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Philips DVDR985 DVD Recorder Philips Philips DVDR985 DVD+R/+RW Format DVD RecorderGuide Rating - ![]() The Bottom LineDespite the quagmire over standards and compatibility issues with current DVD playback technology amongst manufacturers, Philips shakes up the market with a reasonably priced DVD recorder.The recording functions are easy to use, recordings play back on most DVD players, provides excellent playback of prerecorded DVDs, CD-R/RWs.
Note: Since my original review, long term reliability issues on some production batches of the 985 have surfaced. The following reflects performance at the time of test. Pros
Cons
Description
Guide Review - Philips DVDR985 DVD+R/+RW Format DVD RecorderI found the DVDR985 to be a good performer on the following parameters:
First: The DVDR985 only DVD recorder on the market under $1,000 whose recordings can be played in almost any DVD player, whether recorded on a write-once (DVD+R) or re-writable (DVD+RW) disc. The test recordings I made played equally well on both the Pioneer DV-525 and Pioneer DV-341 DVD players and my Sony VAIO desktop computers' DVD-Rom drive. Second: The DVDR985 generates a navigation menu on each disc, with a representative still frame and all other pertinent information. The user can either create chapter stops within each recording manually or automatically. Third: Features both analog and DV (IEEE-1394) video input capability, you can capture video recordings made with a miniDV or digital8 camcorder in real time, as well as dubbing those old VHS and 8mm home movies through the standard composite or S-Video inputs. Fourth: The DVDR985 built-in cable TV tuner can record TV shows with the ease of any VCR. This unit even has VCRplus built-in. Fifth: This unit not only performs very well as a DVD recorder, but is outstanding in its capabilities as a standard DVD player. Dolby Digital and DTS pass through was excellent, as well as the standard and progressive scan component video outputs. Sixth: The Philips DVDR985 also does great with CDs, CDR/CDRW discs as well. Do to questions regarding long term reliability of the 985, I have reduced my original 5-star rating down to 2.5-stars. |
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