Samsung DVD-AR650 DVD Recorder

Pros: Receives all unscrambled HD channels on basic cable service or over-the-air, fastest functionality

Cons: Lacks a “favorite channel” button on remote

The Bottom Line: Best DVD recorder available today with QAM tuner as good as those built-into latest HD Televisions and fastest on,off,timer set & channel change functions.

Review: After deciding that Cox Cable was ripping me off by charging approx $300 a year for HDTV service and a box that would only record 6 hours of TV shows, I started a search for a less expensive and possibly better alternative. My current big screen is a ...

Pros: DD5.1 TV playback, good picture and sound, good recording, very nice software, output options.

Cons: P&S EPG do not work. No true HD output. Loses signal. Format compatibility.

The Bottom Line: Does not do what it says it does. Poor quality, poor performance, even a step back in design. Can not recommend.

Review: Well this was the third ATSC capable DVD recorder I tried and it looked like the most promising one by the specifications, but as usual Samsung delivered only half way. The other two recorders I tried (with ATSC tuners that is) were the LG DR787T and ...

Pros: Great ATSC recordings from Over the Air HD, GUI is very easy to use.

Cons: EPG does not work as expected. What? Does not support DVD +R/RW and DL.

The Bottom Line: I do not recommend this unit because of the sound sync problems. Please read full review.

Review: I first started praising this unit for it quality and ease of use. However, this recorder clearly has issues with synchronizing the sound up with the video. This intermittent problem clearly was starting to annoy me. Sometimes it was fine then I do ...

Pros: 1. It upconverts
2. looks great, very stylish.
3. Very thin.

Cons: 1. Exhaust fan runs 24/7 365 days.
2. stops randomly
3. sometimes fails to stop recording.

The Bottom Line: Unfortunately it's solid and unbreakable.  But the firmware is worthless.
Reliabilty = zero

Review: Samsung is a great name, mom always loved the brand and after the experience with a Lite-On, I went specifically for a high rated Samsung.  Alas it was high rated at the time.  And at the time no ratings here.  That was a mistake.  ...

Pros: Digital ATSC tuner
Easy playback of pre-recorded videos

Cons: Loses signal or just plain can't pick up channels
Hard to figure out recording

The Bottom Line: Do not buy this one until Samsung gets the bugs out of it!

Review: I bought this DVD player a year ago based on recommendations by Consumer Reports.  For some reason, they really liked this one.I have had nothing but trouble with it.  I have managed to record ONE program with it.  Every time I ...