DVD players are preferred over VCRs because of their ease of use and their quick access to content without fast-forwarding or rewinding. Still, many who have left VHS behind miss the ability to record their favorite content. With the Toshiba D-R5, you get all of the recording versatility of a high-end VCR and the convenience of a progressive-scan DVD player. It even delivers some of the best functions of a DVR. Multi-Drive Playback and Recording The D-R5 is designed to record and play back video using DVD-RAM, DVD-R, or DVD-RW recordable discs formats. The DVD-RAM disc, due to its flexibility when recording, offers the best value when using the time-shifting functions of this recorder, such as timer record, chase play and instant replay. DVD-R is a disc type to which content can only be written once, but it is also the most widely accepted format by other players, so it’s ideal for recording and sharing home movies. The DVD-RW format generally fits between them in that it’s more widely accepted by players than DVD-RAM though not as easily rewritten. The D-R5 provides a range of recording options. It lists five recording modes with trade-offs between time capacity and video quality. It has an auto title/chapter/thumbnail creation feature, but you can create your own titles with the help of an on-screen keyboard. Front panel composite and S-video input ports make it easy to record straight from a variety of other video sources, such as a camcorder. HDMI Compatible High-Definition Multi-media Interface (HDMI) is an interface format that provides uncompressed digital audio and video directly to a digital television. It represents the current state of the art in high-definition video and sound because the information never has to be converted into an analog format. Another benefit of HDMI is that it puts all that information into one cable and one easy-to-use connector. An added benefit of connecting the D-R5 to your television with HDMI is that the uni (more…)
2.0 out of 5 stars
Reliable But Has Issues
Purchased 2 of these about 2 years ago and have used them extensively. Have recorded from all types of formats. DO NOT BUY THIS FOR THE DV INPUT!
1.0 out of 5 stars
Nope
Skip this one. Less than 2 years old and the HDMI stopped working. It also claims DVD’s are ‘BAD’ about 90% of the time when they play just fine in my older dvd/vcr combo…
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love the Middle Speed
This is almost a perfect machine that has all the speeds I’ve needed in recording my own media. The only thing I don’t like about this machine is that, even though I’ve bought it…
1.0 out of 5 stars
BIG MISTAKE
Bought this refurbed to get an inboard tuner…BIG MISTAKE on many fronts. Unit would not work with Maxell and a couple other brands of -rw’s, then tried dvd-ram…
1.0 out of 5 stars
It Broke
I bought this player/recorder 11 months ago, and now I have to get a new one because it no longer works.
5.0 out of 5 stars
dvd recorder
The product arrived quickly and in excellent condition. The Toshiba has proven easy to use and in playback produces a good picture. I am very pleased with the product.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Indescribably Lousy Design
With this D-R5 Toshiba did an outstanding job of improving the D-R4 from almost outstanding to completely stupid.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth the price
Cons: slow in start up, shutting down. Pros: reliable, high quality recording and is the alternative to paying monthly charges to cable companies and Tivo. Overall, great product.
5.0 out of 5 stars
very nice recorder for the money
Sure you could do better but not at this price point. I got it a Jr’s for $104 but they’re sold out right now.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Piece of Garbage
I’m very surprise as to how poorly this prodcut was made. Picture quality is horrible, especially when it’s an upconvert player to 1080.