Page 1 of MICO Espejo R311. DVD Recorder. I have one. First thoughts.

First the Mico Espejo R311 seems a solid piece of equipment. It looked big out of the cabinet but having replaced my Panasonic VCR it looked quite nice in it`s place. The first problem was to buy a + RW disc. I have ordered some from SVP but I don`t expect them for a day or so. Staples, PC World & small computer shops all wanted £5-00 or more for 1 R/W disc. I went to Sainsburys in the evening & they were £10-00 EACH. However having explained I was needing one to test the MICO a kind gentleman gave me a +RW disc. Now the MICO was harder to set up than my Panasonic. It does`nt help if you don`t read the manuel however once over that hurdle I was able to test it for picture quality. Now this is only about 5 minutes of various SKY channels but the lowest quality...EP+ I believe, gives 6 hours & it was very good, I believe a little better than the DVD-R at this setting. (I want to test it further to be on the safe side). The EP, LP & SP were excellent so I haven`t bothered with the highest HQ (I believe) yet. Now to compatability. The +R/W disc played in my Mico Classica 20. I used the lowest quality EP+ recording. My first impression is that the Classica 20 was not quite so clear as the original recorders picture, still good for lowest quality. The disc would NOT play in my Panasonic E50. It would not play in my laptop. It would not play in my Pioneer 105 recorder on the computer (it did open but would not play) it jammed up the Matsui DVD recorder on the computer. So after a very brief test my first thoughts are, it is an excellent DVD recorder. Disc prices would put the average buyer off. Picture & sound are very good. Compatability on the philips DVD+R/W disc not so good. If you want to go the DVD plus route this is the one for you. Remember this is only a brief test. I will keep you all informed as time goes by. If anyone has any questions please ask, I will do my best to help you.

how much are they and i assume sainsbury`s are selling them?

thanks in advance

In the Sainsburys Christmas `book` it states the Mico is £249-99, but the flyier in Sainsburys it gives gives a price of £229.99. Further to my other tests At SP recording the +R/W disc played on my computer (pioneer 105 drive). I have a 36" Toshiba & being as the picture is bigger it picks up more problems. On a smaller TV I`m sure the lowest quality would look good but I am still amazed at the quality of the EP+ on my bigger TV.

cheer`s paull, i`m thinking of getting a second recorder to compliment my dmr-e30 ut i think i`ll wait till the hit the 200quid mark, as a point of interest tho, dvd+r disc`s are now under 80p on the computer fair (bowlers) so prices are begining to compare with dvd-r :D

"i think i`ll wait till the hit the 200quid mark" ...I`m sure I saw an ad` on TV showing the MICO DVD recorder at £199-99

your not wrong, i just saw it :) do you get any disc`s with it ? (i asume not from your original post tho

Does it play vcd/svcd and is it multi-region?
Cheers

Why buy a Mico for that price when reputable brands are available for similar prices

What ? Reputable brands like Philips you mean ?! LOL - you need to visit the forums at the unofficial DVD+RW site :)

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I got one last night for £199.99 at Sainsbury`s in Christchurch, Dorset.

Actually slightly less with the nectar points.

This unit is 80% Philips 20% Mico.

Any one region hacked it yet!!!!

This item was edited on Thursday, 6th November 2003, 11:33