Review of DVDR725H

[stanleyntl]

How come this (Philips DVDR725H) was judged okay compared to the HDRW720 in What Video ? only the hard drive size has changed!
The smaller hd model was slated on picture quality, yet the new model gets the thumbs up.
Consistency - not!
What Videos reviews are as helpful as chocolate teapots!

[JethroUK]

Are these online reviews, or paper only?

[Rasczak]

Are these online reviews, or paper only?

Paper only for a few months then we appear online. Makes you go out and buy the magazine Jethro.

How come this (Philips DVDR725H) was judged okay compared to the HDRW720 in What Video ? only the hard drive size has changed!

Naturally it will always depend on the views of the person reviewing it - and how thoroughly they test it. Given that he says there are other slicker and more sophesticated models on the market (namely the Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba and Pioneer ranges) I would exactly say the review was a ringing endorsement of the machine though.

[stanleyntl]

Heaven forfend that I buy a Philips!
How can the 725H improve on the earlier models recording pitfalls?

[JethroUK]

Originally Posted by stanleyntl

Heaven forfend that I buy a Philips!
How can the 725H improve on the earlier models recording pitfalls?

It could come with a built-in projector

But it still wouldn't cut any ice here

[Rasczak]

It could come with a built-in projector

But it still wouldn't cut any ice here

Not if it's rubbish no. Only interested in decent products here Jethro. What amuses me most is even this "pro" review states that other DVD recorders are better - which is essentially what most people here say - so why you and the rest of the Philips faction feel 'hard done by' is really beyond my understanding!

[bluraymond]

well as a newbie I would have to say in defence of philips
at least they have got the guts to go with the own favoured
format and although some have failed (Video2000,CDI etc)
if it was not for there work in the conception of
compact discs we would not be enjoying DVD recorders today.

[Rasczak]

if it was not for there work in the conception of
compact discs we would not be enjoying DVD recorders today

Interesting view. The DVD Alliance, which created the 'plus' format was actually the last format to emerge - the drive to create it emerging when Philips was 'snubbed' over the DVD-ROM specifications. Accordingly Philips and a handful of other companies decided rather than use the existing formats (DVD-RAM had been developed several years before hand by Panasonic and Sony) they would develop their own to ensure they got the licencing. Can't entirely blame them for that - they are a business after all - but be under no illusion: DVD+RW/+R exists solely because it makes money for members of the DVD Alliance, not because it offers any substantial difference over the Pioneer developed DVD-RW/-R. Ironically Pioneer even had a DVD recorder on the market in Japan whilst DVD+ was still on the drawing board...

What I will say in their defence is I doubt we would be enjoying CHEAP DVD recorders if it weren't for Philips. They aggressively drove down the costs (in Europe at least) which has been good as it means the competition has had to follow. Unfortunately for Philips they have been unable to maintain the quality unlike Panasonic - and even worse they have simply become unreliable.

[Paul Cooksley]

"Philips" + "unreliable" ??

Don't know what you mean ..........

(takes tongue back out of cheek)

[JethroUK]

Although people say it was 'slated', I didn't think the reviews on the HDRW720 was really that bad - quite a fair assessment really - dunno what they said about the 725

[Rasczak]

I didn't think the reviews on the HDRW720 was really that bad - quite a fair assessment really

The November 2004 What Video review was the best IMHO - four 'top brand' HDD/DVDR tested - Panasonic, JVC, Pioneer and Philips. All scored highly (5/5) except the Philips (3/5)... Well worth reading for anyone considering the Philips models - even if you don't rate the reviews it clearly illuminates the 'issues' that hamper the Philips models.

[phelings]

Rasczak,I was told on Digital Spy by 720 owner that it(HDD) was capable of dividing titles,editing chapters etc.It was claimed that the only thing it could not do was reencode and resequence.
If this is so,then it does not really match that of the W V review ,or that of the 725.

[Rasczak]

I was told on Digital Spy by 720 owner that it(HDD) was capable of dividing titles,editing chapters etc

Yes you can - but as with DVD+ editting you can't do it well - cuts made are inaccurate. Which negates the whole point of having edit features.

the only thing it could not do was reencode and resequence

Two rather large omissions. The inability to re-encode makes the machine useless for anyone with a decent TV as you need to record everything in 2hr or 2hr 30min modes which is far from acceptable on any DVD recorder. The inability to use Playlists makes the machine useless for those wanting to create (e.g.) music complications or conduct non-destructive editting.

As the review states - there much better out there...

[JethroUK]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

Yes you can - but as with DVD+ editting you can't do it well - cuts made are inaccurate. Which negates the whole point of having edit features.

I can edit within a frame (or as near as the Tosh) - Not sufficient for a Film Director, but how accurate does it need to be?

Originally Posted by Rasczak

The inability to re-encode makes the machine useless for anyone with a decent TV as you need to record everything in 2hr or 2hr 30min modes which is far from acceptable on any DVD recorder. ...

I record everything at 2:30 - I cannot tell the difference between that and Live TV - I am watching on 32" Pixel Plus from 2.5 meters - my eyesight isn't defective

If 2:30 is "not acceptable" - then why on earth would you want it on a DVD? - It's either good enough to watch, or it isn't
If i felt 2:30 wasn't good enough to watch - i would record at 1 hour & archive it the same way (just like any other machine)

You could say, you have 'a choice' to store degraded archives - but you cannot say it's "not acceptable" & at the same time 'accept it'

Originally Posted by Rasczak

As the review states - there much better out there...

"better" is a relative term & depends on personal perspective

having more editing facilities - would be "better" for someone who 'likes' editing, and is 'happy' to put the extra time into it

having more editing facilities (or even facilities per se) - could be joe plug-n-go's worst nightmare

consider this:

Whilst the Philips can Divide

+ thanks to EPG (which chops up even long recording sessions into program-size, 'titled' pieces)
+ Dividing small chunks can fragment the drive (leading to noise, irratic playback or even failure)
+ Hide facility retains original copy

I honestly haven't used the Divide facility since the day i got it

.

[Rasczak]

I can edit within a frame (or as near as the Tosh)

Rubbish! Or are you now suggesting that the Philips has GOP control? or that the Philips now uses VR markers for precision editting? With the Philips the file format is limited to DVD-Video mode - this means cuts can only be made where they will be compatible. I suggest you experiment with your machine a little more Jethro. Still it just goes to show the point I've made many times before - people like Jethro are dangerous as:
a) don't understand the limitations their own machine has and,
b) comment on machines they haven't even used - we all remember Jethro getting caught out trying to give (inaccurate) advice on the Toshiba

I record everything at 2:30 - I cannot tell the difference between that and Live TV - I am watching on 32" Pixel Plus from 2.5 meters

Which sums it up really doesn't it? Jethro remains a Philips fan simply because he has a small TV. Perhaps when he upgrades to a larger screen, a projector or to a high resolution one in due course he will accept that what he has been told time and time again on this forum is correct. The bottomline is, yes, if you have a bottom end screen (which 32" CRT screens are) then 2hr 30min recordings will look OK. But when you upgrade you will be seriously disappointed in your recordings. Most of us here have seen it many times before. It's a pity as the only person they fool is themselves.

"better" is a relative term & depends on personal perspective

Indeed. But the Philips has so many "issues" that the average reasonable person discounts it - especially on these boards which are aimed at mid to high end users - the Philips just isn't in that league (and doesn't pretend to be).

I would urge anyone who doubts how poor the Philips HDD/DVDRs are to read the November What Video & Widescreen Enterainment magazine comparisons of the JVC, Pioneer, Panasonic and Philips HDD/DVDRs - nothing more clearly demonstrates the weakness of the Philips both in performance and features.