Home > Consumer Reviews > GoVideo DVR4000 DVD-VCR Combo

I've had the unit for about a month now. The good news is there's no volume problem, as suggested in prior reviews. Adjust the TV volume level and thereafter move around that level using the DVR-4000 volume control instead of the TV's. Done this way, there is no volume problem between DVD/VCR.

Bad news: the timed-recording setup is obscure. I actually am a rocket scientist and have found setting this unit up to record by the clock far more cumbersome than with my previous 12-year old VCR (obtained free as a gift from my bank).

Calendars and gizmos flash on the screen. There is a lengthy sequence of terse prompts along the top edge of the screen for which the desired response is obscure and specified in different ways: sometimes the response is 1, maybe 2 numbers. Other times, one has to cycle through a list of options. These options includes specifying tape speed, video input source and assorted other things no one should ever be bothered with more than once to set an initial default.

There is no simple start/stop time. Instead, you enter a start time, then have to compute the number hours and minutes to record. I've been through it 6 times now and it still takes 5+ minutes of fiddling to arrive at settings I'm not sure are right. Of course, if the remote is ever damaged or lost, the unit will be useless.

It may depend on what you are used to, but it seems 12 years of progress have actually regressed VCR operations.

The DVR-4000 does NOT play all DVD's; it only plays Region 1 (US and Canada) with NTSC video (like most other DVD players sold in the U.S.). I knew this when I bought the unit, but being new to the DVD world did not expect it to be so limiting.

For example, it turns out Hallmark owns the rights to the Laurel and Hardy films but prefers not to make any money, so is not releasing any of them in the U.S. However, a company in Europe does sell them, but encoded for Region 2 PAL systems. Thus, the DVR4000 cannot play them.

There are other DVD players...that play DVDs for any region and automatically convert between PAL/NTSC video signals as necessary. This is not illegal and the capability should be in every DVD player sold, especially a unit like the DVR-4000 which aspires to be multi-purpose.

If you are sure you will ONLY play DVD's you get from the local Blockbuster, the DVR-4000 may do. If you have specialized interests, you will eventually run into the problems designed into the DVD world by movie studios, apparently to limit their sales and restrict the amount of money they make.

I thought "Well, I can do without Laurel and Hardy indefinately", only to then discover ANOTHER major series I was interested in which will not play on "local" (Region 1) encoded machines ...

The DVR-4000 is for people need a new VCR and want to get a toe into basic DVD as well. If your present VCR is fine, you would be better off in the long-run getting a separate, more capable DVD player.

For my purposes, the unit is probably only two stars in that it doesn't really do what I want or is clumsy about it. On the otherhand, it does what it claims to do and seems to be of good quality.

For DVD newcomers: the only thing the DVD world really has going for it is that it is a more permanent (many decades?), more compact format. The "extras" one hears so much about (producer commentary, behind the scenes, etc.) are pretty worthless. DVD allows producers to control your viewing (no fast-forwarding through FBI warnings, intros, ads, etc.). The result seems to actually be less consumer-friendly than VHS, despite all the menu options and supposed flexibility. (It's flexible in ways that aren't important, less flexible in the ways that matter, such as respecting your time.)

I just bought one of these players yesterday and had it hooked up in no time. I just looked at the back of my vcr and hooked it up the same way with the cables i already had. It took me a little longer than 5 minutes because I decided to read some of the directions first. I also noticed the difference in sound volume between regular tv and DVD but think maybe this can be solved with one of the many menus it gives you to adjust things. In any case it is no big deal. Actually the sound on it is better than my old my vcr(and it is 4-head Hi-Fi) which is all hooked up with the tv and my stereo and satellite. I would recommend this deck to anyone that wants to hang on to their VHS collection and get into DVD at the same time. By the way I paid 279.00 for it at Costco.

I've really enjoyed my DVR4000, but just wanted to let you know that I also noticed a difference in the sound between this unit vs my satelite receiver. Volume has to be turned way up on surround system. Warning - don't forget to turn it down before changing input LOL. Been there done that. However, I have to be honest in saying that there may well be an adjustment to the unit itself that I have overlooked in the manual.

I've also had problems with some DVD's getting stuck/pausing. Most of the time it is a smudge on the disc. Sometimes it's not and I don't really know if that's typical of DVD players or not. I still don't know what's more irritating: watching a VHS tape with bad resolution or a DVD that sticks. Being that this is my first DVD player, I have nothing to compare it to.

The VCR is good. It has the VCR+ ability for ease in recording. It is a 4 head, Hi Fi VCR, so I'm pleased since the unit replaced my old 2 head VCR. Love the tape speed adjustment feature that allows enough tape when running low. Tapes recorded on 2 head VCR's have pretty bad sound quality i.e. a lot of "wind" sound, but it's tolerable.

This is a great system and it has more extras that you're told about. You can go to govideo.com and read all about it, but here are some of the main extras not mentioned. This system has Dolby® Digital and DTS™ Digital Output For Playback of DTS-encoded DVDs, Bookmarks, Zoom and Audio During 2x Scan Virtual Surround (3D Sound), 10-Bit Video Digital to Analog Converter and 27MHz Advanced Digital Filter. Complete Program Record™ Automatically Adjusts Tape Speed So You Don't Miss the End of Your Recorded TV Show, Child Lock for Toddler-Proofing Front Panel ....the list goes on and on. I just thought everyone should know everything this system offers before deciding. I hope this is helpful.

I bought the DVR4000 about 4 months ago and I have to say it's a sturdy, reliable system. The VCR player is 4 heads and chock full of recording and playback features. The DVD player is easy to use and has presented no major problems so far. I noticed that some scenes skipped on the DVD player and the sound went in and out, but I think it's the result of a faulty DVD rather than the player itself. This happened on a total of 2 DVDs out of a dozen or so that I've played in the interim.
Overall, this is a good system to have if you're not quite ready to ditch your entire VHS library, but at the same time build your DVD collection.