Goodmans GDVD301R Review

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Goodmans GDVD301R
2.2 stars
Average rating for this product is: 2.2 out of 5

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ianrsinclair's Review of Goodmans GDVD301R DVD Recorder

26th May 2005

Overall Rating

4 stars
  • Value for money
    4.5 stars
  • Image Quality
    4 stars
  • Features
    4.5 stars
  • Time DVD Recorder Owned
    Less than a Week
  • Sound Quality
    4 stars
  • Ease of Use
    3 stars
Good Points

DV input.


Bad Points

Noisy. Videoplus does not set channel. Switching on does not switch TV to AV input. Runs hot on standby.


General Comments

The Goodmans GDVD301R is my second DVD recorder, bought on the strength of the DV input. It is, on the whole, easy to use, but can be a shock if you have used a DVD recorder previously. The noise level is quite high compared to the Philips 8080, and it takes some time to get used to the VideoPlus action, which will always record at the correct time but from the wrong channel unless you set the channel number (called, confusingly, the programme number). Sometimes you get an option to set channel number after settig the VideoPlus code, sometimes not, but you can enter it later. Another thing that can cause confusion is that switching on from standby does not operate the TV/AV switch in the TV, so you have to use the TV remote for this. The unit also runs hot, and I would want to disconnect it when I go on holiday, perhaps even at night.
Given the price, though, this is a compact and efficient unit, and good value.

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Members' Comments onianrsinclair's Review

  • ianrsinclair Rank: Lance Corporal on 27th May 2005

    Another point to watch is that it can freeze after recording from a digital camcorder. When the STOP key is pressed, it takes a minute to complete the recording, (WAIT is displayed) and if the camera signal ceases in this time, the process is interrupted. You have to cut off power to recover, and no recording will be obtainable. Never try to record all of a camcorder content - you can always tag on a couple of minutes of footage you don't want. The same would probably happen if you switched off a TV while the recording was pending.

  • ianrsinclair Rank: Lance Corporal on 29th May 2005

    Using DV input is problematic. It looks as if the camcorder needs to be sending a signal in before you press the REC button on the recorder, but this has worked only once for me so far.