Gateway AR230 Progressive-Scan DVD Player / Recorder
ATTENTION -- IT DOES NOT RECORD IN STEREO !!! READ THIS!!
This DVD recorder does not make stereo recordings!  This is not a joke.  I have recently purchased 2 different DVD recorders and found that they do not record in stereo!  This Gateway AR-230  and the CyberHome CH-DVR 1500 both use cheap internal TV tuners similar to the TV tuners you buy for a PC.  They only support mono tuning.   I purchased the CH-DVR 1500 first and the AR-230 a few weeks later.  Later i found the CyberHome website clearly states that the CH-DVR 1500 only records in MONO.  I purchased the Gateway AR-230 a week or so later because their sales person told me it recorded in stereo.  When i got it home and used it, i found it to only be mono.  When i called their tech support i was told that they were 99% sure it did stereo.  I asked them to check again and a surprised technican came back on 2 minutes later and said that i was correct, it did only record in mono.  He couldn't beleive it himself but he said he verified it with someone else there and it was true.  Mono only.   My 8 year old VCR can record in stereo!  Buyer beware!!   Don't get stuck with cheap obsolete junk!!