Philips HDRW720 Multi Region Capable DVD Recorder / Hard Disk - Silver

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2007-08-21 rating:
Good box, but a very high rate of failure.
I was happy with my Philips HDRW 720. The stand-out feature for me was that it had an on-screen TV guide that worked with ordinary analogue signal (I live in a non-freeview area). This allowed me to check what was on, and record programmes or entire series very easily. The picture quality was good, and the features covered all the requirements that I ever had.

Unfortunately, mine has now broken down 3 times, the first two times it was repaired under warranty, but now it has broken again, and is out of warranty. After checking the various forums out there, it seems this is a *very* common occurence with the Philips HDRW 720.

I miss having a tv recorder, and I can't find another that gets a guide from an analogue signal, but I still wouldn't buy another Philips.

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review by: Collector date: 2007-06-25 rating:
Never again
After 5 months of use, machine failed. On switching on the red record button and the red light around the disc traye came on. The machine would then turn itself off. None of the switches on the machine or the remote would work.
The unit was returned to Philips for repair.
3 months later the same problem reoccured. Returned to Philips and repaird again. Now the machine comes up with the message "Blocked". The disc tray will not open. The manual is less than helpful on this topic. When contacted Philips helpline stated that unit would have to be returned. No other information was given, other than to state that it is just out of warrenty and repair and transport will have to be paid for. As I live in Ireland and the unit has to be shipped to the UK it is not worth the cost.
I will bin it and buy a new machine but needless to say it or any other electrical goods purchased will not be Philips. Having read the reviews already left I am amazed that this item was on sale for so long. Any respectable manufacture would have withdrawen this product from the market.

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review by: Never play with a DS date: 2007-04-13 rating:
my hdrw 720
my family bought the 80gb version two years ago, and it was very good, hands down, and it never broke down. but the problem was that it would never receive Guide+ schedules and there was only one composite cable port, so we couldn't record IPTV as it came from a decoder. fine. but then, the quality was crap. just bad, until we renovated and we bought an external aerial to receive HDTV digital broadcasts. it was better, but it wouldn't do HD. or digital. so IMHO, i think it is OK, but i would rather choose the Sky+ in the UK, or TiVo in the US(we have both in our homes in UK and US)

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review by: date: 2006-09-13 rating:
Brilliant ---when it worked
I bought this unit in November and was delighted... until it broke down- the disc drive jammed quite early on. Luckily, Philips customer service collected the machine and returned it fixed. Six months later another problem, I had tried to burn a DVD but the machine "freaked out" and then refused to play any disc! Philips again were really good, they collected the machine from my place of work and have now given me a new (different!) model. I thought I was really unlucky until I read all the other reviews!

I can't fault Philips customer service though!


review by: musicfilmfan date: 2006-03-12 rating:
Very disappointed
This looked like the ideal partner for my Phillips TV and claimed to meet all the requirements I might ever have for a DVD/HD recorder. The unit is sturdily built, has an attractive front panel and initial installation was straightforward. For three months there were no problems at all apart from the occasional loss of guide plus information and I was delighted with the purchase.

After three months however the unit decided not to play DVD's nor to access the hard drive. The DVD in the drive was trapped as the door would not open and attempts at resetting the unit achieved nothing.

The Phillips web site tells you nothing other than what is in the user manual and so I emailed technical support who responded very quickly but seem to have no solutions to anything other that to return the unit with the probable loss of all HD recordings.

Rather than go down this road with the additional expense and inconvenience I have purchased an alternative from Liteon which does not have all the features of the Phillips but at least it WORKS!

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