Samsung DVD-R120 Progressive Scan DVD Recorder

• DVD player/recorder with progressive-scan video outputs and DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD-R recording
• Plays recordable CDs with MP3 music files or JPEG digital photos
• Time Shift function for DVD-RAM discs enables live-picture pause during recording
• Offers 1-touch recording, timer recording, auto chapter creation, front-panel DV (IEEE 1394) input for direct camcorder hookup
• Measures 17 x 2.3 x 9.6 inches (W x H x D)

This is a great deck for the price I bought it at (Amazon $169 minus $30 for signing up and using Amazon Visa).

I like:

1. Slim form factor fits well in my setup.

2. Front panel DV connection for camcorder A "must" if you care copying your miniDV to DVD. In fact, I use this instead of my Mac (Computer) to get video because you can just start the recording to DVD and leave it until it is done. Then, you can much more rapidly find and edit portions on the computer later than if you tried to copy the large files directly. My way takes more time in total, but it takes LESS of my time in front of a machine since I can just start the DVD recording and leave. This is also the way we send this stuff to Grandma now.

3. The menu system when setting up and doing other tasks is very clear.

4. The video quality (out put to TV) is good.

5. The component video output appears to be cleaned up so that recordings at SP speed are better than my S-VHS recorder. This only works when playing back on this unit.

What I don't like:

1. Control response (open, close, etc.) is much slower than what I am used to. I would say it takes three times as long for the Disc drawer to open and close and load vs. my Denon.

2. No DVI or other digital video output. It does have optical and coax digital for audio. Once again, the component out is great, and my primary video watching (as opposed to recording) unit is a Denon 5900, so this is for those of you who would use this as your machine for watching pre-recorded DVD.

3. This could be an issue with all DVD recorders, but I found that although I am a pretty techie sort of guy (for a 50 year old) that I HAD to read the manual to record DVDs. For example, if you don't go to the "DISC" menu after recording and execute a "finalize" operation, the disc won't run on another machine (this is with DVD-R). There are a few other things you should know, and I suggest you read the manual and get to know them before you proceed.

4. "No Signal Detected" message when using DV input. When recording from a camcorder per the instructions in the manual, the system will stop without recording if your camcorder doesn't start playing back an image soon enough. The recorder has some input detection scheme that will stop recording if there is insufficient video signal for a few seconds. Of course, if you are controlling your camcorder from the DVD, there won't be any signal until the camcorder spins its head up and starts cranking. I beat this by starting the camcorder in "Play" and then hitting the record control on the DVD as soon as an image appeared.

5. Variable Bit Rate feature. Don't use this if you plan on using the disks on other DVD players. What this does is to allow you to fit exactly the amount of programming you want on to a disk. For instance, use the entire surface to record 2.5 hours (the standard times are 1,2,4 and 6 hours). This caused all of my other players to skip badly. Of course, it works fine on the recording unit itself. To be safe, just pick the right length/format and call it a good.

So, despite spending more words on the low points, I would still highly recommend it. I would NOT buy anybody's combo VCR and DVD/R, but would say the next step up is to get one of the combo DVD/R with hard disk/TIVO machines. The hard disk allows for better editing capabilty w/o PC.

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I bought this unit, and used it for one day only. It is a great unit (especially for the price), but once I got it home and went through the manual, I realised it has two drawbacks.

First, even though it records to DVD-RAM discs, the unit does not take advantage of the the DVD-RAM format's ability to do a "time slip" or "chasing playback" (the ability to start watching the very same program from the beginning whiles it's still recording it).

And secondly, I had failed to notice when buying, that this machine doesn't PLAY +R and +RW formats -it plays -R and -RW formats only. Since the DVD burner in my PC is a + format burner, it didn't make sense for me to own a DVD player that can't play that format.

If these are not issues and features important to you, then I'd have no problem recommending this unit.

So, I returned the machine, and instead I have purchased an essentially similar machine, that does everything the Samsung does, PLUS plays all formats and has the "time slip" feature. And that unit is the Panasonic DMR-ES20, which costs about $30 more than the Samsung. Note that the DMR-ES20 is a newer updated model to the DMR-ES10 unit (the newer model adds a firewire input). I didn't buy the Panasonic DMR-ES20 here on Amazon, because as of the date of this writing (9.22.05), that unit is not yet available on Amazon (only the older ES10 unit) -I bought it at Best Buy for $199. That was full retail, not "on sale" or with any rebates.

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I bought two from Best Buy on Black Friday, and both gave me a "System Error" when recording over 30 minutes. One dvd I recordered and finalized worked in the unit, but played very SLOWLY (not normal speed) on a regular later model dvd player. I loave all the inputs (dv, and Svideo), and have not found anything in this price range with the features. I am very frustrated! My doel was the DVD-R120 AXAA (I did not try the XAA). AXAA was built in sept 05 and had the latest firmware (2.5). The XAA model was built earlier in the year, but not sure if they might work. Hope this helps someone... It would be a great unit if it worked as advertised.

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I had just purchased and returned a Toshiba unit because it wouldn't finalize DVD's.

This unit works perfect for my purpose, which is to record to DVD-R's from my DVR. I like being able to pause during commericals and edit them out.

It is particular about the media. It took Panasonic DVD-RAM, and TDK 8X with no problem, but wouldn't accept Memorex 4X. At least it will tell you as soon as you insert the DVD if it will accept it or not.

Works Great!

Machine didn't work out of the box and Samsung charged $40 to fix it b/c it was built before a certain date (?). Got it back and it still didn't work. No "fixes" have worked and Samsung's tech support has wasted countless hours of our time upgrading firmware, buying additional DVDs, shipping the unit back and forth twice. Do not waste your time with this POG.