Playback features abound, including MP3 CD and JPEG digital image CD and progressive-scan video outputs to deliver seamless, razor-sharp images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs and monitors. The player is capable of writing most video formats, too, depending on the type of blank media you're using: from highly compatible DVD+VR-mode video discs (DVD-Video) to video CD and SVCD (super video CD).

A single blank recordable DVD offers up to 6 hours of recording time (in SLP mode), which is equivalent to the maximum duration of a T-120 VHS videocassette in SLP mode. Unlike your SLP tape, however, your recordable DVDs won't degrade with every viewing, and access to points within the programs is incomparably easier. Moreover, the physical size of a single VHS cassette is about 10 times larger than a DVD disc.

For all DVD recording, each new recording is always placed after previous recordings unless you intent to overwrite it (when using rewritable media). The DVD recorder can automatically divide a recording into chapters by inserting chapter marks at 2- to 15-minute intervals during recording. Editing features include title edit, title naming, title protect, title overwrite, and title erase.

One-touch recording makes it easy to record favorite programs or capture video from external sources, including composite-video, S-video, and IEEE 1394 digital video. The unit's easy-track navigator provides a directory of thumbnail images so you can quickly and easily locate chapters on your DVDs. Unique thumbnails represent segments that you can play or edit.

Before sharing your digital content with others, all discs must first go through a process known as finalization. Once a DVD+R, DVD-R/-RW, CD-R or CD-RW disc has been finalized, it can be played back on other CD or DVD players or on PCs.

The recorder's convenient front-panel DV Link (IEEE 1394) input lets you transfer footage from digital camcorders or PC audio/video programming in their original digital quality.

As a player, the LVW-5005 positions you to enjoy DVD-Video discs in NTSC, PAL, and SECAM formats (depending on your media and your TV/monitor), DVD+VR (compatible with DVD-Video players in most cases), video CD, super VCD, audio CD, MP3 CD (maximum number of recognizable files: 1,000; compression rate: between 32 kbps and 320 kbps), and JPEG CD (maximum number of recognizable pictures: 1,000).

The component-video input (selectable between standard 480i and progressive-scan 480p) separates the color and brightness signals to ensure the highest picture quality. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.

What's in the Box
DVD player/recorder, remote control, remote batteries, user's manual, an AC power cord, a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, and an RF coaxial AV cable.

Note: Lite-On recommends use of Nero 6 Ultra Edition disc-writing software, sold separately, for creating discs to be used for the components firmware upgrades. Further, not all high-definition televisions are fully compatible with this product's progressive-scan output, which occurs at 525p rather than the usual 480p, and may produce undesirable image artifacts. In the event of 525p progressive-scan picture problems, Lite-On recommends switching the component-video output to "standard definition" (480i).