It is a workhorse few people know about for making DVD's.
586954
it doesn't flash when on pause, a good thing.

there is a slight delay when recording, slight problem.

It is simple to operate, a good thing.
2959335
One of the more famous DVD recorders not only does it make beautiful recordings and is super easy to use but if you know what you are doing you can set to be region free and load the latest firmware and factory updates. Will record on CD's as well. Plays MP3 discs.
Will record on R+and R- and RW+ and RW-.These units are in DEMAND for they no longer make them,one of the few recorders made that should go way up in value.
2154724
From the viewpoint of how well this machine plays audio and commercial DVD's, I would say it is very good.

But there are a couple of things to watch for here:

1. As far as video playback on NON-commercial discs:  In the instruction booklet, it states that video playback is ONLY IN  2 formats-.mp4 & .avi

I have a good amount of video DVD's that I have burned over the years, so I tried converting a DVD to .mp4 format.  Disc would not play.
I tried converting a DVD to .avi format.  Disc would not play.

Finally, I converted a disc to .avi format, & threw it onto a flash drive, instead of a disc.  It appears to work. Video and sound are good.

I don't know if anyone else has had this problem or not, but I intend on converting all the discs that I have burned to .avi format and transferring them to flash drives, rather than discs. It will be easier to carry them with me, but it is going to take me a while, and a good deal of money to convert and transfer all the discs that I have to flash drives.

As for having only one audio jack-that is not a problem for me.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel that this player would be much more versatile,  if it could play discs of multiple formats, instead of just .mp4/.avi formats.  I wouldn't have to do so much work.

Personal note:  there is a website called FORMAT FACTORY that I have used to do a veritable ton of converting over the years, & I would fully recommend it for all your converting needs.  Just GOOGLE  it.

Audio playback is strictly .mp3

For viewing pictures, it is only .jpg/.jpeg format.  I can't say too much about this, because I have all my pictures on an offsite website, so I have no need of this feature.

It is a Sony, and I have a high regard for most Sony products.  Just be aware of the potential problems that you might have.
1331721
We like to record shows on DVD and play DVD.  We like quality, not junk.  Everyone's making junk these days. Do they really think we won't notice?  This took a bit of time to get it up and running being the tv is more technical.  Getting it to "read" the DVD player, and where it was coming from etc... However, I'm not one to read a manual until I have to.  My mind works with common sense from an engineering standpoint.  Very satisfied!
3041763
This dvd player can do anything. I have a lot of vcd and dvd videos need to change quite often, I'm a karaoker, this dvd palyer saved me lot's of trouble. Although the disc changing speed is a little bit slow, it's still acceptable. It can read anything I put inside, including discs have some scratches and other type of media which can not be played on my old RV32S.

If this F86S can still have long life, I'll stick to panasonic product for it's low price, my old RV32S has been working for the last three years, the aged optic lens reduced its performance in reading discs. not for a H07 error, am I lucky?

This palyer's appearance is somewhat different from the photo on the web, the lower section of front face looks more like mirror not black strip which I prefered, so I think maybe F86K is more stylish.

While $80 for this superb machine, I'm more than satisfied.

suggested improvement: using distinguished highlight color to identify the # of tray socket, it'll save the trouble of getting to the wrong disk after replacing in a new one, this could be annoying since the disc changing speed is not that fast.  Although this improvement can be done by "DIY", I hope manufacture could offer this fuction, especially using "LED" to highlight the tray #, it'll be handy at the night.
3207643
A disc is an inkjet printable DVD-R and no better than a pirated DVD. I can't understand why Amazon sells such an item.
1167946
I just can't let the last review go by without comment, especially given some plain errors in fact.
>>On VHS input, it suffers from signal drop, skipping over dropped out audio and video.<<
Video tape is far from the archival medium of choice, what with the ease at which the tape or its metallic coating can be affected. The quality of the tape, and thus recording, will deteriorate over time even if obvious damage to the tape cannot be seen by the naked eye. Now, the Philips DVDR985 will skip over dropouts in audio and video - but the cut it makes is clean. I thus have a clean DVD copy of a videotape without having to watch all the defects and glitches in the original tape itself.
It would be wise to also ensure that your VCR is in good working order and its heads are clean. But no DVD recorder will be able to bring back video or audio that has become damaged over time.
I have recorded several hours from various VHS casettes with very fine results. You won't get a recording that looks like a DVD from a VHS source, but all but the most hard to please users will be more than satisfied.
>>Also, be aware that this unit while it will play some DVD recordable formats it doesn't write to, it WON'T play pressed DVD-ROM, e.g. the DVD movies you buy in a store! The video keeps skipping, with no audio.<<
... I have been playing all sorts of pre-recorded DVD Video discs,... and all play with remarkable sound and picture quality (of course your TV and sound system will affect performance, but saying it won't play DVD movies from a store is pure BS).
It's an excellent player, incorporating the Crystal Clear Pro Progressive-Scan system with a sophisticated Motion Adaptive System (DCDi chip by Faroudja). This is well known to produce superior results. I am far happier with it than my previous highly rated Panasonic RP91K player.
>>Also, DVD+R, the write once/read many (WORM) DVD disc format, is only just now coming out, and, the entire DVD+ format is more expensive than the traditional DVD- format used in most other recorders. The DVD+ format was made to capitalize on a market without standards yet, so, don't be pulled into it.<<
...Microsoft has just put its backing behind the DVD+RW format so I hardly think that issues of expense or standards will be issues for too much longer. I have already played DVD+RW discs recorded on the DVDR985 on a Panasonic portable, my HP DVD+RW drive, and a standard Pioneer DVD player all with impressive results. ...If there is any DVD standard I'd put money on, it is DVD+RW. ...
In addition, this player has an iLink firewire input missing from some other recorders so you can connect digital camcorders. You also get both optical and coaxial digital outputs for digital receivers.
To sum up, this is the player to get if you are looking for a DVD Recorder for your home entertainment system. Sure these units are ...[pricy], but most newer technology usually is. This is a great DVD recorder and a superb DVD player. By all means get this most highly recommended item if you can.
738404
I won't gone in to the specifications of this product because they are all over the net and in other reviews.  I will focus on the reliability of the product and the purchase.  After reading other reviews posted here I decided to go with New Era Products as the Seller.  The unit arrived on time and in one piece and worked perfectly right out of the box.  I bought this same unit two years ago, so, I new what to expect.  My two-year old one is still working; I just wanted to plan ahead and get another one while they were still currently available.

My old one said NTSC over the logo but still played everything; this new one doesn't have the NTSC logo, so, they are not hiding the fact that the machine can play anything.  I gave it a rigorous test immediately, playing PAL discs, VCDs, home-made discs and store-bought discs.  I even played discs that I received in France and Spain.  I tested appoximately 30 discs, including single-layer and double-layer discs.  Everything played with no problem.

Some of the old VCDs I had would come to the Menu screen and not respond to the typical play buttons but would play if you pressed the numerical track selection keypads that correspond to the numbers of the tracks on the discs.  It was a little awkward but everything played.  Not all my VCD discs responded this way - most just played immediately.  The machine even plays a disc that was made from a digital video camera that my computer's DVD drive refuses to mount as a volume.

Some of the quirks that I find a little annoying are how long it takes to load a disc and the fact that the display echoes your scan commands for a long time on the screen - I just go right to setup and set onscreen display to Off.

I also wish that the feature that converts audio CD tracks to AVI to a connected USB device would be open to other incoming sources so that you are not dependent on the physical source always being a CD inside the unit.

However, these are minor complaints about design and functionality.

The unit does what it advertises; both, my old one and this new one.

It even produces a cleaner picture than my older multi-region JVC.

The HDMI support makes this a very versatile unit.

Electronic equipment is always a toss-up in regards to getting the occasional lemon.  Do not blame the unit itself if you happen to get a bad one - just make sure that you are dealing with a reputable merchant and get a replacement.  I make this comment because I know that other reviewers had unfortunate experiences with bad units.

All in all, I recommend this DVD player for anyone that wants a great picture, ease of use and the ability to play a variety of disc formats.
846581
Actually, I would rather not recommend this product. It has been discontinued and the supply is limited. This is the third unit of late. Will record 6 hours on a DVD-RW. BTW - DVD-RW's can only be rerecorded on about 1000 times.
3947034
I've burned several DVDs on this recorder, but they don't play on other DVD machines... only on this one.  Now I just use it as a player.
2386388
This thing is about junky as it can be and still workeep ok.
1810266
It seems hard to find a quality DVD recorder these days. This Toshiba unit is fairly intuitive in its operation. One thing I noticed that is strangely unwieldy is how you title a program. My old recorder simply displayed the alphabet across the screen and you moved up/down and left/right to select each letter. This one is much more complicated and time-consuming. But it does a good job of editing, which was one of the features I was looking for. Like all recorders, it is particular about the brand of DVD disc you use, so be sure you consult the manual before buying discs.
270767
It works excellent, but has some problems with the drivers in special if you want to burn a DVD that is encypted, cause doesn't work with alcohol 120% you need to find another software, ahh and when u use the lightscribe you can make a damage in your DVD that you have burned, so take care with that, but the CPU works great the HD is big and the memory makes that the PC starts fast.
1883269
The unit is working today in August 2010.
No I don't depend on it to watch dvds, as I have another
dvd player for watching videos. This was sort of a gift from someone.
The DVD player was great when it decides to work. As another review mentioned
this DAV FC7  has a bad or malfunction part which the sony repair guys knows about.  and this should have been recalled and all owners should not be charged for repairs.
Yes, I have DVDs and CDs stuck in there, for months. And then one day it decided to spit it out. If it didn't, I would have to take this thing apart and remove the DVD myself. And a few times I wanted to use the dvd player within, it turns off after trying to find the disc inside the player. I wanted to throw it out then, but was too lazy to. Now I use this for the speakers.

The radio is not sensitive enough to lock into stations, as I like 710 wor am in NYC.

Other than these problems. It has okay sound. Okay sub woofer. But I am going to change the front and center speakers when I save up enough money.
I may use old Sony bookshelf speakers for the front, and at 8 ohms, they have the same volume. And may get a cheap center from ebay. $80 is too much for a new center speaker, as sold here in amazon.
1637194
I have had this DVD player now for quite a few years, Im not even sure they sell it anymore. I've been 110% happy with it. Im sure there are new models that do all the 3D stuff but I really don't care for any of that. I see many more years of use and I watch more movies than TV on any gives week. Sony FTW! (except their cameras, they stink).
4301389
The unit works well so far in both modes, for playing and recording. Not having the remote or manual included had tasked me to use my ingenuity and jerry-rig usage using 2 remotes, which I had in my collection. There is no way to remotely change between DVD & VCR, but one remote will operate the DVD, and the other the VCR, each ignoring the other operation. This was not easy to figure out, since the remote's labeling did not command the operation, and I had to go on a "fishing expedition" to get the unit to do what I wanted it to. The manual can be downloaded from Panasonic for free, but without the remote, it is of little value unless you're not recorder savvy and have no experience with such machines.
4563080
I think this is the way to go since the destroyed discs are not hazardous and the process is relatively low energy. This is what I bought for my personal use.

This compact machine works a disc (CD/DVD/Blu-Ray) at a time 15 discs per minute, but it does not actually shred discs. It pokes tiny holes in them on both sides of the disc leaving the processed discs easier to handle. I can dispose of them in the ordinary building plastic recycling bin, or dispose of them in any insecure recycler. 8 minute duty cycle with 5 minutes cooling. You can keep up a continuous stream of discs. This means you can destroy about 120 disks in a session. To put that in perspective, a large pack of new DVDs contains 100 discs. It runs off an AC adapter. Shipping and taxes are considerable. Weights a substantial 2.04 kg (4 lbs). Now I actually have the unit in my hands, I learned a bit more about it. Amazons subcontractor packed it quite poorly just placing the retail unit in a large box to flop around without any packing. Thankfully, there was bubble wrap inside the retail packaging which successfully protected the surprisingly heavy unit. You poke a disc deep into the front slot and it pulls it through and it comes out the back and falls in a loose pile. It pokes tiny holes top and bottom about 2 mm apart over the entire surfaces. The noise is comparable to an electric can opener and sounds like a miniature plywood saw, quite tolerable. The control has three positions:
1. off
2. forward to operate
3. reverse to clear a jam
Unlike conventional shredders, apparently, it does not need lubrication. The disc destruction process is quite boring. You have to stay alert and make sure you don't let even one disc slip through unprocessed. The main problem is keeping your piles of processed and unprocessed discs straight. The discs don't look that different unless you look at them carefully. It is tolerant of error. If you put a disc in upside down, it still works. If you try to feed in a clear plastic protector disc, it refuses to go in the slot. It is rare a product is better than I thought it would be. This one was. I have only had it a few hours, so I cannot comment yet on durability, otherwise I would have given it the full five stars.