Pioneer DVR-520 Review

Overall Rating

Picture Quality (especially on SP)
Silence
Easy Operation

None

This was my third machine after trying a Toshiba (chroma Shift Problems) and a JVC (sound sync problems). I have found this excellent and can't really offer any criticism. It is also the easiest of the three to operate by far and the menu navigation is intuitive and simple. Programmer is a doddle (unlike others) and editing is also the best of the three. As a bonus the picture quality on sp is near enough as good as the others on fine setting. Can't fault and and would thoroughly recommend it, as well as the dealer (Empire Direct) who after some initial difficulty were absolutely brilliant in terms of support and swapping out these machines.

Members' Comments onTerry001's Review

• shum on 8th Apr 2005

  I intend to buy one Pioneer DVR 520. Do you know if it has the "Flexible Rec" feature (like the Panasonic DMR-E55)? - Flexible Rec is a usefull feature that allow to record 1.30 hour (for example) with the best bit-rate possible, between Fine and SP quality.

• Terry001 on 11th Apr 2005

  I believe it does, although I can't say I've used it much. I know I have for example put 2.30 mins at standard onto a nominal 2 hr dvd and I couldn't tell much difference (in fact none) from the original - probably depends how discerning you are. One thing I reacll, however is that it will only do this in real time - the fast copy from HDD to DVD relies on level of compression not changing. I still rate this as an excellent machine - I'm hardly using my SVHS now. Go for it!
  
  Terry

• raffles on 4th May 2005

  I was about to buy this but have been advised not to get a recorder that is R -.
  As I have absolutely no technical knowledge I don't really know what R- & R+ means. I want to be able to record all my videos to dvd; plug in my camcorder (copy to hard drive ???) and make copies for family. Would anything I record on this be able to be used in any other DVD player?
  I don't have a PC and have Sky (not Sky+)
  I really would be very grateful for any advice on this as I have read very good reviews on the Pioneer 520.
  Thank you

• sportdonkey on 5th May 2005

  Hi Raffles, R- and R+ are different forats of disk kind of like VHS and Betamax. However you can get players that record / play on both and I think it likely that in the future all players will play both, so getting an R- now probably won't trouble you long term.

• Terry001 on 5th May 2005

  As well as the last comment, it's worth noting that the Pioneer can PLAY both DVD+ and DVD- write once and rewritable discs, as can virtually all machines. It records only to DVD- format, but there seems to be no chance that the format will die out, until of course the new high capacity formats like blu-ray etc take over in the longer term (there's always a new technology around the corner!)
  DVD- discs seem to be cheaper than DVD+ as well so I would see no reason not to. Multi format is always, of course, best, but these are few and far between, and I would go for the best overall performance/price rather than format.

• raffles on 6th May 2005

  Thank you all for your helpfull responses. Can I just confirm that anything I record on this can only be played back on either a R - or R - & R + and not a player that is only R +?
  
  Sorry to be so thick but my family only have the cheap DVD players (supermarket stuff) and there is no point in me buying a DVD recorder to copy family events from my camcorder that they can't access.
  Apologies again - I'm sure you have already answered that question but I need it spelt out in VERY simple terms.
  Thanks for your time.

• likehi11 on 6th May 2005

  Terry,
  
  How easy is it to connect a VCR to the Pioneer? The problem I fear is that the connection won't be good, therefore messing with the overall quality of the DVD. Also, would it just be better to get a combo VCR/DVD recorder? Thanks.

• shum on 9th May 2005

  For those who are accustomed with the DVR-520:
  - How much time it takes to full erase a DVD-RW?
  - Can a DVD-RW be finalized (DVD Video) for playing in others machines?
  
  Thanks!

• Terry001 on 10th May 2005

  1) Compatability. You should find that anything recorded on a -R disc will playback on a +R only machine. Each format seems to be able to to be read in any machine - no matter what it records to. I believe there may be some exceptions in older machines. The write once discs seem to be more compatable than the rewritable (my laptop will not play DVD+RW, but will play DVD+R for example.) You can find a lot of stuff about DVD on various web sites - try http://www.videohelp.com/dvd or do a google search - there is tons out there. The machines manual will always tell you what you need to know about compatability.
  
  2) Connectivity - it's a cinch - you just need a scart lead to the video - and there are front svhs/phono inputs too - I've successfully copied old tapes across. (NB films may be "macrovision" or otherwise copy protected though - the machine detects and prevents copying - I know - I've tried!)

• Terry001 on 10th May 2005

  Shum
  Erasing (via initialising - approx 2mins
  DVD Video - yes it does that, as well as DVD-VR mode
  Terry

• likehi11 on 10th May 2005

  Thanks Terry. That helps alot.

• raffles on 12th May 2005

  Thank you to everyone who responded, even those who asked different questions which saved me from asking again & again.
  Particular thanks to Terry whose knowledge knows no bounds! I have decided to order the Pioneer DVD-520 as it does seem to be a good buy - watch this space...

• MikeMac on 16th May 2005

  Hi, I intend to buy DVR with HDD and DV in/out. Pioneer DVR 520 looks suitable, from anything I've found in Russian Internet shops. Because Pioneer DVR 520 have both DV in and out.
  
  I'd like to use DVR for both recording from TV broadcast (less important) and from computer (the must). Could I access HDD from computer? DVD recorder?
  
  Or is it just my dream, and even have bought device like DVR 520 I could not access nor HDD nor recirder from computer via DV port? Any other suitable device recomendation?