RCA DRC8060N DVD Recorder with Commercial Advance
Excelent DVD recorder
I have been using the RCA DRC8060N for about 8 months. After hundreds of hours of recording (including the entire 2006 FIFA World Cup), I am convinced that the overall quality, versatility and value of this DVD recorder are very good. The following are the pros and cons of purchasing it:<br /><br />PROS:<br />- Excellent quality of recording on the 1-, 2- and 4-hour settings. The 6- and 8-hour recordings are a bit fuzzy but this is understandable. The manual gives a list of disk brands that RCA recommends. Stick with Philips or Sony for best quality.<br />- Ability to record on double-layer disks, which essentially doubles the recording capacity.<br />- Full complement of connectivity options - HDMI, component, S-video, composite, coaxial. I use S-video from the satellite receiver to the DVD recorder and again S-video from the DVD recorder to the TV. As an option, the S-video is below HDMI and component, yet the picture from DVDs or live TV is perfect. The unit also has both analog and digital audio outs.<br />- A typical RCA product in the sense that it can be used as the centerpiece of a home entertainment system, all components of which can be interconnected.<br />- Also a typical RCA product for its clean and utilitarian styling. If you want a DVD recorder that is lit like a Christmas tree, you are better off with a Sony, Panasonic or Toshiba at a 30% premium. The better quality myths are just that since all electronics companies manufacture their products in the same cheap labour markets.<br />- Straightforward controls and overall ease of use. If you know how to use a VCR then you already know how to use it.<br />- Comprehensive but not technically overwhelming manual.<br />- Uncluttered remote, which has been truly universal for my entire system, down to the punch-through control of the surround sound receiver/amplifier.<br />- Upconverts 480p input (i.e. DVD) to a choice of 720p or 1080i output. Late-model TVs can do that but my preference is that the upconversion to the native resolution of the television set is done by the DVD player.<br /><br />CONS:<br />- The DVD recorder emits some noise and heat, a lot like a DVD drive of a PC. The levels, however, are too low to cause an inconvenience.<br />- Cannot delete a chapter (or some of the chapters) of a recorded title. Such a feature would have been very helpful in deleting commercials from a recording, in order to save some space on +RW disks.vision set is done by the DVD player.    CONS:  - The DVD recorder emits some noise and heat, a lot like a DVD drive of a PC. The levels, however, are too low to cause an inconvenience.  - Cannot delete a chapter (or some of the chapters) of a recorded title. Such a feature would have been very helpful in deleting commercials from a recording, in order to save some space on +RW disks.