Samsung DVD-VR325 DVD Recorder/VCR Combo

I love the features on the DVD VR325. Great pictu ...

Strengths: HDMI video with upconversion to 720p and 1080i. Easy to dub from VCR to DVD.

Weaknesses: Defective from factory.

Summary: I love the features on the DVD VR325. Great picture quality thru HDMI connection when viewing DVDs and Standard Definition (SD) TV. Much better picture quality than the component video outputs from my DirecTV receiver when viewing SD TV. Upconverted commercial DVDs are also incredible compared to my older progressive scan Sony. The problem is that Samsung appears to have shipped a lot of defective units. Mine won't record video to DVD when I set up a timer recording. If I just push the Record button manually, the picture records just fine. My unit also has consistent audio drop-outs when watching DVDs. About every minute or so, the audio output stops for a split second and then resumes. I found similar reports of trouble on Circuit City web site. I love the features on this recorder but buyer beware. You may have to return it for repair or refund. If you order it through an Internet retailer without a local store, you will pay shipping both ways and the discounted price will quickly escalate. Recommend buying locally if you want to take a chance. Otherwise, wait a while for Samsung to sort the problems and look for a good deal on a refurbished unit.

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Great product!

Strengths: Samsung quality!

Weaknesses: none

Summary: I love this product. I like the design and it works perfect. The only complains are that it only accept Dvd-r and not dvd+r. Also I wish there was a component in; it only has component out.

Overall, I love it!

I recommend it!

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DVD Recorder has limitations

Strengths: good picture, good flexiblity of dvd functions & settings

Weaknesses: limited connectivity with tv - has to be set to RF channel to view instead of selecting input (e.g. AV1, AV2,..) from tv. remote signal is either easily interfered or pretty weak from 7'.

Summary: 2006-03-27 05:59:13 unit was fairly easy to connect to my A/V system. picture is great on both vcr & dvd. really disappointed that connection to tv is limited to RF connection. (i.e., tv has to be set to channel 3 or 4.).. automatic time setup does not work well. had to manually set time, but when power is off it reverts back to a default time which is still wrong... labels on remote are so small its hard to read, but the unit does perform well.

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too good to be true

Strengths: looks good on paper

Weaknesses: major audio problem w/ HDMI

Summary: Promising feature package, but does not deliver. Tape to DVD copying works fine, but do not buy this if you care about Dolby 5.1 audio with HDMI.

By itself the HDMI does not support multichannel audio, only PCM (stereo). Those wanting Dolby 5.1 must use the separate digital audio output connected directly to a receiver. But when HDMI is connected, audible static is present from the digital audio out whenever the unit is paused or stopped, and the sound drops out every couple of minutes during playback. All this makes the HDMI feature basically unusable for typical home theater setups. I've tried two units with the latest manufacturing dates and they behave exactly the same, it's a design flaw. Digital audio only works properly using a component video connection, which delivers a mediocre picture. Samsung tech support is aware of the problem, but there is no fix, and no apparent urgency in developing one or even responding to customers.

This is the only model currently available from any manufacturer that has DVD recording, VCR and HDMI, and there's probably a reason why. It appears to have been rushed onto the market prematurely.

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Picture quality was very good with sharp details a ...

Strengths: Convenient DVD-VCR recorder. Nice record and playback picture quality

Weaknesses: HD playback of standard format (4:3) DVD and VHS movies produces picture in widescreen format only. People look fat and short. Correct aspect ratio (4:3) viewable only at 480p resolution.

Summary: Picture quality was very good with sharp details and good colors, including black.

However, this was true whether resolution was set to 480p, 720p, or 1080i. I was unable to say for sure if 1080i was definitely better than 480p. Does up-conversion really improve picture quality?

One annoying feature is the display of useless information that blocks part of the picture when you press the change chapter button. You have to stop playing to get into the setup menu or to change the resolution. Of course, you cannot watch standard aspect ratio movies in HD (720p & 1080i) as mentioned above.

Initially there was digital audio dropouts, but unplugging & plugging the unit appeared to have corrected this problem.

If the recording feature were not important to you, you may want to check out the cheaper LG DVD/VCR player (model LGY-514??) which plays all types of DVDs plus DiVX, and also includes multi-format card readers.

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Great experience

Strengths: Having both the DVD and the VHS up-convert is great. Easy to use. Picture on both DVDs and tapes is great. DVD recording is easy.

Weaknesses: NA

Summary: I had this player for about a month. DVD playback was great on most disks (more later). Easy to record, chapter creator is easy to use. However, some disks would freeze at the same part of the movie. These same disks played fine in our other Samsung and Toshiba players. Called customer service. Talked to someone I could actually understand. The lady was very sympathetic. She seemed as upset as I was that this new player wasn't working corrrectly. In any event, she sent me a prepaid UPS next day air shipping tag to send it in for repairs. I sent the player last Tuesday. On Thursday, a new player was delivered to my house. It works perfectly with the disks in question. Now that's customer service.

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Great deal

Strengths: This product has the HDTV conversion for VHS too. It helps a lot to save space and making great DVD's of the hightest quality

Weaknesses: The top cover, a little weak. May not be able to place anything on the top. Litlle expensive. Does not upcovert other inputs.

Summary: I finnaly found a DVD recorder that can upconvert the VHS too into HDMI. It helps to restore all your VHS tapes in a DVD of the highest quality. It save a lot of my time spent to converst the tapes on my computer (8-12hrs).

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CONSIDER THIS UNIT

Strengths: Easier to use than most. Super easy converting of DVDs and VHS tapes. DVDs have been compatible with every device so far.

Weaknesses: Does not support the DVD+R and DVD+RW media.

Summary: I purchased the Samsung DVD-VR325 progressive scan recordable DVR/VCR unit as a Christmas gift for my wife. Let go over the features/specs/operation and I'll make a few comments along the way.

RECORDABLE MEDIA - Accepts DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and VHS. Too bad it will not record to DVD+R. So far I have recorded to DVD-R, DVD-RAM and VHS without any problems. DVD-RAM support is a good feature since DVD-RAM is so versatile.

MEDIA SUPPORTED - Audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and VHS.

RECORDING MODES - EP, LP, SP, AND XP. I have only used SP and the playbacks were of good quality.

VIDEO UPCONVERSION - 1080i (HDTV), 720p (HDTV), 768p. I do not have a high resolution television so this has not been attempted by me yet.

INTERFACE TYPES - Audio - Line In (RCA), Audio - Line Out (AC-3 Bit Stream / PCM Optical), Audio - Line Out (RCA-style), Video - Coaxial (RF), Video - Component, Video - Composite (RCA), Video - i.LINK (IEEE1394), Video - S-Video, Digital Coaxial, Digital Optical, HDMI, RF Coaxial. Isn't that enough for you? It is for me for sure. There are convenient front DV and AV inputs available.

SIZE - 20.2"(W) x 7.1"(H) x 16.8"(D). I have read on another website where one owner found they could not stack anything on the unit without the VCR malfunctioning.

WEIGHT - About 10 pounds.

ON-BOARD DECODERS - Dolby Digital 5.1-channel, DTS.

WARRANTY - 1 Year Parts, 90 Day Labor

REMOTE CONTROL - The remote can be programmed to control 48 different brands of televisions. The remote is not too hard to figure out and most will only need the manual to understand a couple of the buttons. The control fits in the hand fairly well.

SYSTEM SETUP - The initial setup was a breeze. There is an auto time feature to set the clock for you. The automatic channel selection was quick and flawless. All menu settings for the DVD and VCR were easy to navigate and set. There is a Parental Control menu available but I did not use it.

DVD/VCR RECORDING - You can record to either on demand, timed, or programmed. The menu is basically the same as the menu on any stand alone VCR you would encounter today.

COPYING - Shine, shine, shine. Either go the one button route or use the menus. Copying DVDs to VHS tapes or copying VHS tapes to DVDs has never been easier! I have played back DVDs made from VHS tapes on DVD players, other DVD recorders and computers without any problems. The Samsung DVD-VR325 progressive scan recordable DVR/VCR unit is a great device to preserve those old VHS tapes on DVDs with chapters!

OTHER FEATURES - Disk Manager for titles, editing names, protection, formating, and finalising. Advance Editing for scene editing and playlist editing. You also have a zoom feature and multiple camera angles feature.

In conclusion I would say the Samsung DVD-VR325 progressive scan recordable DVR/VCR is a pretty good device for most people. It is fairly easy to use and seems to be fairly compatible with other devices. I have yet to try any of the high definition features yet and will not comment on that feature at this time.

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HDCP is a downfall- I didn't know it even existed.

Strengths: ease of copying vhs to dvd- one touch record

Weaknesses: HDMI is HDCP (copy protected) Can't view DVD's through the HDMI output. Something about a regional code. Won't allow the viewing of DVD's through HDMI output. Front controls are very hard to see.

Summary: I returned the VR-325 today. I was so excited when I got my HDMI to DVI cable in. (75.00) and hooked it up and bam got hit with this error.

"The disc cannot be played. HDCP."

I tried several DVD's and they all said the same. I am truly disappointed. I just wanted the best possible picture to view on my big screen.

The HDMI hookup allowed 480p viewing of sat tv and my vcr tapes. It also allowed my home created DVD's to be viewed through the HDMI with video upscaler 720p & 1080i but really the picture seemed to not be that big of a difference from the 480p.

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Samsung DVD-VR325 DVD/VCR Combo Recorder

Strengths: Compact in size for a combo recorder. Ease of Use. Nice looking. Plenty of extra features.

Weaknesses: Wish it could also record in DVD+R, but not a major concern.

Summary: This deck looks awesome. It was very easy to set up and included many optional set up choices. Included the HDMI cable, which was a nice touch. Good Price point for the features that include auto chapter creation and 2 way dubbing (DVD/VHS)and a front panel DV input.

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