Customer Reviews
Hard to review because HDD/DVD recorder needs repair. 
2007-04-25
I had watched a total of three DVDs using the HDD/DVD recorder when the loading drawer became stuck (as signiifed by a "BLOCKED" message on the unit's screen). I had not yet tried to record a DVD. I actually thought that the "BLOCKED" message was because I was trying to record something from the HDD to a DVD. I'm still not sure if this can be done.
The home theater surround sound works very well in my viewing setting. I don't have a large room, so the relative distortion and audio response profile is not very demanding.
I give the HDD/DVD Recorder 1 star based on reliability and 5 stars based on the premise. Based on my setting, I give the home theater stereo 4 stars for the money. The total best that I can give the entire package is 2 stars.
Great system, but remotes leave a lot to be desired 
2007-04-01
Sound system is great. DVD player/recorder is great. All the features I've used so far seem to work as expected. However, the remote controls are not so great-- especially the DVD remote. The sound system remote is okay, except it has DVD controls that apparently don't do anything for the DVD system. What's the point? The DVD remote is smaller, the buttons are tiny, and not so intuitive. For example, to get to a DVD menu, you have to push the "DVD" button. To fast forward or review, you hold down the chapter advance buttons (|<< and >>|). So, if you don't hold it down long enough, you end up advancing an entire chapter. Why couldn't there be separate buttons like every other DVD player?
Annoyances with the remotes aside, it's a great system. So, I recommend it to anyone who's patient enough to learn how to use the remotes.
Good Value 2007-01-21
I purchased this unit about a week ago at a local Walmart for $348. So far it seems to be a really nice unit for the money. DVD movies sound great as well as music. Recording to the HDD is easy and picture quality is very good. I have not tried recrding to a DVD disc yet.The 3 hour buffer is nice and you can set it to not clear when you change channels if desired. A couple of minor gripes:
When using the buffer, you cannot fast fwd or rewind continously as you can with a TIVO. You can press the arrow buttons to move back 10 seconds or 30 fwd, or you can press the chapter buttons to go back and forth 5 min at a time.
***update** You CAN ffwd or rewd by pressing and holding the chapter buttons
There is a seperate remote for the dvd & home theater units. It appears you always need both. ALthough the home theater remote has buttons to control a dvd I have not found a way to get the dvd to respond to it. Also, I have not found a way to control at least the volume of my Sony TV with either remote.
Overall it appears to be a very good value
Its a great deal for the price 2007-01-12
This is not the top of the line receiver or speaker, but its a pretty good deal for the money, The DVR works great and makes life easier.
