LG RC897T DVD Recorder/VCR Combination - Product Review and Rating

Using the RC897T I observed the following:

1: Video quality was very good for all compatible disc recording formats. At the one and two-hour record modes, I found very little visual difference between the source material and finished recording.

2: The simultaneous recording/playback feature with the DVD-RAM format worked well. It was easy to view both the the current recording and playback of earlier segments while still recording the rest of the current program. However, discs recorded using this format are usually not playable on other DVD players.

3: This unit performs well as a DVD recorder, DVD player, and CD player. Dolby Digital and DTS were excellent, and the 1080p video upscaling did a good job on DVDs. The video and audio quality was definitely as good as many upscaling DVD players, and also did satisfactory on standardized tests, but the upscaling performance of the RC897T was not as good as my OPPO DV-983H DVD player which I use as a benchmark reference.

4: I also found that the RC897 had no difficulty playing recorded DVDs made on other DVD recorders; DVD-Rs made on a Sony RDR-HX900, on a PC, and DVR+Rs/DVD+RWs that were previously made on a Philips DVDR985.

5: However as much as I was pleased with the DVD record and playback performance of the RC897T, I was disappointed in the quality of VHS recording and playback. Although the 1080p upscaling feature works on VHS output, the quality of the VHS images was not as good as I would have expected. My old RCA VR-725HF VCR has better standard VHS quality recording and playback. Another disappointment with RC897T is that even though it does have an S-Video output, it does not have an S-Video input.

6: On the other hand, the one-touch bi-directional dubbing function and user interface were both easy to use.

What I Liked About The RC897T

1. The HDMI output works for both DVD and VHS, as well as the live ATSC tuner feed.

2. 1080p upscaling function also for DVD and VHS Tape playback, as well as the ATSC tuner feed.

3. Based on test results and real-world viewing the RC897T has more than acceptable DVD Upscaling Performance.

4. The RC897T records in most recordable DVD Formats, giving it flexibility with both dubbing and editing.

5. The incorporation of an ATSC tuner meets tuner requirements for the DTV Transition. The RC897T also features Set-top Box Control Option, which means it can change channels on a cable or satellite box.

What I Didn't Like About The RC897T

1. The VHS video playback and upscaling was lackluster.

2. The provided wireless remote control has small buttons and is not backlit. This makes it harder to use in a darkened room.

3. There is no true Super VHS quality playback - just quasi-S-VHS.

4. There is no S-Video input, only an S-Video output. This means that when recording video from external analog video sources, the only option is to use a standard Composite video input. However, a DV input is provided for digital camcorders.

5. Theres is no SACD or DVD Audio Playback. This is not a deal breaker as there is no DVD recorder available in the U.S. with this capability, but I always point that out for those that ask.

6. Below average still image playback quality from Flash Drives.

Final Take

To sum everything up on the RC897T, I found that as a DVD recorder, DVD player, and CD player this unit works well. The DVD upscaling provides a satisfactory viewing experience on an HDTV and the flexible DVD recording formats make DVD recording decisiions easy.

Also, I found that the RC897T's over-the-air reception of DTV/HDTV channels was definitely superior in quality than its reception of analog channels.

When you setup the RC897T and activate the channel scan function, it scans for both Analog and Digital TV signal sources, so you have two sources of programming.

Since digital channels are either on or off, marginal channels may not be detected on the digital side, but marginal channels may be detected on the analog side, although not with the best reception quality. The point that if you receive over-the-air programming, you can choose which is the best source for you to record from.

However, keep in mind that if you are cable or satellite, the onboard ATSC tuner is bypassed by your cable or satellite box.

With regards to DVD and VHS playback, as mentioned previously, the upscaling function via HDMI works very well, but VHS playback, even with upscaling, still looks lackluster. It would have been nice for LG to give more thought to the VCR side of the RC897T, but with the state of VHS, I am sure both money and time was a consideration.

On the other hand, having a front panel USB port is a nice touch. It is important to note that the RC897T cannot record from this port, but you can play back digital still photos, music files, and video files from a flash drive inserted into this port.

However, one disappointment was that the still images played through the LG RC897T definitely did not look as good as they did when played through the USB port on the OPPO DV983H Upscaling DVD player used for reference.

The RC897T has a very good DVD/CD section, but the lackluster VCR section, lack of S-video input, and non-backlit, small-button, remote does affect its overall rating in my book.

For a closer look at both the video connections and functions, as well as the video upscaling performance, of the LG RC897T DVD Recorder/VCR Combination, also check out my Photo Gallery and Video Performance Test Results Report.

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.