Cyberhome CH-DVR1600 DVD Recorder by CyberHome
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List Price: Category: Home Theater See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Cyberhome CH-DVR1600 DVD Recorder
Digital camera Review: For the price, I couldn't be happier
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked up one of these for $90 at Best Buy with a free 10 pack of DVD+R. I have recorded off my DirecTivo using compositie in, Sony MiniDV camera using Firewire and off a VCR using the tuner and all have been acceptable in quality for me at the 2 hour speed. It will playback MP3 files on a data DVD with no issues whatsoever. Worked great with good sound quality for that purpose. Had minor playback issues on another DVD player, but a quick copy of the disc on my computer remedied that issue. I use DVD+RWs on this unit exclusively as it is more like using video tapes :) then copy them to final DVD+Rs using a computer.
The only negatives are the playback video on the unit itself, inability to select different scenes for menus and the remote. I find that commercial DVD and the ones recorded by the unit itself do look better on my standalone DVD player which also happens to be a Cyberhome. While you can put long titles for each show on the menu, you cannot change the thumbnail picture. The remote is not very well laid out and you will have to look at it constatnly to figure out what button to push. I can live with both of those since this unit's only purpose is to record DVDs.
For the price, I couldn't be more pleased. Please be aware that there are 2 versions of this unit. Each can be identified on the outside of the box in the serial number as ZU and MU. I have used both and they both have their pluses and quirks. I prefer the MU for playback and more user friendly menus, but the ZU is a fine unit as well. Cyberhome has placed firmware upgrades for both models on their website.
Digital camera Review: For transferring camcorder videos - 5 stars!
Summary: 5 Stars
My goal was simply to transfer my old 8mm videos to DVD.
I have tried on the PC using digitizing products with mixed and frustrating results. I chose this DVD recorder based on the positive reviews I read vs. the negatives on big-name brand, and more expensive, recorders.
The machine works great. I read the instructions, hooked up my camcorder and had a DVD going within 1/2 hour of opening the box. The on-screen guide is great and makes it super easy.
I would recommend this to anyone wanting to copy videos to DVD.
Notes: I have only copied camcorder videos to DVD+R so far. I didn't get it for TV (or DVD-RW) recording. Also, I had a few bad discs when I switched to a no-name DVD+R. I went back to a name brand (TDK in my case) and haven't had any problems since then. Some of the negative reviews I have read here may be fixed simply by buying better blank media.
Digital camera Review: Garbage
Summary: 1 Stars
CyberHome = Worst quality products.
Email CyberHome three times. No response.
They don't support their products.
Digital camera Review: Good at first, wait till you have it six months.....
Summary: 1 Stars
I thought this product was awesome when I first bought it too. Little by little I have had problems finalizing disks. Now, six months after I have had the recorder, it wont finalize anything, even though it goes through the steps and gets to 100%. Then suddenly the dvd becomes an "unknown disc" and you just have to throw it into the trash. I thought this might have been a firmware problem, so I updated that (and I had problems getting the dvd player to recognized those dvds which they finally did after about 12 times, each, but it still won't finalize and makes every recording unreadable. I am at my wits ends - I bought this too for moving my vhs tapes to dvds, and I will soon be moving to an "isolated" area and was trying to build up my stock of dvds. Was it worth the $100 I paid? Maybe overall, since I probably got at least $100 worth of dvds, but I was expecting the unit to last longer than 6 months, and I have only probably made about 20 dvds total, so it isn't like I am mass-producing. Think long and hard before buying this.Digital camera Review: Great Deal
Summary: 4 Stars
First, for the price you can't beat this recorder. I read all about the downsides of buying a recorder with no HD and still took a shot with it. Using it to record live TV is a snap. Quality is outstanding. If you use a DVD+RW , it's just like having a VHS but 100X better.Transfer of VHS Tapes just as easy.Playing of pre-recorded DVDs were no problem also. The user interface is a little complex at times, but if you read the manual + a little pratice, this can be overcomed. I had no problem with the playback of DVDs on other machines (I have two others different manufac)<br />
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***Read manual BEFORE you buy blank DVD+R/RW There are some that don't work to well with this machine.***