Entered CNET Catalog: 05/07/2004
SKU: 0046838015281
Manufacturer: JVC America
Manufacturer description
For all your recording needs, the DR-MV1S is the versatile solution. Enjoy a variety of media. Record two shows at the same time and have up to 8 hours of DVD recording time. Watch a DVD while recording a TV program on tape. Dub DVD to VCR and VCR to DVD. You can easily make copies of your favorite home movies using the DV Input from a FireWire equipped camcorder or use the A/V inputs.Product summary
The good: Dual tuner lets you record two shows at once; sharp recording quality in four-hour LP mode; chases playback with DVD-RAM discs; progressive-scan VHS playback; FireWire input; custom recording speed.
The bad: Difficult to use; dual tuners won't work with digital cable/satellite boxes; inconvenient to watch VHS over component video or S-Video; no chapter stops in recordings; IR blaster sold separately.
The bottom line: JVC's promising but confounding VCR/DVD combo recorder is saddled with too many quirks.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 03/02/2005
Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more.
Some of the combo VCR/DVD recorder decks we've seen go for the understated, darker color scheme, the better to hide their size and bulkiness--not so the JVC DR-MV1S. While it's about the same size as other combo decks in its class (17 by 13 by 3.5 inches), its bold silver front, broad silver stripe, and long neon-blue LED strip that glows when the unit's on (you can deactivate the blue light in the settings menu) all make it look that much bigger.Along a beveled silver stripe you'll find VCR- and DVD-eject buttons, play and stop buttons, and the VCR/DVD dubbing controls. Flanking the LCD is a pair of doors that hides a set of A/V inputs with S-Video and additional playback controls, plus a FireWire input.
Anyone impatient with complex electronics will find plenty to complain about with the DR-MV1S. During everyday use, we constantly referred to the manual since few of the functions are intuitive or well thought out. The midsize remote crams in a dizzying array of buttons, many of which have multiple functions depending on the situation. After some trial and error--and some hints from the JVC's onscreen menus, which show annotated diagrams of the remote's keypad--we ultimately got the hang of it.
The JVC's myriad menus are almost as overwhelming as the remote, but we again grew familiar with the various screens over time, and helpful hints abound. Strangely, the menus changed personality when we switched from DVD to VHS mode; the VHS interface has the crude blue background and block letters of a Reagan-era VCR.
Unfortunately, the deck's setup gets clunky if you want to use high-quality video connections. If you're content with the RF or composite outputs, you can switch back and forth between the VHS and DVD modes with no trouble. But if you want to use the S-Video or component-video outputs, get ready for some exercise. One of the DR-MV1S's big features is its ability to play VHS video in progressive-scan over the component-video out, but to do so, you have to get up from the couch and press a button on the unit to switch to VHS playback mode (and the same goes for watching over the S-Video output in interlaced mode). Want to go back to DVD mode? You'll have to get up and push the button again. It's annoying, to say the least.
The JVC DR-MV1S arrives on the scene with an ace up its sleeve: dual tuners, which let you record two shows at once (one on VHS, the other on DVD) or record a program while watching a DVD, a videotape, or live TV. To make full use of the dual tuners, however, you must split your cable feed (a splitter is included) and hook the two RF cables into the back of the deck. That means digital cable users can forget about the second tuner unless they want to go with the low-quality RF output and record only whatever unscrambled channels their service offers on the second tuner; furthermore, the second tuner won't work for satellite users at all. Much like a TV with two-tuner picture-in-picture, the JVC's two-tuner functionality works best with analog cable and antenna connections.In addition to manual recordings on both decks, you can program timed recordings through the setup menu or use VCR Plus. You can plug in an IR blaster that lets the recorder change the channel on your cable/satellite box, but for some mysterious reason, JVC neglected to include one; you'll have to order it from the company. You can also set up the DVD recorder to automatically turn on when it detects a video output, say, from a timer-activated satellite box.
Dubbing from VHS to DVD (or vice versa) is a two-step process: you press one of two arrow buttons on the deck itself, then press the Dubbing button. The JVC will record on DVD-R/-RW/-RAM discs, and the usual recording speeds are available, including XP (for an hour of DVD recording), SP, LP, and EP modes.
We also loved the custom recording speed, which lets you set the speed manually at 5-minute intervals anywhere from 60 to 480 minutes--a great option for recording, say, a 130-minute show at the highest quality. And like the Panasonic DMR-E75VS, the JVC lets you chase playback, that is, watch a program from the beginning as it's being recorded midway through, provided you're using a DVD-RAM disc.
The DR-MV1S has all the usual editing functions, except for one unforgivable omission. The deck lets you snip sections out of titles or create playlists with DVD-RW VR discs, but you can't add chapter stops to a title. Even worse, the deck won't add them automatically, which means none of the DR-MV1S's recordings have chapter stops--unbelievable.
The JVC's connection set is pretty solid. Behind the deck, you get component-video and S-Video outputs, an S-Video input, two composite-video outputs and a composite input, optical and coaxial digital audio outs, and the dual RF ins/outs for the dual tuner. Up front you'll find a set of A/V inputs with S-Video and FireWire inputs for a camcorder.
We were impressed with the JVC DR-MV1S's VHS-to-DVD dubbing. We dubbed our 12-year-old VHS test tape to a DVD-RW in SP mode, and the resulting copy looked great. Much of the video noise from the aging tape was gone, and the picture looked reasonably sharp. Colors were a bit duller and the picture looked a tad dark, but overall we were thrilled with the results, the lack of chapter stops notwithstanding.The deck performed quite well in our resolution tests. Using a DVD-RW from the front S-Video port, the JVC captured about 450 horizontal lines in the one-hour XP and two-hour SP modes. In the four-hour LP mode, the deck scored an impressive 325 lines of resolution, almost 100 more than we've seen on other decks. In EP mode and below, resolution dropped to a much softer 250 lines, as expected. In our test recordings of Star Trek: Insurrection, the peasants fleeing the deadly probes looked solid in the XP and SP modes, with minimal background blockiness, and we were pleasantly surprised by the picture quality in the four-hour LP mode, which looks a bit soft but is still sharper than other decks' we've tested.
The DR-MV1S had no trouble with our 2:3 pull-down test, rendering the ragtag fleet in the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries without jaggies or shimmering. In terms of playback compatibility, the deck handled the majority of discs in our test suite, although it choked on a couple of DVD-R and DVD-RW discs, including one that caused it to hang so badly we had to unplug it and reboot, a lengthy process. On the plus side, it handled three out of four DVDs filled with MP3s, a rare feat among standalone decks.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57out of 57 user reviews
Do not buy, not worth the trouble
Pros: VCR and DVD combo. Ability to dub from VCR to DVD or DVD to VCR. When it worked!
Cons: Loading Error. Had it fixed with no further problems in that area. Have to unplug and plug back in to get VCR to work at times. It does not recognize DVDs any more. I get a "no disc error" or "unreadable disc error". It still recognizes CDs for some reaso
out of 57 user reviews
I wish I would have read these reviews!
Pros: I didnt find anything I really liked about it. It did transfer some of my vhs to dvd without locking up sometimes.
Cons: The unit stopped working after 3 months. Disk error or no disk error. I would unplug the machine and plug back in and sometimes it would work. But after 50 attempts it just stopped working.
out of 57 user reviews
If it works and it's not over heated it's duable
Pros: The front inputs
Cons: it over heats alot, the dubbing is very poor from vcr to dvd.
It's already been sent to jvc once for repair for overloading I got it back and it worked for a couple months after until it started doing it again but I haven't wanted to bother sending it back to jvc again. I decided I'd be further ahead if I bought a different machine.
Paying more doesn't always means you get better.
out of 57 user reviews
Sow's ear in the disguise of a silk purse.
Pros: 6 Months realitively proper function.
Cons: $350 Paper weight. Crap...Crap...Crap!!!!!!!!!
out of 57 user reviews
To be able to record 2 different channels at the same time is a definite plus.
Pros: Great picture for DVD side with component connectors
Cons: Analog tuner, no elect button on remote,no S video putput for VCR side
I'm now looking for a combo unit that will record digital cable without a cable box at least for DVD side. Anyone know of one?
out of 57 user reviews
I love mine, BUT....
Pros: Twin-tuner, DVD->VHS and VHS->DVD Dubbing, DVD-RAM Features
Cons: Appears unreliable....
BUT - after about 10 or 11 months, the DVD deck went haywire. After pausing a recording when the programme went to commercials, it refused to resume recording, and basically wouldn't play or record anything after that.
Contacted dealer (internet sale) who referred me direct to JVC, who arranged to deliver a replacement 48 hours later - courier duly delivered 'new' unit and took away old one, but on opening the box I found the replacement was badly dented at rear by fan vent, so much so that I doubted the fan could operate. Rang JVC immediately, got profuse apologies, and received replacement next day, and that one's been fine for the last 18 months....
BUT - just over a week ago, went to switch it on from 'Standby' and nothing happened, then noticed blank screen (no clock). Changed fuse in plug, unit went into 'Loading' mode, reset itself and worked fine. Following day, though - it was off again. Unplugged it, looked for another fuse, couldn't find one, but plugged it back in again anyway - unit went into 'Loading' mode, and worked normally....
BUT - since then, the time that the unit remains in 'Standby' has gradually reduced from 7-8 hours to around one hour before it shuts down altogether and has to be unplugged and plugged back in again. Also, although it goes through the 'Loading' mode for around a minute each time, for the last couple of days the clock has not been setting, and now has to be done manually....
Emailed JVC Technical Support here in UK, who have said they can't diagnose via email, but to send copy of purchase invoice and they'll arrange a replacement - seems a strange response, as I'd mentioned the unit's age, and its warranty was only for 12 months. Going to send paperwork off and see what happens - hopefully, in view of its cost (GBP 300.00) and because there's been so many problems, they're trying to do the 'right thing' by their customers?
out of 57 user reviews
Worst Electronics Purchase I Have Ever Made
Pros: Plays DVDs OK
Cons: Everything -- EVERYTHING -- Else
I consider myself to be pretty good with electronics, rarely needing to read manuals or refer to set-up diagrams to get things running. With this POS, however, an MIT engineering degree won't even help. Arcane menus, confusing external displays, and even a poorly designed remote control all exasperate this poorly engineered and horribly designed paperweight.
DVDs hardly ever format correctly. And they even more rarely 'finalize' properly. I have about a 5% success rate of burning DVDs weather they are copies of VHS tapes or direct the tuner. Absolutey horrible.
This unit is so bad (...HOW BAD IS IT?). It's so bad I don't even think I can sell it on Ebay in good conscience. I mean it's in perfect working condition, but it's such a bad machine that I couldn't -- I shouldn't -- sell it to another soul. Look for it at my local dump in the near future...
out of 57 user reviews
Went through TWO of these - same problems!
Pros: VHS-to-DVD dub quality
Cons: Won't load VHS tapes, DVD playback scan is faulty.
out of 57 user reviews
Editing problems with both DVD-R,DVD-RW discs, I just cant edit any title
Pros: easy to use device
Cons: bulky, hangs from time to time
out of 57 user reviews
This product should have never been marketed.
Pros: Good player and direct recorder when working.
Cons: Deck heats up, broken for third time, bad support.
out of 57 user reviews
I will gill give this unit 2 out of ten becouse it has a pretty blue light
Pros: The ability to record from a vhs to a dvd is pretty easy after you read the owners manual about 15 times
Cons: The only con about this unit is JVC conning all the consumers that bought this dvr
out of 57 user reviews
"Still Loading" - The product locks up and flashes "Loading" making the machine inoperable
Pros: When it does work the clarity was fine as was its recording features
Cons: Had it "repaired" twice for the "loading" issue eventually had to be replaced under the warranty.
out of 57 user reviews
Unreliable and frustrating
Pros: Warranty repair
Cons: Loading flashes on LCD forever
out of 57 user reviews
Waste of money, time and totally frustrating
Pros: DVD works well
Cons: VCR section burned out on both units shortly after purchase, instruction manual requires MIT Engineering Degree, clock does not work, "loading errors" prevent dubbing, contol labels unreadable
out of 57 user reviews
Infuriating
Pros: A competent DVD player
Cons: Does nothing else right
out of 57 user reviews
The Worst Product I have ever seen
Pros: Dvd/vhs Compact box
Cons: Everything, from a defective dvd drive, VCR, to error messages
out of 57 user reviews
Worst piece of junk I have ever bought.
Pros: Nice features (when it works)
Cons: Customer service is the worst I have ever encountered for any product at any time
out of 57 user reviews
A Piece of Crap!
Pros: Good playback/recording when the unit actually turns on.
Cons: Dubbing feature rarely works, unit doesn't power on sometimes.
In short, this product works great, except for dubbing, if it will turn on. Don't buy this player. I know as soon as I get my disc out I'm going to get a new unit, I've heard the Panasonics are good...
out of 57 user reviews
Poor, any fix for the Loading problem
Pros: Lots of features.
Cons: Unreliable, complex to use, limited formats.
out of 57 user reviews
DO NOT BUY,,, "LOADING" problem & every machines does it!
Pros: none, Bad Machine
Cons: Every part of it....
Shame on you JVC.........
out of 57 user reviews
What a horrible product!!!
Pros: Can play VCR tapes
Cons: Not user-friendly, very quirky operation, extremely unreliable
out of 57 user reviews
Not at any price
Pros: Nice silver color
Cons: Unreliable at least 50% of the time
out of 57 user reviews
So far so good!!!
Pros: Dual Tuner Great picture
Cons: Confusing instruction
out of 57 user reviews
Poor quality, Tape side keeps breaking
Pros: There are no pros to this machine
Cons: Difficult to use and poorly built
out of 57 user reviews
Awful Awful Awful! Lousy and cheap POS!!!!!!!!!!
Pros: None. Zero. Absolutely no pros at all!
Cons: Everything. This is a HORRIBLE product!
My question is this- just why does JVC release a product like this, when they should KNOW it is a cheap P.O.S?
I owned 3 of the DR-MV1S models, and all three died a quick death.
What a waste of my time and money!
I will NEVER buy another DVD machine from JVC again.
out of 57 user reviews
Do not buy this POS at ANY price
Pros: Umm... it's got a really pretty blue neon light!!!
Cons: Everything Else about it...
out of 57 user reviews
JVC Should Recall and Replace All These Machines!
Pros: Makes an EXCELLENT copy to DVD from VHS!
Cons: THE DREADED LOADING ERROR!!!!!!
out of 57 user reviews
P.O.S. STAY AWAY DON'T BUY IT
Pros: Great dvd picture quality
Cons: manual hard to understand, machine works when it wants to
out of 57 user reviews
It's not that bad
Pros: Good picture and easy to edit dvd-ram
Cons: Cheap remote, hard to setup, input limited to coaxial only
out of 57 user reviews
Do not buy at any price
Pros: Makes an attractive door stop
Cons: Simply doesn't work
out of 57 user reviews
If you get one that works, they are just fine,
Pros: Makes good DVD's
Cons: On 2nd unit
out of 57 user reviews
Take all our advice...do not buy!
Pros: Lots of features
Cons: Just plain doesn't work
out of 57 user reviews
do not waste your time or money on this
Pros: spec sheet looks good, picture quality was awsome when it works
Cons: first unit dvd player was dead out of the box, second unit made 1 dvd, then crapped out.
out of 57 user reviews
LOADING error - Totally Annoying!!!!!
Pros: Great unit - up until the loading error
Cons: Loading error - what is that about? Nothing in the manual or on the UK website. Only on the US
James
out of 57 user reviews
Unreliable
Pros: Good features. Records VHS to DVD and back. Easy to dump from DVR to DVD.
Cons: Doesn't work. First one broke. Returned for replacement. Now, after 6 months it doesn't work either. Lots of problems that will cost me lots of money to fix.
out of 57 user reviews
JVC Will Fix for Free
Pros: From the JVC Service FAQ: My DVD recorder has experienced green or white noise in the picture display followed by the word “Loading” flashing continuously on the unit’s FDP. Unplugging the unit clears the "Loading" indication and restores normal operatio
Cons:
out of 57 user reviews
JVC DR-MV1S - DVD recorder/VCR combo
Pros: Price I pick this item up for $218.00 I have had this recorder for about 2 weeks and have made copy of show off my DVR with not problem. I like that it come with firewire and VCR. This recorder is easy to work right out the box.
Cons: Hope I don't have all the problem that I have read about. The owner manual is a little long and drawn out.
out of 57 user reviews
DR-MV1s = DUD
Pros: Worked great for about two weeks.
Cons: After two weeks, I too, get the "LOADING" error. Nothing short of throwing the unit out the window get this to stop flashing. I had to leave it unplugged for two days to get the unit to reset. DO NOT BUY THIS!! I am sorry that I did an did not read t
out of 57 user reviews
avoid this machine
Pros: dual tuners, one touch dub, reads and records DVD-RW.
Cons: I bought one, it was crap, exchanged it for another, it was crap as well (went with a Sony VX500 instead). UNIT #1: Would not auto-load time. VCR side was dead; would not load a tape, and if you forced it, you had to take the lid off to manually eject th
out of 57 user reviews
DR-MV1 problems: It goes to
Pros: Unreliable. I am on my second DR-MV1 with the first one supposedly repaired before doing it again. Same problem occured. The machine will stop whatever it is doing and flash "LOADING" and controls are inoperative until it shuts off on its own.
Cons:
out of 57 user reviews
Stay clear of this unit
Pros: Theroetically, it is feature-rich.
Cons: Ran into "Loading" errors after 1 week. After dubbing my first VHS to DVD the VHS stopped working altogether. Prior to dubbing, I couldn't get the machine to take the VHS tape without a lot of hassle. This was the first and last JVC product for me. Lu
out of 57 user reviews
"Loading" flashing is a pain
Pros: easy to use when you follow manual for VHS to DVD dubbing which is why I purchased it.
Cons: Worked great for first month-month and a half then started the blinking "loading". Unplugged it and worked fine for a little while. Now if is doing it constantly. Called JVC and the said it could only be repaired by sending it to JVC Service center in Aur
out of 57 user reviews
Unreliable piece of JUNK! :(
Pros: Plethora of nice features.
Cons: UNRELIABLE! I too, just like thousands of others, started experiencing the dreaded flashing "LOADING..." problem a scant week or three after purchasing it -- and it only got worse and worse as time went by. It became SO bad that I've recently given up com
out of 57 user reviews
Loading problem can be fixed
Pros: JVC can may fix the LOADING problem (at no charge) if you have your receipt. JVC apparently recognizes problem & is taking steps to protect their reputation. Bravo! All my other JVC equipment made in Japan works perfectly. This unit is made in China.
Cons: LOADING problem gets worse every day. I bought a replacement "warranty" so I returned the unit and got full credit. Now I'm looking for a replacement unit.
out of 57 user reviews
Annoying deficiencies.
Pros:
Cons: Video lags sound when sound is sent to sound system directly. Noisy fan. No S-video for VHS in or out.
out of 57 user reviews
Loading error, customer service very bad
Pros: Nice features to have on this product. If it only worked.
Cons: I too get the loading error. Customer service rep told me they did not know anything about this error message. And to send it in to them. I asked where to send it and she said the closest to me in Ohio was CA then the next was GA. SO i guess if they have
out of 57 user reviews
Terrible device and Terrible Se
Pros: Price
Cons: Defective device, poorly built and CRAP service. This company clearly does not know how to handle consumers and DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. My DV (firewire input) did not work properly, the VCR jammed tapes and froze and the machine got stuck o
out of 57 user reviews
It's good when it is working.
Pros: Very easy to copy VHS to DVD.
Cons: The manual is hard to follow for the technology challenged like myself. I purchased this unit in August. In September, I too, had the "loading" problem. I took it to JVC and was told that there was a problem with the software not being compatible with the
out of 57 user reviews
easy to set-up and use
Pros: two tuners, VCR & DVD in one, can connect to satellite and antenna and control with universal remote. easy to use and set-up. Instruction manual was good.
Cons: None Yet.
out of 57 user reviews
Poor reliability for a JVC product
Pros: Inexpensive compared to other similar units. The unit actually did work for approx. 2 months before I sent it to the factory for repair.
Cons: After returning from the factory for the initial repair, continued to have the same "loading" error, and my discs subsequently became decorative coasters. I sent it back and asked for a refund. I am getting the Sony unit.
out of 57 user reviews
same loading errors
Pros: it worked great at first then started getting loading errors.
Cons: i have two units and both do the same thing - "loading errors" looking for solution now.
out of 57 user reviews
full featured, but bugs in
Pros: good features on this unit. Documentation is poor. Quirky to operate.
Cons: Biggest issue is that it has a bug which causes an error message to display: "Loading". Apparently is is a well known issue, as I am reading other same opinions. Only solution is to ship it back for service. This ticks me off, as I have not used this u
out of 57 user reviews
Looks good - works badly
Pros: Had all the features I was looking for (VHS deck, firewire in)
Cons: Worked fine until I plugged my DV deck into the firewire port, then consistently crashed with the "LOADING" message. Had to turn it off & back on to reset - never would work with the firewire cable.
out of 57 user reviews
Great Idea, Poor Quality
Pros: -DVD recording works great -Dub from VHS or firewire (DV) -Dual Tuners - Great picture quality, smooth operation
Cons: - Difficult to figure out - After owning the unit for several months, it suddenly started stopping in the middle of dvd playback, loading, or recording, and started flashing "loading". It will eventually turn itself off, or you have to unplug the unit, p
out of 57 user reviews
An unreliable unit
Pros: For converting your old VHS tapes to DVD, it dosn't get much easier. Simply load the VHS tape and put in a blank DVD disc. Hit the DUB button and away it goes. A very feature rich unit with a long and detailed user manual.
Cons: Intenal problems within the unit itself. After a few weeks the unit would suddenly stop in the middle of a dub or recording (vhs or dvd) and start blinking the message 'LOADING'. The only way to clear the error was to power the unit off,wait a few minutes
out of 57 user reviews
Cool !!!!
Pros: dual tuners for recording two shows at once. nice dsign. eay to operate and set up. ususal high quality JVC product.Multiple input and outputs.
Cons: typical confusing JVC instruction manual. Not comp-u-link to work w/ other JVC products.
out of 57 user reviews
Compact high quality recorder with dubbing en 2 tuners
Pros: 2 tuners dubbing easy to use DTS Blue light -smart design
Cons: Only -R and -RW recording
