Cyberhome CH-DVR1600 DVD Recorder by CyberHome
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Digital camera reviews of Cyberhome CH-DVR1600 DVD Recorder
Digital camera Review: Don't buy this recorder
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased this DVR because it is lowest price DVR available. When I first got it, it was recording with picture that has 20% distortion on top. In less than a month, it was recording with intermittent pause. When I tried to play the DVD that it produced, the unit would not recorgnize it and call it an unknown disc. I tried to return it to Cyberhome. I think it did not even verify the problem and return the unit back to me. I was fortunate that I did returned it to where I bought the unit. I will not buy Cyberhome product againDigital camera Review: Don't do it!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
I was looking forward to using this recorder after I received it for Christmas and indeed started transfering some VHS tapes to DVD. From the beginning this machine gave me trouble. It would stop and freeze up when it was trying to format a new disc for recording at 98% complete and would not respond to anything, so I had to pull the power cord to reset it. A few times I had recorded a program and when I go to finalize the DVD, it had some error and did not record. Also after about 7 months (I hadn't used it that much), It started making a loud humming noise while it was pluged in but not being used. I had to start unplugging it! Now, a couple days ago, I went to record a program and it would not even format a new disc. I tried 3 different discs (of good quality) and the stupid thing could not get past 98% complete. I'm glad I didn't spend my money on it, but unfortunately a family member did. My advice: Buy a name brand thats been around awhile, like sony etc. Sorry:(Digital camera Review: Don't even think about it
Summary: 1 Stars
Please do not bay this unit. After 2 weeks testing it, I have lost 75% of DVD+R.
In 2 hrs mode the quality is good and from 2 to 8 hrs you won't see a big difference with your old tapes.
After recording 2-3 hrs, it will freeze up some how, and all your programs will be erased and your DVD+R and you will have to unplug the unit
to get it out. If you are ok with the 25% of chances to record a DVD, you will have to deal with the smaller remote you ever seen.
Keep this unit? Don't even think about it! If your local store has a return politic, have some fun for a couple of weeks and then returned.
Digital camera Review: Finalizing Issues And Other Problems
Summary: 1 Stars
I would just like to say that I have had the same problems with finalizing/Unknown disk problem stated by everyone else.
Now, my DVR doesn't recognize ANY disk I put in ("Unknown Disk" or sometimes "No Disk"). So basically I have a DVR that neither plays nor records. Right now I use it to hold the papers down on my desk so I guess it has a use, but $100 is a lot to pay for a paperweight.
CyberHome's first DVR does not have the quality of their DVDs.
I know SOME of you have not had these problems (yet, hehe) but the fact that so many of us are reporting the same problems is NOT coincidental and clearly indicative of a design/manufacturing flaw.
Digital camera Review: For a hundred dollars more
Summary: 5 Stars
...I wouldn't bother buying a different burner. This is a great unit at a great price, assuming it lasts at least a year. I like this thing so much that it's prompted me to write this as my first hardware review anywhere. After blowing countless hours futzing with computers, video files, pass-through devices, and balky burners, I've found this to be a _tremendous_ time saver.
Key points (in no particular order):
-Solid construction, while being compact and lightweight.
-FOUR inputs !! (firewire, composite in the front, composite with S-Video option in the back, and RF).
-Easy to use menus.
-Many quality settings (1hrs and up per disc).
-Easy titling and ability to leave discs for later finalization.
-Compact remote control.
-Clock display when on standby.
-Chinese-made players like these play nearly ANYTHING. Not picky like the Sony's, Pioneers, etc.
So far, I have no cons to note, just caveats:
-The box indicates the latest BIOS, currently at 540/105N, as well as the model number. At my Best Buy, there was 1600MU and 1600MU1.
-I got the MU and was able to make it region-free.
-A full burn does not necessarily mean a full disc.
-2hr "SQ" recording is "better than VHS" in the manual, but is somewhat disputable and subjective.
-NOT ALL DISCS WORK WELL. NOT EVEN NAME-BRANDS: I wasted several Memorex +R's trying to figure out a problem, only to use generic CompUSA media without a hitch.
-Use Nero CDSpeed to find out the true mfr of the media (that Memorex was Ritek, while the CompUSA was Ricoh, Your mileage will vary).
-When buying media, buy Taiwan or anywhere else, just NOT Chinese made, if at all possible.
(**If you like to do video editing, go out and get Ulead Video Studio 9 and up. It allows you to import the video files from your DVDs!!! No more hard drive thrashing and eating up computer time waiting for transfers to finish!!! Just drag and drop your .VOB files over and you can edit and save at will!!)
**Lastly, a note regarding burners in general:
I have found on 3 totally different burners (computers and the Cyberhome) that occasionally a series of bad burns will happen. What seems to have fixed this for me is to burn ONE TIME onto a +RW. It is almost as though the +RW mode forces the internals to recalibrate. I can't verify the validity of that, but it's a trick that has worked for me on several occasions.