Philips DVDR520H DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive

Philips DVDR520H DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive

Philips DVDR520H DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive

Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
The Philips DVDR520H combines all the benefits of DVD recording with the digital convenience of a hard-disk digital video recorder. Archive your priceless camcorder footage to long-lasting, high-quality DVD+RW and DVD+R (4.7GB per disc), or time-shift your viewing by recording TV programs by recording shows directly to the 80 GB hard disk, which gives you up to 100 hours of storage using Philips' ShowView programming system.

Whether recording to DVD or hard disk, programming the DVDR520H is simple using the GUIDE Plus+ electronic program guide (EPG). The EPG is a point-and-click system that lets you specify which programs to record, up to 7 days ahead. Using the model's extensive inputs--including an i.Link digital video jack--you can transfer and assemble your most treasured camcorder footage, archive all your old video tapes, or burn video from your PC straight to high-capacity DVD--up to an amazing 8 hours per disc side using either DVD+R or rewritable DVD+RW.

The DVDR520H also gives you the ability to pause live TV and instantly replay scenes just missed. If the phone rings or someone comes to the front door, simply pause the show you're watching and resume viewing from that point when you're ready.

The hard disk time shift buffer stores up to 6 hours of programs, giving you the freedom to decide after the fact whether you want to keep something for future viewing. When the buffer is full, the oldest programs are automatically deleted, unless you've marked them for saving. The DVDR520H also features a simple solution for transferring recordings from the hard disk to DVD media: high-speed archiving. With a single command, the device will digitally transfer programs to DVD at up to 20 times the speed of the program duration.

Recording functions include favorite scene selection, automatic/manual chapter marker insertion, selectable index pictures, append, and divide. DVD+RW discs require no finalizing--you can record, eject, and play them with minimal fuss, thanks to "background formatting." This feature, which lowers total burning time, is an advantage over the "dash" formats. Other DVD+RW advantages include on-disc content editing and multisession writing. And, through DVD+RW and DVD+R's compatibility with most existing DVD players, they're a great way for you to share your special memories with family and friends.

The DVDR520H is also a first-rate DVD player, featuring progressive-scan video outputs, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround sound passthrough, MP3 CD playback (CD-R/CD-RW), JPEG picture CD/DVD playback, and compatibility with most DVD media (including video-mode DVD-R and DVD-RW).

Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the DVDR520H stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.

Top-of-the-line interlaced component-video outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts from component-video sources and on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video inputs and outputs bring compatibility with nearly any video component and television monitor. Audio inputs consist of 2-channel analog jacks with 24-bit/96 kHz analog-to-digital conversion and Dolby Digital 2.0 audio compression (compression is nondefeatable). Video conversion is performed by 9-bit, 27 MHz converters for recording and high-quality 10-bit, 54 MHz converters for playback.

Two sets of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (1 each coaxial and optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.

What's in the Box
DVD recorder/hard disk combo, a remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, a video cable, a stereo analog audio cable, and an RF coaxial/antenna cable.

Product Description:
Record anything without having to worry ever again where to store it. Keep what you like in lasting digital quality on DVD.

Philips DVDR520H DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive
Philips DVDR520H DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive
Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • You get what you pay for
  • A Steady and Reliable Performer
  • Unreliable & deterorating
  • Not very good at all
  • Problems?? Just upgrade the firmware!
 Philips DVDR520H DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

DVD PlayersDVD Players | Home Video | Philips | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics
TiVoTiVo | Home Video | Philips | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics
DVD PlayersDVD Players | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Audio & VideoAudio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
DVD-VCR & Other DVD CombosDVD-VCR & Other DVD Combos | DVD Players & Recorders | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
AllAll | DVD Players & Recorders | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
DVD RecordersDVD Recorders | DVD Players & Recorders | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
DVD-RDVD-R | DVD Recordable Drives | Drives & Storage | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics | External Drives | FireWire Drives | Internal Drives | Mac Drives | USB Drives
Accessories:
  1. Acoustic Research AP071 Performance Series Audio Digital Coaxial Cable with RCA Connectors
  2. Memorex CD/DVD Slim Jewel Cases (Assorted Colors, 25-Pack)
  3. Recoton DVD901 Audio Digital Optical Cable (6 Feet)
  4. APC BE350U 350VA Back-ups Es
  5. Monster Cable ULT I1000FO-4 THX Ultra 1000 Fiber Optic Digital Interconnect

Product Features:
  • Combination DVD player/recorder and 80 GB hard-disk drive (HDD) with camcorder-ready front-panel DV (i.Link) inputs
  • Record from TV directly to DVD or hard disk; 1 to 6 hours video recording per side (either DVD+R or DVD+RW) depending on quality level
  • Progressive-scan output for seamless, flicker-free images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs; plays DVD-R/-RW, MP3 CD, JPEG image CD/DVD
  • Favorite scene selection simplifies editing of your home movies; VCR Plus+ simplifies timer programming (6-event, 1-year)
  • Measures 16.9 x 2.6 x 10.1 inches (W x H x D)

ASIN: B00062VYQ6

Product Description

Record anything without having to worry ever again where to store it. Keep what you like in lasting digital quality on DVD.

Amazon.com Product Description

The Philips DVDR520H combines all the benefits of DVD recording with the digital convenience of a hard-disk digital video recorder. Archive your priceless camcorder footage to long-lasting, high-quality DVD+RW and DVD+R (4.7GB per disc), or time-shift your viewing by recording TV programs by recording shows directly to the 80 GB hard disk, which gives you up to 100 hours of storage using Philips' ShowView programming system.

Whether recording to DVD or hard disk, programming the DVDR520H is simple using the GUIDE Plus+ electronic program guide (EPG). The EPG is a point-and-click system that lets you specify which programs to record, up to 7 days ahead. Using the model's extensive inputs--including an i.Link digital video jack--you can transfer and assemble your most treasured camcorder footage, archive all your old video tapes, or burn video from your PC straight to high-capacity DVD--up to an amazing 8 hours per disc side using either DVD+R or rewritable DVD+RW.

The DVDR520H also gives you the ability to pause live TV and instantly replay scenes just missed. If the phone rings or someone comes to the front door, simply pause the show you're watching and resume viewing from that point when you're ready.

The hard disk time shift buffer stores up to 6 hours of programs, giving you the freedom to decide after the fact whether you want to keep something for future viewing. When the buffer is full, the oldest programs are automatically deleted, unless you've marked them for saving. The DVDR520H also features a simple solution for transferring recordings from the hard disk to DVD media: high-speed archiving. With a single command, the device will digitally transfer programs to DVD at up to 20 times the speed of the program duration.

Recording functions include favorite scene selection, automatic/manual chapter marker insertion, selectable index pictures, append, and divide. DVD+RW discs require no finalizing--you can record, eject, and play them with minimal fuss, thanks to "background formatting." This feature, which lowers total burning time, is an advantage over the "dash" formats. Other DVD+RW advantages include on-disc content editing and multisession writing. And, through DVD+RW and DVD+R's compatibility with most existing DVD players, they're a great way for you to share your special memories with family and friends.

The DVDR520H is also a first-rate DVD player, featuring progressive-scan video outputs, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround sound passthrough, MP3 CD playback (CD-R/CD-RW), JPEG picture CD/DVD playback, and compatibility with most DVD media (including video-mode DVD-R and DVD-RW).

Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the DVDR520H stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.

Top-of-the-line interlaced component-video outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts from component-video sources and on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video inputs and outputs bring compatibility with nearly any video component and television monitor. Audio inputs consist of 2-channel analog jacks with 24-bit/96 kHz analog-to-digital conversion and Dolby Digital 2.0 audio compression (compression is nondefeatable). Video conversion is performed by 9-bit, 27 MHz converters for recording and high-quality 10-bit, 54 MHz converters for playback.

Two sets of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (1 each coaxial and optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.

What's in the Box
DVD recorder/hard disk combo, a remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, a video cable, a stereo analog audio cable, and an RF coaxial/antenna cable.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars You get what you pay for.......2007-02-12

The Philips DVDR520H is an affordable DVD recorder. However, it has lots of technical issues. The first few months mine worked fine but now it always gets stuck in the disc preparation processes. After about 5 minutes it ejects a ruined DVD. Lately 4 out of 5 discs get ruined before I even start recording.

4 out of 5 stars A Steady and Reliable Performer.......2006-07-15

A year ago, I was reading all the reviews panning this unit here on Amazon, but the price was good, so I took a chance. I am so glad that I did! If there were problems when the unit first hit the shelves, they'd certainly been resolved by the time my unit shipped.

The manual is easy to follow, filled with illustrations, and has a glossary and spec sheet. I still refer to it when I want to learn more.

The unit itself is attractive, not too large, and the controls are placed in a logical order with the majority on the right front and the on/standby buttonon the left. There are front and rear inputs, including a DV input for transferring your camcorder images to the unit. I've transferred input from my vhs as well. It's a good way to get those videotapes onto DVD.

I love the 2 1/2 hour setting for recording DVDs. It makes a lot more sense than a 2 hour setting, and it's nice to have it as an intermediate between 2 and 3 hours.

In functioning, the unit is easy to program to record something. I usually pad a recording with a few extra minutes beginning and end, because many of the cable channels don't start a recording on the hour and end it on the hour, no matter what the guide in the newspaper says. There are three options for setting up a timed recording. You can use VCRplus, the Guide Menu, or the Timer button, which opens up a simpler screen for inputting your recording information. Either in the guide or the timer menu, you can get to advanced options that will enable you to do things like set the recorder to record every show in a miniseries, but stop the repeat action after the miniseries is over. Since I tape a lot of series of limited duration, I appreciate this extra. It doesn't exist on any of my Tivo season passes.

After you've recorded something on the hard drive, you can edit it on the unit. I've found this is most successful for me if I'm doing very simple editing. Otherwise, I'll burn the show onto a DVD+RW and then edit it on my computer where I have frame by frame control. If you do edit on the unit, you'll note that you can split and merge portions, or erase portions of a taping that you don't want.

As an example of this, I like the station identification ads on the Sci Fi channel. I like them so well that I've set aside a portion of the roomy hard drive to hold them. When I see one in a presentation I've recorded, I'll split it out of the recording, rename it and give it a unique thumbnail image (so that when I open the browser on the unit I can see which id ad it is). When I have a sufficient number of them, I'll either merge them into one DVD sized presentation and burn it onto a DVD at once, or I'll burn them onto a DVD each with its own menu item and thumbnail. Just to give you an idea of what you can do.

So far, the only time the unit has failed to record a scheduled program has been when we had a power failure. It recovered nicely after that, and has been working reliably ever since. The recordings are of good quality because I have set the quality setting at high. Maybe some of the people who were complaining of the quality set it at something like six hours on a DVD, which will give you a poorer image.

A little under a year later, I'm still happy. If you can find one of these units and take the time to learn how to use it and treat it well (it says defrag the drive frequently, do it) you'll be happy too.

1 out of 5 stars Unreliable & deterorating.......2005-12-31

Initially i was very happy with this item, it appeared to be everything i needed. However, with time, I've realised that the unit is flawed and unreliable. Phillips support is unhelpful and will not remedy the faults I have. The firmware upgrade has also not helped. The problems I have are;

1. The unit no longer recognises any 8*speed disks it writes, although it writes them adequately enough so that my other dvd player can read them. This happened after about 3 months of use. Phillips support said the unit could not support 8* disks even though there was no indication of this at the time of purchase.
2. The unit crashes a lot, particularly when editing progams. This has been a consistent problem, but seems to be getting worse with time. The only solution is to unplug the device, which necessitates a hard drive scan on boot up. I can only imagine what this is slowly doing to the hard drive.
3. Whilst writing discs which contain more than one "program", discs regularly become corrupt and totally unreadable. This doesnt seem to happen when only one program, say an M2 film is recorded onto a single disc, however try and and append several programs onto the same disc and there is a good chance the disc will die. When this happens discs are total scrap and unreadable anywhere, even cdrw. I have lost numerous recordings this way.

I will be returning my unit, and will not buy a phillips dvd recorder again. I am hugely disappointed.

2 out of 5 stars Not very good at all.......2005-12-16

I got this unit cheap. $150 for a 80gb + DVD Burner. Sounds good. But you DO get what you pay for. I have a JVC that cost me $400 and it has a 160GB harddrive and DVD Burner and it's Much better than this unit. It's hard to program and the killer part is it LOSES programs that was recorded!!!! This is not reliable at all. I have missed so many ending to shows it's not even funny any more. It's so upsetting to watch 50min of a hour long show and miss the ending/punchline/outcome. I would give it 1 star if not for the price.

4 out of 5 stars Problems?? Just upgrade the firmware!.......2005-11-04

I purchased this unit a couple of months ago and experienced the same problems many of the others here are reporting-- freeze-ups, timer issues, having to pull the plug to reset it, etc. But I checked Philips' website and found that there was a substantial firmware update available (firmware is the internal software that runs the unit.) You do have to download it and burn it to a CD (link is below.) There are some special settings required when you burn it so that the unit will recognize it, so if you're not technically inclined, get your geek friend to do it for you. Anyway, after I installed the upgrade, all the problems went away and the unit has performed flawlessly since!! I found the update on my own, so I can't comment on their tech support. I thought their instruction book was adequate, but I'm a geek. ;-)

Firmware update:
http://www.usasupport.philips.com/productDocuments.html?ProductCode=DVDR520H/37&SearchByModelNo=true

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