Philips DVDR77 Recorder Review

Digital media fans will relish the unit's front-panel PCMCIA input, which reads image files from a range of media cards, including Memory Stick, Compact Flash, SD card, Smart Media, and Micro Drive. Got a DV camcorder, too? The unit's extensive inputs include an i.Link digital video jack, through which you can transfer and assemble your most treasured footage, archive all your old videotapes, or burn video from your PC straight to high-capacity DVD--up to six hours per disc side using either DVD+R or DVD+RW.

You can also use the Philips DVDR77 like a VCR, burning televised programs directly to disc using the handy VCR Plus+ onscreen TV program guide. Recording functions include the ability to record picture DVDs (which hold up to 3,600 pictures), safe record, one-touch record (OTR), track append, track divide, track erase, automatic/manual chapter marker insertion, disc write protection, favorite scene selection, index picture screen (for instant content overview), and Selectable Index Pictures.

The Philips DVDR77 features progressive-scan technology, which allows compatible TVs to display images at double the frequency of standard TVs, minimizing flicker and making the picture easier on your eyes.

DVD+RW discs require no finalizing--you can record, eject, and play them with minimal fuss, thanks to "background formatting." This feature, which lowers total burning time, is an advantage over the "dash" formats. Other DVD+RW advantages include on-disc content editing and multisession writing.

And, because of DVD+RW and DVD+R's compatibility with most existing DVD players, they're a great way for you to share your special memories with family and friends. The unit's Virtual Time Base Corrector ensures better-than-original copies from old video tapes.

The Philips DVDR77 is also a first-rate DVD player, featuring progressive-scan video outputs, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound passthrough, MP3 CD playback (CD-R/CD-RW), and compatibility with most DVD media (including video-mode DVD-R and DVD-RW).

Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the Philips DVDR77 stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.

Top-of-the-line component-video inputs and outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video inputs and outputs bring compatibility with nearly any video component and television monitor. Audio inputs consist of two-channel analog jacks with 16-bit analog-to-digital conversion and Dolby Digital 2.0 audio compression (compression is nondefeatable).

Two sets of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (one each of RCA coaxial and Toslink optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver. If you don't have a surround receiver or six-channel speaker setup, you can still make every movie night the ultimate experience: 3D Sound simulates surround sound through two speakers (even the stereo speakers on your TV).

What's in the Box?

So what Features Does the Philips DVDR77 Have?

· Disc capacity: 1

· Progressive scan: Yes

· 3:2 pulldown: No

· Memory card slot: Yes (PCMCIA slot accommodates flash-memory cards: Memory Stick, Compact Flash, SD card, Smart Media, and Micro Drive)

· Playback formats: DVD-Video (NTSC, PAL, SECAM), VCD, SVCD, DVD+R, DVD+RW, video mode DVD-R and DVD-RW, red book CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 CD, JPEG image CD, JPEG image DVD (holds up to 3,600 pictures)

· Recording formats: DVD+R, DVD+RW, picture DVD

· JPEG image controls: Rotate, slideshow, zoom (2x, 4x, 6x)

· Firmware upgradeable: No

· Aspect ratio control: Yes

· Dialog enhancer: No

· Integrated receiver: No

· Front-panel operation: No (remote required)

· Quick play: No

· Multi-angle viewing: Yes (with applicable discs)

· Picture enhancements: Virtual Time Base Corrector: For better-than-original copies of old videotapes

· Audio encoding: Dolby Digital 2.0 only (16 bits, 48 kHz; does not record linear PCM digital audio)

· Audio record level setting: Automatic

· Horizontal resolution: NTSC: 525, PAL/SECAM: 625 (on compatible TVs)

· Format resolutions: Full D1 (DVD-Video): 720 x 480 (equivalent to 500 analog TV lines), Half D1: 360 x 480 (equivalent to 250 analog TV lines), SIF (VCD): 352 x 240

· Video DAC: 10-bit

· Audio DAC: 24-bit

· Video ADC: 9-bit

· Audio ADC: 16-bit

· HDCD decoding: No

· Video signal-to-noise ratio: Information not available

· Audio signal-to-noise ratio: 95 dB

· Dynamic range (video): Information not available

· Dynamic range (audio): 85 dB (at 1 kHz)

· Programming: VCR Plus+ programming

· Chapter preview: Yes (index picture screen)

· Custom bookmarks: No

· Frame advance: Yes

· Still/freeze frame: Yes

· Jog/shuttle dial on unit: No

· Forward/reverse play: Yes

· Speeds: Fast forward/backward (3 speeds), step forward/backward, slow (3 speeds)

· Karaoke: No

· Multilingual support: Yes (English, Spanish, French)

· Remote control: Yes (46-key)

· Parental controls: Yes

· Picture zoom (DVD): 1.33x, 2x, 4x (with picture enhancement)

· Random play: Yes

· Recording capability: Yes

· Recording capacity: Up to 6 hours per side (12 hours on double-sided discs)

· Recording resolution: Full D1 (DVD-Video) 720 x 480 (equivalent to 500 analog TV lines); Half D1 360 x 480 (equivalent to 250 analog TV lines); SIF (VCD) 352 x 240

· Advance recording: Yes (1 year presets, 6 events, with 5-hour backup memory)

· Auto clock set: Yes (and date)

· Recording features: Safe record, one-touch record (OTR), append, divide, erase, automatic/manual chapter marker insertion, disc write protection, favorite scene selection, index picture screen for instant content overview, selectable index pictures

· Video encoding: MPEG2 for DVD, MPEG1 for VCD

· Favorite scene selection: For easy editing of your home movies

· Digital photo and music manager: Yes (simple user interface)

· G-Link/IR Blaster included: No

· Repeat play: Yes (A-B)

· Resume play: Yes (up to 20 discs)

· Track programming: No

· Intro scan: Yes

· Time search: Yes

· Reverse-frame step: Yes

· Screen dimmer: No

· Screen saver: Yes

· Slow motion: Yes

· Text display: No

· VCR capability: No

· Audio outputs: 2 stereo analog (left/right), 2 digital (1 optical, 1 coaxial)

· Headphone jack: No

· Audio inputs: 3 stereo analog (left/right) RCA

· Video outputs: 1 component-video, 1 S-video, 1 composite-video, 1 RF

· Video inputs: 1 component-video, 1 S-video, 1 composite-video, 1 IEEE 1394 DV, 1 RF

· Surround-sound output: Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel passthrough

· Simulated surround sound: Yes (3D Sound)

· THX-certified: No

· Front-panel inputs: Yes (including PCMCIA type II, i.Link, and S-video)

· Power input: 90 to 140V AC (120V nom), 50/60 Hz

· Power consumption: 31 watts (7 watts standby)

· UPC: 0 3784993380 0

· Item width: 17.1 inches

· Item height: 2.55 inches

· Item depth: 13.18 inches

· Item weight: 8.8 pounds

· Warranty: 1 year parts and labor

Conclusion

Best DVD Recorder Reviews Rating

6/10

Get the latest price for the Philips DVDR77

Philips DVDR77 Recorder Review
Back to home page