Good Quality VCR/DVD Combo Burner Recommendations??

855 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by dirtydan, Oct 8, 2006

profvonsok

Discussion Starter · Oct 5, 2006

I'm looking for recommendations for a straightforward, simple to use

VCR/DVD combo burner for my Mother In Law. She's a bit of a technophobe

and just wants to transfer her VHS videos to DVD with a minimum of

fuss. (I know, I know... that's what son-in-laws are for ;-) Anyway, she

has a large screen TV but nothing Hi-Def so fancy connectors aren't

neccessary. I would like it to burn good quality DVD's and be $200 or less.

Any suggestions??

TIA,

Prof

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Westly-C

· #2 · Oct 5, 2006

Panasonic ES45VS

Simple connecttion to tv thru silver RF jacks-just like conventional vcrs

Store bought vhs movie tapes cannot be dubbed to a dvd-r, only vfs tapes without Copy protection.

Easy to dub-stick tape in, press Dub to DVD button for 5 seconds, recording starts.

A little more over your target price, but a good unit.

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7558037

· #3 · Oct 5, 2006

If your MIL will need or likes to Timer Rec things, make sure the unit you pick has a Timer Set feature that stays ON and doesn't have to be reset each time you watch the recorded tape.

We couldn't find one out of four cheaper models we bought or checked out before buying.

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moxie1617

· #4 · Oct 5, 2006

Also remember, most VHS tapes from the studios are copy protected and will not copy to DVD without a filter/stabilizer. So hopefully, the VHS tapes she wants to copy are not copy protected.

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profvonsok

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 5, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by moxie1617
Also remember, most VHS tapes from the studios are copy protected and will not copy to DVD without a filter/stabilizer. So hopefully, the VHS tapes she wants to copy are not copy protected.

Thanks for the replies. Very helpful suggestions.

You pointed out something I hadn't considered about studio made tapes.

Are any of these DVD/VCR burners that can be hacked or flashed to defeat

the macrovision or whatever other protection that's employed??

Thanks again,

Prof

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BuffaloDenny

· #6 · Oct 6, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westly-C
Panasonic ES45VS

Simple connecttion to tv thru silver RF jacks-just like conventional vcrs

Store bought vhs movie tapes cannot be dubbed to a dvd-r, only vfs tapes without Copy protection.

Easy to dub-stick tape in, press Dub to DVD button for 5 seconds, recording starts.

A little more over your target price, but a good unit.

Or the Panasonic ES35VS. I believe the main difference is that the 45 offers HDMI connectivity, whereas the 35 is via component. If component to the TV is enough, you can save some $$ and be closer to your target price. I've got it and like it a lot. Easy to use, good quality PQ.

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dtrem

· #7 · Oct 6, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffaloDenny
Or the Panasonic ES35VS. I believe the main difference is that the 45 offers HDMI connectivity, whereas the 35 is via component. If component to the TV is enough, you can save some $$ and be closer to your target price. I've got it and like it a lot. Easy to use, good quality PQ.

You beat me to it. I think the 35 would be perfect for his needs. I like mine a lot too.

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crabboy

· #8 · Oct 6, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtrem
You beat me to it. I think the 35 would be perfect for his needs. I like mine a lot too.

And in addition, the 35 supposedly has input and output jacks arranged so one can put a "stabilizer" type device (such as a Sima CT-200) in line to remove copy protection. On tapes that you own, of course.

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moxie1617

· #9 · Oct 6, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by profvonsok
Thanks for the replies. Very helpful suggestions.

You pointed out something I hadn't considered about studio made tapes.

Are any of these DVD/VCR burners that can be hacked or flashed to defeat

the macrovision or whatever other protection that's employed??

Thanks again,

Prof

I have never heard of any deck that can be hacked to defeat Macrovision but the solution typically used with a combo deck is to do as crabboy suggested.

The key to success is that the combo deck has to be able to output DVD on the external jacks at the same time the VCR is recording from the external jacks. Then put something like the Sima in between. I use the Sima CT-200 myself but I have independent VCR and DVD recorders. I don't know which decks support this, the ES35 and 45 were mentioned above but you'll have to ask around or search here for if you want more choices.

As an aside, none of the PBS or museum VHS tapes I copied to DVD had Macrovision. The Star Wars tapes had copy protection and the Sima worked great. But now they have issued the original theatrical release on DVD so I'll throw away my tapes and get these.

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Bill1313

· #10 · Oct 7, 2006

None of the newer Panasonic Combos can accept a Video Stabilizer (Macro-Vision Remover).

The only Panasonic Combo models that can do it are the original 2004 DMR-E75V & the 2005 DMR-ES30V.

So if your looking to buy a model that you can add a stabilizer to look for one where you can feed the VCR OUTPUT signal back into the DVD Inputs & I'm not sure if any of the newer models can do this? because of all the screaming Hollywood has been doing over copy protection.

From what I've seen though for combo models the Panny's are the best & at the lower end I would check out the $150 Magnavox at Wal-Mart (+R Format) or the Sylvania (-R Format) at Sears & Circuit City.

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dirtydan

· #11 · Oct 8, 2006

Quote:

Check out the Magnavox at Wally World, I have the non VCR model and my neighbor has the DVD/VCR model, we have both done a lot of testing on these and they are perfect for us.

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