MazdaPete Posted March 22, 2007 Posted March 22, 2007 Another Aldi box on sale soon: http://aldi.com.au/index.php?p=product_03/product_131.html Quote: ------------------------------- * Inbuilt 250GB hard drive * Record up to 238 hours to the hard drive (SLP) * Recording format: DVD+ R/RW * Auto recording format: 2-channel audio * One-touch recording * Easy timer recording, up to 20 programs * Recording protection for DVD+RW discs * Copy DVD+R/DVD+RW discs to hard drive and from hard drive to DVD+R/DVD+RW discs * Time shift function (pause and resume a live TV program) * Built-in tuner with 125-channel memory * DivX (MPEG4) compatible * Dolby Digital Recorder * Progressive scan ---------------------------------------:EndQuote Any thoughts on this? Is it possible they would STILL be selling an analogue (PAL) based box? Either way, perhaps an OK deal?
jokiin Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 Another Aldi box on sale soon:http://aldi.com.au/index.php?p=product_03/product_131.html Quote: ------------------------------- * Inbuilt 250GB hard drive * Record up to 238 hours to the hard drive (SLP) * Recording format: DVD+ R/RW * Auto recording format: 2-channel audio * One-touch recording * Easy timer recording, up to 20 programs * Recording protection for DVD+RW discs * Copy DVD+R/DVD+RW discs to hard drive and from hard drive to DVD+R/DVD+RW discs * Time shift function (pause and resume a live TV program) * Built-in tuner with 125-channel memory * DivX (MPEG4) compatible * Dolby Digital Recorder * Progressive scan ---------------------------------------:EndQuote Any thoughts on this? Is it possible they would STILL be selling an analogue (PAL) based box? Either way, perhaps an OK deal? Of course it's an analogue tuner
homersimpson Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 does that mean you can run a diggital set top box through it?
jokiin Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 does that mean you can run a diggital set top box through it? Sound the output of the digital box to the input of the recorder? No problem
Timmy Downawell Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 does that mean you can run a diggital set top box through it? Yes. From the looks of the small pictures, it has composite and S-Video inputs, plus two SCART connectors.
nico6 Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 I justed pulled the printed Aldi catalog out of the mail box for sales starting 29 March, and it says this unit is $369, but the web site says $279. All the specs are identical. If in the market for this I'd be taking a print of the web advert with me in case this thing scans at $369 in-store.
techo Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 Superficially looks exactly like the MTV MDR5501 from Coles and it has component video in and out (see my mod page for some pics of the MDR5501)
nico6 Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 Superficially looks exactly like the MTV MDR5501 from Coles and it has component video in and out (see my mod page for some pics of the MDR5501) Yeah, pretty close. The Aldi is missing the component-in RCAs the MTV has, but that feature may be via one of the two scarts (just thinking that as the scarts aren't on the MTV)
MazdaPete Posted March 23, 2007 Author Posted March 23, 2007 Superficially looks exactly like the MTV MDR5501 from ColesAnyone know the going price of the MTV one at Coles?
techo Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 Anyone know the going price of the MTV one at Coles? Not sure the MDR5501 is still being sold by Coles, they have a new 250gig HDD DVDR the MDR250. I have seen it cataloged at $299. The MDR250 looks nothing like the MDR5501.
homersimpson Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 will this dvd recorder be able to transfer all my old VHS to dvd and do you mean that if i buy a digital set top box i will be able to record digital tv Thanks;
homersimpson Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 also with the timeshift function does that mean you can pause tv, resume from where you left off, or resume from where the live broadcast is on eg pause tv and fast forward the ads
techo Posted March 23, 2007 Posted March 23, 2007 will this dvd recorder be able to transfer all my old VHS to dvd and do you mean that if i buy a digital set top box i will be able to record digital tvThanks; also with the timeshift function does that mean you can pause tv, resume from where you left off, or resume from where the live broadcast is on eg pause tv and fast forward the ads My HDD DVD recorders, including the MDR5501, can do all that just as well as my PVRs except the PVRs can't record to DVD or take AV streams from VCRs etc.. Conversely the DVD recorders don't have digital tuners like the PVRs, however I use the component video out on a STB (actually a Panomax PVR) to the component video in on the MDR5501 to keep the ts, as some would say, in the digital domain. With HDD DVDR < $300 & PVR < $150 = < $450. This is seriously good gear despite the ridiculously low costing of the hardware. Note the MDR5501 is not this Tevion product eventhough they pretty much look the same.
Joey76 Posted March 25, 2007 Posted March 25, 2007 I've seen the Tevion unit that Aldi are currently advertising (in the current catelogue for $369), at DSE Parkdale Plaza rebadged as a Hicon for $319. It is identicle to the Tevion unit. I bought the MTV MDR250 250gb DVD recorder from Coles last week for under $300. Very happy with it so far, have recorded to the hard drive (with the timer) and dvd-r and played some dvds, all without any issues. Have it hooked up to my Teac ITV-D500 STB, no problems. It records to + and - media, where I think the Tevion/Hicon only records to + media. Hope this helps someone.
MazdaPete Posted March 26, 2007 Author Posted March 26, 2007 Thanks for the info folks. I may check out the Coles one and the Aldi one. - I reckon the Aldi ones may sell out fast if they keep to the web price... Will try to report back here with a review either way.
argus357 Posted March 29, 2007 Posted March 29, 2007 Anyone actually purchase one of these that would care to comment on its performance please?
taylordiving Posted March 31, 2007 Posted March 31, 2007 I'd like to verify one thing about the Tevion. Does it dub from dvd to the HDD? This is a feature that the MTV's don't possess although I'm going to try the MDR250 and see if it works (it may even though it's not advertised). Anyone who's performed this function please share that info.
Joey76 Posted April 1, 2007 Posted April 1, 2007 I'd like to verify one thing about the Tevion. Does it dub from dvd to the HDD? This is a feature that the MTV's don't possess although I'm going to try the MDR250 and see if it works (it may even though it's not advertised). Anyone who's performed this function please share that info. Hi taylordiving, Just copied a couple of home movies from the DV camcorder onto DVD-R disks. Then remembering your question, I tried dubbing back onto the HDD and it worked no probs. Figured I try with a commercial DVD - no luck - no suprises I guess. Anyway, the MTV MDR250 will dubb from DVD to HDD. I hope this helps. Cheers
MazdaPete Posted April 3, 2007 Author Posted April 3, 2007 Well, I bought me one of these Aldi items. (For $279 as per Internet information (Web page and email ads) ) It's OK so far - does the job, just... I've setup timer recordings for about 12 shows, and even at the highest compression the shows are fairly watchable... (Now if only the networks could run more accurately to schedule...) I haven't watched anything from DVD yet. - It IS region locked to region 4. A few annoying points I've noticed so far: 1) It runs HOT!!!! After about 10 minutes on non-standby mode, the top of the case gets so hot you can barely hold your hand on it. Really. I have about 100mm clearance above the thing... The longevity has to be questionable with this heat. I reckon a piece of paper left on the thing could come very close to catching fire. Joey76 - Does yours run this hot, or have I got a faulty one??? 2) The audio quality is quite poor (or maybe it's my circuits cooking...) Sounds like it's over-driving on anything past about half-volume. Below half volume it still sounds very average. 3) It forgets the volume setting and mute setting going to standby and back. More of a pain because of item (2). Also because if you leave your stereo audio on (as we tend to) and a timer recording comes on at midnight your household gets woken up! 4) It forgets the time and date if you use the power switch on the FRONT of the unit. It is a hardware power switch. - You need to use the remote to put to standby. (Interestingly it keeps all other setting I think - Just loses the clock time and date... Must have no battery-backed clock...) 5) Timer settings let you name your recordings with only 8 characters, from the set "A-Z,a-z,0-9" Note - No space, dash, dot, underscore. So you end up having to use names like "HeroesOO" or "Heroesll" to try and fill unused characters. A rather stupid restriction. - Considering the unit has a HDD based editting mode (!), they could have spent just a bit more time thinking about this part... Also, you need to use up and down 'arrow' to change characters, and no 'hold down repeat' - These buttons are probably going to wear out real fast on the remote... 6) When viewing the timer setting list, you CANNOT see the 8 character name - Only the channel, time, etc. - It's kind of annoying trying to remember what each timer setting is - to see the name you have to 'right-arrow', then to get back to the list: 'left arrow'. 7) For timer recordings, it comes off standby and goes back again by itself nicely. HOWEVER, if the unit is on when a timer recording kicks off (say you are watching a file from HDD), then it WON'T go back to standby at the end. So, if it's recording in this scenario, and you go to bed, your living room is kept nicely heated due to (1) above. Wouldn't be a real problem except for my concern at the heat issue... 8) There is almost no functionality supported on the buttons on the unit itself. Don't let the dog chew up the remote or you will be stuffed. I haven't tested DVD recording yet. I have no "DVD+" blanks. The manual is a bit ambiguous about whether it supports burning "DVD-" formats... All in all, I'm reasonably happy with the unit so far, considering the price, EXCEPT for some serious concerns about (1) - The heat problem. I would like to hear if other units are generating the same amount of heat??? Cheers all. (P.S. Sorry if info on an analog Tuner is a bit out of place on DTV forums!)
Hermando Posted April 3, 2007 Posted April 3, 2007 Nice post MazdaPete, I hear every word you're saying.. Regarding DVD+ recording, it works fabulously.In saying that I mean that what you see on your screen is exactly what you have recorded on the disc. Does anyone else receive static lines while viewing Tv channels through the DVD recorder?? It appears every couple of seconds, not too noticeable but still pretty annoying (I'm running the recorder through my 40x Bravia LCD - no lines at all all appear when running direct from antenna to LCD) Also, I mentioned in another thread that I can't bring up files or pics when connecting my Digital Camera through the usb device??? Would anyone who has connected via usb be able to help me through.. Cheers
MazdaPete Posted April 3, 2007 Author Posted April 3, 2007 Nice post MazdaPete, I hear every word you're saying.. So, can I confirm then that yours runs hot as buggery too?I can't imagine the hardware is going to last very long being that hot during operation... Also, I mentioned in another thread that I can't bring up files or pics when connecting my Digital Camera through the usb device??? Would anyone who has connected via usb be able to help me through... From my reading of the manual, I though the USB socket was ONLY for reading files off a USB RAM stick... Talking to a camera over USB is a different thing altogether...My next task is to record straight from my digital video cam to DVD. Bought some DVD+ media today and the mini-DV to mini-DV cable...
MazdaPete Posted April 3, 2007 Author Posted April 3, 2007 Does anyone else receive static lines while viewing Tv channels through the DVD recorder?? It appears every couple of seconds, not too noticeable but still pretty annoying (I'm running the recorder through my 40x Bravia LCD - no lines at all all appear when running direct from antenna to LCD) Haven't noticed this yet, but I have not done a lot of TV watching through it yet... And I am having some issues with my RF cabling getting interference which comes and goes related to various variables... Wondering if splurging on some good RF cables would be worth it... (Can you believe they have cables at JB for prices up to $229!!)They have some $30-$40 options too which I am considering, but will just try to move my cable runs around a bit first...
techo Posted April 3, 2007 Posted April 3, 2007 Hi taylordiving,Just copied a couple of home movies from the DV camcorder onto DVD-R disks. Then remembering your question, I tried dubbing back onto the HDD and it worked no probs. Figured I try with a commercial DVD - no luck - no suprises I guess. Anyway, the MTV MDR250 will dubb from DVD to HDD. I hope this helps. Cheers Are you talking about the MTV MDR250, sold by Coles ATM, or this Tevion/Aldi product?
techo Posted April 3, 2007 Posted April 3, 2007 1) It runs HOT!!!! After about 10 minutes on non-standby mode, the top of the case gets so hot you can barely hold your hand on it. Really. I have about 100mm clearance above the thing... The longevity has to be questionable with this heat. I reckon a piece of paper I don't have this Aldi model but have the very similar MDR5501 sold by Coles. Since I have some friends that purchased this Aldi unit I have been able to inspect it internally. I can confirm that the 2 units are identical except for HDD and minor differences with the logic board. The MDR5501 logic board has provision for SCART but they are missing, where as the Aldi unit has them installed. All other components on the boards are identical including the power supply. Yes the power supply is incorporated into the logic board and is located at the right front, just behind the clock. Like you report the MDR5501 gets hot too, especially after prolonged use, almost to hot to touch. It is caused by the power supply, you should notice the hottest part is at the right front on the top cover. I have had my MDR5501 for several months now it is still going strong. However I have several other DVDRs (including the new MTV MDR250 from Coles) plus several PVRs so my MDR5501 is probably not getting the work out some may give it. I hope this information is useful.
Joey76 Posted April 3, 2007 Posted April 3, 2007 Are you talking about the MTV MDR250, sold by Coles ATM, or this Tevion/Aldi product? Should have clarified - talking about the MTV MDR250 from Coles. Also havn't noticed much in the way heat from this unit.
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