Pioneer DVR-533H-S Slim Design DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Disk Drive

Average customer rating:

R.Thomas

Some good, some bad...

flawed but good enough for my aims

Which is better? I own both the Panasonic DMR-EH50S and Pioneer DVR-533H-S

Five Star rating if the TV Guide function was reliable!

Pioneer DVR-533H-S Slim Design DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Disk Drive

Manufacturer: Pioneer
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

DVD player and recorder with 80 GB hard drive; measures 16.55 x 2.4 x 10.75 inches

Records to DVD-R/RW discs; compatible with CD-R/RW, VCD, SVCD, MP3, WMA, JPEG

Built-in TV tuner, 8-day TV Guide On Screen interactive program guide

2 composite in/out, 2 S-Video in/out, 1 RF in/out, 1 component out, 1 Firewire in

Dolby Digital and DTS output

ASIN: B000AHSTMY

Product Description

Hard Drive Records Up To 170 Hours, 10 Hours On DVD / DVD-R (Single Layer/Single-Sided, Dual Layer/Single-Sided), DVD-RW , DVD Video, CD, CDR CDRW MP3 WMA

Amazon.com Product Description

Record your library of home movies and your favorite television programs to disc quickly and easily with the Pioneer DVR-533H-S DVD recorder. The built-in 80 GB hard drive lets you record lots of home movies and TV shows for temporary storage, and it can hold up to 170 hours of content (recorded at lowest video quality--SEP Mode). Once recorded, you can watch them whenever you want, edit them, delete them, or burn them to DVD. The DVR-533H-S burns to DVD-R/RW discs, and is compatible with playback of CD-R/RW, VCD, and SVCD disc formats as well as JPEG, WMA, and MP3 digital file formats.

The DVR-533H-S includes a built-in TV tuner and the free and easy-to-use 8-day TV Guide On Screen interactive program guide--just find your favorite programs and select them for recording. The Chase Play function lets you watch, stop, or pause a show being recorded to the hard drive--even while you're recording it. It also includes a commercial skip feature that lets you jump ahead 30 seconds at a time.

The i.LINK (also known as Firewire or IEEE 1394) interface allows you to transfer your DV (Digital Video) home movies from your digital video camcorder smoothly to the hard drive. If your movies were shot in analog format, inputs for composite video/S-video and Left-Right audio are provided for dubbing them directly to DVD. With Disc Backup, you can make a direct file transfer of your home-movie DVD back to the hard drive, and from that make as many copies of your home movie as you want, all at blazing speed.

The Smart VBR (Variable Bit Recording) recording functionality lets you choose the quality level/recording time that best suits you. Choose from Fine, SP, LP, EP, and Auto; Auto automatically sets the optimal recording quality for the time remaining on the hard drive.

This DVD player's PureCinema 2:3 Progressive Scan gives you a more film-like presentation when watching movies. The 54MHz/10-bit video DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) delivers beautiful video quality. Other features include Dolby Digital and DTS Digital surround sound outputs and a high-end 24-bit/192kHz audio DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) for superb musical performance. It offers the following connection options:

Composite AV In: 2
Composite AV Out: 2
S-Video In: 2
S-Video Out: 2
Component video Out: 1
RF In: 1
RF Out: 1
Digital optical audio: 1

What's in the Box
DVD recorder, remote control, DVD-RW disc, printed operating instructions

Customer Reviews:

R.Thomas.......2006-07-14

This is my 5th DVR (all Pioneer) and the first with TV Guide. I would NOT buy this unit again!

ISSUES:

1. The automatic TV Guide feature causes my unit to be on about 18 hours a day. I can hear it thrashing the hard disk constantly. Why does it take so long to get programming???

2. It is very difficult to find the manual timed programming mode, or to make changes to the TV Guide programming. The menu's are hard to use for this feature (which is mostly the way I want to program).

3. There seems to be much less disk space available on the DVR for shows than the older units (which I like SO MUCH BETTER). Maybe this is due to the space TV Guide takes.

I would trade my unit for one of the older 420/520 units ASAP!
and would not buy another Pioneer DVR until they fix the interface.

Some good, some bad..........2006-04-06

I got this for a gift at Christmas. It's a very good DVR, but I have never had one before, so I have nothing to compare it to. The menus are *fairly* easy to navigate, but can be confusing at times. The quality of recordings is very good, although the one time that I've pushed a HDD recording to a DVD-RW, the volume was very low; so low that you needed to almost max your speakers to hear what was playing. The remote control is very well laid out.

Onto the big problems:

The unit is currently connected to the coaxial cable output of my digital cable box. On the other end, it's connected to my Sony receiver, via S-video and an optical cable. Everything is set to use fully Dolby Digital, but when I'm watching TV, I usually only get Dolby 2/0, and when it's a DVD, it's Dolby 3/1. I'm still getting surround, but it's not full 5.1 (I don't have a sub connected, so negate the .1). Additionally, when I'm watching TV, sometimes the sound output will be only from the right front speaker, even if the receiver says it's in Dolby 2/0. I've tried adjusting all the codecs on all three pieces of equipment, but nothing has worked so far. The cable box is also connected directly to the receiver via S-video and a digital coaxial cable. When that is in use (no DVR) I get great audio, and I never encounter the problem of it output to only the right front speaker.

Second, the TV Guide won't work correctly with my cable box. I've followed all the instructions and troubleshooting guides, but nothing works. If I want to make a timer recording, I have to set the DVR as though it were a VCR, and set a VCR timer on my cable box. It's annoying, though I can live with it.

I may sound as though I have a lot of problems with this box, but in reality, it's very good. At SP recording, I can get something like 70 hours on the HDD. Not too shabby!

flawed but good enough for my aims.......2006-03-23

Clock constantly resets itself but does not seem to do so when a recording is programmed. I manually reset it through initial setup. Following a recommendation by another amazon reviewer, I entered a canadian zip code in the set up procedure to avoid all the downloading problems amply covered in other amazon customer reviews of this product. It works. Otherwise no problems. It has revolutionized the way I watch t.v.

Which is better? I own both the Panasonic DMR-EH50S and Pioneer DVR-533H-S.......2006-03-03

Using to record TV shows - I have not recorded any shows.

I don't know why anyone would want to use either of these to record TV shows, when Tivo and other DVRs have been around for the last few years. I have a Dish 942 high definition DVR now, but I have also owned Direct TV Tivo, and Comcast DVR for about 2 years. The Comcast DVR is the best DVR that I have used.

Pioneer DVR-533H-S is better for my needs

I use it for making DVDs of home videos of the last 20 years and for copying movies from my Dish 942 DVR, so I can edit out the commercials or copy HBO movies.

Since I have not used the 533 for TV recording, I don't have any of the problems of hard drive noise, etc that have been reported in other reviews.

What I like about the 533 is that when you make a DVD from camcorder video, you need to organize sometimes hundreds of video clips. Keeping track of all of them can be confusing. The 533 has a database sorting ability which is similar to a good DVR, so you can organize the video clips by date, or title.

You can also assign 6 different symbols to a video clip so you can organize your video clip database like you organize your favorites menu on Microsoft Internet Explorer. It just makes the editing a lot easier.

Panasonic DMR-EH50S

I like the EH50S for its higher recording quality in LP 4 hour mode. But with the price of DVD-R disks so low, that is really not an issue. Also the Panasonic instruction manual is more confusing than the Pioneer. All Panasonic products that I have owned have been very reliable, which might be something to consider.

Panasonic is coming out with a 200GB version in April 2006 and Pioneer will probably come out with a new one to. But I don't see any info on Panasonic changing their editing interface.

You can see it here.

http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/diga/europe/eh65_eh55/index.html

Five Star rating if the TV Guide function was reliable!.......2006-03-02

First the good news: Recording, editing, copying is great. Sound and Vision mag gave the Pioneer DVR-633H (identical to the DVR-533H except 160GB drive) their nod for the best overall hard-drive DVR last year. They said Pioneer editing function is the best short of a computer. I agree, as I love the ease and accuracy of edits.

Now the bad news: As others have pointed out, the TV Guide function is the real Achilles heel on this dvr. The same system is used on other dvr's as well. Pioneer licensces the system from TV Guide. My unit reset itself more a half a dozen times since I bought it in August 2005, without any input from me. (Just like Sean M. says in an earlier review.) When that happens, you lose the program guide data and it has to rebuild it all over again over a period of a week. When it works, it's slow, but handy and capable.

Today, the TV Guide function died altogether. (Again, just like Sean M.'s unit. Now mine works only as a manual recoder, too!) After a 25 minute wait on a Pioneer 800 number, I explained to a Pioneer rep what was happening. After he looked up the problem on his computer, he said they would have to fix it "at the factory". Sounds like they know about the problem but don't say how often it happens. Pioneer says it's a one week turnaround for repairs.

Love the machine, but hate the hassles!

Pioneer DVR-533H-S Slim Design DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Disk Drive

Average customer rating:

Pioneer DVR-533H-S Slim Design DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Disk Drive

Manufacturer: Pioneer
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

All | DVD Players & Recorders | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics

DVD Recorders | DVD Players & Recorders | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics

Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics

Pioneer | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics | Home Audio
ASIN: B000AO4GQ0

Product Description

TV Guide EPG; Disc Title; Record on Hard Drive While Recording to DVD; Chase Playback; 10-bit, 54MHz Video DAC; 1-Touch Record Model: DVR533HS

Average customer rating:

Can't go wrong for the price.

Southwestern Bell Sleekline FC2548WN Corded Phone with Lighted Keypad (White)

Manufacturer: Conair/Southwest Bell
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Single-line corded phone with lighted keypad

Call waiting ready; hearing aid compatible

10 programmable memory dial locations

Last number redial, mute, receiver volume control, ringer on/off

Desk or wall mountable; 1-year warranty

ASIN: B000165GL6

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As we move into the millennium, Southwestern Bell attacks the telecommunications market, offering consumers the latest in innovation, design and technology. Corded telephones are necessary in every household, even if you already own a cordless telephone. If you experience a power failure or a lightning strike, you may be unable to use your cordless telephones. The Bell telephones provide clear conversations and add to the decor of the modern household.This perfect corded FC-2548 telephone presents the best of Bell's technology. With its modern slim and sleek design it is easy to place it anywhere you wish. It is quite easy-in-use too. FC-2548 features call waiting, last number redial, lighted keypad, receiver volume control and more.

Amazon.com Product Description

Simple and efficient, the Southwestern Bell Sleekline FC2548WN corded phone makes an inexpensive extension for the spare room--enjoy no-frills, reliable operation. This model is hearing aid compatible and ready to use with your call waiting service. It can be desk or wall mounted and features a lighted keypad, 10 programmable memory dial locations, last number redial, mute, ringer on/off control, and receiver volume control. It includes English and Spanish language operating instructions and is backed by a one-year warranty on parts and labor.

What's in the Box
FC2548WN base, handset, coiled handset cord, telephone line cord, user guide (Spanish language instructions included), warranty information

Customer Reviews:

Can't go wrong for the price........2005-07-29

I bought this phone as a "back up" for a location where I don't typically have my cordless. Works fine, clear connection, easy to see keypad. I paid $8.99...how can you beat it?

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Manufacturer: Supermicro
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Average customer rating:

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Manufacturer: Super Micro Computer Inc
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Everything you need for your digital camera!.......2002-05-02

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Convenient and easy to use!.......2002-03-12

I needed a way to get my images from my digital camera to my computer faster, the serial connections are too slow. I couldn't believe how fast I was able to down load all my images from the compact flash card. My computer sees the FlashLind just like another hard drive, and with Win2000, installation was a cinch. If you take alot of pictures with your digital camera, you're going to want to get one of these!

Average customer rating:
Systemax Pursuit 2130 - C 2.7 GHz - RAM 256 MB - HD 20 GB - CD-RW / DVD - Mdm - LAN EN, Fast EN - Win XP Home - 15" TFT XGA (1024 x 768)

Manufacturer: Systemax, Inc.
ProductGroup: Personal Computer

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ASIN: B0002343MQ

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Systemax's Pursuit 2130 Celeron 2.7GHz notebook is the perfect companion for the student or small businessperson who needs great performance in a notebook without the high price. This notebook isn't some stripped-down computer. It has plenty of features under-the-hood - 256MB of super-high-speed DDR memory, a large 15" XGA TFT screen, huge 20GB hard drive, and ATI's latest high-speed mobile video processor. And at just a little over seven pounds, the Pursuit 2130 will give you incredible speed and performance in a small package. Of course, it comes with tons of connectivity options for all your communication and multimedia needs, including 10/100 Base-TX LAN and 56K Fax/Modem. That means no matter where you are, at home, in the office or in a hotel room, you'll always be connected. Plus, it also includes four high-speed USB 2.0 ports, wall-shaking stereo speakers with 6-channel surround support, IEEE 1394a FireWire port and S-Video TV output. The fabulous DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive will play all your DVD movies and burn data, music or pictures to CD-R media. And when combined with the long-life Lithium-Ion battery, the Pursuit 2130 becomes the ideal DVD movie screener on that long business flight or family trip.

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Elevate your entertainment experience with the KDP-57WS655 57" High Definition CRT Projection Television. Featuring Digital Reality Creation MultiFunction Technology and HD MICROFOCUS CRT and Lens System, the KDP-51WS655 produces beautiful picture resolution for your viewing enjoyment. The KDP-57WS655 also gives you other features that you've come to expect from Sony, such as MID-X Multi Image Driver Circuitry, TruSurround SRS Audio Processing and CineMotion Reverse 3-2 Pulldown Technology. Listen to MP3 audio and view your photos with the built-in Enhanced Memory Stick Media slot.

Amazon.com Product Description

Put the "theater" back in "home theater with Sony's 57-inch WS Series KDP-57WS655. The set's enormous screen features a wide, 16:9 aspect ratio that matches the dimension of most movies and HDTV broadcasts, and it comes loaded with dual NTSC tuners, a high-definition ATSC (DTV) tuner, and a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) for a direct-digital hookup with advanced HD components. The set's authorized CableCARD ability means the set will also receive digital cable television systems services directly from the cable operator without requiring a bulky, external cable box.

The KDP-57WS655 is compatible with just about any video signal out there, from standard-definition 480i and enhanced-definition 480p to high-definition 720p and 1080i--there's no stand-alone set-top box required for HDTV reception. The set uses Sony's HD Microfocus CRT and lens system, featuring smaller phosphor particles, thinner phosphor layers, and other improvements that give the screen a beam spot 28-percent smaller than Sony's standard CRTs. And that means sharper focus, higher contrast, and brighter images.

The set's HD Detailer wideband video amplifier provides high detail from high-res images to give you the best possible image from high-bandwidth sources. Auto 16:9 enhanced mode with auto ID1 detection automatically renders anamorphic DVD content in letterboxed widescreen, using all available display lines for the image and wasting none on the black bars that frame the image when a program's widescreen aspect ratio differs slightly from the set's.

Digital Reality Creation (DRC) circuitry ensures high picture resolution, while proprietary Direct Digital Circuitry increases a video signal's signal-to-noise ratio before it reaches the DRC circuit, ensuring rich, natural-looking images from any source. TwinView 2-tuner PIP (picture-in-picture) lets you view any 2 sources simultaneously--even 2 TV stations. Sony's MID-X (Multi Image Driver) maintains the integrity of a digital signal by minimizing image loss in the scaling process.

Sony's CineMotion 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal is a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

The set offers an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), which permits a direct digital connection with a compatible DTV set-top box. Other connections include 2 component-video inputs, 4 composite-video inputs, 3 S-video inputs (with 1 each composite-/S-video on the front panel for ready connection to a camcorder or gaming console), and 2 RF coaxial inputs for hookup with an older VCR, cable box, or antenna.

An optical digital-audio output lets the set pass a Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround-sound signal to a compatible audio/video receiver or other surround processor for powerful, enveloping sound through your multichannel speaker system. The set's onboard 2-way speakers are powered by a generous 20 watts per channel (x 2) for dynamic, full-bodied sound even if you're not using external speakers.

HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link the set with any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver). HDMI supports standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multichannel digital audio--all using a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports up to 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.

What's in the Box
TV, remote control, remote batteries (2 AA), a user's manual, and warranty information.

Customer Reviews:

great set at a great price.......2006-02-22

My dad and i receanly bought this set at best buy for 1300 bucks. its a great deal.i love this tv the picture is like real life.but its is very dark.but once you ajust it, it will come to life.

Black Saturation.......2004-11-16

I have owned this set for a week now and no matter what I do to all the color settings (And there are tons of them) I can't get rid of all the Black Saturation. I'm even on Component cables.

You can get the picture nice and bright especially in HD, but there is always a ton of VERY DARK BLACK that you just can't adjust out. Other than that the set seems to be fine. Sound is great, and it has lots of settings to correct any picture quality problems you might have like noise or grainyness.

Like I said before Black Saturation is a real problem.

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