Toshiba DKR40 DVD Recorder with 1080p Upconversion

Received a few days early and recorder works well , 😁

After irreconcilable problems with my Samsung DVD VR375 DVD-Video dubber, a unit I don't recommend, I gave up on it and decided to take a different approach to converting my old videos to DVD: buy a DVD recorder and record off of one of my VCR players. After studying customer reviews for "inexpensive" DVD recorders, I decided to buy the Toshiba DKR40KU.I have only used it to convert VHS to DVD but I want to report that it does an excellent job of doing that, and it is extremely easy to use in this context. If you don't want to fool with creating specific chapters, it is automatically set up to allow you to use the remote, while playing, to skip from one part to the next, at designated intervals (5 min., 10 min., or etc.). (It seems to be pre-set for 10 min., but you can use "setup" to select a different interval if you wish - see p.34 of English manual, "Setting for Auto Chapter".) You don't need to give the DVD a title, if you want to keep things simple.It should work just as well for making "real time" copies of TV programs. (It got mixed reviews regarding making timed recordings, with one reviewer saying it was not that difficult and suggesting the problem some people were having was related to the user rather than the recorder.)For recording, hook the output of the recording source to the input of the Toshiba (of course); select the recording mode (to accommodate the length of the recording - see p.33 of the English manual, "Recording Mode"); put in a blank DVD (DVD-R in my case, for copying VHS) and let the unit "load"; start the VHS (or other recording source); then when you want to record simply push the red "record" button on the Toshiba remote. To stop recording, push the remote's stop button (with the little square image). After the unit does its basic "finalization", if you want to play the DVD on other units, do an official finalization (p.31 of English manual, "Finalizing a Disc").I like that it has an HDMI output for connecting to the TV (as well as other output options).Based on my limited and very specific usage, I highly recommend this recorder.

For about 5 years I had a Presidian (sold by Radio Shack) DVD recorder. It was not the best, but worked OK for me. After it recently died, I decided to replace it instead of repairing it. Frankly, I bought the Toshiba DKR40 because it was the cheapest DVD recorder on the market that appeared to be able to meet my rather simple needs. After about a month of use, I am happy to say that it does, at least in large part. I (and virtually everyone else) have no need for an internal turner, as 99% of my recording is from my AT&T U-Verse DVR or from VHS tapes, so the lack of a tuner on the Toshiba is not an important issue. Ease of use and recording quality are good. There are only two negatives, neither particularly serious. First is that the Toshiba allows quality settings for 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours. I prefer my old Presidian DVD's approach in allowing quality settings in one hour increments instead, as many of my recordings are between 2 and 3 hours. Second, the finalizing of a recorded DVD takes somewhat longer than I think it should, sometimes up to 15 minutes. That's not terrible, but is a lot slower than my dead Presidian was, which was usually less than 5 minutes. But I can live with both of these shortcomings for the price. I was initially concerned that it would not have a "Pause" feature while recording, so I can stop recording during commercials. However it does allow pauses during recording. A final improvement would be a considerably smaller physical size, so as to not occupy so much shelf space. It's about twice the size of my old Presidian DVD recorder. If it sounds like I miss my Presidian, it's because I do. I would have bought another one instead of the Toshiba, but it's unfortunately long out of production. Meanwhile, the Toshiba seems to be, so far, doing pretty much what I need it to do, and I'm satisfied. It works well as a DVD player also, and I have it connected to my TV using the HDMI cable. A nice bonus is that Toshiba includes an HDMI cable as part of the package. The Toshiba supposedly has the capability to "Upgrade" conventional DVDs to 1080i, but I frankly can't see any difference in picture quality whether the "Upgrade"is used or not.

I was looking for a replacement for my old DVD recorder, which, from it's grinding noises and bad recordings, was hinting a new one was needed. This one seemed very economical and has turned out to work like a champ so far. I've had it for a month or so and it's working very well, recording TV shows. I have yet to use it to re-record VHS tapes but will soon. The setup was pretty simple, although I have a pretty basic (read old) TV and uncomplicated needs. This filled the bill nicely.

WARNING what no other reviewer has told you is that this unit has cprm. You have to use cprm compatible blank disks to record tv. Any other blank disk WILL NOT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!! I repeat, a non cprm compatible disk will not record. I didn't know this when I bought it. I've been looking in vain for these disks and can only find one (1) that is from a seller and they are all out and not likely to have any for 4 months.If then. It plays disk very nice, the store bought ones.

Have had unit for two months and can get it to work on a digital TV. I got it to work once thru a converter box but it would not do delayed recording. Have tried Toshiba's web site but they have less than the manual says.

I used to have a great Panasonic DVR/VCR, but it had a malfunction after 4-5 years, and fixing it became too much $$$. I looked for comparable DVR's, but they're not as common as they used to be, and prices haven't fallen much. This was the least expensive DVR, and has NO TUNER, which I knew from other reviewers. That's OK for me, as I have another tuner. This one seems to do the job, but it is slow in operation compared to Panasonic. It was $100 less, so I agreed to deal with it. Not sure about resolution features yet.