Need help choosing replacement DVD-VCR combo

[Icenine]

Hey guys,

I currently have a Samsung DVD-V540 which has had some problems with the VCR tracking. Anyway, getting straight to the point I decided to ring the warranty people a couple of days ago about getting it fixed, but rather than fix it they decided to give me a choice of 2 new replacement models, which to me, turns out to be a lot better because I thought the old one was crap to begin with. :)

They said I could choose between these two : LG V181 or Samsung DVD-V5600.

I'm mainly interested in the DVD/DivX side of these players as I assume the VCR side of each would be about the same?

I've tried searching a bit about them, but can't seem to find much info on either player.

All I know about the LG is what's listed on their website. As far as the Samsung goes I'm not sure if it even plays DivX/Xvid files cause it doesn't list that feature on their website. DivX.com though has both players listed as certified home theater players.

Anyone used either one? know what chipset they have? which one plays back more divX/Xvid files? Also any idea on what the Zoom function modes are like when playing back DivX/Xvid files? The old Samsung had one setting and it zoomed in to like 5 times the original size which was useless.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have to make a decision in the next day or two. Thanks.

[granitz]

I've got the LG V181 DVD/VCR combo.

I'm quite happy with it. Unfortunately, no idea what the chip set is.
I don't use the zoom so just went and checked in out on a divx file. Does 3 zoom levels: 200%, 400% and 900%. Zoom notification goes off which is good (had a dvd player once where it wouldn't go off !!)
It plays *most* of the avis I've downloaded very well. But there is the odd one I download that plays ok on my pc but pixelates on occasion or audio goes out on sync on the LG. This is the exception though and usually pausing/stopping the avi, then resuming gets me through. Probably for every 50-60 avis I download there is one or two I have this problem with. You will probably have this problem no matter what hardware divx player you get - not all avis are 'nicely' encoded.
The LG V181 is a solid unit. Remote works well - aim in the general direction and one push of the button. Unlike one model I had where you had to stick the remote down the player's throat to get it to work. Loading tray is robust enough.
There is a manual on line on the LG site that may give you a few specs.
http://au.lge.com/support/manual.jsp Search for the LG V181 model.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Icenine]

Thanks Granitz.

That info helps me quite a bit. The zoom settings could be a little better, but it's still way better than my old unit. How is the media compatibility? No other problems with the player at all? It only has digital coaxial out right? How is the back I/O panel? Is it solid or flimsy?

Also, how is the VCR side of the player? Any problems with that? And how long have you had the player for?

Sorry about all the questions ;)

I'm leaning towards the LG, but i'm still curious about the Samsung - can't seem to find any reviews of it at all or anyone that has one.

Thanks again for all your help.

[granitz]

Thanks Granitz.

That info helps me quite a bit. The zoom settings could be a little better, but it's still way better than my old unit. How is the media compatibility? No other problems with the player at all? It only has digital coaxial out right? How is the back I/O panel? Is it solid or flimsy?

Also, how is the VCR side of the player? Any problems with that? And how long have you had the player for?

Sorry about all the questions ;)

I'm leaning towards the LG, but i'm still curious about the Samsung - can't seem to find any reviews of it at all or anyone that has one.

Thanks again for all your help.
Because I use the LG mainly just for watching divx's I mostly just buy cheap generic dvd discs which just always seem to be dvd-r. Occasionally I use cd-r discs. No problems with either of these formats. Not sure about the other formats as I've never tested the LG on them.

There's no digital fibre out on this model as you say - just the digital coaxial. There is another LG dvd/vcr combo model out there similarly priced that has fibre output but not the V181. I'm only a noob here, but I would think sound quality would be the same whether it's digital fibre or digital coax, after all digital is digital and the the fibre or coax is just the transport medium. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

The whole box including the back i/o panel is very solid. The whole unit is quite solid which I like. While the remote works very well is solid it may not survive a one metre fall onto a tiled floor - my cat managed to do this to it. Remote after the fall became glitchey - I had programmed it to use my TV and it would lose this config. after a while. Getting a replacement from a supplier in Brisbane was no issue. Remote can be programmed to use your tv's basic functions: on/off, volume,channel change. Officially it supports LG,Zenith,Samsung,Sony,Hitachi. I had a very old NEC that it worked on. I'm using an old Teac at the moment - does everything BUT switching the TV on. ie will turn it off, volume and channel changes.

VCR side works like a charm. No problems at all and does everything you expect.

I've had the LG since March this year. It's had a pretty good workout avi-wise :)

[Icenine]

Thanks for going to all that trouble to type that out Granitz. That's a lot more info than I expected in such a short time.

I was actually wondering about that other model that LG has listed on their website. They looked pretty much identical, but when I looked closer and read the specs I noticed 3 differences - optical out, 4 video heads instead of 6 and an auto head cleaner on the V9120W. I'm not sure about the video heads cause on the front page the V9120W lists 6 heads, but on the spec page it says 4? I wonder which of the two models is the newer release? Any idea if they were both released this year?

Well unless anyone chimes in about the Samsung within the next few days I think I'll be going with this LG model.

[granitz]

Thanks for going to all that trouble to type that out Granitz. That's a lot more info than I expected in such a short time.

I was actually wondering about that other model that LG has listed on their website. They looked pretty much identical, but when I looked closer and read the specs I noticed 3 differences - optical out, 4 video heads instead of 6 and an auto head cleaner on the V9120W. I'm not sure about the video heads cause on the front page the V9120W lists 6 heads, but on the spec page it says 4? I wonder which of the two models is the newer release? Any idea if they were both released this year?

Not certain but think the V181 is the newer model. When the V181 came out around March here in Brisbane, the V9120W was already being sold.

[dockersfan]

Here's my post Icenine as requested.

I purchased this LG-V181 unit for my folks as a replacement for their VCR and they haven't used the darn thing since purchase! :|

I was playing around with it and original DVDs work well, as you'd expect.

The previous model they had was a Sony only DIVX player until they wanted a combo unit V181, which I was able to upgrade/replace with extra $20.

The Sony played the clips, no probs at all... whacked them in the V181 and received a disc error msg. I suspect its the way I'm burning or the media I'm using.

How are you posters burning your discs? What discs are you using dvd-r? dvd+r? I used a DVD-RW however it seems it doesn't like those discs? Is that correct?

[granitz]

How are you posters burning your discs? What discs are you using dvd-r? dvd+r? I used a DVD-RW however it seems it doesn't like those discs? Is that correct?

I've mainly used dvd-r disks (hyundai, sony, tdk, etc - whatever the cheapest one is around at the time). No problems with these. Very occasionally have used dvd+r, also no problems with these the times I've used them. I've never tried dvd-rw. As a shot in the dark have you tried burning a dvd-rw with multisession off ? I've see this mentioned on the web a few times so might be worth trying if you're keen on experimenting where the problem is.