Zenith DVR-413 Feedback???

[DVDFORME]

The reports of the new Toshiba XS-52 still having the "black bug" and the Sony not including the flex recording mode has reduced my choices of hard drive machines and I'm now looking at alternatives.

Anyone have any experience with the Zenith DVR-413 (not the VHS combo unit).

This is a non-hard drive machine that records to both -R/RW and +R/RW. Supports MP3 and JPEGS. Has A-B delete for editing commercials, etc... and the usual IN's and OUT's (composite out/in, S-Video out/in, component out only)

The Zenith site doesn't mention if it has flex record..or what recording speeds are available.

How is the picture quality? What Chipset does it use? Is it a lemon or a winner? Is it made in Japan? I can get a fairly good deal on it, but have not seen much discussion about this model.

I am going to check it out tonight in person and should be able to answer some of my questions, but am particularly interested in feedback regarding reliability and picture quality.

Thanks to everyone in advance.

[Rampart]

I was just about to start a thread asking the same thing but you beat me to it.:)

I've not seen hardly any feedback on this machine at all.

Here's the specs

Progressive Scan Technology
Plays DVD, DVD±R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, JPEG, Kodak Picture CD
MP3 Decoding
Digital Audio Output
Simulated Surround Sound
Variable High-Speed Scan 2x, 4x, 16x, 100x (Fwd/Rev)
Zoom 4x, 6x (Moveable)
TV Aspect Ratio Selection 4:3, 16:9, Panscan
Parental Control
Multiplay Enhanced
File Management
Menu Display
Delete Title, A-B Delete
Program Move
Combine Chapter, Program
Chapter Creation Auto and Manual
File Naming
Disc Protect
Auto Play
Programmable Play
Programmable Memory
Repeat Play
Random Play Modes
Marker
Search
Screensaver
Still
Frame Advance/Slow/Skip/Search
OSD Menu Language English
Menu Type GUI
Multi-Angle
Multi-Story
Interactive Story
Multi-Language/Subtitle Capability
Closed Caption Support
ENERGY STAR®
Video DAC 12 Bits (54MHz)
Audio DAC 24 Bits (192kHz)
Component Video Out
Digital Audio Out (Optical, Coaxial)
S-Video Out
Composite Video
A/V In/Out
Digital Video In

I've seen this model for about $240 online and $299 at Best B@y.

[bsgoren]

I am trying to decide whether or not to buy the Zenith DVR-413 DVD Recorder as well (or spend more than twice the price for one with a HDD like the Toshiba RD-XS52)...here, BrandsMartUSA has it for $200 (although others have purchased it at the same store for $148 a couple months ago...strange that the price woud go up :confused: ), and it seems comparable to the Sony RDR-GX300 and a few others, but much les expensive. The only thing it doesn't have which would be nice is VCR+ or TV Guide APG; other than that, it seems very similar to most other DVD recorders, but like you guys, I can't find any reviews on it at all.

Also, according to the specs, it appears as if the DVR-413 can in fact record DD 5.1 audio (it says it has 3 different audio recording options)...is this true? Does anyone know if the Toshiba RD-XS52 can record DD 5.1 audio as well?

Again...anyone have any experience with this DVD recorder? Thank you.

[bsgoren]

I understand that this board doesn't exactly have the highest traffic on the AVS Forum, but come on gentlemen...doesn't anyone have any knowledge and/or experiences with the Zenith DVR413 DVD recorder (it's seems like a bargain for about $200)?

Bump...

[DVDFORME]

Since posting this thread, I decided to pass on this machine and opt for a Panasonic E-85. I'm glad that I selected the HDD recorder. It's a bit tricky to learn and there are some very important HDD maintenance procedures you need to follow that are not mentioned in the user manual, but that's for another thread.

I did go to Brandsmart and check out the Zenith in person. The sales guy was no help whatsoever regarding product specs and options. I did at least flip the machine around and saw that it is actually made by LG electronics. Made in Malaysia if I recall.

[bsgoren]

Originally posted by DVDFORME
Since posting this thread, I decided to pass on this machine and opt for a Panasonic E-85. I'm glad that I selected the HDD recorder. It's a bit tricky to learn and there are some very important HDD maintenance procedures you need to follow that are not mentioned in the user manual, but that's for another thread.

I did go to Brandsmart and check out the Zenith in person. The sales guy was no help whatsoever regarding product specs and options. I did at least flip the machine around and saw that it is actually made by LG electronics. Made in Malaysia if I recall.

Yes, it is made by LG, but I purchased it anyhow today...I'm going to set it up now. It seems lke a no-brainer for less than $150 when all the other basic dvd recorders are twice the price. I'll see how it goes. I figure if it can replce my VCR in the mast. bedroom, then that's all I need until I get an HD DVR for the HT/Family Room (I'm even considering the HD D*Tivo but I hate to throw/give away a perfectly good Sony HD-200 SAT/OTA receiver). I was thinking about that new Sony HD DVR, but I heard it's been delayed and now they increased the HDD and increased the price. :confused:

[edebes]

bsgoren,

Yes, I am interested in your findings on this device. Please post when you can.

Thanks.

Ed

[bsgoren]

Originally posted by edebes
bsgoren,

Yes, I am interested in your findings on this device. Please post when you can.

Thanks.

Ed

First impressions are good. I hooked it up, although I'm still having difficulty trying to figure out the proper connection so I can record easily off my Sony HD-200 SAT/OTA receiver (which way to run the cable in/out and any connections to my Sat receiver). Right now I can record, but it's a PITA, since I have to put it on DVD and change my Sat receiver to "Video 1/2" format to record off the Sat channels, but the quality on my Sat Video 1/2 is just horrible (unlike the 1080i, 720p, or 480p format settings which all look good). Otherwise, I can just record from the DVD Recorder's cable channels (but no Satellite channels).

I played around with the Zenith DVR413 last night, and it works just fine so far. SQ recording quality (2 hours) is defintely better than LQ (4 hours); I haven't tried receording in HQ (1 hour) or the 6-hour yet. Operation is fairly simple, although again, withput an EPG, is more difficult, but timer recordings just like a vcr can be done fairly easily. Start up, shut down, disc format, etc. seems a bit slow, but acceptable. I recorded a few minutes of a movie (on Starz) in DD 5.1, and played it back; sure enough, the recorded dvd played it fine but the audio was in fact tranferred into DD 2.0...oh well, I guess I will have to wait for my HD DVR to record in DD 5.1 :( Overall, I would have to say that for $150, it seems like a very good solution for replacing a vcr. However, more testing and evaluation is needed. :)

BTW - if anyone knows the proper way to hook this thing up (cable in/out, video in/out, etc.) so that I can record what we're watching on our SAT/OTA receiver (without switching the receiver's format to Video 1/2), please let me know. I think right now, I have the cable (from the wall) going to the Ant In on the DVD Recorder, Out to the Cable In on the Sony HD-200 SAT/OTA receiver, and Out to the TV from the receiver. Currently, I can either record via the DVD Recorder's cable channels without turning on my SAT/OTA receiver, or if I want to record from SAT, I have to go through all those crazy motions first. :confused: Thank you.

[edebes]

Thanks for the data. Sorry I can help you on the Sony hookup side.

Where did you purchase the Zenith and what was the total price?

Thanks.

Ed

[Bill1313]

Please cpme back & let us know what you think of it after you have tested it out at all the recording speeds & etc & maybe even copying some VHS to DVD at different speeds. A friend of mine asked me about it because BrandsMart in Fl has them for around $150. he was wondering if he should spend the $50 more for the Panny. I just bought my daughter the Panny E55 for Christmas & one of the reasons was because it had a 1 year Labor Warranty unlike most of the cheaper brands that only have a 90 Warranty including the Zenith. But if the Build-Quality & the Picture Quality is good I would give the Zenith a shot for myself. Thanks & looking forward to you follow up on the Zenith.

[bsgoren]

Originally posted by edebes
Thanks for the data. Sorry I can help you on the Sony hookup side.

Where did you purchase the Zenith and what was the total price?

Thanks.

Ed

Look at my post from 12/08/04 above...got the "private sale" price as they call it ($50 off their adv. price).

[bsgoren]

Originally posted by Bill1313
Please cpme back & let us know what you think of it after you have tested it out at all the recording speeds & etc & maybe even copying some VHS to DVD at different speeds. A friend of mine asked me about it because BrandsMart in Fl has them for around $150. he was wondering if he should spend the $50 more for the Panny. I just bought my daughter the Panny E55 for Christmas & one of the reasons was because it had a 1 year Labor Warranty unlike most of the cheaper brands that only have a 90 Warranty including the Zenith. But if the Build-Quality & the Picture Quality is good I would give the Zenith a shot for myself. Thanks & looking forward to you follow up on the Zenith.

Can't copy from VHS to DVD...it's not a combo unit, but it does have a Firewire input for my camcorder. It does, however, appear to have a decent build quality, except I've noticed that the door is a bit noisy (flimsy perhaps) when opening/closing compared to my 2-year-old Sony DVD player. After I've played wiht it for a few weeks, I will post up some more impressions, but again for now, it seemed like it was worth the $$ considering most others with similar features begin at $300. I am a true believer in "you get what you pay for" so we'll see if there are some exceptions... :D

[W2JD]

The DVR413 has an Aspect Ratio option for recording. Does this mean that if I set my Hughes HD-TL to "Squeezed" mode in an HD program on the S-Video output, will the act as an anamorphic DVD? I do record in this mode with the VCR, but have to force the display into wide mode. I hope I make myself clear.

Jose
W2JD

[bobapett]

bsgoren,

Any more feedback, now that you've had this a few weeks?

[msnorek]

:)
Hello-<P>
I own the DVR-413, and I LOVE IT. I won it in a cooking contest in Feb. 2005. I use it all the time to convert my Sony Handy Cam videos, play DVD's, record tv programs, play CD's in, and other options. It is very easy to use, and I have had nothing but great service and use by this product and company. It was listed at 375$ in 12-2004. I won mine in a cooking contest, where I took second place. I don't think I would trade it for the world! I even called Zenith today, because I lost my user instruction book. They e-mailed it to me, as well as sent me a copy of one in the mail FOR FREE. They get a big thumbs up from me!

[msnorek]

[QUOTE=bsgoren]Can't copy from VHS to DVD...it's not a combo unit, but it does have a Firewire input for my camcorder. It does, however, appear to have a decent build quality, except I've noticed that the door is a bit noisy (flimsy perhaps) when opening/closing compared to my 2-year-old Sony DVD player. After I've played wiht it for a few weeks, I will post up some more impressions, but again for now, it seemed like it was worth the $$ considering most others with similar features begin at $300. I am a true believer in "you get what you pay for" so we'll see if there are some exceptions... :D[/QUOTE]

I copy from VHS to DVD with a VCR and the RCA input and output jacks! Works great!

[msnorek]

[QUOTE=bsgoren]Look at my post from 12/08/04 above...got the "private sale" price as they call it ($50 off their adv. price).[/QUOTE] Won mine in a cooking contest, listed at 375$ back when it was NEW.

[msnorek]

[QUOTE=bsgoren]First impressions are good. I hooked it up, although I'm still having difficulty trying to figure out the proper connection so I can record easily off my Sony HD-200 SAT/OTA receiver (which way to run the cable in/out and any connections to my Sat receiver). Right now I can record, but it's a PITA, since I have to put it on DVD and change my Sat receiver to "Video 1/2" format to record off the Sat channels, but the quality on my Sat Video 1/2 is just horrible (unlike the 1080i, 720p, or 480p format settings which all look good). Otherwise, I can just record from the DVD Recorder's cable channels (but no Satellite channels).

I played around with the Zenith DVR413 last night, and it works just fine so far. SQ recording quality (2 hours) is defintely better than LQ (4 hours); I haven't tried receording in HQ (1 hour) or the 6-hour yet. Operation is fairly simple, although again, withput an EPG, is more difficult, but timer recordings just like a vcr can be done fairly easily. Start up, shut down, disc format, etc. seems a bit slow, but acceptable. I recorded a few minutes of a movie (on Starz) in DD 5.1, and played it back; sure enough, the recorded dvd played it fine but the audio was in fact tranferred into DD 2.0...oh well, I guess I will have to wait for my HD DVR to record in DD 5.1 :( Overall, I would have to say that for $150, it seems like a very good solution for replacing a vcr. However, more testing and evaluation is needed. :)

BTW - if anyone knows the proper way to hook this thing up (cable in/out, video in/out, etc.) so that I can record what we're watching on our SAT/OTA receiver (without switching the receiver's format to Video 1/2), please let me know. I think right now, I have the cable (from the wall) going to the Ant In on the DVD Recorder, Out to the Cable In on the Sony HD-200 SAT/OTA receiver, and Out to the TV from the receiver. Currently, I can either record via the DVD Recorder's cable channels without turning on my SAT/OTA receiver, or if I want to record from SAT, I have to go through all those crazy motions first. :confused: Thank you.[/QUOTE]
I have Direct TV, and I record programs just fine. I keep it on channel 4, run the input into the DVR, and change channels on my Direct TV receiver. It works great!

[mddillon]

I've owned my Zenith DVR-413 since July 2004 and have really liked it. The picture quality is excellent in the 1 and 2 hour modes. The 4 and 6 hour modes are okay, but I wouldn't use them to archive any videos that you want to keep.

My only gripe is that the 2 hour mode only records to about 1:58 and the 4 hour mode only records to about 3:56. I placed calls to tech support long ago on this matter and they eventually refused to change the firmware to address this issue, so I gave up. I have only used DVD+RW disks, so I don't know if any other types of disks would have made it to the correct amount of recording time in those modes.