Page 1 of Returning my DVD recorder to Currys...

Hi guys,

Sadly, my first DVD recorder experience has been a bad one. :( Yesterday I bought myself the LG DR7400 recorder from Currys, only to realise whilst I was setting the thing up that it doesn`t output RGB, meaning that the picture I get with my 5-year-old LG 4710 (which can`t even play CD-Rs) is immensely better than that with this new DR7400. Believe it or not, I had no idea that new DVD hardware was being made that didn`t support RGB output, it didn`t even cross my mind. I`ve written a quick bit in the Hardware Forum if you want to take a look.

So basically now I am stuck with having to use both my old LG player and this new recorder in order to get the benefit of RGB video & recording, which is not what I had intended at all.

I read that Currys will only offer refunds on products if they are returned sealed, and unused, within 7 days, or if the product does not live up to its specifications. But I am obviously very dissatisfied that the DR7400`s picture quality is very poor compared to the 4710.

Obviously there is no direct fault with the player, it is a case of it simply not having RGB output. I realise that I have been careless in buying the thing without checking that it had this feature, but does anyone have any suggestions as to how to approach this matter with Currys, since they are unlikely to be very co-operative in even giving me a credit note?

All replies appreciated...


EVH

Football fans: please take a moment to read some of my work - comments welcomed!

This item was edited on Monday, 3rd October 2005, 01:44

That`s a shocker not outputting RGB. Compo only. They might as well just have put RF sockets only on the back!

I find with the DRG group, the best way to get them to help is to make "well, I just might spend a few quid more" noises when returning dodgy kit (I swapped out my first Matsui DVD player for a Grundig that way).

The Panasonic DMRES10 (£179.99 instore) has RGB in and out (and for that day you get a plasma/LCD display, it does Progressive Scan an` all).

J Mark Oates

This item was edited on Monday, 3rd October 2005, 02:07

I was thinking the same thing Mark, except that the Panny can`t be made multi-region without having it chipped!

By the way, the recording on the LG seems pretty good - which RGB input - I just can`t believe it doesn``t output RGB!


EVH

Football fans: please take a moment to read some of my work - comments welcomed!

Sorry Brian,but I`ve found umpteen websites confirming the machine DOES do RGB out (which makes sense given that every other machine in the world does AND it does RGB in).
Are you absolutely sure you haven`t simply missed something in the set up ???

Playable Disk Types - DVD Video, VCD, SVCD, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD (Audio), CD-R, CD-RW
Playable File Formats - MP3, WMA, JPEG
TV Tuner
Video Output System - PAL, SECAM
Video DAC - 10 bit / 27 MHz
Picture Control - Contrast, Brightness, Saturation, Hue, Zoom
Dynamic Range - 95 dB (DVD)
Dialog Enhancer
Audio DAC - 24 bit / 96 kHz
Audio S/N Ratio - 100 dB
Surround Sound - Dolby Digital (Digital out only), DTS (Digital out only)
SCART Connectors - Output x 1, Input x 1
Front Panel - Composite Input, S-Video Input
Outputs - RGB (via SCART), Digital Audio Coaxial x 1, RF x 1
Remote Control
OSD
Parental Control
Instant Skip / Replay - 30 sec. Skip
Resume Function
Recordable Media - DVD+R, DVD+RW
Recording Speeds - SP, LP, EP, HQ
DVD Recording Time - 6 Hrs. Maximum
Recording Formats - MPEG2
Programmable Timer - 7 Events within 30 Days

This item was edited on Monday, 3rd October 2005, 09:34

Well, I`ve just bought one of these (before seeing this thread !) & mine doesn`t output RGB either. Like Brian I cannot beleive ANY DVD device hasn`t got RGB output. I even asked the sales assnt to confirm this !
Now, reading the manual, the spec sheet says "2 Scarts (composite only)", and there isn`t anywhere in the SETUP menu to set the AV scart output.

bowfer,

Believe me, I would be delighted if I was wrong. ;) The Dixons / Currys websites both state that it doesn`t output RGB, and the manual that came with the recorder states that it has 2 output SCARTs with the word (composite) in brackets. Click here for a scan of the relevant page in the manual (have a look at "output" at the bottom).

Frankly I am still shocked that there is a player out there (first released in June 2005, I believe) that does not output RGB. Otherwise, I`m happy with it, although I haven`t had a chance to check it out fully since I was looking for possible solutions to the problem last night. Like I said, I will be delighted to be proved wrong.

By the way, interestingly, the LG official website states that the DR7400 has DivX compatibility, when in fact it does not. I`m clutching at straws here, but maybe I could say that I checked LG`s website & have been misinformed about this player`s capabilities? I know what you`re thinking, not bloody likely... :(

Once again, any help would be wonderful. :)


EVH

Football fans: please take a moment to read some of my work - comments welcomed!

Quote:
...there isn`t anywhere in the SETUP menu to set the AV scart output.
Yep. :/


EVH

Football fans: please take a moment to read some of my work - comments welcomed!

This item was edited on Monday, 3rd October 2005, 14:18

So,basically,what you`re saying (over 2 forums :/ ) is that it doesn`t do RGB or component.
The former is shocking,the latter should have been obvious as soon as you saw the back of the machine.
The fact the shop hasn`t actually misled you in any way makes the return difficult,if they want to be difficult,but not impossible.
I returned an x-box to them once,after owning it for one day.
I gave them no other reason than "I feckin hate it" and swapped it for a PS2.
Depends on the salesman/manager I think.

First of all yes, my fault, I got over-excited (read: annoyed by the problem) & posted in two forums. My original intention in posting on the hardware forum was to ask if anyone could confirm that this machine did not output RGB. The intention behind this on the general forum was to work out how I could take it back to Currys without a great fuss. Mods, please close the hardware forum thread as we seem to have established that it definitely doesn`t output RGB.

Bowfer, you seem to know more about this than me, but I`ve always heard component video & RGB used as a means of saying the same thing, even though I read that when you get to the technicalities of it, that they aren`t exactly the same. How would I know if the LG outputted component video just by looking at the back of it?


Thanks again,


EVH

Football fans: please take a moment to read some of my work - comments welcomed!

Quote:
How would I know if the LG outputted component video just by looking at the back of it?

DVD players with this output usually have three RCA sockets which are colour-coded green, blue, and red.
They are labelled either Y, B-Y, R-Y, or alternatively Y, Pb, Pr, or Y, Cb, Cr.
You`d have to specific component cables and they only carry the picture signal.
You`d need more cables for the sound.
Your TV would have to have the same sockets on the back of it as well.

I`ve never heard RGB and component being confused as the same thing,as they use completely different cabling (RGB is scart / component is seperate cables ).
`Component` and `progressive scan` are terms that usually go hand-in-hand though.

This item was edited on Monday, 3rd October 2005, 15:27