Home > Consumer Reviews > Magnavox MDV630R DVD Recorder/Player

This is basically a Phillips DVR-75, with slight differences. I have both. So far it has worked perfectly, as has my Phillips. I have used only DVD+RW(Memorex) blanks and have not had one bad disk. I bought the disks on sale for less than a dollar a piece. These are the only DVD+RW units I have, so I don't know about compatibility with other brands of players (I suspect the blank disks have more to do with that than the recorder.), but they play each other's disks.
I kept the manual on the coffee table for a week as I learned to program the first unit, but now it's second nature. These units do take some time to finish writing when turned off and to read and begin recording when the timer comes on (about 24 seconds to record, but I think that's just a characteristic of DVD recorders). I record LOTS of TV, so I use the 6-hour recording mode and the video is better than the 6-hour speed of my VCR's. The recorder will slightly enhance the video quality of the source, so when dubbing VHS tape to DVD, it actually improves the original.
I considered the Sony, but I bought both of these for less than the cost of one Sony, and am very satisfied.

EDITED If you bought one of the Magnavox/Philips DVD recorders partially based upon my review, please accept my apology. Reliability is poor. Judging from posts on the internet, the laser is problematic. After about six months, the unit could not read the inserted disc more often than not. If the recorder is shut off, then turned on with the disc still in it, it can't read the disc, even though it had just recorded on this disc! Sometimes the error is so great that it erases the disc.

I have had three of this model line of recorders (all at the same time), and the longest I went without trouble was about 9 months. Others on the web say that warranty repair was a joke. Philips support for their other lame products (Philips LCDs with the dreaded blob on the picture.) is nil.
The Sony RDR-GX300 was $500 at the time I posted this review. I bought one when the price came down to $300. I have purchased three more used GX-300s for about $75-80 each. I have never had a problem with any of them. Not one disc failed to work properly and I have used name brand discs and generic discs. There are 3 inputs and 2 outputs (complete with 2 audio L/R outs). The remote can control 3 different units individually, not sending inadvertent signals to one of the other Sonys.

File this experience under "You get what you pay for." I would have been better off paying the same price for one Sony instead of two Philips.

I bought this machine on ebay new for 300.00. I've only had it for a few days. It works as advertised, and I've made 20 dvds, with out one coaster using Maxell DVD+R. I've played around with Maxell +RW's too and they seem to work also. I have used these DVD+R in a couple of different players with complete compatability. I do not know about the durability of this machine, maybe I'll post in a few months. But so far, it works very well, with no compatability issues using other players in my house. I'd recommend it.

I recently purchased this model from a local retailer, and while the unit works in its own universe, it is far from desirable as far as the BIG picture goes.

This machine will record +RW discs, but they will NOT play in most +RW capable settop players! Why doesn't the product description EVER address this issue?! Just because it records on a +RW (or whatever) type of disc, does NOT mean that other players will play it!

...And what did Magnavox have to say about it?? After a lengthy conversation with tech support and additional call-back from their DVD Recorder specialist, all I got was "I'm sorry, we cannot help you any further with this issue."

AVOID THIS MACHINE!

I bought this DVD burner from a local Target. The machine is made in Hungary. After a month of trials, I've found the S-video input in the front (CAM 1) does not work and an expert has confirmed it. Fortunately, it has an S-video input in the back using EXT 2. This one works, so I've decided not to return this item to the store, a complicated process. Compared with Korea, Taiwan and China that have more than 20 years of experience in making the consumer electronics, Hungary is relatively new in the field and defects in the product are therefore understandably more common. DVD+R and DVD+RW from this machine can be played in my Sony DVD player, though the Sony's manual says it plays only DVD-R and DVD-RW. My Apex player can also play it. However, it cannot be played in my 1.5-year-old Sony notebook. The image quality of this DVD burner makes all VHS VCRs obsolete.

I initially bought this machine to back up my VHS tapes onto DVD, but I've found out (the hard way) that this machine does not have timebase correction. Meaning, if you record an old tape that has small, almost unnoticeable, split-second "jumps" in it, the signal will either be lost, or there will be a sound dropout where the "jump" is. Thus, I have had to transfer them from VHS to DV, then from DV to DVD, to get the kind of quality I was hoping for.

Also, on some discs I recorded on, the machine shut off after a few minutes. This only happened when I pushed the record button a certain number of times to make it record a certain length. When I tried to play them again it said "disc contains unknown data - press OK to eject." Sheesh! (At least the discs I used were less than $1 each.)

For the reasons above, once I get the chance, I am selling this machine. Once I have done that, I'll use the money to invest in a Panasonic DMR-E80H ... now THAT's a model that has enough good reviews (esp. on Amazon) to convince me of its brilliance.