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DVD Player Recorder and VHS Player / Recorder Combo
by ReviewPriceandBuy.com

If you're looking to replace your old VHS recorder and DVD player; or to move up from VHS to DVD, then let me save you some time.  I've spent 2 weeks looking up the specs, reading reviews and going to stores (Best Buy, Fry's, Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's, Radio Shack, Wal Mart, Hi-Fi Buys, Circuit City, Sears)..to actually examine the various DVD player/recorders and those that also have VHS built-in.  As an engineer in technology evaluation for a fortune 100 company, my job includes evaluating products; so hopefully I can help you save time and make a better choice!

If you want a DVD player/recorder WITHOUT a built-in VHS VCR, then check this page out for a recommendation

I'll give you the answer first, and then we'll look at how we got there (if you're interested):


Zenith DVD Recorder and VCR - $219 at Radio Shack

Versatile, High Quality DVD Recording High quality DVD recording onto DVD±R/RW
Multi-Format Disc Playability Plays DVD±R/RW, DVD Audio/Video, CD, CD-R/RW
Super Slim Design Stands only 3.3" high for convenient addition to existing home theater configurations.
4 Head Hi-Fi Stereo VCR Superior slow motion and stop action features along with hi-fidelity stereo sound
MP3, WMA, JPEG Decoding Plays discs filled with hours of MP3 or WMA files downloaded from your home PC
Progressive Scan Technology Video data is processed faster and sequentially to produce superior, crisp, clear images

No DivX support, No THX, No Dolby


The Samsung DVD-VR320 DVD Recorder/player with built-in VHS recorder/player

  • DVD Recorder/Vhs Combo
  • Multi Format DVD Recording
  • DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW Recording Formats
  • One-Touch Recording
  • DVD-VHS Dubbing
  • Chapter Creator
  • DivX (MPEG4)
  • Play List
  • Progressive Scan Out
  • S-video in and out
  • Optical digital audio out
  • Auto chaptering
  • S-VHS IN/OUT
  • DV INPUT - to directly input from your camcorder
  • Region 2 Playback
   

  The short answer is this is one of the few dvd recorder/players that is:
 

  • an integrated VHS player/recorder
  • DV / firewire connection to your camcorder
  • Digital audio / optical audio output (this gives incredible sound feed to your home theater system. including true surround sound, DTS, etc.
  • S-video inputs and outputs - so you can convert your old analog camcorder videos by playing them into the Samsung and recording them to ethe dvd or chs as digital video!
  • Auto chaptering - to produce professional dvd's with menus
  • Handles all of the formats: DVD-R/RW , DVD -video, DVD-RAM  etc.
  • Except: DVD+R/RW, DVD-/+ VR,

 

Make and Model Progre-
ssive scan?
Records DVD RAM? DVD-
(minus)
record formats
DVD-
(minus)
play formats
DVD+ (plus)  record formats DVD+ (plus) play formats Other play-back formats Digital optical output THX Dolby DTS DivX mpeg4 DV input Auto chapt-ering S-video in/ out VCR Plus? Other? User ratings
Cyberhome 1600 Yes No None R, RW R, RW R, RW VCD, SVCD, CDR, CDRW, MP3, JPG Yes No Yes     Yes No Out only No    
Daewoo DVR-04 Yes No none R, RW R, RW R, RW VCD, SVCD,CDR, CDRW, MP3, JPG, Kodak Yes No Yes Yes   Yes   Out only     very poor
GoVideo VR3930 Yes No R, RW R, RW none R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3, JPG, Kodak Yes   Yes Yes   Yes   Y/Y No    
GoVideo VR5940 Yes No R, RW R, RW none R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3, JPG, Kodak Yes   Yes Yes   Yes   Y/Y No    
                                     
JVC DRMV1S Yes Yes R, RW, VR video R, RW, VR video none R, RW VCD,  CDR, CDRW, MP3, JPG and double layer     Yes Yes   Yes   Y/Y     terrible
Lite-On 5115 Yes No R, RW R, RW R, RW R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3, WMA, video CD, JPG No       Yes Yes No No     consistently poor
Lite-On 9006 Yes No None R, RW R, RW R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3, WMA, video CD, JPG No - only coaxial No Yes Yes No Yes No Y/Y Yes    
Panasonic ES20
Yes Yes R, RW R, RW R, RW R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3,  JPG Yes ? Yes Yes No Yes No Y/Y No   good
Panasonic ES40 Yes Yes R, RW (video) R, RW (video) R, RW R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3, WMA, video CD, JPG Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes Only on RAM Y/Y Yes   Mixed
Phillips DVDR-3320V Yes No No R, RW R, RW R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3,  JPG Coax only         Yes     No    
RCA DRC8312N                                    
Samsung VR120 Yes Yes R, RW, VR R, RW, VR None R, RW CDR, CDRW, Picture CD, MP3, JPG Yes   Yes Yes   Yes ? Y/Y No    
Samsung DVD-VR320 Yes Yes R, RW (video and vr) R, RW (video and vr) None R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3,  JPG Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Y/Y No   BizRate: Excellent
Sony RDR-VX511                                    
Toshiba D-VR3 Yes Yes R, RW (both video and VR) R, RW, None R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3,  JPG Yes   Yes Yes   Yes   Y/Y Yes   CNET: good, but poor manual and support
Toshiba D-VR4 Yes Yes R, RW (both video and VR), R, RW, None R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3, WMA, video CD, JPG Yes       No Yes Yes Y/Y No   Good but trouble finalizing disks
                                     
Zenith DVR413 No   R, RW R, RW R, RW R, RW CDR, CDRW, MP3, JPG Yes   Yes Yes   Yes Yes Y/Y      mostly poor
                                     

Detailed Answer:

I started with an internet search looking at review sites

Here are some of the others I looked at, a link to their description on line, and why I discarded them from consideration:

 

  1. Cyberhome 1600 f.
    It has pretty much every thing, but looks in quality is not that good.  internet had lots of bad reviews about it.
    but as usual you have take internet reviews as what it is worth (like this,  worth what you paid for, 0 cents :-))
    I bought it online, but cancled it.
    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7032784&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat13900050019&id=1099395252109

    check it out anyways... a friend did buy it after i told him about the deal, looks like he is happy...
  2. Daewoo DVD DVR-06 player
    sears
    no firewire port to record from a digital camcorders.
    http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=ELEC&pid=05757225000
  3. Panasonic ES20
    Circuitcity. (now closed) . it had pretty much every  thing wanted and also a brand name my wife wanted.
    (my previous DVD player was of little know brand Norcent and it did not do everything as said in its document) so wife belives real brand guys like sony etc do not document something and have something else in the product.... so wanted a real brand name.

    http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasonic-DVD-Recorder-DMR-ES20S-/sem/rpsm/oid/131926/catOid/-12876/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

    this Panasonic DVD Recorder with DVD-RAM Format  DMR-ES20S has all I  want + more.
    since i already have a DVR from dishnet, paying some extra bucks did not make sense. Panasonic DMR-ES10S
  4. Zenith DVD Recorder and VCR - $219 at Radio Shack

     

  5. LITENO LVW 5115 GHC+ This looked great on paper as it could play every thing u can think off even things u download from internet. ++ is it records in native DVD-video format, that means it can be played back in most DVD players made after say 2003.
    (129.99 at costco)


    I brought it home to fine it does not have a S-video output  :-(  and my TV/HT receiver cannot take component output.

    so i was planned on
  6. Liteon 5005x from www.tigerdirect.com
    it can record even audio on CD-R, aslo has s-video. but records on DVD+VR.
    after some surfing i found DVD+VR is more compatible then DVD-VR :)

    so was about to buy it for $129.99 when i saw on radioshack.com that radioshack was selling 
    Liteon 5006 for 99 bucks after mailin rebate. 

    from liteon website
    http://liteonamericas.com/us/index1.htm

    I could never figure out what is different between 5005x and 5006, so went ahead and bought 5006 from radioshack.

    the funny thing happed.  first i went to 4 different radioshacks and finally got a new one. 
    every radioshack was telling they have only the display modlel to sell. 
    one guy tried his level best to tell me only radioshack store to have it in stock is at least 50 miles away and even that store has only 2.

    anyways the radioshack in the mall cloest to my home had a few.
    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2110968&cp=2032057.2032172&allCount=9&fbn=Brand%2FLiteOn&f=Brand%2F1000467%2F&fbc=1&parentPage=family

    I have recorded on DVD-RW  and DVD+R  from camcorder. and it seems to work fine.

    I tested all the different types of media i have, it is able to play them too.. so far so good. now i need to not forget and post the MIR as soon as possible.

    BTW Lite on sells their DVD recorders as different brands in wal-mart and radio shack.

    for example Liteon 5115 GHC+ and Presidian  are same.


    http://club.cdfreaks.com
    http://www.videohelp.com

    are two places i spend max time for research on DVD recorders and different types of DVD medias.

    Thanks for reading so far, my adventure during the holidays.
    =========================================

    Summary:

    1) Make sure you see what is in back panel ( it should have s-video or optical what ever you want)
    2)make sure there is air vent + a cooler fan (fan will produce small sound)  but that is only way u can sure DVD recorder will work without freezing due to heat after few hrs.  two small holes are not just enough for the heat produced.
    3) there is always a small trade offs in recorder priced between $100 and $200. but  they are mature enough to replace VCRs for sure.
    4)buy a DVD recorder popular enought that hackers will post hack for playing all reagions and also macrovision block.
     


All images and text © Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2022
email me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information     3. Environment, health and safety Information     4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm    5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More     6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc.     8. Free resources to start your own website business.  Chastain Park:  Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions?  Click here 


All images and text © Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2022
email me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information     3. Environment, health and safety Information     4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm    5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More     6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc.     8. Free resources to start your own website business.  Chastain Park:  Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions?  Click here 


All images and text © Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2022
email me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information     3. Environment, health and safety Information     4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm    5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More     6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc.     8. Free resources to start your own website business.  Chastain Park:  Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions?  Click here 


All images and text © Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2022
email me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information     3. Environment, health and safety Information     4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm    5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More     6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc.     8. Free resources to start your own website business.  Chastain Park:  Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions?  Click here 


All images and text © Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2022
email me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information     3. Environment, health and safety Information     4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm    5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More     6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc.     8. Free resources to start your own website business.  Chastain Park:  Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions?  Click here 


All images and text © Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2022
email me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information     3. Environment, health and safety Information     4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm    5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More     6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc.     8. Free resources to start your own website business.  Chastain Park:  Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions?  Click here 


All images and text © Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2022
email me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information     3. Environment, health and safety Information     4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm    5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More     6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc.     8. Free resources to start your own website business.  Chastain Park:  Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions?  Click here 


All images and text © Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2019
email me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information     3. Environment, health and safety Information     4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm    5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More     6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc.     8. Free resources to start your own website business.  Chastain Park:  Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions?  Click here 


All images and text © Copyright J Slemmer 2000 - 2019
email me

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Other great web sites: 1. Fitness and exercise information     3. Environment, health and safety Information     4. Where to find a pick-your-own farm    5. Find Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hayrides and More     6. Find choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, precut trees, etc.     8. Free resources to start your own website business.  Chastain Park:  Looking for Chastain Park Concert tickets or directions?  Click here