Gateway AR230 Progressive-Scan DVD Player / Recorder

[Archived in $200 - $300, All DVD Players, DVD Recorders, Home DVD Players, Products, Progressive-Scan DVD Players, Single-Disc DVD Players]

Manufacturer: Gateway
Price at amazon.com: $189.88
Usually ships in 24 hours

New from $185.00

List price $249.99



Product Features:

• DVD player/recorder with camcorder-ready DV, composite-video, RF, and S-video inputs
• Record from TV, VCR, or camcorder directly to DVD; up to 6 hours video recording per side (either DVD+R or DVD+RW)
• Progressive-scan output for seamless, flicker-free images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs
• Plays MP3 CDs, JPEG image CDs, video mode DVD-Rs and DVD-RWs
• Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound passthrough from coaxial and optical digital-audio outputs

Product Description:

With the Gateway AR-230 DVD player/recorder, you can play movies and music, record off-air TV broadcasts, and store multimedia content on high-capacity, 4.7 GB DVDs. It's never been easier to share your home videos with friends and family, and the AR-230 even delivers quality home cinema on standard or high-definition televisions. Using the recorder's extensive inputs--including an IEEE 1394 digital video jack--you can transfer and assemble your most treasured camcorder footage, archive all your old videotapes, or burn video from your PC straight to high-capacity DVD--up to six hours per side using either DVD+R or DVD+RW. The unit's onscreen display (OSD) lets you adjust settings and select options for your DVD recorder, including parental controls. DVD+RW discs require no finalizing: you can record, eject, and play them with minimal fuss, thanks to background formatting. This feature, which lowers total burning time, is an advantage over the "dash" formats. Other DVD+RW advantages include on-disc content editing and multisession writing. And, through DVD+RW and DVD+R's compatibility with most existing DVD players, they're a great way for you to share your special memories with family and friends. The recorder offers timer recording (record once, daily, or weekly), as well as disc editing features such as title editing, title deletion (on DVD+RW discs), title overwriting (on DVD+RW discs), and content protection. The AR-230 is also a first-rate DVD player, featuring progressive-scan video outputs, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound passthrough, MP3 CD playback (CD-R/-RW), and playback compatibility with most DVD media (including video-mode DVD-R and DVD-RW). You can load a disc full of JPEG images for a digital slideshow in the comfort of your living room. Whether you already own an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the AR-230 stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a playback picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. The AR-230 DVD player is equipped with high-end video outputs as well as digital-audio outputs for surround-sound passthrough. Top-of-the-line component-video outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television monitor. Video inputs include the above-mentioned front-panel IEEE 1394 jack, front and rear composite-video jacks, and a rear-panel S-video input. Audio inputs consist of two-channel analog jacks with up to 24-bit analog-to-digital conversion. A single set of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (one each of RCA coaxial and Toslink optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver. What's in the Box DVD recorder, remote control, remote batteries, an AC power cord, a 6-foot audio/video interconnect (stereo analog audio/composite-video), a 6-foot RF coaxial AV cable, a blank DVD+RW disc, a setup poster, and a user’s manual.
From the Manufacturer Tech TV awarded the AR-230 a 5 of a 5 star rating (January 26, 2004). "Summary: Gateway made the AR-230 simple to set up and use." Men's Journal awarded the Gateway AR-230 best value in the DVD recorder category (March 2004). "This steal has features most low-cost models lack, including progressive scan playback for HDTV and a connection for your digital camcorder. Plus, its onscreen menu is super user-friendly. VERDICT: Deal hounds won't be able to say no."


See all product description...

Description from Manufacturer: With the Gateway AR-230 DVD player/recorder, you can play movies and music, record off-air TV broadcasts, and store multimedia content on high-capacity, 4.7 GB DVDs. It's never been easier to share your home videos with friends and family, and the AR-230 even delivers quality home cinema on standard or high-definition televisions. Using the recorder's extensive inputs--including an IEEE 1394 digital video jack--you can transfer and assemble your most treasured camcorder footage, archive all your old videotapes, or burn video from your PC straight to high-capacity DVD--up to six hours per side using either DVD+R or DVD+RW.

The unit's onscreen display (OSD) lets you adjust settings and select options for your DVD recorder, including parental controls.

DVD+RW discs require no finalizing: you can record, eject, and play them with minimal fuss, thanks to background formatting. This feature, which lowers total burning time, is an advantage over the "dash" formats. Other DVD+RW advantages include on-disc content editing and multisession writing. And, through DVD+RW and DVD+R's compatibility with most existing DVD players, they're a great way for you to share your special memories with family and friends.

The recorder offers timer recording (record once, daily, or weekly), as well as disc editing features such as title editing, title deletion (on DVD+RW discs), title overwriting (on DVD+RW discs), and content protection.

The AR-230 is also a first-rate DVD player, featuring progressive-scan video outputs, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound passthrough, MP3 CD playback (CD-R/-RW), and playback compatibility with most DVD media (including video-mode DVD-R and DVD-RW). You can load a disc full of JPEG images for a digital slideshow in the comfort of your living room.

Whether you already own an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the AR-230 stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a playback picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.

The AR-230 DVD player is equipped with high-end video outputs as well as digital-audio outputs for surround-sound passthrough.

Top-of-the-line component-video outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television monitor. Video inputs include the above-mentioned front-panel IEEE 1394 jack, front and rear composite-video jacks, and a rear-panel S-video input. Audio inputs consist of two-channel analog jacks with up to 24-bit analog-to-digital conversion.

A single set of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (one each of RCA coaxial and Toslink optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.

What's in the Box
DVD recorder, remote control, remote batteries, an AC power cord, a 6-foot audio/video interconnect (stereo analog audio/composite-video), a 6-foot RF coaxial AV cable, a blank DVD+RW disc, a setup poster, and a user’s manual.Average Customer Rating:

---

Comment: It's simply a better value Rating:
My AR230 was purchased as a replacement for a Panasonic DVD recorder that died on me. I use it mostly for time shifting TV programs. Quality is very good on the 1 and 2 hour settings good on the 4 hour setting and just slightly better than good VCR on the 6 hour setting. It's got a simple menu system that even got my wife recording some of her soaps. I've only recorded camcorder to DVD-R using the firewire port twice but the quality was good and it was easy to do. Be sure to finalize DVD-R's so they will play on other DVD players. I use brand name media and have not had a bad disc yet. This unit doesn't have a hard drive or the bells and whistles of some of the high-end units but at less than $300 it's a way better value than the others I considered. If you need a good replacement for your old VCR this is it.

---

Comment: Good solid product Rating:
This is an interesting product. It's a cross between a VHS VCR and a fully functioning digital DVD recorder.

The higher priced digital recorders have hard drives built in to give them Tivo features like the ability to record temporarily for many hours, watch a program from the beginning while the unit is still recording the end, instant replay, pause live TV, etc. The fully loaded recorders also have some sort of Tivo-like program guide.

The AR-230 has none of these things, but it costs a lot less as well. It's an interesting mix of high and low end VCR features plus an adequate DVD+R/RW recorder. The high end is reflected by the number of different inputs and outputs: Composite, S-Video, Component, Firewire, Coax and Optical audio. The low end is reflected by the timer: Only 5 programs, no Mon-Fri mode, no VCR+.

As a simple DVD replacement for a VCR, it fulfills it's function very well. The remote is easy to use. The quality of the DVD image is equal to the quality of the video input. It won't allow you to create you're own chapters, but you can set it to automatically create chapters every 1 - 12 minutes.

There are 4 program modes: 1hr, 2hrs, 4hrs und 6hrs. I've tried the 2 and 4 hour modes and both are fine. Choosing from titles on the disc is much easier than scanning a VCR tape for the start of a new program. Also scanning by chapter and fast forward/reverse work very well - a big improvement over tape.

The AR-230 records only on "Plus" media, but reads/plays just about everything. BEWARE: The DVD recordable industry is borderline insane. They're locked in a betamax/vhs type war of competing incompatible formats called "Plus" and "Minus". Not only are there different recorders that record each format, but the blank media are different for each format. A "Minus" disc won't work in a "Plus" recorder.

If you've got a set top DVD player you may want to check which format it supports. If your DVD player only plays "Minus" discs it won't be able to play DVD's you produce from the AR-230.

---

Comment: Best Buy Rating:
Let me tell you about this great DVD recorder! The playback picture is super clear; hard to tell what's original and what's been recorded.
The sound is also very nice.
Earlier this year, I ordered an off-brand DVD recorder and had to sell it quickly because of the horrible playback.
But, the Gateway was well worth every penny and it was very reasonable in costs!
I give this Gateway DVD a 10!

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)