I've had the unit for about a month now. The good news is there's no volume problem, as suggested in prior reviews. Adjust the TV volume level and thereafter move around that level using the DVR-4000 volume control instead of the TV's. Done this way, there is no volume problem between DVD/VCR.

Bad news: the timed-recording setup is obscure. I actually am a rocket scientist and have found setting this unit up to record by the clock far more cumbersome than with my previous 12-year old VCR (obtained free as a gift from my bank).

Calendars and gizmos flash on the screen. There is a lengthy sequence of terse prompts along the top edge of the screen for which the desired response is obscure and specified in different ways: sometimes the response is 1, maybe 2 numbers. Other times, one has to cycle through a list of options. These options includes specifying tape speed, video input source and assorted other things no one should ever be bothered with more than once to set an initial... Read more

Overall I like the System, but because I noticed that the Sound is lower when I switch to VCR or DVD Movies from the TV Sound, I am wondering why the sound settings don't seem to equalize themselves for the system. There is a nice Mute function that allows you to lower the sound, but the TV Sound is definately higher than that of DVD movies. I had to crank the volume to get the DVD sound to match the volume I get from Cable TV channels. Other than sound problems, I like the system. Still getting used to the controls.

I bought the DVR4000 about 4 months ago and I have to say it's a sturdy, reliable system. The VCR player is 4 heads and chock full of recording and playback features. The DVD player is easy to use and has presented no major problems so far. I noticed that some scenes skipped on the DVD player and the sound went in and out, but I think it's the result of a faulty DVD rather than the player itself. This happened on a total of 2 DVDs out of a dozen or so that I've played in the interim.
Overall, this is a good system to have if you're not quite ready to ditch your entire VHS library, but at the same time build your DVD collection.