Samsung DVD-VR325 DVD/VCR Recorder
good enough for now
I'll reiterate some of the previous comments, both good and bad points. <br />The manual might be over simplified, perhaps, because I redid a VCR to DVD playlist before I realized I had to use Copy All after creating a playlist or else I'd lose the remaining segments I laboriously set up (still not positive if the playlist segments themselves are only recorded or entire tape might be! Yesterday was first test.). Manual does state that a VCR playlist can't be \\"saved\\" but I thought it was saying the DVD-VR325 (somewhere it calls it DVD-VR320) wouldn't do a second copy after the first (six segments are possible) DVD is recorded, so I ended up with two disks having only a first segment and the other five segments disappeared when the initial recording ended. Another rather important fact, if you don't rewind the tape yourself before selecting to Copy it'll rewind in play mode, taking forever! Should be a note about that. <br />As to the HDMI audio dropouts... I'm awaiting delivery of a Samsung LCD this week before I'll know anything about that, but sure am counting on that connection to be okay. That was a main part of my decision to buy these Samsung products together (also got Samsung HT-DB600 home theater 5-disc player-- I have had a good Samsung 27\\" CRT since the late 1980's). <br />Something I found out right away about the audio is that DRC (dynamic range compression) causes out-of-synch sound. Not sure why. I use the optical output connected to the HT-DB600 input and set to bitstream, as suggested in the manual. I just don't know enough about these digital things to help myself. So the DRC is kept off on both units. Curious thing about that optical setting is that PCM seems to be what the manual says VCR and non-digital sources needs but I still get audio through the Home Theater speakers okay with it set to Bitstream instead. Again, I don't fully understand this stuff. <br />Well, now about the 4 star rating I chose to give this DVD/VCR recorder combo. It is definitely a nice device when going from a heavier DVD(non-recorder)/VCR combo that always baked the discs and tapes. A pleasant surprise, since I figured the cooling fan was there because it would still be hot. It's quiet, too, my notebook computer is noisier. <br />Also, compared to any previous VHS tape machine I ever had this one does tracking very well, showing a slider on-screen as it adjusts automatically. My other VCR's would never stay aligned even if they initially tracked okay. <br />Only had this a few days so I plan to update my long-winded review here if I discover anything to change my mind about the generous rating but, if not, I think a rating just above average would apply anyhow. <br />Paid $337 and some change (from Amazon itself). <br />