Customer Reviews

Apex DRX-9200 DVD Recorder/Player

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

This model DXR-9200 is the new and improved version of the problematic DXR-9000. I had a feeling Apex would replace that with a model that addressed all the problems of the 9000. So far this machine is performing flawlessly in recording DVDs. I have made DVD+Rs of VHS home videos and recorded some TV shows on a DVD+RW. It is soon to report on the reliability, but at this point I would recommend the unit highly. Also plays prerecorded DVDs with an outstanding picture and works great with my MP3 files as well. Only one slight drawback is the "fan noise". But as I understand it, all DVD recording units do this.

All in all, this unit is a solid performer at an outstanding price. AN IMPORTANT NOTE. Please limit reviewing to specific products. This is not a forum to blast companies. The review posted by han lists no specific product, and is not about the DXR-9200 model.

ONE ADDITION: I stand by my review, but will confirm other's complaints about the clock! The thing adds an extra 2-3 minutes per day, and after a week it is way to far ahead. How can they get this simple function so wrong?

Picture quality was compared to a Sony GRX7 and a LiteOn LVW-5001. While the DRX9200 has many desirable features/ technologies (eg, insert/delete chapter points on a DVD+RW, 3 hour record mode, DiMeNsion 8602 processor, etc.), my sole criteria for keeping the unit came down to picture quality.

I was disappointed with washed out colors, excessive contrast, etc. in recording from Comcast cable channels, in 4 hour mode. It is hard to believe this second generation LSI processor performed so poorly.

I could not determine if unit was malfunctioning or unit was poorly engineered.

And as many of you know, getting through to APEX customer support is difficult at best. After many attempts (phone and EMail), I gave up.

The warranty is 90 days labor, 1 yr parts. Considering the power supply problems with earlier Apex models, this short warranty was not reassuring.

I decided the unit wasn't worth the $135 paid - and reluctantly returned it.

I would rate the above three units -- on picture quality -- (in 4 hour record mode) as follows:
1. Sony GRX7 - 9/10 ($299)
2. LiteOn 5001 - 8/10 ($199)
3. Apex DRX9200 - 6/10($135 special; regularly $179)

there is not a better value out there on a DVD recorder. While this piece lacks some of the high end features, the bottom line is that the recording quality is great (don't use the extended mode), better than any VCR i've ever had.

Spend some time playing around with it, you won't be disappointed.

I bought this unit 9 months ago. From Day 1, the clock ran fast, which meant that unless I remembered to reset the time every single day, I'd lose the last few minutes of my recorded program.

DVD's -- both my recorded programs and rented movies -- often glitch or freeze. Sometimes several minutes of a program are jumped over, and even if I rewind, I can't get those segments to play. This always happens at the end of a recorded program.

The remote control works sporadically and erratically. It's a major pain to set a program (or the clock, or anything else) because the remote either doesn't work at all, or skips randomly through the menu.

I called customer service and offered to take the machine in (they're located about 30 miles from here.) Customer service said they charge $80 just to LOOK at the machine, and labor would be extra. It's still under warrantee, but only parts are paid for. I originally paid $120 after rebates for this item, so a repair bill in excess of that amount seems kind of counterproductive.

For almost 3 months now, the machine is running HOT. I set it up on stilts to let air move around the machine, but the underside is so hot I'm afraid it will burst into flames any day now. The machine also screeches like a dying dragon when I turn it on.

I'm just waiting for the big bang. I keep the fire extinguisher close at hand.

I bought this item with a mail in rebate making it cost about $79 bucks last December. Hooked it up around March and didn't start using it til almost Summer. Mid Summer, viewing anything with this product on my tv was getting annoying with the fact it was doing some weird fade in and outs just being "on"..So one day mid Summer..With the unit being off for two days, I touched the top of it and it was BURNING hot even though it was OFF. It wouldn't turn on (and I had had problems in the spring with it being plugged in but wouldn't turn on)... So I took the top off and the power supply burned out..I called & emailed Apex several times only to have them say I have to pay for shipping and labor to fix a problem that is clearly their fault on a brand new unit! I think this calls for a class action suit!!!!

I was skeptical about the first/second generation of these but my Apex seems to work fine. The only problems I could find were that under the 2 Hr resolution, the picture was extremely pixelated. However, what do you expect? A regular dual layer DVD rarely holds anything over 3 hrs, so why would you expect that a single layer one could hold that WITH GREAT QUALITY at 5 hrs?

As with all Apex players, this plays everything you throw at it.

The one lower budget aspect of this player seems to be that the recorder and player seem to be two completely different devices. When you switch from one to the other, it seems to take a while and 'boot' up that function as if it hadn't already been turned on for a while. Other than that, does what it says.

The other quirk is that it has a really loud fan going while it's on, but I believe this is quite common among all of these.

First all I wish I would have read some of these reviews after receiving the DRX9200 as a gift. Anyway from the start the machine displayed issues, for instance...it is always freaking hot; I mean burn your hand hot. After it is plugged in for a week or so it fails to turn on. It does seem to work once it cools off, but after a week, forget it. Playback of DVDs at first was fine, but soon after a month or so some disks were not recognized and it started making loud fan noises. I did not use the recording feature for the first few months, and then when I tried it skipped often and only recorded about half the show I was trying to record. I decided to call customer service and was told of the reset procedure and to clean the lens. Once powered down it seemed to recover though it's very temporary. Another call to customer service led me to where I am today. I have to spend 80.00 to have it repaired under the parts only portion of the warranty. I would NOTTTTT recommend this unit to anyone. If I could have rated it in negative stars I would have. There is nothing good about this unit except for maybe a paper weight or maybe a tray to hold up my dog's bowl...if it would work as a boat anchor I would gladly throw it into the water, but with the quality Apex has I would probably be putting my boat into jeopardy.

First I had a Phillips DVD Recorder, and when that wasn't working I broke down and got the APEX DVD Recorder. Well, no luck again! I am very disappointed in this. It is very hard to navigate around, you have to turn the channel so many times to get on the right source, the menu is ungly and complicated, the remote control barely works unless you are right underneath it, and you can't change from AM to PM when setting the clock or scheduling a record. I don't recommend this product and would rate it a 1 star. I'm going to try Panasonic or Sony next.

Apex Digital products often fail within the first year. They have horrible customer service, false advertising, and fail to honor their warranties. They do not care about the consumer and based on my past 1.5 years of experience there is virtually nothing we can do about it but stop buying their products.

Please check www.labbb.gov (Better Business Bureau) and search for Apex Digital to see the F rating the better business bureau has given them. Saving 10-15 dollars is not worth the hassle they cause.

I've just spent hours and hours with the lousy tech support at Apex to discover:
A- It runs too hot, I'm afraid of a fire! They say it's normal.
B- The remote usually won't operate the controls. They say check the batteries - Duh!
C- If you record a DVD in HQ format, it will only record 1hr MAX, and then the disc Cannot be finalized (meaning you cannot replay the new recording on any other player than the apex). They say this is normal too. What?!!
Joshua, a Manager at Apex, just told me the DRX9200 is working just as it should and he will not refund/or exchange the unit. I told him that if I had known that I can't replay a DVD anyplace other than the Apex, I never would have bought it. He told me "Well, we never said that you should be able to."
What despicable business practices. I've logged a complaint with the Los Angeles Better Business Bureau (www.labbb.org).