Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is the MDR557H/F7, a follow-on to the 53x Series (533/535/537) of std def (480i) HDD/DVD recorders for OTA antenna and unscrambled cable TV (clear-QAM) for North America and other NTSC/ATSC/QAM countries. More detailed info at avsforum.com > Forums > Video Components > DVD Recorders > Magnavox 557, 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575 (Links not allowed in Reviews). Page 1 there is double-indexed to content. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Mag 557 is the 9th generation of a simple, family-friendly, durable, std def (SD, 480i) NTSC/ATSC/QAM series of analog/digital DVD recorders (DVDR) with hard disk drive (HDD) and DVD burner that are yearly improvements of the same basic design and operating system. It's STILL the ONLY consumer-owned subscription-free recorder, SD or HD (720/1080), available for daily use with antenna or cable in North America and other NTSC/ATSC/QAM countries that has: -Single NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuner for antenna or unscrambled analog/digital cable channels (not PAL). -HDD and on-board DVD burner. Produces DVDs now with NO Empty Title/Space. -Amplified coax passthrough w/unit on or off. -Amplified line inputs for copying from VCR, DVR, camcorders, etc. to HDD/DVD. -DV input for copying DV camera movies to HDD/DVD. -Record while watching diff. channel on TV via coax passthrough. -1080p HDMI upconvert. -Replaceable/upgradeable/expandable hard-disk drive (HDD). -Replaceable DVD drive for burning DVDs and playing DVDs and CDs. -Widescreen (16:9) recording. -Coax digital audio out. -Simple editing of original or virtual titles (playlist copies)... now includes Combine Titles, Playlists and VR-mode. -36 timer-rec programs with pre-titling of shows. -6-hour autorecord buffer. -Pause & rewind live TV for last 6 hours of visited channels. -SAVE the prior 6-hour buffer to HDD (never have to say "I wish I'd recorded that"). -Chase play a recording in progress. -Skip/replay, multiple time settings. -Simultaneous play/record. -Integrated TV/DVDR control via HDMI CEC-link. -1-2 hour power backup, dep. on whether Auto Clock is off or on. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FOR OWNERS OF PREVIOUS MODELS Here are some IMPORTANT differences compared to the 53x Series: 1-Records in standard Video and VR modes like Pioneer, Panasonic, Sony, etc., not +VR Std like other 8 generations. NOTE: This probably means it will treat UNFINALIZED DVDs from previous generations like a Panasonic or Pioneer would... unconfirmed, this is a SWAG (Scientific Wild Ass Guess). 2-PLAYLIST (VIRTUAL) EDITING - Make edits on original recordings or Playlist copies, keeping originals intact. Assemble virtual playlists for playing or dubbing. Switch between originals and playlists with Disc Menu button. 3-Editing menu now includes a Combine Titles option for HDD and VR-mode DVD-RW. Places combined titles in Playlist. However, manual says if either one of the two original titles is deleted, the combined new title is also deleted. 4-HDD menu adds a "Delete All Playlists" option. 5-Disc Edit menu for VR-mode discs adds "Format" and "Delete All Playlists " options. 6-Edit Accuracy - Edits (Scene Deletes) now remain frame-accurate even after high-speed dub (HSD). 7-DVD-RW disc initialization now has option for Video or VR Modes... Video mode for "DVD Player Compatibility mode" or VR mode for "Editing possibility mode." 8-New option added to Recording menu for Aspect Ratio (Video mode): Auto, 4:3 or 16:9. "TV Aspect" setting still in Video menu so new combo might now allow a 4:3 TV to letterbox 16:9 shows with its own TV aspect setting? 9-New rec modes: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 hours. 10-Contrary to manual, THE 557 DOES RECORD TO AND PLAY BACK DVD+R AND DVD+RW, even though they're not listed as either Playable or Unplayable in the manual. 11-Gone: EMPTY SPACE or EMPTY TITLE ON DVDs! DVD Title List now looks exactly like HDD Title List... 6 index pics per page, representing 6 real titles. Manual doesn't even mention "Empty" anything like 53x manual does (in many places) 12-Gone: Index pic edit options. 13-Gone: Scene Delete on Video-mode DVDs (still OK on HDD and VR-mode DVDs). 14-Gone: Make Recordings Compatible and Make Edits Compatible. 15-Gone: DVD-RW Unfinalizing option? (Not in manual, but we know that means little or nothing in actual use.) 16-Gone: Some erroneous entries. One major disappointment STILL is that the remote doesn't have a way to differentiate the 557 from the older Mag HDD/DVD recorders. Users of multiple Mag machines *may* still have to use KLUGES to operate a single machine in a stack... KLUGE = Kapturer of Latent User Guidance Energy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FOR NEWCOMERS TO DVDRs OR THIS BRAND OF DVDR All 9 generations of these recorders are standalone units that can record from antenna or cable coax. They also have line inputs so they can record from cable boxes and satellite receivers (timers set by menu, no integrated Guide) or copy from VCRs, DVRs, cameras and camcorders. They're so easy to use they can be operated by the entire family, from kids to timeshifters to gearheads. Timeshifters can reliably record a bunch of named shows, unattended and with NO tapes or discs. Gearheads can upgrade their HDD or create an "HDD farm" of multiple 2.5" and 3.5" external (E-SATA) HDDs with unlimited storage, <1-min. drive swapout, HDD portability, and external power for less internal heat and stress. The DVD burner is also DIY replaceable with a ~$70 OEM unit. For the past 5 years, this same HDD/DVD recorder design has proven to be a simple and reliable way to record your daily and weekly shows on analog or digital channels, completely unattended, so you can go on a long vacation or business trip and you'll never touch a disc! It's the only device you'll need to copy your family's home movies or your DVR recordings to a stand-alone, no-monthly-fee HDD, where you can edit or not, then high-speed dub to DVDs for a perfect mirror-image of the original. You can also record/copy direct to DVD, if you prefer. If you get your TV signal via OTA antenna, you won't need a digital converter box wherever you've got one of these. Fair warning: The HDD will spoil you rotten! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ERRORS AND OMISSIONS STILL IN THE MANUAL Be aware that the 557 manual STILL has two errors: 1. WRONG - SETTING THIS DVDR UP BEHIND A CABLE BOX Makes this DVDR a "slave" to the box! It should be 1st on the incoming cable coax unless it interferes with comm. with the cableco like ordering PPV/VOD or other cableco interaction... only then do you need a 2-way bidirectional splitter on the incoming coax which, unfortunately, will reduce the signal strength by 50% before it gets to the Mag. Doubly unfortunate since this Mag has its OWN built-in, amplified splitter that (1) passes the raw signal thru to downstream components like a cable box or TV, and (2) feeds the Mag's tuner so it can "pick off" (record) ANY unscrambled channels in the signal. Of course, you must do an Auto Channel Preset > Cable (Analog/Digital) to make sure your DVDR sees and memorizes any unscrambled channels you might have. 2. OMITTED - MAKING FRONT- AND END-CUTS IN EDIT Frustrates many new users! In the Scene Delete menu, only REW stops on 1st frame and only PLAY and FF stop on last frame. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * More detailed info at avsforum.com > Forums > Video Components > DVD Recorders > Magnavox 557, 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575 (Amazon won't allow links in Reviews). Page 1 there is double-indexed to content. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Disclaimer: I have never represented or worked for Funai or any seller in any capacity... and currently don't work for anyone else! -:)