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Date: 2010-01-05 Second time owning a DVR -- First Success I am happy with my purchase of this unit. First, the set up did not seem that complicated to me. I did have to read the manual and had a couple of moments of trial and error when I didn't read the instructions closely enough, but the DVR was set up and working within 10 minutes and I used the recording functionality within 10 minutes after that. The last DVR I received (which was promptly returned) took over an hour to try and set up and get it working and it still didn't do what I needed it to do - so maybe this is only easier by comparison. The video quality is good when playing a DVD, but when watching TV through the tuner the picture quality is reduced (the coaxial cable goes through my VCR as well and that might be the cause). The sound seems to match the quality of my television - but I'm not an audiophile and the sound quality has never been an issue for me. Setting the timer for recording on the DVD was easy to figure out but still took several tries because the buttons on the remote are too close to each other and I had the habit of hitting the wrong button and having to start over again. The only frustration is that when you have the recorder set you have to power down the unit with the "Timer Set" feature for the player to know to record. In this setting you cannot use any of the other features of the DVD player - including opening the tray. That part of the unit is locked and only allows you access to the VCR. When you set your timer it does warn you that you can't use any of the other functionality on the screen, but this is where I failed to read the information available so I had a momentary panic attack when it stopped working. You can turn off the timer setting anytime you want to access the DVD player again, but just have to remember to turn it back on when you are done - just turning off the unit with a DVD - RW in the tray won't work. Overall I'm pleased with the unit. It takes a much longer time to load a DVD than my previous unit did - but this is a small thing to live with to have the tuner and recording functionality I was looking for. I'm sure there is still functionality I haven't worked with yet, but I'll figure that out as I need to. Date: 2009-12-29 Do Not Buy!!! Deserves zero stars Biggest piece of garbage I have bought in a long time!!! I'm just glad it only took four days for it to completely break down! I researched dvrs for about a month online. This one had the best reveiws, for the price. Hooked it up without a problem. Tried to tape something, then realized you cannot tape on one channel & watch another channel. What is the point of taping something then? So moved to another room. The third time I set it up to tape, nothing taped, & it ate the brand new tape. Figured it may just be the tape. So set it for the fourth nite. It was flashing, then it spit out the tape. Put in another tape. Same thing. Another tape, same thing. So I did not even use the dvd part of it. Called magnavox, and they told me to mail it to them to be repaired! Now why would I do that-it is brand new!! I was very disappointed with magnavox's very poor customer service, and will not buy another magnavox product. So I called amazon, and the lady was wonderful. Within a few minutes, she answered my questions, had emailed me the shipping label to return the dvr, and even apologized! Date: 2009-12-28 Excellent DVD recorder The DVD recorder I was using was incompatible with digital signals. This was its replacement and so far it has done exactly what I expected. Records well and plays well. The only gripe is that the machine has to be turned on before the open/close button works on the remote. Date: 2009-12-27 Good Buy I paid $180 for this just 5 weeks ago so I'm a little upset that it went down $30. It is definitely worth $150. I bought it to transfer my priceless home movies of my children to DVD. It worked perfectly so I'm glad I bought it. One tip: If you want to make "chapters" on your DVDs like the ones you buy, just stop the recording and then start it again. This will begin a new chapter/title. The quality of the DVD tray does look a little cheap but what do you want for $150. It works so get over it. Date: 2009-12-26 VHS Ejects Upon Power-Up Purchased this unit last April 2009 to replace a combo DVD-VCR in which the VCR rewound painfully slow. Box is now wired to tape programs from my new Sony LCD Digital TV (mostly Turner Classic Movies that complete after my bedtime). Manual does not explain how to prevent this problem: when vhs tape is rewound, the unit turns itself OFF. Then, when power-on the unit, the tape is ejected. This requires me to go over to the unit to push the ejected VHS tape into the box. What a pain! Who can I ask to solve this irritating problem? Otherwise, the performance is acceptable. * Price is subject to change. |
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