Customer Reviews

Samsung DVD-R155 Tunerless DVD Recorder

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I bought this DVD player and recorder to enjoy the picture of my new Samsung HD LA32R81B LCD TV. I own a huge collection of standard DVD's. So I thought the perfect way to watch them with high resolution is upconverting the standard 480i picture to a higher one. Thanks to this machine, it can be converted to 576p, 720p or 1080i. My choice is between the last 2, and I found 720p good enough for action movies with a lot of movement, and 1080i excellent for normal movies and concerts. The picture becomes unbelievable. The player doesn't play HD discs of course, but it's wise to wait until the dilemma between HD and blue ray comes to an end. Speaking now about the recorder, it's so easy to use it specially using the exclusive Samsung EZ capability which initialize, finalize the recorded disc and make chapters to the DVD. You can choose between many recording speeds ( the EX is the best for quality and SP is the optimum providing perfect picture and enough recording time). Timer for recording could also be set according to your will, and the recording can be stoped any time. And if only 30% of the recording time is elapsed,the instrument finishes the job by itself and finalize the disc.For me I use DVD-R blank discs without problems.
All you have for recording is to connect your external device output AV cable to the front panel AV2 input of the recorder, and don't forget to select the AV2 input with the remote until you get the picture on the TV.
What is really nice is the free HD cable provided with the instrument. All you have is to connect it to the compatible TV, and you'll get the best picture and sound definition. Regarding compatibility the recorder provides the Aynet capability making using one Samsung remote control for all Samsung units used.
Now it's about the area code. I'll provide the code used to make the player ALL CODE region, without affecting the warranty of the instrument.
Press menu on the stop mode without a disc in the tray.
Highlight setup
Press the code 57538
The number of your area either 1 for USA or 2 for Europe will appear on the left upper corner
Press 9 ( all region) before your area code disappear
Press off then on again and that's it.
You can return to your original area code with the same manoeuvre.
Enjoy this fabulous player and recorder.

I have to say that I wasn't overwhelmingly please with the DVD-R155. It looks nice and had a reasonable price tag, so I decided to upgrade my old Sony DVD Player and go 1080i with my Sony HDTV. It performed okay. The picture quality for DVDs wasn't too bad. I did find it strange that on some DVDs, even store bought ones, that play flawlessesly on other players, skipped on this unit...particularly when DTS was enabled. The remote layout is good...the menus are okay, not much eye candy but they serve their purpose. My biggest beef was two things: 1) It will only handle DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs, and DVD-RAM. No +R/RW capability. 2) The dics I did record either pixelized or didn't play at all in many of the DVD players I have. What good is a DVD recorder if you can't play the material anywhere else? My dad bought the same exact unit...he had to take two back. One because it would skip playing DVDs (worse than in my case...his was ANY DVD) and on the second unit, it wouldn't stay synced in HDMI mode with his plasma TV. Sorry Samsung...you dropped the ball on this one. Needless to say I returned mine and bought another recorded that is $30 cheaper and handles many different recordable formats and plays flawlessly.

I bought this recorder a month ago and thought it could not be easier to set up!
Recording programs is a breeze...You need to choose between DVD-VR which allows you to
edit you recording directly on the Samsung or DVD-V(easiest for me)where you just finalize(chapters will then be created) and it will play on any recorder...It is a Zone 1 recorder and will NOT play DVDs from Europe for example unless you get it zonefree.
At $140, the quality it records in SP mode is close to perfect!

I have had this awhile and admit I bought this w/o researching as well as I should have. It plays fine, the only problem with it not playing discs is when they are badly scratched so I haven't had a problem beyond that. It is fairly easy and does most of what I want. What I should have checked before I purchased this machine is that it won't record one thing and let me watch another. So I will be checking those functions more carefully next time. If you want a fairly simple dvdr this one is fine.

This is a good overall recorder and affordable. I was totally impressed with the unit to copy my favorite shows on Cable (via S-Video input) and the playback with the HDMI signal to my HDTV.
The remote control covers it all, the menu and settings are EZ to understand and set up.
I strongly recommend that users buy good quality blank media such as Verbatim, TDK, Sony and Panasonic discs. The lower the number (speed ie: 8 X) the better with this unit and any stand alone DVD recorder. Verbatim discs are the best out there. Big drawback is no built in fan, runs hot, and even hotter when turned on long periods.
Samsung needs to start installing fans on their DVD recorders for longevity. This is the better model from other Samsungs out there. Stay clear from their dual or dubbing units.

Worked fine for a month. Then it stopped reading some discs. Now it won't play anything. "Disc cannot be played." Even on brand new movies.

Bummer! I got this unit for the firewire input on the front. I plugged a camera in and it worked great! Saw the camera and allowed me to control it. Being all excited I put the equipment away ready to debue it for some people. When I plugged in the firewire, it did not work. Turns out the connector broke. I sent it in for repair and it took 2 months. When I just opened the box, the connector was still broken. The service person said they replaced it, but I see a broken connector with pins pointing in different directions. It is going back again...

I bought this player a few years ago and used it sparingly to record DVDs direct from camcorder DVI input. I was pleased with the many input options it supports including component, S-Video, and DVI. The disks created were playable 90% of the time. I used it to play other DVDs as well for the upconvert feature. Then suddenly one day, it stopped working. The unit displays an "OPEN DISC" message and never opens the disc tray. I have contacted Samsung support on numerous occassions with the resolve to be to go to a service center (for a fee of course). With as minimal usage as this thing had, this is a ridiculous break down. If it were more reliable, it would have been a great product.

Hold on to your receipt if you purchase this DVD player.
The first one I had, never worked, it churned and grinded. I thought it
was just a fluke.
I exchanged the bad DVD player for another one just like it.
Two months later, it won't open, it turns itself on and off.
It makes a bit of noise which amuses the cats but it is an awfully
expensive cat toy.

Once I get my DVD out of this Samsung player I will be taking it
to the dump.

Save yourself a trip to the dump and a lot of headaches.
Don't buy it.

This unit plays DVD is super quality through the HDMI connector, however, the recorder has limited capabilities. Even though it is a multi format recordr, I found it to only record on DVD+R discs. Also, recording shows over 1.5 hours makes you choose a lower resolution which creates skips and noticeable pixels. Anything 1.5 hours or less record very nice. The Anynet is nice since I have a Samsung LCD. You can use the DVD remote to control the volume on the TV, also, when you power up the DVD player, it automatically switches the TV so you don't have to manally change the input select.