detail information

Positive:

• Supports DVD+/-R and DVD+/-RW
• Excellent DVD+R, DVD-R and DVD-RW recording quality.
• Decent recording quality in its long play modes.
• Former 1GB minimum data (~14 mins @ SP mode) restriction not enforced on DVD-R/RW.
• Good retail bundle including AV leads, RF cable, blank DVD+RW and batteries for the remote.
• Wide selection of AV inputs and outputs.
• Features component out and camcorder DV input.
• User-friendly guider, very useful for those new to DVD recorders.
• Supports MP3 and WMA files from both data CD and DVD, including folders.
• Supports MPEG 1, 2 & 4 (XviD & DivX) files from both data CD and DVD
• Supports 2nd soundtrack, Quarter Pixel, specified aspect ratio and AC3 audio with XviD encodings.
• Supports non-standard resolutions.
• Region coding can be set to match disc or be turned off altogether with secret remote sequence (not an official feature).
• Passive video support to allow viewing of equipment attached to Aux port while recording is taking place.
• DivX Certified including DivX 6 playback
• Very low cost for a slim line DVD recorder with MPEG4/DivX support

Negative:

• Poor DVD+RW recording quality on most of our discs, particularly with the included DVD+RW, resulting in compatibility issues with two of our test discs.
• Disappointing recorded picture quality with both HQ and SP modes.
• No manual tuning support for TV broadcasts - A new terrestrial or cable TV channel requires a full rescan, resulting in losing all existing presets and channel names.
• No audio or video CD recording support.
• Menu thumbnails cannot be edited in recordings. 
• DVD-RW initialisation method cannot be changed without erasing disc in a PC DVD writer.
• No file browser for data discs.
• No Videoplus+ support: timers must be manually set up.
• Does not warn if no disc or an unsuitable disc is loaded when a timer is scheduled.
• No chapter editing, splitting or merging support.
• Certain low bit rate WMA files causes recorder to crash.
• No front display apart from two led indicators.
• Poor MP3 sound quality regardless of bit rate.

Conclusion:

   As this is only our second review of a standalone DVD recorder, we can only compare it against one of its big brothers, the Lite-On LVW-5045.  Besides the lack of a HDD and its smaller size, this DVD recorder is fairly cut back on features, such as no CD recording support, no Videoplus+ or stereo tuner and very limited editing capabilities for recordings.  On the other hand, it includes very good MPEG4 XviD and DivX support, which the LVW-5045 lacks altogether.  Unfortunately, when it comes to recording picture quality, the LVW-5045 seems to do a much better job, particularly at its 1 to 2 hour play modes.

The main positive points:  Unlike many VCRs, Lite-On seems to have developed this DVD recorder with the novice user in mind by minimising the amount of steps to carry out a task as well as guide the user for many tasks at the touch of a button.  It features excellent DVD+R and DVD-R/RW recording quality, including no compatibility issues in any of our equipment with any these particular formats.  For those with a high end TV with component input, this can be connected via its component output and also features coaxial digital audio output for 5.1 surround sound systems.  Finally, it supports most of the capabilities available on most VCRs including MPEG4 support, making this a good DVD player replacement, not to mention its small footprint.

The main negative points:  The main negative point has to be its recording picture quality in the 1 to 2 hour play modes as the LVW-5045 shows a significant improvement with the same play modes.  The lack of chapter editing also means that one cannot set chapter marks except as a recording is taking place.  Some consumers may be disappointed by the lack of a stereo tuner and Videoplus+ support.  While this recorder gave better quality PI/PIF scans with DVD+RW media than the LVW-5045, all but one of our DVD+RW scans were within the guidelines for good quality media.  Finally, for audio playback, the recorder crashes on certain low bit rate WMA files and its MP3 playback sound quality is quite poor.

To sum it all up, this DVD recorder can easily replace an existing DVD player as well as possibly the VCR and we would recommend it to anyone looking for a very user-friendly easy to use DVD recorder.  For anyone looking to change from VHS to DVD to record daily shows, TV programmes, transfer camcorder footage, to do away with wearing out tapes or the tedious rewinding & fast-forwarding process associated with VHS tapes, this would also make an ideal replacement.

You may discuss/comment this review below or in this forum thread. This forum thread may also be used to ask questions around this drive or request additional tests.

Thanks to:

SVP Communication - The United Kingdom for providing the DVD-RW and DVD+R/RW media used in this review.

E-Net Distribution - United Kingdom for providing the RiDisc DVD-R, Datawrite Blue DVD-R and Datawrite Titanium DVD-R media used in this review.

MMORE International B.V. - The Netherlands for providing the MMore DVD-R media used in this review. 

 Daxon Technology Inc - Taiwan for providing the Siera DVD-R media used in this article.

Medea International - United Kingdom for providing the Infiniti DVD-R media used in this review.