LG LRY-517 Review

I bught LRY-517 on 8-26. Today is 9-12 and I’m still unable to record VHS tapes.

I read manual, successfully dubbed (1) VHS Tape to a Memorex DVD+RW. After that .. no success.

Call #1 to Hot Line: I was told

“…Memorex DVD(+)RW are not compatible with the LRY-517. Known problem. We will send you an update disc to ‘FIX’ this issue..”

5 Days later, disc arrived .. would not work in machine , fixed nothing.

9-12 Hot Line Call #1: I was told

“…unplug machine, wait 15-20min to let the LYR-517 reboot… “. DONE

Still .. could not record.

9-12 Hot Line Call #2: I was told

“…try (-) DVD-RW … “.

Done. Results = I could record from TV but still coul not dub a VHS tape.

9-12 Hot Line Call #3: I was told to

“…try this, try that .. etc, etc., Play with VHS tape protect tab ..”.

None of this resolved issue. FINALLY .. I was told:

“..take machine to a repair shop.”

What an incredibly stupid thing to tell a customer, and even then ….

- What Shop / Where?

- How Do I find a Shop?

- Who Pays for repairs / shipping / parts /

- how is the company involved in the followup, if at all?

Let’s recap. New machine, basically never worked .. 2 weeks old , now needs ME to get it repaired. Not going to happen.

*********************

I studied the entire manual.

I waited 5 days waiting for a disc. I spent phone time .. being jerked around

I was then told .. “get it repaired” …

Whether this is operator error, product issue , hot line ‘incapability issue’ .. doesn’t matter.

I want to know

- if you plan to help me further

- if you do not .. fine , I will simply return the machine for refund.

- I will buy some other product .. and tell my colleagues (who ask ‘daily’ if they too should buy one … NO.

help me , don’t help me .. make a decision because I’m done mucking about with your product .. without any support.

W. E. Saltmarche …

Rating: 1 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

My review is for the LRV-538, which is the Canadian version of the LRY-517. The only difference is that the Canadian unit is all black. I ordered my unit back in October (2005) for $449 through a small, local, high-end electronics retailer that was an LG authorised dealership. Most of my review is similar to lisa j. The 6 hour recording is not great but 4 hour recording is very good! I have two problems, like lisa j, I wish you could set the time when dubbing from vhs to dvd. Also, it takes about 10 to 15 seconds, for the unit to “boot up” when you press the power button – that annoys me sometimes.

For those wondering which DVD format is better (+/-), I think +RW is the best format. While it is easier to edit out the commercials with RAM or -RW (in “VR” mode), you can’t play those discs back on any other DVD player even if your player says DVD-RW compatible. While -RW is available in “R” mode to play on regular DVD players, it is still as convenient as +RW. I find the +RW discs much more user friendly. In terms of erasing specific programs and still being able to record additional programs on that disc and then be able to play it easily on a different DVD player. I haven’t had any compatibility issues with +RW yet, whether it be on a cheap DVD player or the DVD (read only) drive on my laptop.

Finally, I personally haven’t found the advantages of RAM to be that beneficial – yet. When I was researching units, I thought that the RAM format would be great and was something that I just needed to have. I haven’t used it yet, though.

Rating: 8 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

I think all DVD recorders in today’s market have this problem of recording too bright. Something is wrong with the video noise filter in all 4 DVD recorders I tried. This 517 model has the same problem of recording too bright. The software DVD shrink fails to read LG LRY-517′s DVD-RW (video mode) by about 40%. However the DVD shrink reads LG 517′s DVD+RW’s format with 100%. Absolutely no failure so far, and fast and smooth too. Awesome!!!! DVD+RW FORMAT OF LG 517 WORKS ON ALL OTHER DVD PLAYERS I TRIED. Who can answer me about recording too bright?

Rating: 9 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

Earlier this year I was shopping for a multi-format DVD/VHS combo unit that I could use to make DVD copies of my large collection of old VHS tapes, and after researching the topic online, it became clear that there were really only 2 viable choices- the LG LRY-517 and the Sony RDR-VX515. My initial thought was to go with the Sony, a brand that I have owned and trusted for decades (I have a 1978 Trinitron that is still going strong), but after reading the online reviews, I decided to go with the LG unit based on picture quality and ease-of-use. Now after several months of use, I couldn’t be more pleased with my decision to go with the LG unit. The LG LRY-517 is very intuitive and easy to use, requiring only reference to few key pages of the owners’ manual initially to get going, and afterwards it was just dead simple to use. The picture quality is also excellent, better than the original tapes in many cases, and the flexibility offered by the various formats is great. For me, the DVD+RW format is the most convenient, as noted by others, because it allows for easy editing, and those discs can be played on any DVD player I have encountered. The LG LRY-517 is a real winner in my book.

Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

I’ve finally found “the one”. First, I tried the Insignia IS-DVD1001 (Made for them by LG), it was an awesome deal at BB (open box:$129.99), I discovered that it stopped recording whenever my local NBC TV station cut-in for local news or weather updates(with the timer or on-the-fly). I then returned it and got the Sony RDR-VX515 (also @BB, new:$249.99) It did a great job recording onto any DVD format (not RAM), and didn’t have the same glitch as the Insignia but when it came to VHS playback, forgetaboutit!-it stunk!! So I returned that unit and got the LG LRY-517 (New in box/Clearance also $250.00) then I spotted a deal for the RC199H (adds HDMI/1080i output & reads more types of flash-memory cards then the older LRY-517), $299.99 with a $30.00 gift card from BB, so I swapped again. When I set the timer to record (on NBC) I noticed that it stopped recording when the Local affiliate cut-in with news/weather updates, and displayed “Copywrited material, cannot record” I then contacted LG tech support and got through immediately, the person I spoke to said it seemed like a defect and that I should exchange the unit. Realizing that both the Insignia and newer LG(RC199H) units were manufactured in Indonesia, and the LRY-517 was Korean-made, maybe there was a (copy-guard) chip-set difference and that the glitch was a manufacturing one, apparently at the Indonesian factory, I then returned the RC199H and got the exact LRY-517 back that I had returned a couple of days earlier. It doesn’t seem to suffer from the copyguard glitch. (the units- Insignia & LG RC199H – were seeing something in the signal from my local NBC broadcasts that was triggering it’s copyguard/ copywrite technology and cancelling the recording process). Additionally, the VHS playback and record quality is superb, rivalling my old (dead) S-VHS VCR in quality.

Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

I purchased this unit in Nov. 2005. I only used it a few times (opting instead to use my 3-disc DVD player to play DVDs and use this unit as a recorder and DivX player), but in 7 months the DVD drive broke (refused to open). I sent the unit in for repair and received it back not working at all. I, again, had to send it back to them. This time they finally fixed it. I used it a couple more times, but 6 months later it broke down again. Of course, by that point, it was out of warranty and they refuse to even look at it unless I pay them an outrageous amount. Not only that, but the VCR is broken, too. Very poor quality and very poor warranty.

Rating: 1 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

It worked great for a few months, then it started giving errors, like incorrect disk. It never has been able to read any memory stick I try. The main problems are with the DVD+R disks. If you eject a disk before it has been finalized, you will have little luck getting it to read the disk. Some finished disks will not play either, even some DVD+RWs. I’ll not buy another LG product again.

Rating: 3 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

The DVD recording was impossible and it would stop reading at the dual layer change of some disks. Logic took over and I determined it was a DVD Drive problem. Took it out, it was a standard PC capable dvd drive. It wouldn’t work any better in my PC, but my PC worked like a champ in the LG. Bought a new drive for $60 bucks. No problems in the recent history. Should have never experienced this type of problem, and LG is not a company with whom I would choose to do business. Beware.

Rating: 2 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

I bought this unit about two years ago. Used it no more than 3 or 4 times and now it will not eject the VHS tape. Tape is stuck and probably damaged. Warranty expired.

Rating: 1 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

I was suprised at all of these bad reviews. We have had ours for about 2 years & have not had a problem. I haven’t recorded much with it just mainly use it to play dvd’s & VHS. So far so good.

Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

After a year (seems to be a common thing with this unit), mine stopped working too. Would not recognize any DVDs anymore. Took it to an LG authorized service center and they could not fix. Essentially it became a 1yr old $400 paperweight. Will never buy another LG product of any kind, again.

Rating: 1 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

Interesting to learn that others are having the same problems. Common theme is after around a year it stops reading some DVDs. This just started for me and I am concerned that the problem will progress. Is there any troubleshooting advice or tips for care that will extend life?

Rating: 2 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

This CRAP is just that…CRAP. The LRY-517 is a total POS and if I were you I would steer FAR away from it. We bought it to transfer our tapes to DVD and now the d**ned thing will not even recognize disks of ANY format. STEER CLEAR and NEVER will LG CRAP grace my house again!

Rating: 1 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

I have had this DVD player for about 3 years. As time goes by the DVD player is starting to read less and less DVD’s. At first turning it off, then back on and then reinserting the disk would reset it. Now it doesn’t seem to work. My sister has the same DVD player and she has had problems from day 1, and LG was not helpful for her either. I would not recommend this product.

Rating: 2 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.

Prior to warrenty running out, we had problems with VHS tapes getting stuck, DVD’s not playing, DVD door not opening – we took it to be repaired. The repair people said that LG had basically replaced everything inside the unit under warrenty. Soon enough, all the same problems happened again. We purchased this machine to archive old VHS tapes of the family. Now we are finding that just about everything we have recorded to a DVD will not play in any other DVD player or computer – doesn’t matter which type disc is used. Sometimes the DVD player won’t even play DVD’s which it itself recorded. Another satified customer!

Rating: 2 :: 0 out of 1 people found this user review helpful.

I have been successfully converting my old VHS and HI-8 tapes into DVDs which play on other players. I also experienced at first the same as a few users who mentioned that the DVDs won’t play on other machines. After reading the manual I found out that after finish recording on a DVD disk you need to finalize it.

Rating: 10 :: 0 out of 0 people found this user review helpful.