Entered CNET Catalog: 08/09/2007
SKU: 0609585128996
Manufacturer: Philips Consumer Electronics
Manufacturer description
Benefit from the convenience of recording directly onto a 160GB hard disk with this DVD recorder. To keep something longer, simply record your selected programs onto a DVD to enjoy a lifetime of high quality videos.Product summary
The good: Records TV programming to DVD or built-in 160GB hard drive; ATSC tuner for receiving digital broadcasts; HDMI output upscales to 1080p; 30-second commercial skip button; plays photos and MP3s from USB drives; one of the only DVD/hard-drive recorders currently on the market.
The bad: No support for dual layer or DVD-RAM discs; ATSC tuner cannot deliver full native HDTV resolution; no onscreen program guide or IR blaster limits ability to be used as a DVR; no flexible recording length; mediocre video quality on video-based content; subpar remote.
The bottom line: The Philips DVDR3575H is pretty much your only choice if you want a DVD recorder with a hard drive these days, but it's not as good as it could be.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 11/05/2007
DVD recorders with hard drives used to be the poor man's TiVo. Sure, they lacked the finesse and eye candy of a true TiVo, but you didn't have to pay a subscription fee and you could burn anything right in the same unit. Fast-forward to today and you'll be hard pressed to find a DVD recorder with a hard drive, and if you go to eBay it might cost you nearly $2,000 to pick up an older model. The Philips DVDR3575H is one of the few DVD recorders with a hard drive that's still on the market, plus it has a built-in ATSC tuner, as now required by federal mandate. With a 160GB hard drive and the ability to upscale DVDs to 1080p, the DVDR3575H looks, at least from the spec sheet, to be a cheap alternative for those who don't want to pay TiVo or a cable/satellite company a monthly fee. That said, we couldn't help but feel letdown by its shortcomings. It lacks both an electronic program guide (EPG) and an IR blaster (i.e. the ability to control a cable or satellite box), which seriously limits its ability to be used as a DVR. There's no flexible recording mode, as found on many competing DVD recorders, and overall its recording quality was just average. And like every other DVD recorder with an ATSC tuner we've seen, it cannot output or record true high-definition resolution TV programming. These nitpicks don't stop it from doing a perfectly acceptable job at its main duty--recording from external devices and from the digital tuner--but anyone hoping for more should be wary. If you're dead set on getting a DVD recorder with a hard drive, the Philips DVDR3575H is one of your only choices--just make sure you realize its limitations before taking the jump.
Design
DVD recorders with hard drives are boxy by nature, but the DVDR3575H still manages to look somewhat stylish. There's a slim strip of silver along the bottom, with the top having a glossy black look. In the center there's a smallish LED screen that we wish was a bit bigger. Farther to the right are a few playback controls including Play, Stop, and Record, although we would have liked a direction pad on the front for when the remote goes missing.
The remote is a weakness of the DVDR3575H, as some of the most important functions of the remote are relegated to tiny buttons. For example, one of the most important things you do with a DVD recorder is record, yet the record button is tiny and we had to look at the remote each time we want to start recording. Another button we used a lot is the confusingly named Title button, which actually brings up the main interface for browsing recordings off the hard drive. On the upside, regular DVD playback controls are well-placed, with a large Stop button and Fast-Forward/Rewind and Chapter Forward/Backward close by. Still, you'd be better off using a solid universal remote.
User interface
The user interface is utilitarian but for the most part gets the job done. It displays six thumbnail images of the content saved on the HDD or DVD, and the clips start to play if they're selected. Near the top of the screen, a status bar reveals more infotmation about each clip, including when it was recorded and the recording mode used. We would have preferred if it could pull program information from the digital signal, like the Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK does. When you hit OK on a clip, a menu pops up allowing you to resume playback, play from start, edit, delete, delete multiple titles, or dub the program to a recordable DVD.
The editing interface works well. To archive your favorite program commercial free, simply select "scene delete" and click start at the beginning of the commercial and end at the end of the commercial, and then delete. You can even preview how the new clip will look like before permanently deleting it.
Features
The main function of the DVDR3575H is recording TV, whether that be from its built-in digital tuner or an external satellite or cable box. Recordings can be made on a variety of DVD formats (DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW), or on the 160GB internal hard drive. The lack of dual layer DVD support and, to a lesser extent, DVD-RAM support is very disappointing--there's no excuse for those limitations these days. Of course, anything recorded onto the hard drive can later be recorded to DVD (called dubbing), and that transfer occurs faster than real time.
For DVD recording, the unit offers six recording modes that all have trade-offs in recording quality vs. capacity. Only 1 hour of highest quality XP mode video fits onto a DVD; SP is 2 hours; SSP is 2.5 hours; LP is 3 hours; EP is 4 hours; and SLP is 6 hours. Six recording modes should cover the vast majority of scenarios you'll face, but we still wish it would have had a flexible recording speed, which allows you to maximize the quality and completely fill up a disc.
The same recording speeds are available on the hard drive. Assuming you use the same recording mode for everything on the hard drive, the recording mode to recording time ratios are as follows: HQ is 33 hours; SP is 66 hours; SPP is 82.5 hours; LP is 99 hours; EP is 132 hours; and SLP is 198 hours.
As now required by federal law, the DVDR3575H comes equipped with an ATSC tuner, which is capable of picking up digital over-the-air broadcasts, including HD channels. When we first heard about DVD recorders equipped with ATSC tuners back at CES, we were pretty excited about the idea, but we've found ourselves a little disappointed with the 2007 models. For basic use, it worked well; the tuner picked up all our local digital channel (not much of a challenge given CNET Labs' proximity to the Empire State Building's broadcast tower). Additionally, digital stations always looked better than their analog counterparts, at least in our testing area. On the other hand, it was disappointing that the DVDR3575H does not output true high-definition TV. Over-the-air digital signals are fully capable of displaying high-definition TV, but instead the DVDR3575H displays a 480p signal upconverted to 1080i--which is far from true high definition (more on this in the Performance section). As a result, you're getting an image that's more akin to an upconverted DVD than to true high-def.
The DVDR3575H is missing two features that would have added some key functionality: an electronic programming guide (EPG) and an IR blaster. An EPG makes it much easier to schedule recordings off the ATSC tuner. Instead of looking through a TV Guide to find the channel and time of your favorite recordings, you could simply navigate the onscreen display and hit "record" when you see something you like.
An IR blaster would make it much easier to record from other sources, like cable or satellite box. Without an IR blaster, if you want to record a show, you have to make sure your cable or satellite box is set to the right channel before it starts. An IR blaster would allow you to set a timer recorder, and the DVDR3575 would automatically change the channel on your cable or satellite box at the appropriate time. On the other hand, we were happy to see a 30-second skip button for blasting by commercials on recorded programs.
The DVDR3575H's jack pack is pretty good. The main connection is the HDMI output, which is capable of outputting video scaled to 1080p along with multichannel audio. For analog video outputs, there is a component video output--which is capable of 480p output--and an AV output with S-video. On the input side, there's an AV input with S-Video on the rear panel and an additional AV input on the front panel. There's also a FireWire jack on the front panel for connecting a digital camcorder, plus a USB port for MP3 playback or JPEG files. For audio, there's the aforementioned HDMI output, plus both optical and coaxial digital audio outputs. Analog audio is supported by a stereo RCA output.
If you're a Philips fan but you don't need the built-in hard drive, the company also offers the DVDR3545V (DVD/VHS recorder) and DVDR3475 (standalone DVD recorder) in its 2007 lineup, as well.
Digital TV performance
Like every other DVD recorder with a built-in ATSC tuner we've tested, the DVDR3575H is not capable of outputting a true HD signal. This was readily apparent in the softness of program material, and especially easily to pick upon network logos. For example, where the CBS logo should be round and smooth, we could see jaggies on the edges. It's a little confusing using the HDMI output because the signal is up-converted to 1080p--so your HDTV will say it's accepting a 1080p signal--but up-scaled from an image that's far less detailed than the full 1920x1080 lines of resolution.
We were able to confirm our observations using the Sencore VP403C signal generator, which has an RF output capable of sending an ATSC signal. We dialed in a resolution test on the Sencore and it clearly could not pass the resolution of either a 1080i or 720p signal. Even more interestingly, it didn't quite resolve all detail of a 480p signal, either, which the Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK was able to do. While we don't know for sure, we imagine the DVDR3575H down-converts the original high-definition signal to 480p--which loses much of the actual detail--and then it up-converts it back to 1080i.
Despite the fact that it's not true high-definition, in our experience digital TV signals look much better than analog signals and also are able to preserve the wide-screen aspect ratio of high-def shows. So while the DVDR3575H can't output high-def, you'll still enjoy superior image quality than you'd get with a standard analog tuner.
DVD recording performance
Overall, recording performance was average and not quite up to the standards seen on models without a hard drive, such as the Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK. To start off, we looked at some resolution test patterns from Avia Pro, using the S-Video input on the DVDR3575H. We started off in HQ mode, and the results were mixed. While it does an excellent job of displaying almost 500 lines of horizontal resolution, vertical resolution was considerably worse, topping out at a little over 400 lines. SP was very similar, looking almost identical with perhaps a slight vertical resolution. SPP mode was a huge jump down in quality. While vertical resolution managed to stay at about 400 lines of resolution, horizontal resolution plummeted to around 300 lines of resolution. The next three recording modes--LP, EP, and SLP--looked essentially identical to SPP mode.
Recording quality on static resolution tests is different than recording actual programs with motion, so we looked at some TV recorded at each of the different quality levels. For the most part, actual program material followed the same pattern as our resolution tests. HQ and SP looked very good, with very little motion artifacts and jaggies. SPP was a significant dropoff in quality, as the image becomes a good deal softer and you start to see more jaggies and blocklike compression artifacts. Unlike with the resolution tests, we saw a steady decline in quality from SPP to SLP mode, with SLP mode having a very soft image, riddled with jaggies and pixilation. Videophiles should look elsewhere, but for everyone else the DVDR3575H will do the job.
DVD playback performance
We started off testing the DVD playback performance using Silicon Optix's HQV test suite. Right off the bat we were pretty disappointed as the DVDR3575H failed the initial resolution test, which means it's unable to pass the full resolution of DVDs. The next jaggies test was also unacceptable, with many more jaggies than we're use to seeing on even inexpensive up-converting players. These jaggies cropped up again on the following test of a waving flag, as each ripple in the flag cause a bundle of unsightly jagged edges. Things didn't get any better as we continued to the 2:3 pull-down test, as moire was visible in the grandstands as a racecar drove by. As a consolation, it did pass the scrolling titles test, although we saw more jaggies than we'd like in the background.
Switching over to program material was a bit better. We were pleasantly surprised with the introduction to Star Trek: Insurrection, as it demonstrated that it does have 2:3 pull-down by correctly rendering the curved edges of the bridge railings and boat hulls. We moved onto the difficult opening sequence of Seabiscuit, and again the DVDR3575H handled it much better than the test patterns on HQV. So while it struggled with the difficult video-based tests of the HQV suite, the DVDR3575H performed better with actual film-based program material.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14out of 14 user reviews
Available for the money with a hard drive
Pros: --when I have the opportunity I can can transfer from the hd to disc
Cons: I can't believe the terrible remote control--I can live with the layout--yet I do not understand the narrow fiield of vision the remote has when it talks to the recorder
I am satisfied with the picture depending on the recording speeds chosen for I have nothing to compare it to really.
out of 14 user reviews
Poor Mans Tivo is right
Pros: No Monthly Bill very easy to use
Cons: Can not Record From an HD Direct TV etc.. Box & The Remote is breaking down there over 5 buttons that no longer work!
Updated on Feb 1, 2010& NOW when I turn the HDD on it has been reset back to Factory settings & asking ENGLISH OR SPANISH! & all my Settings & RECORD Settings are all whipped out! & its very FRUSTRATING!!!! ON TOP of the REMOT BUTTONS ALL BREAKING DOWN PS ALL RECORDINGS ARE STILL INTACT
out of 14 user reviews
Great at some things but still crappy at others.
Pros: 1) Capacity
2) Can record to HD or DVD
3) HDMI and USB
4) You can watch one recorded title while recording a new one.
5) Built in digital tuner - great it if you still have old analog sets (or even CRTs) laying around.
Cons: 1) The remote is a truly incompetent design flaw.
2) Too easy to accidentally delete a "Pause Live TV" recording but a massive pain in the arse to delete an archived/pre-recorded programme once finished watching.
3) No real on screen guide.
out of 14 user reviews
great machine
Pros: I've had this machine for 14 months now. I blame the corporations for defeating this technology. THey all want to you to pay monthly fees, THIS IS PURE BS! RECORDING TO A HARD DRIVE SHOULD BE FREE AS IT IS WITH THIS MACHINE.
Cons: CORPORATIONS DEFEATING THIS TECHNOLOGY!
out of 14 user reviews
Don't waste your money!
Pros: The only pro that this thing has is that it remembers that it recorded my toddlers show 80% of the time.
Cons: It no longer remembers what day or time it is, won't remember the timers that I have set, errors on EVERY recording, only really works when you manually hit the record button and the sometimes it doesn't even work then and that's just the beginning.
out of 14 user reviews
Better than a VCR+ but no TIVO
Pros: Video Connection options, upconverting DVD player, simple manual options/features
Cons: Recording quality is dark, You only want to record in High Quality so that is about 30 hrs of program, can't watch another channel while recording, recording on HQ is better than VCR but not even standard tv quality, DVD player slow, etc
Well, I tend to be a negative person, but I would recommend this unit if you don't want to pay a monthly service or just need to record shows on a regular basis. The live TV recording option is tricky but if you know what you want to watch ahead of time, this unit is your memory. Upconversion works well if you use and HDMI cable, but if you only have component video or s-video options left you can along with standard composite video. Each does not seem of affect recording quality much. It works, but I really don't recommend using this unit with a converter box. If you notice detail, the picture is a step down from standard and the box may give you a guide and more channels, the unit depends on you leaving the box on the channel you intend to record. any question, e-mail me EGIRXBass@yahoo.com
out of 14 user reviews
Not Like the Old Model
Pros: DVR and DVD record to multiple DVD formats, Analog and Digital Tuners, Good picture quality for non-HD
Cons: DVR buffer recording is not automatic, small remote buttons, no TV Guide
The primary reason I chose the Philips, even when I had problems with my last model, was because I could not find any other good choice out there besides TIVO, cable boxes, and PC-based systems. I also wanted to be able to record on DVD, as with my previous one. I have had no problems with my Panasonic DVD recorder, so if Panasonic still made a DVR, I probably would have bought it instead.
This new unit seems so different from my last, that it must have been totally re-engineered by Philips. The strangest thing about it is that it does not automatically record the current channel in the buffer, as my previous one did. So if you think you want to record a show that you are watching, you better hit the record button or set the timer ahead. Using the unit's "Pause Live TV" function is a waste if you want to keep what you are watching, because as soon as you hit the stop button, the buffer is erased. I also don't like the small buttons on the remote. It will take time to get used to. There also is no TV Guide, just date/time/channel settings, like a VCR. That's ok by me if the timer settings don't mess up like my old one.
Unfortunately, the first unit that I bought totally died after less than 2 days of having it. This was not a good sign. I exchanged it for a new one, and it has been working well for a week now.
It does what I need it to do, but wish that it was more like my old unit in design, but with the new unit's digital tuner and recording to all DVD formats, which the old unit could only record to +R/+RW. I will never understand why companies just don't improve on their old models instead of totally redesigning them.
In the end, I recommend this product if you do not want to deal with TIVO (subscription fee), cable boxes (monthly fee), and PC-based systems (long boot time and Windows issues). It stands alone, tunes analog and digital channels, and will record to DVD, either directly or from the DVR hard drive.
I owned an older Philips DVR, and really liked it, except that it had issues with the built in TV Guide, that caused it to crash and erase timer settings. This newer product does not use TV Guide, but rather just regular date/time/channel settings. This is fine, and has had not timer resets or crashes in the 3 months that I have had this unit. So that is a plus. This unit also will record directly to DVD, as well as the built-in hard drive, with both +R/RW and -R/RW (the old unit recorded only +R/RW). Dubbing from HD to DVD is fairly quick. And the LP mode has decent quality recording. At EP, you can start to see some blockiness in the picture quality though. Another thing I like about this over my old unit, is that this one can commercial skip on both the DVR and DVDs. Also, this unit has a digital tuner, whereas the old unit only had an analog tuner.
Some things that I don't like about this newer DVR, is that you cannot pause the live TV while it is recording. You have 2 options, to press a "LIVE TV" button, but this is only for viewing. The program will not record. You can also press the PLAY button during an actual recording, and this will allow the "Live TV" playback, but it always starts at the beginning of the recording, not at the point where you press the PLAY button. This is good if you want to watch a show from the beginning that you started recording earlier. My older Philips DVR also recorded automatically into a 3 hour buffer, anything that was on the current television channel. This allowed you to record what was already in the buffer. With the new unit, you must press the record button to start recording, and it only starts at that point.
Overall, though, I am very pleased with this DVR/DVD Recorder, and would recommend it to my best friend. I did not give it 5 stars, primarily due to the things that I did not like.
out of 14 user reviews
Pays for itself in about one year.
Pros: Potent and feature rich, great HD support.
Cons: User interface isn't TIVO calibre
out of 14 user reviews
Works well with my set up
Pros: Price- $180, QAM tuner
Cons: remote is horrible
I have the unit hooked up to an Optoma DV 10 projector and a Denon AVR- 1801 for sound.
I have the Optoma using a 120" screen, the max. so the image is blown up very large and we sit very close to it.
Since the Optoma is not HD I saw no need to pay extra for an HD Recorder. Nor do I need electonic programing or titling since I record the same shows every week.
The remote is awful, so I bought a low end Harmony and use that.
With my set up and preferences, the Philips is well worth the price.
The QAM delivers high quality images, more stations than my Tivo HD, and for no charge.
out of 14 user reviews
Excellent, smart in some ways, not in others
Pros: Up to 160 hours of recording, easy editing
Cons: No battery backup, small buttons
I LOVE its editing feature, it's very easy to remove commercials off the HDD. Simply choose "scene delete", then it asks you to press the okay button when you want to start, and again when you want to end. I click to start at the beginning of commercials, and again at the end of them. It then asks me if I want to preview or delete them, I delete. If you screw up you can preview, cancel, rewind and fast forward to make sure you got the exact points. Afterward I can burn it to DVD, commercial free! It upscales to whatever setting you want through the HDMI (480, 720, 1080). It plays CD's, MP3's, you can even pause live TV!
I was particularly happy its antenna out is a pass-through. I use a rooftop antenna only (no cable), I plug my antenna into the antenna in port, and hook up an HDMI and coax cable to their respective out ports to my TV. That lets me set my TV to HDMI input when I want to use this unit for viewing or I can set my TV to antenna and it bypasses this unit as if I had my roof antenna directly plugged into the unit. Sort of like an AB switch without the switch.
It would be better if the unit had a guide, it can only tell you the current show playing whereas my TV has a guide button that lets me see a list of shows for hours ahead. It did detect all the digital stations my TV did, but oddly you can add/remove analog stations at will but can't add digital stations, only remove. Also, it doesn't store your recordings in some kind of permanent memory. If you lose power, you'll need to re-enter all your scheduled recordings.
When you set up a time to record, you have to say, record every thursday from 8:00 to 9:00 PM channel 04 at SLP setting (or you can choose a date as well). It doesn't record the info of that show or its title. When you recorded a bunch you'll get a preview of 6 shows per screen and it lists them like 12/25/2007 8:00 9:00 PM 25.1 if you highlight the show it will start playing the show in a little preview box to give you an idea what it was. You can also choose to edit and name it. Would've been nice if it embedded the title of the show.
It does what I want. I can play my music on it, watch my DVD's, record and watch shows with no intention of burning them to a DVD, don't have to worry about running out of room, and not concerned that I can't record in HD even if it's a HD show. Thanks to the big wigs out there every DVR has to downgrade the signal and record in standard definition and not restricted to just this unit or manufacture but all(except Tivo if you pay their subscription service). Most likely if you're looking at this unit, it's because you wanted something a little more than a DVR but didn't want monthly Tivo fee's. I give it an 8.5 but had to round up to a 9. Really would've liked it to have a TV guide feature and that it didn't lose my shows when the power fails but, it has literally changed the way I watch TV (being able to pause, store 160 hours, easily remove commercials before burning to DVD, play DVDs upconverted to HD) and now would never think about ever getting a regular DVR.
out of 14 user reviews
HORRIBLE! STAY FAR AWAY! 2 DEFECTIVE
Pros: Would be a great machine if it worked
Cons: 2 defective machines, 2nd after 6 wks almost dead
First machine was defective within 15 days, so I could return. Now 6 weeks in, the 2nd DVD recorder won't finalize DVD's. Gets error messages telling me to power off (system problem) but I can't without unplugging the unit.
And how does wonderful Phillips back their products? I have to pay to ship it to them (no Los Angeles shops) and they will send back to me in 2-4 weeks! a refurbished one! If I had wanted a piece of crap refurbished I could have done that much cheaper to start with.
Don't bother with this company!
out of 14 user reviews
good if you buy it for certain uses
Pros: only HDD/dvd recorder in US market
Cons: lacks convenient features
Previous to this I was still using vcr's to record something. The dvr is a huge step up from that. No more looking for tapes, and trying to figure out whats on the tape or how much room is left, etc. This model holds about 30 hours at the best quality. I only record shows once awhile and I'm already aware when they are coming on. Its hooked up to an old Samsung crt tv and the picture playback quality is indisguisable from the original at the highest setting. I have not recorded with the lower settings. I don't know how the difference would appear on an hdtv screen. One bad thing about this model is it does not record or upconvert to 1080p like it claims, which you can read about on cnet.
The menu is pretty basic and mostly black and white, but is easy to use for the most part. Its easy to record and delete selections and you can view thumbnails of your recording which play with sound too when you scroll on them. The dvd, player also works fine, but I have yet to try and burn a dvd from a hard drive recording. However, it doesn't appear difficult. You cannot copy a dvd to the hard drive on this model.
The remote is normal size but some of the most important buttons are too small and oddly placed, making it difficult to operate this remote by feel.
Overall, if you want a device to replace your vhs, and don't want monthly fees, this is your best and currently only real option. If you only record shows once in awhile and are not concerned about the lack of tv menus, and other features found on tivo devices, you should be happy with this. If you record numerous hours of tv a week, and don't know when shows come on, or want to record more then one program at a time, then you need to get a tivo
out of 14 user reviews
Don't Buy this DVR
Pros: High Capacity
Cons: Not reliable, Bad Customer Support, No timer event name, No HD recording
I have previously owned a Philips HDRW 720/17 and a Philips DVDR3455H/37. Philips seems to advance in development of some features (HDMI and HD tuner) but goes backwards on others. The HDRW 720/17 had a build in TV guide and had title and summery info of all recordings (just like my Comcast and TIVO DVR). The DVDR3455H/37 took the TV guide feature away but allowed the user to input a short title for a recording while programming a timer event (Very helpful to find the right shows especially if you do 10 to 20 weekly recordings).
Yesterday I received my new DVDR3575H/37. You can't give any timer event a name until after it's done recording. I am wondering if the design engineers at Philips actually use their own products. Taking the ability to title shows away from the user is a huge step backwards in my eyes. Does Philips expect the user to sit down every day (or week), go thru the recorded shows and title them after the fact? What a waste of time. Why would any designer take such an important feature away? Also while the HD tuner is a nice feature (FCC making it mandatory that all manufacturers as of July 1, 2007 must have ATSC DTV tuner (VCR, DVD player/recorder, DVR)) one must wonder why we can not record in HD (my Comcast DVR records in HD).
This is my take on other DVR's out there:
6 stars total for TIVO; 9 stars for features on TIVO but deduct 3 stars for the fees (Big upfront cost for HD box, I will not get one again until they lower the monthly fees substantially)
7 stars total for Scientific Atlanta 8300HD (Comcast); 6 stars for the Scientific Atlanta 8300HD DVR features, + 1 star for no upfront cost but a monthly fee, for the fee you get the name and summery of every show including a weeklong TV guide and HD recording.
6 stars total for the Philips DVDR3575H/37; 6 stars for the features on the DVDR3575H/37, +1 star for low upfront cost and no monthly fee, -1 star no titles and no TV guide, -1 star no HD recording, +1 star for DVD recorder).
The bottom line is that if you do not want to pay a monthly fee, do not want to record HD programming, do not record to many programs or do not mind spending the time to rename the title after recording and you do want the ability to move your shows to DVD, than this DVR is for you.
November 13 2007. Adding to my Sept 12 2007 review after using DVDR3575H/37 for 2 month. The unit locks up frequently. This happens more often when you watch a previously recorded show while another show is recording. At the end of the recording it tries to save the show to the hard drive and a System Error is displayed. You loose the recording. Also sometime the recorded show stops 1/2 way thru playback, while other recordings have no sound.
Dealing with Philips customer support is a nightmare. Instead of repairing the unit or solving the problem with a software update, Philips kept sending me defective new models.
Now Philips told me that I have only fee based options to get the 2 month old unit fixed since the original DVR was out of warranty.
After countless (over 20) calls and emails to Philips, one in-store exchange and two mail-in exchanges over the past 2 years, I still have a unit that does not work properly.
I am reducing my 6 stars to 2 star.
out of 14 user reviews
It does Everything I need very well
Pros: Dubbing, Importing and outputting Video for editing
Cons: HD resolution, remote, No DL burner
Anyways, that's my setup, so now I can explain what I can do with this box that saves me hundreds of hours...
Other than recording tv shows, I can record old VHS, Mini-DV, Quicktime, On Demand movies onto the hard drive and export them to my Canon HD videocamera, and then edit them in Final Cut Pro or IMovie8. Phillips has inputs in the front panel for USB, and Video camera imports...Anything can be recorded to the Hard Drive, dubbed to the DVD burner, or exported back to a Video Camera for editing. Phillips also allows you to do minimal editing to videos on the 160 GB hard drive. I import/save/record everything in HQ mode, burn it off on DVD or Mini-DV, then erase the hard drive...then repeat the process.
When dubbing VHS, the quality is exactly the same, no loss of resolution. TV programming looks exactly like the orignial broadcast. Mini-DV tapes imported can be a little "soft", but still very nice visually.
The remote sucks for the most part, but the fast forward "commercial skip" is great. Also, when you fast forward, no matter the speed, you can see all the images, and when you hit "play", it stops immediately (no delay) and starts playing at that exact spot.
I can import FOUR-6 hour VHS tapes in HQ mode onto the hard drive, and edit them, export them, or burn them on the DVD. Later in Imovie I can edit out the footage not needed and save them in IDVD.
Does this do High Definition? NO, not gonna happen...
Does it help you upgrade your "old tapes" and record movies, programs, etc? OH YES.
