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Philips DVDR3576H/37

Approximate retail price:

$330

Summary: A progressive-scan DVD/hard drive recorder with built-in tuner and pseudo-HD upconversion.

8 people have reviewed this model.

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Type: DVD/hard-drive recorders

About - Philips DVDR3576H/37
The DVDR3576H/37 is part of the Blu-ray & DVD player test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, DVD recorder models like the DVDR3576H/37 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below. Prerecorded DVDs (480i): Scores of this picture-quality test indicate the sharpness and detail of images on both analog and digital TVs when the unit is playing prerecorded 480i discs. Prerecorded DVDs (480p): Scores of this picture-quality test indicate the sharpness and detail of images on both analog and digital TVs when the unit is playing prerecorded 480p discs. Recording (fine): Scores of this picture-quality test indicate the sharpness and detail of recordings made to both blank DVDs (at the one-hour, fine-mode picture quality setting) and, when applicable, the unit's hard drive at the same picture quality setting. Models equipped with VCRs scored "Good" for VCR recording at the SP picture quality setting.

About - Philips DVDR3576H/37

The DVDR3576H/37 is part of the Blu-ray & DVD player test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, DVD recorder models like the DVDR3576H/37 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Prerecorded DVDs (480i):: Scores of this picture-quality test indicate the sharpness and detail of images on both analog and digital TVs when the unit is playing prerecorded 480i discs.
Prerecorded DVDs (480p):: Scores of this picture-quality test indicate the sharpness and detail of images on both analog and digital TVs when the unit is playing prerecorded 480p discs.
Recording (fine):: Scores of this picture-quality test indicate the sharpness and detail of recordings made to both blank DVDs (at the one-hour, fine-mode picture quality setting) and, when applicable, the unit's hard drive at the same picture quality setting. Models equipped with VCRs scored "Good" for VCR recording at the SP picture quality setting.

About This Brand
Philips was sold to Funai in 2008 and a new company for these top-tier products, P&F, was formed. Its new products will be manufactured by P&F and Philips branded. Its DVD products, which are typically midpriced, will continue to be widely available. Philips is one of the only companies still selling a DVD recorder/DVR combo. The 2008 models in every DVD category except Blu-ray will continue to be available as carryover models without any changes to these mainstream products.

About This Brand

Philips was sold to Funai in 2008 and a new company for these top-tier products, P&F, was formed. Its new products will be manufactured by P&F and Philips branded. Its DVD products, which are typically midpriced, will continue to be widely available. Philips is one of the only companies still selling a DVD recorder/DVR combo. The 2008 models in every DVD category except Blu-ray will continue to be available as carryover models without any changes to these mainstream products.

Features & Specs - Philips DVDR3576H/37
Built-in tuner Has a built-in tuner that can receive and decode over-the-air digital (DTV) and analog (conventional) TV signals, unscrambled analog cable TV signals, and, unless otherwise noted, unscrambled digital cable TV signals. Models that lack a tuner must be connected to a cable box, satellite box, tuner equipped DVR, or some other TV tuning device to receive and record TV broadcasts. Broadcast of over-the-air analog TV signals is scheduled to be discontinued on February 17, 2009. After this date devices that normally receive an over-the-air TV broadcasts (such as TVs, VCRs, DVD recorders, and DVRs that are equipped with conventional TV tuners) will no longer be able to unless they are also equipped with, or are connected to a tuner that can receive and decode over-the-air digital TV signals (basic analog cable TV reception will not be affected). Note that models with built-in tuners can be used as DTV or unscrambled digital cable converter boxes to enable TV programming to be receive by TVs that lack DTV or digital cable TV tuners. Built-in tuner	Yes
Set-top box control A recording device's ability to change channels automatically on a cable box or a satellite receiver--needed to record programs from several channels when time-shift recording from a cable box or a satellite receiver. Set-top box control	No
Pseudo HD up-conversion Can up-convert the video from standard DVDs to 720p, 1080i, and for some models, 1080p resolution which may result in better picture quality on fixed pixel display HDTVs. Note that upconversion does not produce a true HD picture. Pseudo HD up-conversion	Yes
Records to DVD-R For DVD recorders, the ability to record onto writable DVDs in the DVD-R format. This format is highly compatible with other DVD recorders and players, but once a recording is made, you can't re-record over it. Depending on the recorder, limited editing can be performed on the recorded material. Records to DVD-R	Yes
Records to DVD-RW (video) For DVD recorders, the ability to record onto re-writable DVDs in the DVD-RW format's video mode. This format is highly compatible with newer DVD recorders and players. Once a recording is made, you can re-record over it. Depending on the recorder, limited editing can be performed on the recorded material. Records to DVD-RW (video)	Yes
Records to DVD-RW (VR) For DVD recorders, the ability to record onto re-writable DVDs in the DVD-RW format's VR mode. This format is only compatible with certain DVD recorders and players. Once a recording is made, you can re-record over it. This (in VR mode) and the DVD-RAM format are the only two that let you fully edit what you've recorded. With some recorders, this format also lets you view a previously recorded program at the same time you are recording another, or pause, reverse, or fast-forward a program while you are still recording it. Records to DVD-RW (VR)	No
Records to DVD+R For DVD recorders, the ability to record onto writable DVDs in the DVD+R format. This format is highly compatible with other DVD recorders and players, but once a recording is made, you can't re-record over it. Depending on the recorder, limited editing can be performed on the recorded material. Records to DVD+R	Yes
Records to DVD+RW For DVD recorders, the ability to record onto re-writable DVDs in the DVD+RW format. This format is highly compatible with newer DVD recorders and players. Once a recording is made you can re-record over it. Depending on the recorder, limited editing can be performed on the recorded material. Records to DVD+RW	Yes
Records to DVD-RAM For DVD recorders, the ability to record onto re-writable DVDs in the DVD-RAM format. This format is only compatible with certain DVD recorders and players. Once a recording is made, you can re-record over it. This and the DVD-RW format (in VR mode) are the only two that let you fully edit what you've recorded. This format also lets you view a previously recorded program at the same time you are recording another, or pause, reverse, or fast-forward a program while you are still recording it. Records to DVD-RAM	No
HDMI output Has High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output for direct digital audio and video connection to digital TVs with HDMI input. Can output 480p, 720p, and 1080i video signals, although signals upconverted from 480i or 480p to 720p or 1080i do not produce a true HD picture. HDMI output	Yes
Coaxial digital-audio out Digital-audio output is important only if you plan to pipe the signal from the DVD recorder into a home-theater system that has a digital receiver. When choosing your DVD recorder, consider the models that have the outputs to match the inputs on your digital receiver or external, digital decoder. All DVD recorders have digital audio outputs--coaxial, optical, or both. Coaxial digital-audio out	Yes
Optical digital-audio out Digital-audio output is important only if you plan to pipe the signal from the DVD player into a home-theater system that has a digital receiver. When choosing your DVD player, consider the models that have the outputs to match the inputs on your digital receiver or external, digital decoder. All DVD players have digital audio outputs--coaxial, optical, or both. Optical digital-audio out	No
More features and specs

User Reviews - Philips DVDR3576H/37

Average User Rating

(based on 8 reviews)

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Displaying Reviews 1-3 of 8 See all 8 user reviews

Overall good use...but

By notme813 from Tampa, Fla on 10/24/2009

Pros:

Fast Recording

Cons:

Confusing Set Up

Best Uses:

Home

Describe Yourself:

Casual User

How long have you owned it:

More than six months

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I had a problem with recorded programs being too dark. Philips sent not one but two loaner for me to try. I had to return both of them sorry to say but because 1 had same problem with one and the other had a burnt smell to it but a little better with the video. but Kudos to philip tech support. The control on the remote takes some getting use to and it only works when aim directly toward the unit. I use primarily to record series via over the air digital tuner and watch it at a later time. The dvd unit takes a while to load and the video is ok but not eye catching. This unit beats paying a monthly fee, which is what I mainly wanted....

Great Hardrive and Pause Live TV

By DASDBOB from Cary North Carolina on 6/27/2009

How long have you owned it:

More than six months

Bottom Line:

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I've had this product almost a year. The hard drive comes in handy when I'm away for several days. I use it for my security camera. The DVD playback may not work properly when you try and play a DVD recorded on another divice. After I switched brands of DVD a few times I seemed to have the best results with SONY.

[0 of 2 customers found this review helpful]

Great Hard Disc time, Poor DTV receiver

By Fritz from Clarksville, AR on 4/7/2009

Cons:

Poor DTV Receiver

How long have you owned it:

One-to-three months

Bottom Line:

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

My old DVD recorder broke and I needed a DTV receiver. The Philips 3576H/37 erased most of the discs from my old recorder. It CAN'T prompt to format a disc. It always formats the disc unless it is finalized. This erased many discs.
The DTV receiver erases all of the memorized channels upon a new scan. When the antenna is pointed to Littlerock, it scans and memorizes the channels. The motor-rotor points the antenna towards Fayetteville. A new scan memorizes the Fayetteville channels. It takes 7 seconds to motor-rotor the antenna back to Littlerock. The Littlerock channels are gone!!! It takes 8 minutes to perform another scan. Consumers Reports best buy Tivac SWTB-T9 D-A converter adds channels on scanning. It does not autoerase the memorized channels.
The sensitivity of the DTV receiver is poor. Analog channel 16 comes in with snow on my Sony Trinitrons receiver. The signal to noise ratio is about 23 dB. The audio is clear. This is the same for the Philips analog tuner. The Philips DTV signal is unwatchable. The sound drops out. The picture jumps. At least with analog TV, sitcoms can be listened to clearly. Most of the laughs are in the audio.
The menu functions are a bit awkward until you learn the German way of thinking.

See all 8 user reviews

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