View Full Version : Samsung HR720 - HDD/DVD Recorder - Multi Region - DivX/Xvid + subs recommendations
KeyserSoze
27-05-2006, 20:10
Not too clued up on HDD/DVD recorders, so suggest away at what kind of features i might like.
Just need it to be simple to use, can edit videos (cut out ads). Is it possible to watch a recorded video while recording something else?
My budget is <£200
Built in freeview might be handy too, although not sure it will include it with my budget?
Would like DivX and Xvid playback where the codecs can be updated, and needs to playback .srt and .sub subtitles at least.
pompeyfan
28-05-2006, 19:45
I've just got a Samsung 720 from Ebuyer for £160 - has a 80Gb H/D, uses DVD-R, RW & RAM discs, plays back DivX and says MR capable (although tried that yet) - but I don't know if codecs are updateable.
It's very easy to use and edit stuff on the H/D, and I believe you can watch a disc or something off the H/D while recording to the H/D but not tried it as have Sky+ too. There's no freeview built-in, but thats not an issue for me as can't get it here anyway, but there is a Panasonic with freeview for a bit less, but that dosen't have a H/D nor DivX playback.
The Samsung also has component out and progressive scan which is nice.
KeyserSoze
28-05-2006, 21:42
Thanks
Does it do Xvid and play subtitle files?
pompeyfan
29-05-2006, 02:02
According to the manual -
MPEG4 Codec fornmat: DivX 3.11, DivX 4.x DivX 5.x DivX-Pro (without QPEL& GMC)
Audio Format: .MP3 .MPEG .WMA .LPCM .AC3
Subtitle formats: .smi .srt .sub .psb .txt .ass (the subtitle file should have exactly the same name to corresponding MPEG4 file name)
Edit: looks like it dose Xvid as a file I'm watching on it atm, is reported as an Xvid in Windows.
KeyserSoze
29-05-2006, 12:34
Nice one :thumbs:
Would you be able to confirm MR for me?
Can you get a similar model with a bigger HDD?
pompeyfan
29-05-2006, 18:24
Mines still R2 atm as I don't need MR as I have a seperate player, but reviews here - http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=19428009368&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=101787 give intsructions for MR.
AFAIK there is a 160Gb H/D model but I think it was around £90 dearer at £249.
KeyserSoze
31-05-2006, 21:45
ok thanks pompeyfan :thumbs:
KeyserSoze
16-07-2006, 10:15
According to the manual -
MPEG4 Codec fornmat: DivX 3.11, DivX 4.x DivX 5.x DivX-Pro (without QPEL& GMC)
Audio Format: .MP3 .MPEG .WMA .LPCM .AC3
Subtitle formats: .smi .srt .sub .psb .txt .ass (the subtitle file should have exactly the same name to corresponding MPEG4 file name)
Edit: looks like it dose Xvid as a file I'm watching on it atm, is reported as an Xvid in Windows.
Hey pompey,
Can this player read multiple DivX/Xvid files from a DVD-R? As in, can I select which file I want to view if there are more than 1 on a DVD-R?
Also does it definately, DEFINATELY play Xvid vids ? :D
pompeyfan
16-07-2006, 13:56
Yes you can view multiple files - atm I have a Dual layer+ disc in there with 2 folders each containing 13 and 14 tv episodes, plus a film in the root directory of the disc and all playback perfectly and I can select in the menu which one I want to watch - as a bonus it automatically goes on to the next file in the list at the end of the previous one which is handy if you have a film split in 2 or 3 as you don't notice the split.
As for Xvids - afaik it does play them - some of the TV eps say they are Xvid's in their title and I haven't changed anything although Windows says they're Windows media and Power DVd calls them MPEG4's. If you know of a free program I can use to check them, let me know and I will.
BTW playback on my 32" LCd through component looks great for DivX, normal DVD's and stuff recorded from Sky to the H/D in SP mode (my Sky is turned off this week so I've been filling the H/D with films off the Sky+ box).
KeyserSoze
16-07-2006, 15:20
Cheers for confirming the information.
I think Im gonna go for this!
Ooh, interested in this myself. Xvid is definitely a must though.
There's a small app you can download here (http://www.headbands.com/gspot/) that'll correctly identify the codec on video files. It does sound like you've got Xvids though :)
pompeyfan
17-07-2006, 15:26
Ooh, interested in this myself. Xvid is definitely a must though.
There's a small app you can download here (http://www.headbands.com/gspot/) that'll correctly identify the codec on video files. It does sound like you've got Xvids though :)
Cheers, tried that program on a TV show I've watched on the Samsung and it reports (top[ right panel under video):
Codec - Xvid Name: Xvid
HTH
Nice one, order placed :thumbs:
I did a bit of digging around in the DVD Recorder market a few weeks ago to see if there was a machine that has the following;
*Records DVDs (obviously) with support for +/- and RAM
*Has a hard disk
*Can Playback DivX and/or Xvid files
*Has a built-in Freeview tuner
*Has an RGB SCART input
*Can be made region free in some way or other
*Has variable recording lengths (as opposed to the usual 1hr, 2hrs, 3hrs etc)
*LP mode that gives a decent picture
And NOTHING does all of the above. The only one that came close was the Panasonic DMR-EX75EB and 85EB, (with LP modes apparently giving a decent picture using their 'DIGA' technology) except the UK model has no DivX playback facility, yet the non-UK European versions do play DivX. Bah. :razz:
I don't think I'm asking for the moon on a stick with my list of requirements (well, not quite ;) ), so will play the waiting game and hang on, unless anyone knows of a machine that I've missed that can do all of the above? :thinking:
Got me HR720 today - excellent bit of kit. Handled every xvid/divx/dvd I threw at it. The multi-region hack was a bit fiddly, but I managed it in the end. Also, it said it couldn't in the manual, but I managed to play DVD+RW discs with no problems :shrug:
:thumbs: to pompeyfan for the recommendation. Well pleased :)
pompeyfan
20-07-2006, 14:56
Got me HR720 today - excellent bit of kit. Handled every xvid/divx/dvd I threw at it. The multi-region hack was a bit fiddly, but I managed it in the end. Also, it said it couldn't in the manual, but I managed to play DVD+RW discs with no problems :shrug:
:thumbs: to pompeyfan for the recommendation. Well pleased :)
Nice one - had mine 2 month's now and am very pleased with it too, amazing features/spec for the money.
KeyserSoze
20-07-2006, 19:12
Got me HR720 today - excellent bit of kit. Handled every xvid/divx/dvd I threw at it. The multi-region hack was a bit fiddly, but I managed it in the end. Also, it said it couldn't in the manual, but I managed to play DVD+RW discs with no problems :shrug:
:thumbs: to pompeyfan for the recommendation. Well pleased :)
Hey sneeka, when was yours shipped, how long did it take? Ordered mine on tuesday with standard shipping, just wondering if im likely to get it this week.
Also the issue with DVD+RW is that they can't be used to record, but should be fine playing.
Also if you check the site, its gone up by £10 ;)
Hey sneeka, when was yours shipped, how long did it take? Ordered mine on tuesday with standard shipping, just wondering if im likely to get it this week.
I ordered it on monday evening, got it wednesday morning. I did use the priority express shipping method though (cos I'm impatient :D ).
Also the issue with DVD+RW is that they can't be used to record, but should be fine playing.
hmm, well it definitely says they can't be played in the Playback section of the manual. Maybe the manual could be wrong about recording to them as well. I'll have to try :)
KeyserSoze
20-07-2006, 20:47
Damn, Monday it is then :(
Oh didnt realise it said cannot play DVD+RW.
Now I need to invest in a DVD-RW drive to burn some Divx on DVD-RAMs.
Really glad it does xvids too. I find a lot of players dont advertise this, any particular reasons?
Uh, ignore me. Can't read :doh:
Does this samsung one come with freeview, if not are there any HDD/DVD drives that come with freeview?
The samsung doesn't have freeview, no. There are other recorders that do have freeview, but as Refrenz has said, it's usually there in place of something else (ie. DivX playback).
This one seems to do most things including Divx and is recommended on the AV/Digital Spy Forums.
Pioneer DVR-440HXS - around £300 is the cheapest though
Seems a lot, but it does have everything in 1 box!
KeyserSoze
24-07-2006, 22:12
Had mine delivered today, very impressed! Especially with the DivX/Xivd, does a good job of hiding the artefacts that you normally see on a PC monitor.
One annoying thing though... takes ages to switch on and initialise. This is gonna pee off my dad if he is in a hurry to record something.
Is there anyway to view which channel you are recording from looking at the recorder itself?
Is there such a thing as a stand alone dual tuner freeview settop box so you can hook it up to the Samsung and record somthing whilst watching something else?
One annoying thing though... takes ages to switch on and initialise. This is gonna pee off my dad if he is in a hurry to record something.
Is there anyway to view which channel you are recording from looking at the recorder itself?
Yeah, does take awhile to start up. Well, longer than my old dvd player anyway. Just timed it and it's about 12 seconds. I assume it's the same with all HDD-based recorders though, seeing as it's gotta spin up the HDD first.
Don't think there's any way to view the channel number on the front display, though, only on the on-screen info.
KeyserSoze
26-07-2006, 19:54
Not sure why such simple information is not displayed on the player.
Multi region was a bit fiddly, but got there in the end.
Also, is there any way to manually select PAL/NTSC/PAL60 etc? I'm pretty sure VCDs cannot be detected automatically.
KeyserSoze
06-08-2006, 21:18
Damn whats this all about, can't watch DVDs while recording to HDD.
Tell me that isnt right.
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