Samsung DVD-VR300 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo
from: Samsung
Average Rating: 
Sales Rank: 33361
Sales Rank: 33361
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Electronics : Samsung DVD-VR300 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo |
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Rating:  - * Okay, but we were glad to replace it ... We bought this as our first DVD-R, and found it to be touchy and slow. We replaced it with a Panasonic last year and have found that one to work better - but it has had the benefit of updated technology. This one takes for ever to turn on, and the default is the VCR. We mostly use the DVD player, so this was highly annoying. If you are thinking of purchasing one of these, keep looking. Rating:  - * OK if you understand its idiosyncrasies ... I found this machine to be OK once I understood its little quirks. It is a little touchy, but the issues can be worked around. First, about discs. I found that my machine likes Memorex DVD-RW 2x, and Fujifilm DVD-R 8x. Once you find a brand of disc that works reliably, stick with it. Second, about recording. I found that the machine sometimes has trouble reading DVD-RW discs that are 100% full of data. For example, if I recorded 2 hours of video on 2 hr speed (SP), the disc is obviously full. Sometimes when inserting the disc, the machine would not read the disc properly, and give an error message "The disc cannot be played or recorded". Even after reformatting the disc, I would sometimes get this error message. I end up tossing the disc and using a new one. This went on for quite a while until I figured out that if I set up the recording speed so that the disc is not full, the problem never occurred again. So, if I want to record 2 hrs of video, I set the record speed to 4 hr speed (LP). The disc is only half full of data, and the machine boots the disc reliably. If you are recording on timer and using the AUTO speed setting, then set the recording period so the disc is not full. So, if recording a 2 hr video on AUTO speed on the timer, set the machine to record for 2 1/2 hrs. This will force it to use the 4 hr speed (LP) instead of the 2 hr speed (SP), and the disc will not be full. Next, the remote. I agree that it is a poor design. I have not found any firm solution to this problem. However, I found the remote to work best if I hold it in my lap, and tilt the front of the remote slightly upwards, toward the machine. And I don't sit at too far of an angle from the machine. But I still sometimes have to press a button a couple times before the machine will recognize the command. To me, this is not big problem. So, after understanding the little idiosyncrasies of this machine, I am pretty happy with it overall. I wish it had a S-Video output instead of Composite Video, but I found the picture quality to be very good if I enable progressive scan. The coaxial digital audio output plays very nicely with my 5.1 home theater audio receiver. The standard RCA jack audio outputs are connected to my TV, and work fine. I also have a large VHS collection that I want to transfer to DVD, so that is why I went for a DVD-VHS combo. There are others out there, but I went for the DVR-300 because it has a coaxial digital audio output instead of optical (the single optical input of my 5.1 receiver is already used by the optical output of my satellite receiver). I hope this helps. I was frustrated with the machine at first, but now at least I can make reliable recordings. Roger Rating:  - * Poor Remote and Input jacks ... I returned this item (and bought the Panasonic DMR-ES30VS) for primarily two reasons. The first is the remote control is almost nonresponsive. You have to perfectly aim it at precisely the right spot on the unit for it to work. Hence, buttons tend to get repeatedly pushed at "varying" angles just to get a response. This so VERY annoying and it will drive you nuts! I thought perhaps the batteries that came with the remote were just bad...? but a replacement set was no better. Then when I saw other reviews of this same experience, I knew it was just a bad remote design. What I find so odd is I have a Samsung DLP TV and its remote (similar shape and design) does not exhibit this phenomena. Second, there is a lack of INPUT jacks on the unit. It's as if the Samsing engineers decided this unit and a TV would be the only entertainment appliances a consumer would own. It has component and S-video OUTPUT jacks, but the only INPUT jack is a crummy composite. For those people like me who use their one HDMI jack for their cablebox, the lack of good INPUT jacks was a huge disappointment. The Panasonic I echanged for by contrast at least has S-video INPUT jacks so I could connect my cablebox more effectively to my DVD recorder. IMO, it is also a superior picture and its user interface more intuitive. Rating: - * Very nice! ... I bought this unit so that I could save stuff from my TiVo and copy some old VHS tapes to DVD. So far, so good! I have made about 20 DVD recordings. The only problem I ran into was when I was trying to copy a movie from VHS to DVD (this movie is not available on DVD yet) and it wouldn't let me copy it because it is copyrighted. I really wanted to make a DVD of it, since it is no longer available. Another nice thing is the DV input on the front. I have a Canon mini-DV camcorder and was able to easily transfer video directly from the camera to DVD. There is also a full set of AV inputs on the front. Very nice for temporarily hooking up an older camcorder or (gasp!) a Beta VCR! Yes, I have LOTS of Beta tapes that I plan on converting to DVD. The menus are a lot more user-friendly than the DVD recorder my parents have. I didn't really have to read the manual... but it is worth reading. There are some neat features: Pressing REC once starts recording, pressing it again starts a record timer... adding 30 minutes each time you press REC. That's a nice function for unattended recording. Also, most of the functions are easily accessable by remote without going into menus... including recording speed (quality) and one-touch dubbing from DVD-VHS or VHS-DVD. Another nuce touch is the clock. Most DVD players do not have a clock on the display, but this one does (it needs to know the time for timer recording). Also, my television is a Samsung. The remote will control the TV as well (and other brands). There is even a dedicated TV Power button. Very nice for reducing the number of remotes needed to power everything up/down. All of the DVD-Rs I use are Verbatim brand, and I have had no problems with them at all. Rating:  - * Save yourself the frustration and buy a different brand ... I actually have an earlier model Samsung DVD player, and it, along with other Samsung models at the time, had a horrible skipping problem on many DVDs. Samsung's support was almost non-existant -- I found out there was a firmware upgrade for the player, but not through their website (where I couldn't find any help whatsoever), but through a friend with the same problem. HOWEVER, the firmware upgrade did not resolve the problem, and the last I heard, there was a class action suit filed here in Pennsylvania (which I received an invitiation to be a part of, but could not participate in, I think because I no longer had the receipt). Considering their lackluster customer support, I would advise anyone against buying any DVD player from this company. Players are much cheaper nowadays anyway, and you can get an excellent Sony or Toshiba for a modest price. |
