From Robert Silva,
Your Guide to Home Theater.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

The Presidian PDR-3222 is a DVD Recorder, sold primarily through Radio Shack, that offers multi-format (DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW) DVD recording at an extremely low price point. The PDR-3222 doesn't offer many of the more advanced features and conveniences of higher-end, name-brand, units - it still offers some practical features for someone looking for a very basic DVD recorder. If you are wary about DVD Recorders, the Presidian PDR-3222 might be a way to take the plunge without spending a lot of money.

DVD Recording Overview

A DVD recorder refers to a standalone unit that resembles and functions very much like a VCR. All DVD recorders can record from any analog video source (most can also record video from digital camcorders via firewire). Like a VCR, DVD recorders all have AV inputs as well as an onboard TV tuner for recording TV shows. DVD Recorders come in several configurations: Standalone, DVD Recorder/VCR Combo, or DVD Recorder/Hard Drive combo units.

A DVD recorder can be used to copy any homemade videos, such as camcorder videos and videos made from TV shows, and can also copy Laserdiscs, and other non-copygaurded video material.

However, just as you can't copy commercially made video tapes to another VCR due to Macrovision anti-copy encoding, the same applies to making copies to DVD. DVD recorders cannot bypass the anti-copy signal on commercial VHS tapes or DVDs. If a DVD recorder detects the anti-copy encoding on a commercial DVD it will not start the recording and display some sort of message either on screen or on its LED front panel display that it detects the anti-copy code or that it is detecting an unusable signal.

For more complete info about DVD recording, check out my DVD Recorder FAQs before continuing on with this review.

Presidian PDR-3222 Product Overview

The Presidian PDR-3222 is a standalone DVD recorder that has a compact design form and features Multi-format DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW Recording.

Other features include:

1. Front and Rear Panel Composite video and analog audio inputs.

2. Front Panel DV Input for Digital Camcorders.

3. Built-in TV tuner either over-the-air or cable TV recording with an easy onscreen programming menu. However, the 3222 does not feature independent cable box or satellite box control.

4. Standard DVD/CD/CDR/CDRW/MP3-CD/WMA/VCD playback.

5. Composite video inputs and outputs as well as both analog and digital audio outputs.

6. Progressive Scan video output via component video connections.

7/ Wireless Remote Control.

8. On-Screen Programming and Menu Setup Display.

9. Well-Illustrated Owner's Manual and Quick Start Guide

10. Bi-direction NTSC/PAL Conversion - Region Code Hackable via Remote.

Setup Hardware

Additional components used in this review included a Yamaha HTR-5490 6.1 Channel AV receiver, Syntax LT-32HV LCD television, Samsung LN-R238W 23-inch LCD-HDTV, and an Optoma H56 DLP video projector.

A variety of loudspeakers, including Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-3, Optimus LX-5IIs, a Yamaha YST-SW205 Powered Subwoofer, and additional speakers, in both matched and mismatched setups were used.

Comparison DVD players included a KISS DP-470, Samsung DVD-HD931, JVC XV-NP10S, and an older Pioneer DV-341.

Comparison DVD Recorders used: Sony RDR-HX900, and Philips DVDR985.

A non-cable box cable TV connection was made to the RF input on the Presidian PDR-3222 for the recording of television programming.

A Pansonic PV-GS35 mini-DV camcorder used to test DV-input recording functions.

All connections, except cable TV connections, between components were made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables.

Software Setup

Blank recordable DVD media included Sony-branded standard 4.7GB DVD-R discs and additional DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs.

Pre-recorded DVDs for additional playback tests included scenes from the following: Kill Bill - Vol1/Vol2, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Chicago, Underworld, Passionada, Moulin Rouge, ED Wood, and The Mummy, as well as video content on DVD-R and DVD+RW discs recorded on other DVD recorders.

For audio only, various CDs included: HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones: Come Away With Me, Lisa Loeb: Firecracker, Blue Man Group The Complex, Telarc: 1812 Overture. Also included: The Corrs: In Blue (Dolby Digital). In addition, music content on CD-R/RWs were also used.

Proceed to Page 2 - Testing and Conclusion