Pioneer DVR-633H-S DVD Recorder/DVR (Progressive Scan, 160GB Hard Drive)

Reviewed by: pabz2k13

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Top-of-the-line DVD player. 160GB Hard Drive. Good DVR. Sleek and modern design. Dual-layer DVD burning capabilities.

Weaknesses: TV Guide on-screen hasn't worked since installation. Powering off the unit. Reset of the system's clock.

Overall Evaluation: This is my first DVR. The Pioneer DVR-633H-S has almost an equal amount of advantages to disadvantages. The advantages consists of an excellent DVD player. Second, the 160 GB hard drive allows for several hours of program recording without having take up too much space on the hard disk drive. Third, the DVR itself provides several options for modifying the recorded programs from the quality of the programming to removal of commercials (manually done). Fourth, the unit has a slender wide look that is quite modern, but the remote is typical of stock remotes - nothing out of this world. Finally, the unit supports DVD-R DL (dual layer), DVD-R (single layer), DVD-RW. The advantage of having dual layer is that it can record more on a single disc, but the downside is the dual layer blank DVDs cost much more per disc than just purchasing multiple single layer DVD-Rs. This leads me to the disadvantages of the unit. I haven't figured out how to get the TV Guide On-Screen to display the programming in my area. Fortunately, my TV was already equipped with Guide plus, which displays what programs are shown for a week in advance. Because I can't use the TV Guide On-Screen, I have to manually add in the time frame I want to record, the channel, the quality, and the date. Second, the unit does not have a "power off" button. Instead, it has a "stand by/on" button. By pressing the button it turns on, but if I press it to turn it off/standby it usually goes to the standby mode. Sometimes it randomly turns itself off, then by itself turns on later. Which leads me to my final, yet big disadvantage of the unit. If the unit turns off, then the time on the system changes for some reason. The only way to change the time is to undergo the process to set all the channels onto the DVR. If you don't change the time, then the timed recordings won't record the correct program. This can be annoying. In conclusion, because this is my first DVR, it has changed my viewing experience. Also, as time goes by I am learning how to tame this DVR. If you are looking to buy a DVR/DVD recorder there aren't to many choices.