Customer Reviews
Good Player, Good Value, Media is a Trick. 
2009-02-02
This was bought as a gift for my less than savy parents. With simple setup and dubbing for home movies, it works well, but watch the media you purchase. You have to get low speed discs, 1-2x only or discs that don't read "Up to 4x" or "1-16x". The player refuses to recognize these and it leads to some headaches. Overall, a good buy.
DVR90VE Does It Well 
2009-01-25
Sylvania DVR90VE DVD Player/Recorder and Hi-Fi VCR Combo
This machine works well and is easy to use. There may be reliability issues - I bought this refurbished unit after my two year-old previous one abruptly died one afternoon. Still, for less than $100, it's worth the risk.
Don't waste your money 
2008-05-20
I was able to make 20 or so dvds from this machine, none of which will play in any other dvd players, despite my completion of the "finalizing" process.
Also, although I'd already made 5 or so dvds out of a 25-pack, it is suddenly giving me an error message. These dvds are all the same, if they worked before, why not now? I'm reluctant to waste more money purchasing different dvds to try after reading these reviews, it seems as though the recorder may have simply stopped working.
Total piece of crap. Don't waste your money.
Firmware Upgrade cost $$$$$$$$ 
2008-04-13
Have had the recorder for three years. Use it infrequently. Have to reread the manual carefully each time I want to use it. Have made extensive notes in the manual that are a MUST, things I learned through trial and error. This item is not easy to use but does everything it says it will do if you follow the directions.
Last time I found I had run out of 4X DVD-R blanks, could not find them anywhere fast or at a reasonable cost. Read the reviews here and saw the firmware upgrade to 8X. Called and found out in April 2008 they are charging $17 plus $6 shipping, NOT FREE as stated in many earlier reviews.
Junk 2007-11-26
Dont even bother. Purchase something that actually records with DVD's that are available. Big thumbs down.
Turn vhs to dvd 2007-01-12
Sylvania's DVR90VE combination DVD recorder and VCR lets you copy VHS tapes to DVD and DVDs to VHS tapes at the touch of a button (excluding protected content). Record your favorite television shows and treasured home videos to either videocassette or DVD-R / DVD-RW discs.The recorder's built-in NTSC TV tuner and onscreen user interface permit up to eight timer recordings over a one-year period, with its six DVD recording speeds providing between one and an amazing 10 hours of content on each single-sided, single-layer 4.7 GB recordable DVD.The recorder also features user-friendly editing functions including auto play list creation, project titling, title editing and deletion, and scene deletion. A variety of video and audio inputs allow connection to all your home theater components.
3/4 of a good machine 
2006-12-24
I've had this dvd/vcr combo for two years. It has been a great dvd player and vhs player and recorder.
The problem is the dvd recorder doesn't last long.
I have older vcr's and dvd players that still work fine. But this dvd recorder stopped working. I tried early on to give disks it could burm without trouble: TDK, Memorex, Verbatim. Some other brands would not work.
Then a couple months ago, every disk I tried would not be recognized by the DVDR90VE. No dvd writing at all, just the dreaded E25 error. Every disk was "bad."
I took the machine to a local electronics repair shop. They've fixed things for me before; they're pretty good. They said it couldn't be fixed and called it cheap.
Though I've owned this machine a long time, I've made perhaps 20 dvds with it. So it was not a good purchase as a dvd recorder.
Look for a better brand. I have an LG I like now. (Not a combo unit, it handles just dvds.) After I burn 25 or 50 disks, I'll let you know how it holds up.
Maybe dvd recorders are temperamental devices and after a while, they stop working. Nevertheless, I would be wary of this brand.
Poor DVD playing 2006-11-26
I bought this sylvania DVD/VCR recorder/player last year for my husband and lately all the DVD player does is scramble the DVD's
Symphonic DVD consumer RIPOFF 2006-11-21
This unit Symphonic, is totally out dated and still being sold to unsuspecting consumers as new and up to date technology. What a farce!!! Try to find a DVD disk that will record on this piece of JUNK!. Only the original 1x or 2x DVDs and only one or two brands will work.
I called the manufacturer and they will sympathize with you but have no answers to the problem other that they know of the difficulties with finding disks that will record but just say some people have found them on the internet, GOOD LUCK!
This is made by Funai under three other brand names and all have the same model number,SR90VE and apparently the same problem.
After this post I got this reply from Funi costomer service .
I replied back and have not heard back from them yet.
Thank you for your inquiry:
While posting that make sure sure you put this in there too.
Below is a list of discs that should or should not be used with the DVD recorders.
DVD-R
4x can be used
8x will result in a disc error.
DVD-RW
2x can be used
4x will result in a disc error.
The following discs have been tested and are proven to be compatible with our DVD recorders.
MEMOREX DVD-R
FUJIFILM DVD-R
FUJIFILM DVD-RW
IMATION DVD-RW
IMATION DVD-R 2.0
TDK DVD-RW 2X
TDK DVD-R 2X
The following are brands of discs we DO NOT recommend:
MEMOREX DVD-RW
SONY DVD-RW
SONY DVD-R
TDK DVD-RW 4x
TDK DVD-R 4x
Please be aware that a free software upgrade is now available to customers. This upgrade will enable your unit to recognize the (DVD-R 8x) discs. To obtain a copy, please call 1-800-242-7158. Customer service by phone is available 7 days a week 6:00am to 9:00pm pacific time.
In order to receive the upgrade we need to know what firmware version your unit requires. First you need to access the DVD recorders service mode. Turn on the DVD Recorder and the Television, make sure the unit is on the DVD side. You may access the service mode by pressing the CMSKIP button on the remote control. Once you press CMSKIP you must press the numbers 1,2,3. You must do this quickly so it may take a couple tries. The model name will appear on the screen followed by Firmware Version. I need to know the serial number next to FE:
Press the RETURN button to exit screen.
Sean Dennison
Funai Corporation
Customer Support
"Thank you for your reply.
I called your customer service number prior to my posting of this previous message and was told that there was NO firmware upgrade and they were working on one but could only tell me that some customers were successful in getting 1x to4x DVD disks on the internet.
I searched for some time and could not find any online.
My first contact with you by e-mail resulted in a reply that advised me to send the unit in for repair at my cost as it was out of warranty, and that is what prompted me to call customer service and get bad information.
I found a firmware update on Sylvania website for this model and since I had no other choice, as customer service said NO updates are available, I downloaded it and applied it and now the recorder is working again on 1x to 8x DVDs.
The following is my equipment information, Symphonic Model SR90VE from the firmware version screen.
Can you confirm that I am using the right firmware update?
Model Name: E9400UD
Firmware Version
BE: R1F3207V1E
FE: NRS0106 MST040326
During the upgrade the Firmware Upgrading screen showed the following information:
FE NRS0115
FE Firmware
The unit seems to work now but still has recording issues near the end of a recording cycle.
Do I have the correct Firmware update and if not can you send it to me?
I will Post your replies as suggested.
John "
Even DVD-R 4X Don't Work Well 2006-09-15
It took me a while to figure out I have to use 4X disks for this unit. Now I am able to record a disk. However, almost every disk I record plays back decently in the unit until about halfway through. After that point the playback pauses for 1/2 to 3 minutes and then skips over much recorded material. After that happens the playback keeps pausing, skipping and exhibiting other weird artifacts.
I have bought a third brand of DVD-R 4X (top of the line Taiyo Yuden) to try. If these fail, I will pitch the unit and stop throwing good money after bad. Perhaps a Panasonic?
