Recommendations of DivX, DVD, HDD Recorder combination

[UnspecifiedId]

Greetings All,

I'm after recommendations and experiences for purchasing a DivX, DVD, HDD Recorder combo.

I've looked at the KISS units (http://www.eastwoodhifi.com.au/kiss.htm and like the looks and specs, though are a bit on the expensive side (unless someone can state a place considerably cheaper).

I was looking at LG as a particular brand but are open to suggestions, recommendations and experiences.
Budget $400-$650. Located in Sydney.

Regards

[alazok]

My dad bought the LG 80 GB HHD DVDRW which also had the divx capability :-the main reason for his choice.

He brought it back because the DivX playback did not have >> or << function.

Very annoying to watch a movie and not be able to use the shuttle functions.
Harvey Norman fully refunded it due to this issue.

I don't know if all the LG dvdrws with hard drives and divx have this annoying issue..but I would check out the manuals before I bought one.

[jokiin]

There are a few units about to hit the market with the features you are after and well within your budget, lots of choices coming.

[striderlps]

I have the NEC NDH80 (re-badged LG as per below) and have been very happy with it....

Link to my post on NEC NDH80 -
http://phorums.com.au/showthread.php?t=133176&page=2

Here is the NEC DivX Info for you - In 2 weeks to date I have found this a very good unit, but have not yet discovered any way of chapter forward/fast forward for any of my DivX/Xvid Library files...which is not tha much of an issue for me.

About DivX movie files
DivX disc compatibility with this recorder is
limited as follows:
* Available resolution size of the DivX file is under
720x576 (W x H) pixel.
* The file name of the DivX subtitle is limited to
characters.
* The total number of files and folders on the disc
should be less than 1999.
* If the number of the screen frame is over 29.97
frames per second, this unit may not operate
normally.
* If the video and audio structure of recorded file
is not interleaved, returns to the menu screen.
* If the file is recorded with GMC, the unit
supports only 1-point of the record level.
* GMC?
GMC is the acronym for Global Motion
Compensation. It is an encoding tool specified in
MPEG4 standard. Some MPEG4 encoders, like
DivX or Xvid, have this option.
There are different levels of GMC encoding, usually
called 1-point, 2-point, or 3-point GMC.
Playable DivX file
“.avi”, “.divx”
Playable DivX subtitle
“.smi”, “.srt”,
“.sub (Micro DVD format only)”,
“.txt (Micro DVD format only)”
* Divx subtitle except those listed above is not
displayed on the TV screen.
Playable Codec format
“DIV3”, “MP43”, “DIVX”, “XVID”, “DX50”
Playable Audio format
“AC3”, “PCM”, “MP2”, “MP3”, “WMA”
* Sampling frequency: within 8 - 48 kHz (MP3), within
32 - 48kHz (WMA)
* Bit rate: within 8 - 320kbps (MP3),
32 - 192kbps (WMA)

Divx Support Link (Codec V6) - http://forums.divx.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/531101651/m/613101852

It looks like the no-chapter forward/back option with the NEC NDH80 (re-badged LG RH-7521) is not going to be software fixed by the new codec version.

Cheers,
S.

[jokiin]

It looks like the no-chapter forward/back option with the NEC NDH80 (re-badged LG RH-7521) is not going to be software fixed by the new codec version.

FFW is supported by the chipset for DivX files, not related to codecs but a firmware update could resolve this issue, chapters in DivX files is only supported by DivX6, not sure at this stage if all of the functionality of DivX6 is supported by this chipset or will be available in the next version.

[Tau C Seti]

There are a few units about to hit the market with the features you are after and well within your budget, lots of choices coming.

I have been looking for a Divx/xVid/WMV(9) etc recorder as well. The best players seem to be based on the Sigma EM8620L chipset, although Avel, Bufallo, etc still have issues. Zensonic's Z500 looks promising, but none of these are recorders. Also, H.264 & VLC1 is not supported but the new EM8622L chipset (which is pin and software comaptible with the EM8620L) will support these formats :dD although who knows when we will actually see these at retail.

Going back to recorders, I just want a unit that will play back as many formats as possible (although I have my PC/Home Network hardwired into my entertainment system as it is the best overall solution). I am not after a HDD PVR, mainly due to price, so I have been looking at 3 models:
1) Wintal DVDR-X20 (Has 3-year warranty)
2) Maya DRW-509 (xVid)
3) LG DR7922W (DL +R/RW 8.5Gb)

A feature I very much want (but have gotten tired of waiting for it) is a USB port capable of playing large NTFS drives. At the moment, only the Z500 (which is NOT a recorder) promises to be able to do this.:rolling:

Can you give us an idea as to what to expect? I am sick of waiting, and was just on the verge of buying something now (albeit a compromise).:rolleyes:

[jokiin]

I wouldn't consider either of the first two, too many negative reports, the LG is worthy of consideration but you will find better value units coming into the market that use the same components as the LG but represent much better value, recorders with hard drive will be almost the same price as the LG is now, there will be a lot of movement in this category in the lead up to Christmas

[UnspecifiedId]

Thanks all for the feedback, I'll go do some due diligence and take it from there. If only we had a crystal ball and could see what the Christmas Sales were bringing.

[jokiin]

For the average consumer it's hard to know when to buy, best thing is once you buy, stop looking and be happy with your purchase.