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Lucky Brits!

post #1 of 18
7/18/12 at 8:30pm
Thread Starter 
A British electronic store chain is blowing out the LG DVD/HDD models with the smaller hard drives.

manufactured refurbs
LG RHT497H 160GB for £120 or $187 USD.
http://www.richersounds.com/product/dvd-recorders/lg/rht497h-mr/lg-rht497

Brand new
LG RHT498 250GB for £150 or $234 USD.
http://www.richersounds.com/product/dvd-recorders/lg/rht498/lg-rht498

I believe these units are higher-end, newer technology recorders than the Magnavox units. I say this because the LG units will:

- USB playback of HD DivX movies.
- Record most DVD formats including DVD-RAM & DVD+R DL
- Higher MHz DAC

According to the LG site specs the units have component inputs but no mention of that in the manual.

By the way – the owner’s manual has no mention of T-Y 8x and recommends Verb 16x discs.tongue.gif




Here are the current models right from the LG site including the sale models and a bigger HDD model.

LG RHT497H 160Gb
http://www.lg.com/uk/blu-ray-dvd-players/lg-RHT497H-dvd-player

LG RHT498H 250Gb
http://www.lg.com/uk/blu-ray-dvd-players/lg-RHT498H-digital-tv-recorder

LG RHT599 500GB
http://www.lg.com/uk/blu-ray-dvd-players/lg-RHT599H-dvd-player
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post #2 of 18
7/19/12 at 10:45am
Will Richer Sounds actually ship them to the US?
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post #3 of 18
7/19/12 at 3:34pm
Thread Starter 
I’d want to make sure that the units would record in NTSC and use 60Hz power before I’d buy one. I know they will playback NTSC discs but the firmware may have crippled the NTSC recording capability?
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post #4 of 18
7/19/12 at 3:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Super Eye View Post

I’d want to make sure that the units would record in NTSC and use 60Hz power before I’d buy one. I know they will playback NTSC discs but the firmware may have crippled the NTSC recording capability?
Good thinking, international or multi system is different than the ability to playback both PAL and NTSC. It would need to have a menu setting selecting the system you wanted to record in as well as a universal power supply(which I think is more common overseas than in N. America).
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post #5 of 18
7/22/12 at 10:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Super Eye View Post

I believe these units are higher-end, newer technology recorders than the Magnavox units. I say this because the LG units will:

Europeans said stay away form LG HDD recorders... I hope those are the exception.
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post #6 of 18
7/22/12 at 11:18am
Every LG recorder I've tried(of course I haven't tried one of the linked ones) look very nice but the quality isn't the best and from what I've read they aren't the most reliable for long term use....I'd pass myself.
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post #7 of 18
7/22/12 at 3:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by profhat View Post

Europeans said stay away form LG HDD recorders...
Can you elaborate on that?confused.gif
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeff View Post

Every LG recorder I've tried(of course I haven't tried one of the linked ones) look very nice but the quality isn't the best and from what I've read they aren't the most reliable for long term use....I'd pass myself.
What do mean the quality wasn’t the best? Poor picture quality or poor built quality or both? Apparently the UK recorders have a very nice high MHz DAC and a pretty good burner. I know the software is updated from the last Canadian units because the new LGs will do a lot more. I can’t vouch either way for these units because I never owned an LG stand-alone recorder. But I have owned a super-multi LG PC drive for a long time now and it is the best PC drive I ever owned.smile.gif

By no means am I saying that LG must be the best DVD/HDD recorder in the UK because it outlasted most other brands – that would be like saying the Magnavox is the best DVD/HDD recorder in the US because it outlasted other brands by a long shot but from what I see reported the Panasonics, Pioneers, Sony’ and Toshibas all had higher praise than the Magnavox – never the less the Magnavox can’t be all that bad to be around so long – I’m thinking the same thing about the UK LG,- not rated the best but not total junk either. So were does it state that Europeans said to stay away from LG HDD recorders? The UK retailers sure aren’t avoiding LG DVD/HDD recorders.
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post #8 of 18
7/23/12 at 8:50am
To me a big point is the ability to fit more than ~2hrs of full D1 resolution on a SL DVD. The vast majority of DVDRs(including the LGs I've tried) dropped to 1/2 D1 on anything longer than SP, granted the most recent LG was probably '08 but I doubt they would have changed. I'm not saying that at SP the LGs might not make good recordings but IMO almost any DVDR looks pretty decent at SP, longer speeds is where I notice a big difference between brands.
AFAIK only post '04 Panasonics and post x40?? Pioneers had longer than SP full D1 speeds. Well I guess the Toshiba XS series did go up to ~2hrs 19 minutes using MN but personally I'd really want to go up to a min. of ~3hrs and do occasionally take advantage of Panasonics 4hr LP for full D1.
AFA LGs build quality, they do tend to look rather nice(design and even weight) but I do tend to see higher than normal "issues" online. Of course that doesn't always mean anything but personally I'd probably steer clear. Keep in mind though that the HDD LGs may be built by a different company than made the non HDD models, I just don't know. Not a lot of LG users posting on AVS.....
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post #9 of 18
7/23/12 at 4:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Super Eye View Post

What do mean the quality wasn’t the best? Poor picture quality or poor built quality or both?

Bad picture quality, as if you put a velvet fog in your screen. Of course, much people won't notice that. mad.gif
Quote:
Originally Posted by Super Eye View Post

But I have owned a super-multi LG PC drive for a long time now and it is the best PC drive I ever owned.smile.gif

That's true, but their American recorders have a very cheap video encoder chip. I don't know about those UK models.

In any case, if you can buy any of them, do it and please tell us!!! smile.gifsmile.gifsmile.gif
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post #10 of 18
7/23/12 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeff View Post

To me a big point is the ability to fit more than ~2hrs of full D1 resolution on a SL DVD. The vast majority of DVDRs(including the LGs I've tried) dropped to 1/2 D1 on anything longer than SP, granted the most recent LG was probably '08 but I doubt they would have changed. I'm not saying that at SP the LGs might not make good recordings but IMO almost any DVDR looks pretty decent at SP, longer speeds is where I notice a big difference between brands.
IMO this has less to do with the recorder’s quality and more to do with a choice of manufactures choosing D1 or half D1 resolution in record speeds over 2hrs. My Sony RDR-HX780 will do full D1 until LP but to me this not relevant as I would never record in such a slow bit-rate either in D1 or half D1. I actually believe that most people prefer half D1 resolution in LP and most manufactures decided to go half D1. Didn’t Funai / Magnavox decide to go half D1 at LP? IMO this is more of a subjective issue than a quality issue.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeff View Post

AFA LGs build quality, they do tend to look rather nice(design and even weight) but I do tend to see higher than normal "issues" online.
Thanks for pointing that out – although I haven’t noticed higher than normal issues online.

Quote:
Originally Posted by profhat View Post

Bad picture quality, as if you put a velvet fog in your screen.
Is this what the Europeans are stating? Is this what you meant when you wrote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by profhat View Post

Europeans said stay away form LG HDD recorders.
I still don’t understand were you’re getting that from, please share. BTW the LG DAC in the current DVD/HDD UK units is a lot higher MHz than most other DACs.
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post #11 of 18
7/26/12 at 1:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Super Eye View Post

Is this what the Europeans are stating? Is this what you meant when you wrote:

The QP quote comes from my own experience with a DR389-W look a like unit. Cheap chips are cheap.

This is what europeans have said:

http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/292228-LG-LRH-890-HDD-DVD-problem-with-the-DVD-I-create
http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/296032-Problems-with-LG-HDD-DVD-Recorder-780
http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/313472-Recording-issues-with-LG-DVB-T-HDD-DVD-Recorder-RHT497H
http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/333359-Replacing-parts-in-the-LG-LRH-780-HDD-DVD-recorder
Quote:
Originally Posted by Super Eye View Post

I still don’t understand were you’re getting that from, please share..

Now for the stay away:

http://www.forodvd.com/tema/22209-grabador-dvd-lg-rh-188-s/
http://www.mundodvd.com/problema-grabadora-lg-dvb-t-hdd-70643/

Mainly the first link + google translator.

As I said, if you can buy one of the UK Clearance models, just do it and please tell us about it.
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post #12 of 18
7/26/12 at 3:21pm
Thread Starter 
In the first link one person mentions that he has a LG DVD/HDD problem but others tell him it’s most likely a media problem.

The person in the second link gets the same answer.

In the third link a poster mentions he swapped the LG for a Sony and had the same problem with the Sony.

In the fourth post a poster stated that he bought a dead recorder and explains how to change the drive – this isn’t even a negative post but help-post for replacing LG drives.

So you found 3 English language posts that could be LG DVD/HDD problem related but most likely are media related out of tens of thousands of positive posts.
I didn’t know you’re referring to a handful of posts from literally thousands of positive reviews. I thought perhaps there was a mass amount of European editorials outlining problems accumulated from a large group of users. Sorry but I don’t think anyone should be convinced with your handful of negative out of 100,000 positive forum posts. I didn’t even bother with the 2 none-English posts – come on.

OK watch this:
The world says stay away from Panasonic recorders.

Issue with Panasonic DVD-Recorder DMR-EH55
http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/324402-Issue-with-Panasonic-DVD-Recorder-DMR-EH55

Panasonic DMR-E80H Error messages
http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/284818-Panasonic-DMR-E80H-Error-messages

Dead Panasonic ES10--Anyone repaired theirs?
http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/261732-Dead-Panasonic-ES10-Anyone-repaired-theirs

Panasonic DMR ES35V DVD NoRead repair
http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/288758-Panasonic-DMR-ES35V-DVD-NoRead-repair

Is a U61 Error with Panasonic DVD Recorder Fixable
http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/287859-Is-a-U61-Error-with-Panasonic-DVD-Recorder-Fixable

That took less than one-minute of googling. I could find the same with Pioneer, Sony, Toshiba and Funai recorders. Again 3 problematic recorders (which could be due to bad media) out of tens of thousands of working recorders does not mean that the world is saying to stay away from a certain brand. I honestly thought that you're implying there is a large amount of legitimate European editorials outlining problems with LG DVD/HDD units.
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post #13 of 18
7/26/12 at 3:57pm
It would be interesting if somebody got one of these LG recorders, ran it through some paces, and did a compare/contrast report on it vs Magnavox, Panasonic, and Pioneer.... Even during the brief "hay day " of the DVDR, LG's profile was so low as to be non-existent in my part of the country (Midwest). When I was doing my research before buying my first recorder, I looked at Pio, Panasonic, Toshiba, and maybe a couple others. I seem to remember finding out LG made 'em only well after that time, and I was surprised to learn that they did.

And no, I'm not volunteering. I already own WAY too many of these things!
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post #14 of 18
7/26/12 at 4:12pm
Thread Starter 
Before any American or Canadian member buys one -it must be noted that like the thread title states these recorders are for the UK, not for the North American market. These are UK recorders and probably won’t record in NTSC and may not even work on our 120v 60Hz power. Any potential buyer needs to make sure the recorders will work for them in their region.

I’d just though I'd start the thread outlining that the Brits are lucky enough to have these recorders for 2012 – the 599 seems to be an updated recorder.smile.gif
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post #15 of 18
7/26/12 at 5:00pm
I did try a HDD less LG combo in early '06. It had a super multi drive and was one of the first DVDRs I'd seen with the ability to burn basically any type of DVD.
My notes say it had lots of speeds: 1hr, 1.5hr, 2hr, 2.5hr, 3,4,6 and 8. I noted 1-2hr was great to very good quality but 2.5 was a drop and 3 was another noticeable drop. I noted the build quality seemed quite good and the overall design was very good.
To me the big - was it's reduced resolution on speeds over 2hrs, otherwise I may have kept it. It was my only experience with a LG DVDR, I did try a LG DVD player and BD player but didn't care for those either, the DVD players picture quality wasn't so good from it's SD outputs and the BD player was similar. I had several DOA LG LCD HDTVs(~23" size) but finally found a good one(26") which I use almost daily in my office.
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post #16 of 18
7/26/12 at 5:17pm
I know nothing about LG DVD recorders but I will swear by LG burners -- both DVD and BD. They are the only ones I buy and they perform well and wear like iron. The last LG DVD burner I replaced in one of my PC's was 5 yr old and used very heavily. I didn't replace it because it wore out or broke -- I replaced it because they are cheap and I felt it was time for an upgrade.
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post #17 of 18
7/28/12 at 9:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Super Eye View Post

I didn’t know you’re referring to a handful of posts from literally thousands of positive reviews. I thought perhaps there was a mass amount of European editorials outlining problems accumulated from a large group of users. Sorry but I don’t think anyone should be convinced with your handful of negative out of 100,000 positive forum posts. I didn’t even bother with the 2 none-English posts – come on.

OK, If you can't, just don't buy one. Perhaps the British ones have a very good/excellent video encoder chip.
Edited by profhat - 7/28/12 at 10:17pm
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post #18 of 18
12/1/12 at 9:11pm
I know this thread is old but i will point that that most but not all Av devices sold outside USA these days are multi voltage and you have nothing to worry about there, but as always download the user manuals first to check the specs in the back to see if it says 120-240V.Some are still 220-240 only Its a lot different for someone wanting to buy a USA specific model though as most USA specific devices are 120v only and you most definitely need a voltage converter then.

Generally non USA recorders/players have always been NTSC/PAL compatible too, even old VCR's back in the 90's, but the USA ones are mostly NTSC only. Its a good point you make on if the LG will record a NTSC signal. I am looking at my Pana XW480 and cant find a area where i select NTSC to record in from a line input so i assume its auto because the manual says it can accept NTSC and PAL on the line inputs. I can select it to output NTSC though.

So really i think the the only concern is a dollar factor and if you will need to buy a 120V -to 220v converter or not. Other than that these LG's would work in USA.

^ also check the frequency rating, i am not sure if a DVD recorder would be sensitve to 60hx instead of 50hz if its not a multi volt/freq unit.
Edited by Cyclone82 - 12/1/12 at 9:26pm
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