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 enlarge | Brand: Samsung
Category: CE
List Price: $219.99
Buy Used: $121.66
You Save: $98.33 (45%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  95 reviews
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Batteries: 2
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 8.8
Dimensions (in): 11 x 16.9 x 1.1
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: DVD-VR357
Model: DVD-VR357
UPC: 411378036018
EAN: 0411378036018
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Easy to use, good build, does what it's supposed to July 30, 2007
27 out of 27 found this review helpful
Researched a bunch; all I wanted to do was get some old family vcr tapes burned to dvd, which was easy as pie to do with this machine. I don't care that it doesn't have a built-in tuner (as it clearly says on the box) because I have cable anyway. The upconvert playback of the dvds is impressive. Onscreen menus are easy and complete and intuitive. Looks nice and has plenty of inputs and outputs for my needs; hdmi, component and rca (composite) s-video; whatevery you need. Optical and digital audio too. Plenty. But about the remote; I hate it. It feels little, and flimsy to me. Could just be my preference; I'm used to big heavy clunky remotes with big lit buttons, etc. And, you have to be close and have a good aim when using the remote. My entertainment center has glass shelves and I suspect the signal bounces crazy off the glass which could explain the touchiness of getting the remote to work easily, maybe. Anyway, for less than $200 you can't beat it. It upconverts people. Nuf said.
Records Great! Upconvert Questionable. October 11, 2007
24 out of 28 found this review helpful
I've been using this unit for about a week. Record quality from VHS (non copyguarded of course) is great...cannot tell difference from original. DVD's recorded from my DirecTV Tivo are also of excellent quality. The only 'problem' I have with the unit is the upconverting capability. The upconverted 720p and 1080i image adds stair-stepping artifacts that aren't present on the plain vanilla 480p image. At 1080i or 720p the unit performs worse than outputting 480p. 480p looks great. Still, 480p over HDMI looks fantastic on my Sharp LC-52D92U 52" LCD. Letting my Sharp LCD upcovert to 1080p (as it must as that is it's native resolution) works better than letting the DVD-VR357 to the job. My previous DVD player was a Zenith 1080i upconverting player only that had a Faroudja upconverting chip in it and I'd say that did an excellent job of upconversion. However, the Samsung's 480p output is so good I doubt I'm missing anything going from the Zenith to the Samsung. I still highly recommend this unit. Oh, almost forgot to mention: this Sammy plays DivX/Xvid files quite well. Yes, there are the few xvid's it won't play (probably using some off standard codec) but it plays most files...probably the next best thing to having a PC hooked up to your TV for Divx/Xvid.
 OK but clunky interface, cheap remote January 22, 2008
23 out of 23 found this review helpful
This device has worked for me pretty much as expected. I have recorded only onto DVD-R media, from programs recorded by a DirecTivo and from VHS tapes. I purchased a movie (Ratatouille) from DirecTv and recorded it from the Tivo onto DVD. The machine did this correctly, no DRM problems. When recording normal programs from Tivo, you can use the pause/play button on the recorder's remote to effectively edit out commercials or other material. I have checked the finalized DVDs by playing them back in a different DVD player (Denon) and in a Macbook laptop.
If you buy this machine here are a couple of usage hints. Buried in the manual is the fact that you can adjust the VHS tracking using the remote. Look very carefully for a tiny gray label "tracking." This can make a huge difference in the quality of recording from VHS. Each time you are recording and press Stop, the DVR creates a video segment it calls a "title." When you finalize the DVD, it creates a DVD "Top Menu" which lists each Title in sequence, with a thumbnail made from its opening frame. You can turn on a "chapter creator" and when you end a long (15+ minute) Title, the DVR creates chapter markers at equal 5-minute intervals through that segment. When you finalize the DVD, it creates a Menu (not the Top) menu listing each chapter with a thumbnail.
I am only giving 3 stars because of two shortcomings. First is the cheesy remote, which has rubber keys that you have to mash unmercifully to get a result. This is made worse in that sometimes the DVR responds slowly, or if it is in the wrong "mode," not at all, to a remote command. So you mash and grind on the flimsy rubber button until you get a response or give up.
The second problem is an awkward, poorly designed user interface that shows up in two places: recording from VHS and editing names of Titles. To record from VHS you are given a "copy list" menu that shows the VHS tape in a small window. You use the VHS play/ff/stop/rew controls (the pause doesn't work for some reason) to cue up the start of the segment you want, and press Enter. The starting tape position is noted. Then you have to locate the end point and press enter. When you tell it to copy this segment, the DVR rewinds (slowly) to the start point, plays and records one Title, and exits the menu completely.
The stupid thing is that the copy list menu has positions for up to 6 start/stop segments. I thought, "Great, a job-list!" However, you can only use one of them. As soon as you tell it to copy one segment, it does and completely forgets any other start/stop points you have tediously entered. It looks as if the interface was shipped half-finished, or they cut back on device memory at the last minute, or something.
The other interface issue is in renaming the Disk or any of the Titles. You do this with an on-screen virtual keyboard that is horrible to use, especially when the remote is so balky and uncomfortable. But if you don't name the Titles, they have default names of the date and time, meaningless. You can name the Disk as well. However this name only appears on the Top Menu. If you put the finalized disk in a PC, its volume name is generic, not the disk name you tediously entered.
In short, this device works but the remote and on-screen interface make it somewhat painful to use.
Later: after more use I have found that the main problem with the remote is a very weak and directional IR emitter. It needs to be close to, and pointed directly at, the machine. When you point it carefully, the buttons are responsive, you don't have to "mash" them as I described. The other issues remain annoying.
They almost got it.....HDMI Incompatible May 20, 2007
21 out of 24 found this review helpful
I too have a Philips plasma and when using the HDMI connection, I get snow, a Green screen, then a black screen. Then the picture returns for 10 seconds then the same again. I tried searching Samsung's site and the web, but couldn't find anyone else with this problem until I saw it here. I tried calling Samsung and they said to use 720p. Not! I guess I could use the component connections, but I don't know if you still get the upconversion feature through that type of connection.
It's too bad because this deck has the right features and connections: It burns to DVD+RL, does upconversion, S-video in/out on back, Optical Digital out, HDMI, and Firewire. Sony, Toshiba all either are short of connections and/or don't burn to Double Layer disks, and/or have the connections in the wrong place. Some foolishly place the S-video IN only on the front panel. If you constantly keep your Tivo connected to your DVD recorder to record things you would have to look at the ugly video wires sticking out of the front of the unit at all time.
There is a incompatibility issue with all of the current model Samsung players/recorders and Philips plasmas when using HDMI. I also tried the VR157.
 Works well with DishDVR September 26, 2007
20 out of 20 found this review helpful
I purchased this item primarily to back-up my DishDVR which was quickly filling up. Having read about many problems other brand owners were experiencing while connected to a satellite box, I decided to give Samsung a try. So far, all of my (mostly live sporting events) programs have recorded without a hitch.
The remote control works well with both the DVR and my Phillips SDTV, althought the DVR control is of course limited. However it changes the volume and channels just fine. It does require you to set up the included IR blaster for the remote to work on certain devices (the DishDVR in my case.)
I am definitely glad I decided on the combo unit as it allowed me to get rid of a remote control and a component (my old VCR) from my home theater.
One less remote to deal with.
The owner's manual is well written in English and quite detailed. The unit has been relatively simple to learn how to use and set up.
I will however note that this particular setup is not HD and that this review does not take that into consideration.
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