Magnavox ZV457MG9 DVD Recorder

I have used a few of these units, mostly for converting my VHS tapes, and am still impressed by the number of features on the unit. Good picture and recording quality on DVD and even on VHS, although, as expected, you can see lowered resolution with longer recording times. Synchronized recodings from tape to DVD were easy, and building menus was OK. I found that the recorder could be a bit finicky with some DVD-R/W and DVD-R brands (unit supports both plus and minus modes). Try a few different brands if you encounter issues when recoding. It pumps out DVDs that are compatible with every other unit I played them on.

The RF antenna-in and -out are simply pass-through and serve to send the signal on to your TV and to the DVD/VCR. You cannot play back from DVD or VHS to the RF output. You can, of course, use the composite video+audio outputs. This is only an issue with older TVs without line-in sockets.

Overall, a good pick, and especially for the price it can be found on the web.

There are several reasons why I bought this DVD/VCR Recorder. Listed in no particular order.
1. So I could transfer over 200 VCR home recordings to DVD format.
2. The digital tuner. In case my cable goes out. I have used the digital tuner several times. I ran a 75 ohm cable into the house from an outdoor antenna. I used a two way splitter box (A-B selector box from Radio Shack). On one side I used the Cable input. (i.e. Comcast) On the other input I used the input from the outdoor antenna. I am receiving an excellent picture using the outdoor antenna. Of course I do not receive an many channels, but there are some local stations here in Houston that I am able to receive that are not on cable.
3. This unit also has some additional recording speeds. Normally many DVD recorders have 1 hour, 2 hour, 4 hour and 6 hour recording speeds. Of course the quality of recordings on some units drop off in the 4 hour mode and 6 hour mode.
This unit also has SPP 2 1/2 hour and LP 3 hour recording speeds. I find that the quality at those two speeds to be of very high quality. For those of you over 40 might recall that some VCR's besides the SP 2hour and EP (also called SLP) 6 hours recording speed, there was also LP 4 hour speed that Panasonic
et.al had that I found very useful and did a good job recording. JVC the originator of VCR's unfortunately did not incorporate this speed, but of course all VCRs would play it back.
Yes, I have rambled, but in closing I think that this is a good recorder. In fact I only paid $99.00 for it, wheras some people were asking $89.00 for the Magnavox, that only had the analog tuner.
Good features:
1. HDMI output.
Bad features:
1. No DV input in the front.
2. No fiber optic audio output in the rear.

Kinda ironic that ebay wants me to write a review about this thing 2 days after it ate a tape and 1 day after the dvd recorder failed to record another program.

well i've had it for about a month or so, up until recently the only problem i had with it, other than the lousy button layout, 45 second load time for ANY dvd, overall stupid interface, and the fact that u CAN'T set up the dvd and vcr to record at the same time, is that the dvd did not record a program. i've had 1 dvd recorder before this and it too seemed to have an occasional problem recording to a disk. i expected this to happen every once in a while, which is why i had half the programs recorded on the vcr part. i feel that vcr's are way more reliable than dvd recorders, mainly because i have a jvc vcr that has lasted me over 8yrs. well just the other day the vcr part started eating tapes. luckily i was able to get the tape out. i switched all the programs that i record on the vcr over to the dvd. the next day, when the dvd was set to record a program, i checked to make sure it started and was recording, which it was. when i tried to watch the program the next day, it did not record. "error writing to disk". i am so glad i didnt pay full price for this, but i wish i'd gotten the warranty. i would advise ppl to not only stay away from this dvd recorder, but dvd recorders in general. i've never had dvr, but i'd bet they are more reliable.

one last annoying thing about this unit. the audio out is on the dvd side, which means if u have it hooked up to a home theater, only the sound from the dvd will come out through the speakers.

This DVD Recorder / VCR Combo although "refurbished" seems like it is brand new. It runs great, easily accepts all VHS and DVDs like described. It has plenty of features and is easy to set up. It accepted a cable line in an TV quality was perfect. It picked up DTV signals with its build in tuner also. The price was great. The warranty options were great. The seller was pleasant.

If you are like me, I tend to put things off for awhile. I have a lot of VCR tapes that I would like to save. Some of these recordings are over 30 years old, and are original. (of course a copy is a copy!) I looked into a DVD/VCR combo recorder years ago, but the prices were too high. Not too long ago I again looked, and found very few even existed on the shelves of those Big Box stores. The prices? still too high. So I looked on E-Bay, compared the prices to other sites and found just what I was looking for. It was on auction, I bid, and won. I am now in the long process of "saving" my VCR tapes. Only one problem I found, there was no guide book with the item. But the Magnavox Co. Came through for me. Oh, and did I mention-- I got the item for a steal!