ASPIRE DIGITAL AD-8091 DVD Recorder
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- Number of Discs: 1
- Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
- TV Tuner: With TV Tuner
- Playable Disk Types: DVD Video SVCD DVD-R DVD-RW CD (Audio) CD-R CD-RW
- Playable File Formats: MP3
- DVD Type: DVD Recorder
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Read this review to understand the AD-8091and save time
Pros
Low cost, good quality recordings, many features, plays almost all other disc types.
Cons
May freeze up, fussy on disc brands, affected by other remote control frequencies.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
I would recommend waiting for future units that have current problems worked out. It would then be a worthwhile unit at a really good price.
This model dvd recorder/player, significantly cheaper than big brand names, is pretty good, but has some problems. I have never used any other recorder, so I cannot say how well it compares. This review is intended mainly to inform others of another average user's encounter with this machine, and not a comprehensive review of all its features.
Overall, I think the AD-8091 has an impressive set of features and capabilities. One may play almost any other format of disc on it, ie cd's, mp3's, jpeg photo discs and of course dvd+r/rw's. It has a complete set of options and settings and is reasonably easy to use. The user manual has a few bits of impossibly tiny print. You'll need a magnifying glass to read some of the sample menus shown.
The main problem with the AD-8091 is that it may freeze up temporarily and disrupt a recording. This problem may be corrected by installing a downloadable file provided by the company's website, as long as you have internet and a dvd or cd burner[use a cd-rw]to copy the file to a disc to install with.
Secondly, the machine is quite fussy over the brand of discs it will work with. I had to test a number of different discs to find ones that work. There is a listing of recommended and not recommended discs in the user manual, but it is quite short and nowadays there are lots of brands to test out. I found that most computer stores will sell you a single disc to sample with, to save you buying and returning an expensive large pack. Most major electronic stores in Canada will not do this.
I also found that the recorded discs will frequently not play on other players. Mostly, this occurs with other low end models. Better players usually have no problem. Dvd+rw's generally work best, and don't need finalizing.
When I first used the 8091 I could not access the "finalize" menu feature to finalize recordable discs [dvd+r's],so that they may be used on other players, until I found the note in the manual stating that the unit must be set to monitor mode to access the disc operations menu.
[I actually exchanged my first unit because I thought the "finalize" feature was inaccessible]
Lastly, the unit's display frequently blinks and simultaneously fuzzes our tv screen for a fraction of a second in response to the frequencies of other remote controls when in standby mode [one cannot turn off the unit completely without unplugging it]. Other remote controls have also caused the 8091 to sometimes switch functions or activate features when turned on or in use.
If Aspire can fix these problems in future models, I believe they would be offering a good machine at a competitive price.
Overall, I think the AD-8091 has an impressive set of features and capabilities. One may play almost any other format of disc on it, ie cd's, mp3's, jpeg photo discs and of course dvd+r/rw's. It has a complete set of options and settings and is reasonably easy to use. The user manual has a few bits of impossibly tiny print. You'll need a magnifying glass to read some of the sample menus shown.
The main problem with the AD-8091 is that it may freeze up temporarily and disrupt a recording. This problem may be corrected by installing a downloadable file provided by the company's website, as long as you have internet and a dvd or cd burner[use a cd-rw]to copy the file to a disc to install with.
Secondly, the machine is quite fussy over the brand of discs it will work with. I had to test a number of different discs to find ones that work. There is a listing of recommended and not recommended discs in the user manual, but it is quite short and nowadays there are lots of brands to test out. I found that most computer stores will sell you a single disc to sample with, to save you buying and returning an expensive large pack. Most major electronic stores in Canada will not do this.
I also found that the recorded discs will frequently not play on other players. Mostly, this occurs with other low end models. Better players usually have no problem. Dvd+rw's generally work best, and don't need finalizing.
When I first used the 8091 I could not access the "finalize" menu feature to finalize recordable discs [dvd+r's],so that they may be used on other players, until I found the note in the manual stating that the unit must be set to monitor mode to access the disc operations menu.
[I actually exchanged my first unit because I thought the "finalize" feature was inaccessible]
Lastly, the unit's display frequently blinks and simultaneously fuzzes our tv screen for a fraction of a second in response to the frequencies of other remote controls when in standby mode [one cannot turn off the unit completely without unplugging it]. Other remote controls have also caused the 8091 to sometimes switch functions or activate features when turned on or in use.
If Aspire can fix these problems in future models, I believe they would be offering a good machine at a competitive price.
