EH-50 to my list:o
$20 on Craigslist:eek: and it was like new, even included the box. The ad was rather odd. In it the seller made references to the fact that newer and better DVDRs are coming out every year:confused:
Other than the EH-55 with upconverting, I don't think it got much better than the EH-50 (unless you count the internationals).

DigaDo

07-31-10, 01:24 PM

Westly-C

07-31-10, 02:26 PM

Well add another EH-50 to my list:o
$20 on Craigslist:eek: and it was like new, even included the box. .
Green with envy....:mad::mad:
Why can't I ever find great deals like this. Grrr.

;)

jjeff

07-31-10, 02:42 PM

Perhaps the seller was referring to the Magnavox HDD/DVD recorders. Just a thought.

She was very nice but I don't think too tech savy. It looked like she had a ~40" flat screen LCD and cable co DVR. She wanted to make sure I knew the recorder was only for analog channels. I told her I didn't care since I'd only be recording from it's line input anyway. Kind of felt bad getting it for so cheap, of course I didn't try and get her to lower her price, it was MORE than fair. Now to find such a deal on a HDD Pio;)

DigaDo

07-31-10, 04:00 PM

That's not the DVD drive in the Philips 3575/6 or Mag 2080/2160/2160A, so which Funai recorder is it from?

The pictured DVD drive is from a Toshiba D-RW2 DVD recorder manufactured by Funai in February 2006. Notice the servicing cautions in post #124.

For a photographic comparison of three Funai-manufactured DVD recorders of 2006 vintage see this post and the post following it:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18808146#post18808146

panasonicman06

07-31-10, 10:59 PM

She was very nice but I don't think too tech savy. It looked like she had a ~40" flat screen LCD and cable co DVR. She wanted to make sure I knew the recorder was only for analog channels. I told her I didn't care since I'd only be recording from it's line input anyway. Kind of felt bad getting it for so cheap, of course I didn't try and get her to lower her price, it was MORE than fair. Now to find such a deal on a HDD Pio;)

I Recently found a deal on a Pioneer
HDD Model number 640H off of ebay for I think $250 before shipping.
Came with Remote, Original Manual, some cables includeing
Red, Green, Blue cables.
Maybe not a great deal, but concidering that you don't see too many of
these on there to begin with, I thought it was a Fair price.
Ironically, I paid $300 for my Pioneer Elite DVR-7000,
back in Aug, 2004 slightly used, and I have used it
HEAVILLY ever since. I got it from a guy who lived 1 mile south
of where I used to work, and it was only 20 minutes away from home.

em-t-wallitt

08-01-10, 04:38 AM

Well add another EH-50 to my list:o
$20 on Craigslist:eek: and it was like new, even included the box.

An excellent deal, jjeff. I saw an ES10 go for $10 and I thought that was cheap!

Green with envy....:mad::mad:
Why can't I ever find great deals like this. Grrr.

;)

You have to watch craigslist like a hawk and check it often. I saw two Toshiba HDD recorders whose owners are selling them for $70 and $80 respectively, while some other seller got $120 for a Sony RDR-HX780. I'm still looking for some Pioneer deals. ;)

Church AV Guy

08-02-10, 01:43 PM

Green with envy....:mad::mad:
Why can't I ever find great deals like this. Grrr.

;)
I can never find these deals either, so I'm with you. And envy is such a vile sin.:D

ti-triodes

08-02-10, 08:10 PM

I'm glad I'm not on the top of this list! I've been feeling so guilty I recently sold 2 HDD recorders! :o

Sony 715
Panny E80
Panny EH 55
Panny EH 58
Panny EH 69
Pio 460 (3)
Philips 3575 (2)
Philips 3576 (2) 1 upgraded to 500g
Maggy 2080 upgraded to 500g
Maggy 2160 (2)
Sylvania 200F HDD and VCR
LG 890 (2)
LG 880

Just sold a Pola 80g and Sharp 300.

All are DVD/HDD and I know I'm forgetting one. :confused:

All the LG's were picked up dirt cheap on fleabay, there's no love for these bad boys. The HDD's work great, but the DVD sections are quirky, to say the least.;)
The Sylvania was my cousin's. I talked him into getting one to transfer his video tapes, but the unit came with a bad HDD. $30 fixed that, but his wife broke my b*lls about it every time she saw me, so I bought it back from him. You better believe it was at a discount!!!

If we're counting DVD players, add another 10 to the list. :o

DVDRECORERJUNKIE

08-04-10, 01:40 AM

I now have the following Panasonic DVD Recorders:

E50 (1)
E60 (1)
ES10 (2)
ES15 (4) One still unopened in box purchased for $50 on Craigslist
E85H (1) Still haven't sent it in to Panasonic for repairs
EH50 (2)
EH55 (1) Just acquired this machine on Craigslist for $100, used in excellent condition plus the HDD wasn't never used at all (the owner didn't understand how to use it). Believe it or not, I drove 140 miles round trip for this great machine (I am a DVD RECORDER JUNKIE you know).

I bought an E80H DVD Recorder 2 years ago for $40 on Craigslist & immediately sold it on Ebay for $280. That model not having HS dub didn't appeal to me.

I just bought a used Pioneer DVR-533H off craigslist for $40. It came with the original remote & power cord. I'm probably going to list it on Ebay. Was this considered a great recorder when it came out?

CitiBear

08-04-10, 04:19 AM

I just bought a used Pioneer DVR-533H off craigslist for $40. It came with the original remote & power cord. I'm probably going to list it on Ebay. Was this considered a great recorder when it came out?

It was considered the recorder sent from hell to torment previously loyal Pioneer owners. It was the recorder that nearly killed TVGOS singlehandedly, and almost took Pioneer down with it. It was the recorder with such an atrocious reputation for unrepairable breakdowns that it drove Pioneer to give up making their own machines and rush into a co-production deal with archrival Sony, just so they could quickly get a new recorder design in the pipeline in time to swap out for all the 533s that came in for warranty service and could not be repaired.

Seriously, its the only P.O.S. recorder Pioneer ever made, an engineering disaster. When it worked, it recorded as well as any other Pioneer, the problem was they seldom worked right, wore their HDDs out quickly because of their faulty TVGOS implementation, and few survive now in truly functional condition. If someone let it go on Craigs List for $40, its either already dead or they just couldn't figure out how to operate it manually once analog TVGOS was killed during the ATSC switchover (the 531-533-633 are almost completely dependent on TVGOS). Of course, there are a few (very few) 533 owners who wished on a star and tripped over a four leaf clover the day they bought their recorders, and have never had a minutes trouble from them (our own Sean Nelson being one of the lucky ones).

If it powers on without an HDD ERR display, count yourself fortunate and list it on eBay immediately before it explodes. And unless you want to deal with idiots buying it and then forcing a refund out of you via eBays "not as described" policy, make damn sure you choose the "For Parts Or Not Working" condition tab when you format the listing: don't take chances with eBay freezing your PayPal over the stupid thing. Start it at $99, theres always some gambler who thinks they can fix them and will pay at least that. The remote alone is worth $35.

jjeff

08-04-10, 08:55 AM

Seriously, its the only P.O.S. recorder Pioneer ever made, an engineering disaster.....

Yes if I learned one thing about Pioneer DVDRs(w/hdd) it's to NOT purchase one with TVGOS:p Oh and I think Citibear left out one important word on the sentence I quoted. I think it should read:
Seriously, its the only P.O.S. HDD recorder Pioneer ever made, an engineering disaster.....
Pioneer also marketed(but I've read they didn't actually make) a POS combo DVDR, which I unfortunately owned for a short time.
Personally I'm looking for one of the x5x series hdd recorders, sounds like they might have the sharpest encoders, that or the "Sonyish" x6x series.
Although it sounds like I won't be the only one with both a Panny and Pio, looks like ti-triodes not only has Pannys and Pios but also Funai, Sony and LGs to boot! Now that's diversification:cool:

Kelson

08-04-10, 09:01 AM

I love it when someone resurrects these memory-lane threads. Gee Church, you and I have been around here quite a long time. I found this funny from 5 yrs ago to today.Wow JustinCheckin, that's eight machines that you currently own--very impressive. My wife would be very, very annoyed with me if I did that. I have three, and she thinks I'm out of my mind owning that many!

Panasonic E85 - 1
Panasonic EH50 - 2

I was really surprised when I realized that I had over ten DVD recorders. that's the number I associated with obsession! I have gotten myself down to nine, so I am no longer in that category (in my mind anyway).:D

My first recorder was a Panasonic E85. I have/currently own:

E85*
EH50 (2)
EH55 (2)
EH75 (2)
EH67*
EH68*
EH59
EH69
Polaroid <something>How's your wife been handling your growing collection :)

In contrast, 5 yr ago for me:I have only 1 unit (I feel like the poor relation).

Panasonic E-85

I only write RAMs on it for transfer to my PC.
I do 99% of all my editing/authoring/burning on the PC.And today = the same. Only ever needed one recorder, which served faithfully until I moved on to HD.

CitiBear

08-04-10, 11:38 AM

Personally I'm looking for one of the x5x series hdd recorders, sounds like they might have the sharpest encoders, that or the "Sonyish" x6x series.

The only "Bad" DVD/HDD Pioneers are the 2005 US/Canada models with TVGOS, the 531-533-633. The lame Pioneer-rebranded combo VHS/DVD units are actually quite rare, aside from jjeff I've not heard of anyone who actually owned one. These were made only for two years, 2004 and 2005, and there was a DVD-only version (model 233) which is equally poor. Never did figure out who made these for Pioneer, they are cruder than anything seen by any cheap OEM factorys at the time.

The 2003 model 510 and 2004 model 520 remain excellent machines for making TV recordings, but they don't handle tape dubbing chores very well. Their encoders are optimized for TV inputs. The 2005 series is the accursed TVGOS models, forget those. The 2006 model 640 was very reliable, the first Pioneer with DVD-RAM features, and great with all types of inputs, but its encoder is a tad muddy compared to later models. The 2007 x50 series and final 2008 x60 series were nearly identical and Pioneers high water mark: basically the superb 640 chassis but with improved, sharper encoder chips and HDMI connectivity. The only significant differences between the x50 and x60 models are the remote style they shipped with, and that most x50 units can be upgraded to larger HDDs while the x60 won't format larger drives to anything but their original capacity (similar to the limits embedded in Panasonics and Sonys). The Sony RDR-HX780 is kind of puzzling: its really a 640 with the same less-than-stellar video encoder but added HDMI connection. If you can find one cheap (well under $300) its a good buy, but if going higher than $300 the upgraded Pio x50 or x60 is much better value.

Thats the history of North American Pioneer models, those who live in other regions had many more choices I couldn't begin to cover. Pioneer made a rather ridiculous number of similar models customized in various ways for different parts of the world, and some were better than others. A few really interesting models were never distributed broadly, for example I've been contacted by several AVS members in the Asia/Pacific region for advice on how to repair their unique DVD/VHS/HDD triple-combo recorders. I had a heckuva time just verifying they existed and finding pictures of them: turns out these were variations on the Panasonic EH-75V idea but using the Pioneer 550 chassis! I bet DigaDo would have loved playing with one of those!

doswonk1

08-04-10, 01:54 PM

The only "Bad" DVD/HDD Pioneers are the 2005 US/Canada models with TVGOS, the 531-533-633.

As I understand it, these models stored all the TVGOS data on the HDD itself, rather than in a separate, flash memory. So the HDD was always cranking--reading, writing, updating TVGOS data. Somehow, TVGOS would lock up the HDD, which would in turn take down the whole unit.

My Panny E85 came with TVGOS--one of the best implementations of it on a DVD recorder, I'm told--and I have to say I found it kind of handy in a "it's there so I might as well use it" way. But I never swore by it. Swore at it a few times when I missed recordings because of what I suspect were TVGOS glitches. After that, I just used it to look up programming and set the timers manually.

The lame Pioneer-rebranded combo VHS/DVD units are actually quite rare, aside from jjeff I've not heard of anyone who actually owned one. These were made only for two years, 2004 and 2005, and there was a DVD-only version (model 233) which is equally poor. Never did figure out who made these for Pioneer, they are cruder than anything seen by any cheap OEM factorys at the time.

Yep, I have one of the VHS/DVD units in my front hall closet--DVR-T502 (or something along those lines). Picked it up for what I thought was a good price (ca. $125) from a Canadian eBay seller in early 2008. Even now, I'm not sure why I wanted it. Rarity. I was in DVD recorder hording mode. VHS still played a large enough role in my life that I found the VHS side of the thing potentially handy. I'm a gadget geek. All of the above, most likely.

I suspect they were "transitional" models meant to be sold only for that short time when people were transitioning to DVD but weren't ready to let go of their VHS security blanket. By 2006 there were DVRs for the mainstream time-shifters, and media viewers had either replaced their VHS tapes with DVDs or were getting their content from Netflix or even web streaming.

Shooting from the hip, I see a visual similarity on the front panel with contemporary Panasonic VHS/DVD recorders. Your comment about the Panasonic guts/Pio case HDD/DVD/VHS hybrids gives this theory a smidge more support.

A few really interesting models were never distributed broadly, for example I've been contacted by several AVS members in the Asia/Pacific region for advice on how to repair their unique DVD/VHS/HDD triple-combo recorders. I had a heckuva time just verifying they existed and finding pictures of them: turns out these were variations on the Panasonic EH-85V idea but using the Pioneer 550 chassis! I bet DigaDo would have loved playing with one of those!

Man, I'd love to see those. You got links to images?

Church AV Guy

08-04-10, 02:03 PM

Wow JustinCheckin, that's eight machines that you currently own--very impressive. My wife would be very, very annoyed with me if I did that. I have three, and she thinks I'm out of my mind owning that many!

Panasonic E85 - 1
Panasonic EH50 - 2

I was really surprised when I realized that I had over ten DVD recorders. that's the number I associated with obsession! I have gotten myself down to nine, so I am no longer in that category (in my mind anyway).:D

My first recorder was a Panasonic E85. I have/currently own:

E85*
EH50 (2)
EH55 (2)
EH75 (2)
EH67*
EH68*
EH59
EH69
Polaroid <something>

I love it when someone resurrects these memory-lane threads. Gee Church, you and I have been around here quite a long time. I found this funny from 5 yrs ago to today.

How's your wife been handling your growing collection :)

Making fun of me again?:mad: :D

Well, I have managed to give her reason to appreciate my DVD recorder collection. I now have Masterpiece Classic as a record-all option on my DVR, so she gets all those titles from me. (How many times can someone watch Cranfield, and Return to Cranfield? Really!:eek:) I also have recorded the "Rosemary & Thyme" series, and others. I think I have made four or five versions "Sense and Sensibility" and "The Scarlet Pimpernel." For some reason, her attitude has softened.:)

but thanks for asking.:rolleyes:

CitiBear

08-04-10, 05:05 PM

Yep, I have one of the VHS/DVD units in my front hall closet--DVR-T502. I suspect they were "transitional" models meant to be sold only for that short time when people were transitioning to DVD but weren't ready to let go of their VHS security blanket.[...] Shooting from the hip, I see a visual similarity on the front panel with contemporary Panasonic VHS/DVD recorders. Your comment about the Panasonic guts/Pio case HDD/DVD/VHS hybrids gives this theory a smidge more support.

Actually, I didn't mean to imply the rare Pio triple combos were made by Panasonic, I was just using the EH-75V as a reference to the type of machine. The cheesy DVR-T300 / DVR-T500 dvd/vhs series and the DVD-only DVR-233 had no flex or in-between recording speeds whatsoever, which leaves out Panasonic or JVC as possible OEM mfrs.

Man, I'd love to see those. You got links to images?

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products/archive/DVR-RT601H-S/index.html

This used a casing design and front panel similar to the crummy VHS/DVD model, but adds the better encoder, HDD and full Pioneer operating system of the well-regarded 2005 European DVD/HDD model 530. The interface, editing and flex record speeds are identical to the later 640, 550 and 560.

http://www.amazon.de/Pioneer-DVR-RT-VHS-Festplatten-Rekorder-silber/dp/B000GPPN3I

This was the 2006 update, adding the DVD-RAM multidrive and so-so video encoder from the model 640. I haven't been able to track down my correspondence with my AVS friends who had the final recent Asian version, with the 550/560 encoder upgrades- without the specific model number I can't supply a link.

Church AV Guy

08-04-10, 07:27 PM

Thats the history of North American Pioneer models, those who live in other regions had many more choices I couldn't begin to cover. Pioneer made a rather ridiculous number of similar models customized in various ways for different parts of the world, and some were better than others. A few really interesting models were never distributed broadly, for example I've been contacted by several AVS members in the Asia/Pacific region for advice on how to repair their unique DVD/VHS/HDD triple-combo recorders. I had a heckuva time just verifying they existed and finding pictures of them: turns out these were variations on the Panasonic EH-85V idea but using the Pioneer 550 chassis! I bet DigaDo would have loved playing with one of those!
I have found no reference to an EH-85V. Can you share the URL where this is pictured and described?

CitiBear

08-04-10, 08:12 PM

Sorry, ChurchAVGuy: I really need to get all thoughts of the EH-85V out of my brain, I keep mentioning it only to find out I'm the only one who ever saw a passing reference to it.:o Going forward I'll try to catch myself and switch to EH-75V so that others will know what the heck I'm talking about.:o A lot of people send me PMs discussing a lot of different regional recorders, since I myself can't find any links to an EH-85V now either it may have been a typo or mistranslation.

wajo

08-04-10, 08:18 PM

Panny EH85 in the U.K. (http://www.avforums.com/forums/dvd-blu-ray-recorders-media/299891-panasonic-eh85-dvd-rw-recording.html)

Church AV Guy

08-05-10, 01:20 PM

Yeah, I agree, trying to keep track of all the regional recorders from even one manufacturer is a daunting task. There are bunches of whole product lines I have never heard of out there. I was just thinking that referenced EH85 might have been a typo of EH75.

I found the page reference that wajo came up with, but not an official page with picture and description. At least not so far.

doswonk1

08-05-10, 01:44 PM

Actually, when Citibear corrected me for incorrectly reading his original comment about the EH-85V, I thought he'd made it up as a theoretical, post-EH-75V "super" Panny HDD/VHS DVDR. But there really was an EH-85V and he was talking about Pio executing a conceptually similar HDD/VHS/DVDR machine.

Also, I looked at the Pio DVR-RT502 last night and realized the it *does not* look at like a contemporary Panasonic VHS/DVDR. I had acquired one of the Pannies (an EZ-47, I think) at about the same time and I was remembering it. Which explains why the mental picture looked SO much like a Panny! :o

bron

08-26-10, 09:11 PM

It was considered the recorder sent from hell to torment previously loyal Pioneer owners... ..

Thanks for a big laugh -- great post!

indybill

08-27-10, 10:12 PM

I own all Panasonic recorders.
An E-55, ES-15 and two EH-55's which I use for all my recordings that I will edit the commercials out of and copy to disc. For regular network shows that I want to watch once and delete I use my Comcast Motorola DVR. All DVD movies, CD's and discs I have burned are watched on a Sony DVD player to save wear and tear on the recorders.

crabboy

08-28-10, 01:09 AM

Just added a Panny DMR EA-18. Have it hooked up directly to my Dish STB. Works okay. Like my ES-15 better.

Super Eye

08-31-10, 11:51 PM

Once a 2006-2008 Sony recorder multidrive gets dirty, it begins a slow decline and nothing will stop it. You can arrest it for a very long period (years) by switching to 8x media once you notice frequent failures with 16x media. But nothing else short of a complete burner replacement will help.
In the "dirty" Pios I've tested, 8x DVD-/+R and 2.7x R/W and DVD-RAM all still work normally, only the 16x media is disabled. My two four-year-old 540s stopped accepting 16x two years ago, but I frequently burn all other media in them with no problem.
Has anyone used the Verbatim 6x-RW DVDs ( http://www.verbatim.com/products/detail.cfm?product_id=1F999E4B-65B0-5A0F-866631E03968001E&cat_id=77BCE119-1143-3415-5F5FF7C0657C76E6) with the Pioneer or Sony clone recorders? I’m wondering if the actual HSD will handle 6x speeds with –RW media. According to my 780 manual, the recorder is capable of 6x HSD using –RW media but I’d like to hear from actual users.

This may be an option for me once the recorder starts displaying the “dirty spindle” symptoms in a year or so as 8x –R media is almost impossible to get around here but 6x –RW media is becoming common. I would never archive on –RW. AZO die -R 16x Verbs are cheap and easy to get locally and I would simply clone the 6x –RW with an AZO die –R 16x Verb with my PC.

Church AV Guy

09-01-10, 12:50 PM

Chuckle. Not wanting to become the language police, but this just made me laugh.
.
.
.
I would never archive on –RW. AZO die -R 16x Verbs are cheap and easy to get locally and I would simply clone the 6x –RW with an AZO die –R 16x Verb with my PC.
Um, it's DYE, not DIE. The ironic part is, the new disks that use a different dye formulation will likely die before their time. It just struck me as funny.

kjbawc

09-04-10, 10:24 PM

Chuckle. Not wanting to become the language police, but this just made me laugh.
.
.
.

Um, it's DYE, not DIE. The ironic part is, the new disks that use a different dye formulation will likely die before their time. It just struck me as funny.

I think the more ironic part is that the new discs that are more likely to die are called Life discs...:rolleyes:

manofsteel25

09-09-10, 04:18 PM

At the moment:
Pioneer 220S
Worked great for about 4 years (Bought as a refurb in '06)and I generaly recommend it for ease-of-use. It just died with power-on issues reported by others.

Previously owned:
Sony RDR-GDX7
Bought it in Mid '05 and it only worked for about a year til I got a dreaded error code when loading a disc. Eventually sold it for repair to buy the Pioneer. During the year it worked- I liked it a lot.

Anubisrocks

09-14-10, 02:01 PM

I have my beloved Pioneer 460? (I forget the model #, but it has a 160GB HDD) It's a 4 something or other. Anyway I put it in storage to preserve it because I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I also have a Mag 2160A which is currently in service...well, it will be once I learn it. I just got done updating the firmware.

CitiBear

09-14-10, 08:09 PM

Has anyone used the Verbatim 6x-RW DVDs ( http://www.verbatim.com/products/detail.cfm?product_id=1F999E4B-65B0-5A0F-866631E03968001E&cat_id=77BCE119-1143-3415-5F5FF7C0657C76E6) with the Pioneer or Sony clone recorders?

I haven't tried it, because I almost never use RW (unlike the Sony version, the Pioneers can record DVD-RAM, so I use that instead of RW). Most likely your Sony 780 (and similar Pioneers) could handle the newer faster RW, but no way of knowing til you try. It may be wise to set your expectations low and not hope for a miracle workaround, because the Sony/Pio failure with 16x R is not entirely due to worn or dirty spindles: there is also the dye factor to contend with. Despite being designed in 2008, these machines just aren't all that compatible with "speed-bumped" discs- like most other standalones, their specs are still stubbornly built around the "ideal" Japanese 8x R and 2.7x RW dyes. When brand new, the Pio/Sony laser is strong enough to tear thru any random disc you load, but as it ages it eventually loses that ability and gets locked into "8x or bust" mode. I tend to think it would have the same response to the newer 6x RW media: even though 6x seems "slow", its more than double the speed of typical RW, just like 16x doubled the 8x R standard. This might cause the same kind of allergic reaction as 16x bargain media, especially if the machine has already developed the dusty spindle issue.

Its pretty disgusting to hear there is NO authorized distributor of TY/JVC media anywhere in Canada, I'm really sorry you're between a rock and a hard place with this issue. What the heck are Canadians who want archival media supposed to do, now that Verbatim is dancing the waltz of death with CMC? Move to redundant HDD storage arrays?

DigaDo

09-14-10, 08:30 PM

...This might cause the same kind of allergic reaction as 16x bargain media, especially if the machine has already developed the dusty spindle issue.

Its pretty disgusting to hear there is NO authorized distributor of TY/JVC media anywhere in Canada, I'm really sorry you're between a rock and a hard place with this issue. What the heck are Canadians who want archival media supposed to do, now that Verbatim is dancing the waltz of death with CMC? Move to redundant HDD storage arrays?

A couple of weeks ago I suggested that Pioneer owners might want to consider these procedures to clean DVD Drive spindles:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=19130480#post19130480

Here is one Canadian seller's listing of Taiyo Yuden 8x Premium Line DVD-R media (regularly priced at $25.95 for a spindle of 100):

https://www.blankmedia.ca/proddetail3.asp?id=303

I've posted this same link several times in recent months. Notice that this seller also has Verbatim AZO series and DataLifePlus media.

Super Eye

09-15-10, 01:16 AM

Most likely your Sony 780 (and similar Pioneers) could handle the newer faster RW, but no way of knowing til you try. It may be wise to set your expectations low and not hope for a miracle workaround, because the Sony/Pio failure with 16x R is not entirely due to worn or dirty spindles: there is also the dye factor to contend with. Despite being designed in 2008, these machines just aren't all that compatible with "speed-bumped" discs- like most other standalones, their specs are still stubbornly built around the "ideal" Japanese 8x R and 2.7x RW dyes. When brand new, the Pio/Sony laser is strong enough to tear thru any random disc you load, but as it ages it eventually loses that ability and gets locked into "8x or bust" mode. I tend to think it would have the same response to the newer 6x RW media: even though 6x seems "slow", its more than double the speed of typical RW, just like 16x doubled the 8x R standard. This might cause the same kind of allergic reaction as 16x bargain media, especially if the machine has already developed the dusty spindle issue.

I may pick up a few 6x DVD-RWs in the next few months. Not for my 780 but for my PC burner. I time shift some stuff I download from Europe that’s not available here. I don’t archive this stuff so I burn it on my 2x DVD-RWs. A few discs are starting to get finicky due to many rewrite cycles so its time for new –RW discs. If my Sony 780 starts to act up with 16x –Rs, I will try the 6x –RW discs in it.

Regarding TaiyoYuden discs:
There are online sources in Canada for TaiyoYuden discs. Hopefully you folks in the US will be able to see this on-the-fly generated link (http://www.shopbot.ca/pp-taiyo-yuden-4-7gb-dvd-r-100-pack-taiyo-yuden-price-24736.html). It’s just that I hate ordering stuff on line, especially simple things like blank media.

I found out that a computer store located only a few blocks from a place that I visit at least once a month does carry TaiyoYuden DVD-R 8X 4.7GB 100DISC Spindle Shiny Silver Top ($27 pick-up price at time of posting).
Here are the links:

Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 8X Shiney Silver Top $27.00 (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=21929&vpn=TAIYO%2F0015&manufacture=Taiyo%20Yuden)

Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 8X Inkjet Hub Printable $28.20 (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=18340&vpn=TRUBLU/0009&manufacture=Trublu)

However there is no media ID. How can I know if these are premium or value-line discs?
Also, if you read the comments, a person states “These discs may say 8x on Ncix, but I have gotten 20x on my burner” I googled for some info and I found many user-comments stating similar comments regarding TaiyoYuden DVD-R 8X discs and speeds. So what gives? How will I know that my Pio/Sony won’t have a fit with these discs?

On another note I have never heard of a 780 owner complaining about the “dirty spindle” syndrome. Is it possible that Sony addressed this issue with a better firmware that tells the DVD drive not to over-spin? In any case, if my 780 will develop the “dirty spindle” syndrome, and if the x6 –RW won’t work - I will either decide to keep it, burn 2x DVD-RW and clone on PC or if I get sick of doing this, I will put the 780 on eBay, of course I’ll explain the “dirty spindle” syndrome and probably still get a good price from a power user.

If/when my 780 develops the slipping, I will report back on using 6x –RW media.

CitiBear

09-15-10, 02:24 AM

Regarding TaiyoYuden discs:
There are online sources in Canada for TaiyoYuden discs. (...) It’s just that I hate ordering stuff on line, especially simple things like blank media.

Unfortunately the days of "but I don't like ordering things online" are completely over for anyone with an interest in anything that is remotely good quality: if it doesn't sell dirt cheap at the local strip mall, it gets shunted aside to online vendors. Thats the reality today: mass market or no market. If you want to use a DVD recorder or make optical disc archives of PC data, the only choices are the TY/JVC 8x or Verbatim 8x, and these are almost never available in stores (one reason TY recently bought the JVC name, to try and get more retail presence and stop being an online niche brand).

I found out that a computer store located only a few blocks from a place that I visit at least once a month does carry TaiyoYuden DVD-R 8X 4.7GB 100DISC Spindle Shiny Silver Top ($27 pick-up price at time of posting). (...) However there is no media ID. How can I know if these are premium or value-line discs?

Well that solves your availability problems rather nicely! Going by the photos in your links, that vendor is indeed selling the "premium" discs: the first-quality TY/JVC discs are the only ones offered in a plastic cakebox. The "rejects" and some of the 16x are packaged as "value line" or "bulk packaging" and are sold in bare shrinkwrap with no plastic cakebox.

Also, if you read the comments, a person states “These discs may say 8x on Ncix, but I have gotten 20x on my burner” I googled for some info and I found many user-comments stating similar comments regarding TaiyoYuden DVD-R 8X discs and speeds. So what gives? How will I know that my Pio/Sony won’t have a fit with these discs?

The people who make those comments are the same PC-burning speedfreak wingnuts who caused the whole 8x vs 16x disaster in the first place:mad:. God forbid they should have to settle for pirating a PlayStation game or movie rental in eight minutes instead of six:rolleyes:, their lives are so filled with important things they could be doing with those two minutes. The comments just mean those users set their PC software to burn faster than the rated speed of the discs, and got away with it. Such comments are often misleading because vendors fail to organize them under the correct product heading: many buyers opt for the bulk or "value line" discs which are not packaged by TY themselves, they are third party offerings that often mix 16x and 8x "rejects" in the same package. While I've heard of 8x discs being burned up to 12x, those claiming "20x" probably don't realize they got 16x mixed in the package. That, or TY/JVC is doing something new with the 8x...

On another note I have never heard of a 780 owner complaining about the “dirty spindle” syndrome. Is it possible that Sony addressed this issue with a better firmware that tells the DVD drive not to over-spin?

There have been several posts on AVS about the 780 developing this problem, and many others on European AV forums (the 780 is a one-off model in Canada that didn't sell well, but in Europe/Asia the 680, 780, 980 and 1080 were a very popular lineup until Sony shot themselves in the foot by replacing them with horrible Samsung-sourced models for 2010). Sony made the burners for both the Pioneer and Sony versions, the only difference being the RAM capability is active in the Pioneers but suppressed in the 780. The eventual laser wear and spindle slippage symptoms have nothing to do with the firmware: its 60% the lousy dyes in the faster media and 40% aging of the laser and spindle. The only machines in the history of DVD/HDD recorders that will burn anything anytime anywhere are the Panasonics made between 2005-today, with the 2006 models considered the sturdiest. And even those are subject to ridiculously frequent spindle issues, with a significant percentage developing laser failure on par with other brands. Standalone recorders are by nature finicky beasts, PCs are far less eccentric when it comes to burning but they have other equally annoying defects. Nothing is perfect.

As long as TY/JVC and Verbatim continue to cater to the data archiving crowd with their old-school 8x media, your Sony 780 will be fully usable.

MarkB49

09-16-10, 02:44 PM

Saw an ad on a Sony GX 257 at brandsmart back in april.
After about 500 hrs.
I'm satisfied.Not bad for 68.88 Have seen as low as 58.88
OTA using a Digital Stream Tuner.
TDK -R
SONY +RW

This took over a JVC 9911 Vcr i used Wayyyy too Long!!!!!

mrockstar

09-16-10, 07:18 PM

I have 3 dvd recorders: The first was a toshiba DR-5 refirb bought in late 07,still plays but wont record (weak laser?).
2nd is a Phillips DVDR3506/37 Great unit burns any disk I have tried, bought at wallmart with repair plan.
Third is Maggie 2160A bought on reconmendations from this forurm at Wallmart site to store.Love it would buy another one if I could afford it! Wojo Thank you!;)

rekoj

04-23-11, 01:55 AM

I have:
Panny DMR-E80H; Panny SA-HT1500 (DVD/HDD with home theater system); Panny DMR-ES20; Toshiba RD-XS54;, Toshiba RD-XS55; and 2 Pio DVR-550H (1st is international version, 2nd is Canadian version)
with huge pile of DVD-RAM media I cycle betweem them.

marquitos306

05-13-11, 03:16 PM

Sony RDR-GX257, bought it at Walmart on line for $54 refurbish. Good recorder with HDMI upconversion. I love my recorder.

zrdb

05-16-11, 10:38 AM

An LG LRA-516.

Dezbot

05-17-11, 03:35 PM

I have two Panny DMR-EH75Vs.

kimt

01-09-12, 07:09 PM

Dug up this classic Squonk thread to see how things have changed.
I currently have 14:eek: DVDRs(OK I'm sure Digado has me beat but not too bad:cool:) all but one are Panasonics, they are as follows:

(1) EH-59 (one of my most recent purchases, International Panasonic w/hdd)
(2) EH-55's (recently picked up the second on Craigslist)
(1) Toshiba XS-35 (picked up from the same guy I got the EH-55 from) haven't even tried it out, I'm still trying to read the book(manual). Man this thing does everything except butter my toast, he said he used it little and AFA he knows the burner is good.
(1) EH-50 (pawn shop purchase that I've been using quite a bit lately)
(1) EZ-28 (Craigslist purchase that I've used little, looks like new)
(4) ES-30v combos that refuse to quit (one regular use, 2 rarely used)
(1) ES-25 (regular use)
(3) ES-15 (one shelved, 2 in somewhat regular use)

To this list add 13:eek: DVD players, as follows:
(8) Sony's (4 regular 4 upconverters)
(1) Pioneer 410 upconverter
(1) Sammy 845 upconverter
(1) Philips (rarely used, not the best PQ)
(1) LG DVD/HDTV tuner (shelved, poor PQ on DVD side)
(1) Harmon Tec (shelved, POS)

OK all of you other collectors, how has your collection changed recently?
Oh I never bought the TR-50(and glad I didn't) but I purchased a lifetime Tivo HD and upgraded the internal hdd to 1TB. I use it for the majority of my timeshifting.

Hi , Jjeff, Church AV Guy and ti-triodes, I need help from you guys. This might not be the right place to discuss this subject, but I don’t know where to go.

My Panny EH-55 dvd drive stop reading any dvds, I have a lot un-finalized dvds, I read threads from AVS Forum, your guys saying that the Panny dvd recorders are backward compatible that they might read the un-finalized dvds written by previous models and finalize them.

Since you guys own EH-55, EH-59 or/and EH-69, I would appreciate any of you would do the experiment that dvds written by EH-55, read and finalized by EH-59 or EH-69.

I would like to find out the fact before ordering an EH-59 or EH69.

If these EH-59 or EH-69 cannot do the job, would it be working by fixing the dvd drive?

Thanks

kimt

jjeff

01-09-12, 07:27 PM

kimt

01-09-12, 08:15 PM

Yes you can finalize any of your DVDs(as long as they aren't corrupt and unfinalizable) in any Panasonic including internationals(for sure post '03 when thumbnails were added). I do this all the time. The only slight caveat with the internationals I've found out(which won't effect you) is if you title any of your recordings on a international, the titles won't carry over to a N. American Panasonic. I'm talking about unfinalized DVDs, of course finalized discs carry over.
On your second point, have you tried cleaning your EH-55's spindle? Generally thats the cause of DVD drive problems, if you have then you might want to PM mickinct, he's a member at AVS who does component level repair to Panasonic DVDRs. Your EH-55 is a very prized DVDR and would really be worth fixing. I'd guess fixing your EH-55s drive would be at least 1/2 of purchasing a new or even floor model EH-59.
Mick in out of CT but several people have shipped their units to him with very favorable reviews.
Jjeff, thank you for you answers. It was very helpful and quick.

Yes, I did clean the lens, the rubber hub/spindle area by opening the lid of dvd drive and it doesn't work. I could never have done this by myself without yours and DigaDo's instruction.

I am considering buying or fixing.

World Wide Voltage.com is selling EH-69 Pal/ntsc region free @384.99 on line. I would do some research about this website then decide what to do. It looks like buying EH-69 has an advantage.

Thank you again.

Kimt

jjeff

01-09-12, 08:25 PM

I have the EH-59(smaller HDD and no SD card reader) and it's one, if not my favorite DVDR. My EH-55s are probably my second favorite. The EH-59/69s have the advantage of a much easier to program scheduler(not TVGOS) although if you actually had a TVGOS signal, TVGOS may be easier on the EH-55. Remember the internationals don't have the IR blaster, if thats important to you.
I've never dealt with the company you mentioned, B&H, JR or WorldImport are the most mentioned companies when dealing with the internationals. Not to say the company you mentioned is bad, just haven't heard of them.

DVDRECORERJUNKIE

01-10-12, 10:08 AM

I now have the following Panasonic DVD Recorders:

E50 (1)
E60 (1)
ES10 (2)
ES15 (4) One still unopened in box purchased for $50 on Craigslist
E85H (1) Still haven't sent it in to Panasonic for repairs
EH50 (2)
EH55 (1) Just acquired this machine on Craigslist for $100, used in excellent condition plus the HDD wasn't never used at all (the owner didn't understand how to use it). Believe it or not, I drove 140 miles round trip for this great machine (I am a DVD RECORDER JUNKIE you know).

I bought an E80H DVD Recorder 2 years ago for $40 on Craigslist & immediately sold it on Ebay for $280. That model not having HS dub didn't appeal to me.

1 1/2 years later I have now sold the unopened ES15 on Ebay for $250, sold the non-working E85H for $100, bought 2 ES20s still sealed on Craigslist for $50 each & sold them for $200 each on Ebay.

Just this past Friday I bought another EH55 on Craigslist for $150. It's in perfect condition with no scatches on the unit. Only thing missing is the original box.

Although I still have 7 of them, I no longer use the non HDD DVD recorders I have. The EH50s & EH55s have me very spoiled. Great machines.

kelstertx

01-10-12, 06:59 PM

I'm a legal videographer, so I use two at a time on my cart -- one in SP mode, the other in LP.

Originals: (now in my office for editing purposes, dubbing, etc. Used for 10 yrs before upgrading)
1 x EH85
1 x EH80

Now on my cart:
1 x EH59
1 x EH67

Just ordered last night: (will probably know well by the time questions are asked of me on them)
2 x Magnavox 513H refurb

-Kelly

Munga7

01-15-12, 09:30 PM

DigaDo

01-15-12, 10:47 PM

I own a Panny DMR-EH75V and a Panny DMR EH55
I bought a Maggie H2160MW9A a few years ago when the Pannys became obsolete with the digital switchover. I must say that I have not really gotten comfy with the Maggie as I feel that it is no where near as easy to use as the Pannys are. Too bad the Pannys are pretty useless. I bought them because I refuse to pay more for a DVR from the cable company.

Pannys are obsolete and pretty useless?

In our household we have several analog tuner Panasonic DVD recorders in daily use. Currently, these Panasonic analog tuner recorders set up for daily use include two 2005 DMR-EH50 HDD/DVD models, two 2006 DMR-ES35 models, one 2006 DMR-ES25 and two 2005 DMR-ES30 models. These Panasonic recorders receive their signals from Comcast Motorola HD converter boxes, Motorola SD converter boxes, Zenith DTT901 CECBs and/or a Monoprice LKV2000 VGA to S-Video/composite RCA converter box streaming an internet subscription TV service or from other internet video sources. (On Thursday I streamed and recorded the twelve-hour 1987 ABC miniseries "Amerika" to one of the DMR-EH50 models and later high-speed dubbed to DVDs the entire mini-series, three promos, the ABC special "The Storm Over Amerika" and the Ted Koppel Viewpoint "Amerika" discussion. The Panasonic analog tuner models record from their S-Video, Composite (RCA) video or RF inputs.

There are also two digital tuner Panasonic DMR-EZ17 recorders set up for daily use recording from analog channel 3 from a five recorder RF daisy chain that also includes Philips 3575 and Magnavox 515 and 2160A HDD/DVD recorders. (Currently I have three Magnavox 2160 models set aside as standby recorders.) None of these digital tuner recorders are using their digital tuners when recording.

There is also a tunerless Panasonic DMR-EA18 set up for daily use through a S-Video input from a Comcast Motorola HD converter box.

The two Panasonic HDD/DVD recorders average around 60 recording hours per month. The other Panasonic recorders each average between 80 and 110 recording hours per month. In total I have around thirty Panasonic recorders, most of which are set aside for standby use or rotation into or out of daily service. The rotations also allow for regular DVD Drive servicing at eight to ten month intervals or parts swapping and/or other repairs when necessary.

Of the sixteen Panasonic, Magnavox, Philips and Toshiba recorders we have set up for daily use only two of them are actually recording from their internal digital tuners. One is a Magnavox 2080 HDD/DVD recorder set up for recording clear QAM signals, and the other is a Philips 3576 set up for recording ATSC signals.

Pannys are obsolete and pretty useless? Panasonic analog tuner recorders get quite a workout in our household.

jjeff

01-16-12, 08:17 AM

And just last night for the first time in 6 months? I used my EH-55 for a live recording. Both my Tivos tuners were in use recording other events that wouldn't be repeated(at least for quite some time) so I rescanned my CM-7000(Channel Master CECB(OTA digital tuner)) since channels had moved around since I had last used it and I setup a manual TVGOS recording. Everything worked fine.
It's not that I don't use this Panny almost daily but normally all I use it for is to offload my Tivo, realtime via S-video and it does a great job at that:)
While manual recordings via TVGOS probably isn't as easy as setting up a recording on a DVDR with a built in tuner, it's certainly doable. For the right price I'd take more HDD Pannys in a NY minute:cool:

Rammitinski

01-16-12, 03:23 PM

The last, two HDD/DVD recorders I ever bought were the EH55 and the EH75V, respectively.

The way they integrate so well with my Dish service, using the TVGOS (and not even needing to use the IR blaster), you can be darned well sure I'm still using them - daily, in fact. They also do a bang-up job of upscaling the SD signals from the Dish tuner's s-video out, to my TV over HDMI.

You'd have to pry these two HDD/DVD recorders out of my cold, dead hands. Still have my older E85H on tap, too.

Church AV Guy

01-17-12, 05:05 PM

.
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Pannys are obsolete and pretty useless? Panasonic analog tuner recorders get quite a workout in our household.

And just last night for the first time in 6 months? I used my EH-55 for a live recording. Both my Tivos tuners were in use recording other events that wouldn't be repeated(at least for quite some time) so I rescanned my CM-7000(Channel Master CECB(OTA digital tuner)) since channels had moved around since I had last used it and I setup a manual TVGOS recording. Everything worked fine.
It's not that I don't use this Panny almost daily but normally all I use it for is to offload my Tivo, realtime via S-video and it does a great job at that:)
While manual recordings via TVGOS probably isn't as easy as setting up a recording on a DVDR with a built in tuner, it's certainly doable. For the right price I'd take more HDD Pannys in a NY minute:cool:

The last, two HDD/DVD recorders I ever bought were the EH55 and the EH75V, respectively.

The way they integrate so well with my Dish service, using the TVGOS (and not even needing to use the IR blaster), you can be darned well sure I'm still using them - daily, in fact. They also do a bang-up job of upscaling the SD signals from the Dish tuner's s-video out, to my TV over HDMI.

You'd have to pry these two HDD/DVD recorders out of my cold, dead hands. Still have my older E85H on tap, too.
My usage matches the three of you quite closely. I have DirecTV DVRs, and like Ramm and jjeff, I have no problem using them to record, realtime, from my HD receivers to my various Panasonic DVD recorders. I *DO* have to agree with Munga7 on one thing though, if you really need a tuner, then the Panasonics will not work for you. Luckily, I don't need a tuner, so they work just fine.