There are many VCR to DVD recorders available on the market, but you’ll find the JVC DR-MV150B DVD Recorder/VCR Combo to be a good buy for its primary purpose: recording VHS tapes to DVD. This versatile yet reasonably priced model from JVC is quite simple to operate and allows users to play DVDs and VHS without any problems.
Now you can copy your old movies saved on VHS tapes to DVDs that can be played on any type of DVD recorder. The one touch record option on this model is very nice and its timer setting allows you to record both the DVD and the VCR. This means that you can record a large number of programs (recording up to 12 hours is possible).
It is useful for recording OTA or cable broadcasts in standard definition and high definition to DVD+RW and DVD-R discs, as well as for copying VHS to DVD-R. But like all other recorders, this model cannot record copy-protected material.
This JVC DVD/VCR combo model has versatile compatible formats including DivX®. This DVD recorder/VCR combo can play VHS Hi-Fi, DVD-Video, (CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, +R/+RW), WMA/MP3/JPEG Digital Still/DivX(R ), CD, SVCD/VCD, CD-R/RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, +RW, +R, +R (dual), and records to VHS Hi-Fi, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, +RW, +R. Includes composite inputs and outputs, component and S-Video outputs, and coaxial and optical outputs.
This DVD recorder has built-in dual tuners (ATSC Digital and NTSC Analog) that allow you to record when you’re away from home or watching another channel. You won’t need a separate set-top box if you have an analog TV. The JVC DR-MV 150B offers excellent output when connected to an HDTV, you can receive free Over the Air (OTA) HD programming.
A nice feature of this JVC model is that you can edit programs recorded on DVD-RW or DVD RAM discs to remove commercials or other unwanted material.
The recorder also offers HDMI output with 1.80p/720p upscaling depending on the resolution of your HDTV. The picture quality of your old tapes when burned to DVD in this recorder looks significantly better with the use of this JVC product.
Like all other JVC models, the JVC DR-MV 150B is easy to set up and simple to operate. Quickly respond to all remote control commands. The machine measures 16.9 inches wide, 10.2 inches deep, and 3.1 inches tall. However, there are some user reviews that the user interface of the machine is not intuitive and access to the settings menu is slow.
A couple of other negative notes: This JVC model doesn’t have an S-video input. The product’s remote control could have been made easier to use. Unless you have a JVC TV, you need to use a TV remote to control volume, input, and channel change options.
Some useful features are missing from this model. These include access to the menu system while recording, the ability to watch the recorded portion of the program while it’s still recording, you can’t watch one drive while the other is recording, no variable burn speeds, and no automatic writing of program titles. . These are major drawbacks for me.
Conclusion: Overall, this DVD recorder offers very good value for money as it is easy to set up and has attractive features with versatile formats and has HDMI output. The built-in dual tuners are also nice features. These tuners provide access to all the digital channels that are available in your area. There are a few negatives here, chief among them being the machine’s inability to allow use of other DVD recorder features while in record mode. Of course, this recorder serves its main purpose of transferring your old VHS tapes to DVD.
