As this is a standalone DVD Recorder which is not dependent on a PC to operate, the only things important in this case are the drive’s video sources and what was used to test and capture the images as well as test the discs recorded using the Recorder.

Video Sources:

Terrestrial analogue TV
Sony DVD player DVP-S336

Displays:

Hauppauge WinTV 878 PVR (to capture screenshots)

PC Drive with PI/PIF testing capabilities:

Lite-On SHOW 1693S

DVD and CD Players to check compatibility:

Brand	Model	Description
NEC	3520AW	PC DVD±RW DL
Samsung	SD616Q	PC DVD-ROM
Plextor	PX-116A3	PC DVD-ROM
Lite-On	1693s	PC DVD±RW DL
LG	GDR-8081N	Dell Laptop DVD-ROM
Sony	DVP-S336	Standalone DVD Player
Lite-On	LVW-5045	Standalone DVD Recorder
LG	CD-330L	CD Radio Cassette Recorder
Sharp	CD-PC651	Dolby Pro Logic Hi-Fi
Sanyo	N/A	Compact Disc Stereo Hi-Fi
Goodmans	CDMP 370	Portable Compact Disc Player

Features and techniques:

These are the features of this drive, found at the Lite-On webpage:

HDD Video Recording

Forget about the running out of recording space. With the built in 160GB HDD (Hard Disk Drive), you may record up to 198 hours (SLP modes) of quality video programs on it.

Recording Quality	160GB HDD	DVD+R / RW and DVD-R / RW
HQ Mode	Approx. 33 Hours	Approx. 1 Hour
SP Mode	Approx. 66 Hours	Approx. 2 Hours
LP Mode	Approx. 99 Hours	Approx. 3 Hours
EP Mode	Approx. 132 Hours	Approx. 4 Hours
SLP Mode	Approx. 198 Hours	Approx. 6 Hours.

HDD to Disc Backup

The coexistence of the optical disc drive and the built-in HDD on LVW-5045 doesn’t stay for nothing! With it, you can record the camcorder footages onto the built-in HDD all at once. In there, you can utilize all the editing functions to the titles and then save them onto discs respectively to share them with family or friends.

Disc to HDD Copy

The contents on any types of disc by copying them to the built-in HDD, where all the editing functions can be utilized. This not only solves the problem that certain editing functions are only applicable to certain disc types but also is convenient given the huge storage space of the HDD.

Note: Can not copy content protected disc.

Time Shift

Advance feature such as “Time Shift”, is also featured on LVW-5045. The “Time Shift” feature allows you to virtually “Freeze” the live TV program while you are temporary interrupted and “Un-Freeze” it to continue viewing the live program.

Record & Playback

With LVW-5045, you can watch the recording program from the very beginning while it is still being recorded, regardless of how far along that recording is in progress. Simply press a key and you no longer need to wait until the recording is completed. Recording will not be interrupted and viewing can be performed any time you desire!

AllWrite Technology

Introducing the world 1st “AllWrite” DVD Recorder from LITEON IT. With the innovative “AllWrite” technology, a DVD Recorder with capability to record on DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW or CD-R/RW discs become reality.

DV Link

Another key differentiator is the DV-Link (IEEE1394) port, which allows you to connect LVW-5045 to a DV Camcorder. By connecting the Camcorder directly to the LVW-5045, users can preserve high-quality digital images on a permanent basis. So you won’t miss any of those treasured moments in you digital life. An added benefit is that you may even manage your DV connection by using the remote control.

MP3 & WMA Playback

The LVW-5045 can also playback the ever popular MP3 and WMA music files.

Easy Guider 2

The innovative user friendly interface -”Easy Guider 2″, has simplified the DVD recording procedure. You can now instantly access all the major functions available on the recorder without going through the complex procedure. DVD recording has never been so easy !

23 Comments

Scour: Posts: 998; Posted on: 25 Jun 05 11:57

German´s No.1 magazin "video" had tested the Liteon 5045. Video-quality middle, Audio-quality nearly poor, some system-hangups (need a new start) Same for the OEM-Version, Philips 520H

DoMiN8ToR: Posts: 9305; Posted on: 25 Jun 05 14:16

How extensive were their tests? While most magazines usually don't have much more than 1 page to review one device we are able to spend 12 pages to only one device, that really makes a difference...

Seán: Posts: 8634; Posted on: 25 Jun 05 14:17

When I first got the recorder, it did actually hang quite a lot, however once I applied firmware 197-UK, I think it may have only hanged only once throughout the 4 week review. To me, the audio sounds fine directly from the Lite-On itself and I didn't notice any unusual background hiss, unlike what most PC onboard soundcards pick up. I tried recording from various sources including CDs, over SCART, TV, etc. However, as the audio output (over Phono and SCART) is fairly high, it can cause distortion on audio equipment that has very sensitive inputs. For example on my PC's sound card, I had to set the Line-in level fairly close to the bottom to avoid the input meter from peaking. I did also check for other issues that people mentioned in user reviews back in January such as audio-video sync problems after an hour of recording, remote keys acting if pressed twice, etc. However I haven't encountered any issue with the remote and after a 2.5 hour recording, the audio & video was still in perfect sync that I could see, i.e. 'B' & 'P' sounds matched the person's lips.

Scour: Posts: 998; Posted on: 26 Jun 05 01:32

They uses very expensive equipment for measuring. I don´t think that CDfreaks can do tests like video. They review DVD-Recorders, Video-Recorders, Players usw, have much experience with those things. And it´s the best magazine for video-equipment and can not be compared with magazine´s like Audio-Video-Bild usw. And I read in many forum´s that almost nobody can say that Liteon DVD-Recorders have a good picture-quality

Seán: Posts: 8634; Posted on: 26 Jun 05 18:19

In my opinion, having a physical look at the picture (such as Page 11 of this review) can be better than using equipment to compare picture quality, especially with different quality modes and comparing different recorders (later on). I use to get annoyed with reviews of video hardware that only gave a 'measurement' score as apposed to showing close-up images for the reader to compare. E.g. some users would prefer a sharper 'blockier' picture, while others would prefer a smoother, etc. However an analysis only gives figures or the equipment's own 'quality' rating. I have seen Microsoft often use image and audio analysis to show that their codecs beats other audio and visual codecs and for a good while I often seen people boasting about how good Windows Media sounds & looks until later when visual & listening tests have changed this around.

Bondiablo: Posts: 37; Posted on: 04 Sep 05 06:28

I really wanted to like this DVD recorder but I've tried 3 of them so far and not 1 has worked properly even after the latest 197 firmware update. 2 manufactured in January both would end up with corrupt recordings after defragmenting the hard drive and 1 manufactured in February would recoded timer recordings on the wrong day.

Bondiablo: Posts: 37; Posted on: 13 Sep 05 01:02

make that 4 now, another february and again it records timer recordings for the wrong day.

Bondiablo: Posts: 37; Posted on: 29 Sep 05 07:12

Seems the 201 firmware finally has everything working right, at least for those manufactured in February.

cushioncreeper: Posts: 3; Posted on: 31 Dec 06 13:58

I bought the earlier model via mail order in December 05, 6 months later I discovered that I couldn't copy from the HDD to DVD - the first time I had tried to do this. The machine simply would not recognise any type or brand of DVD if it was or had been blank - shop bought films worked fine. Contacted Liteon & ended up taking 5 days off work, each time I was waiting in for the unit to be collected. Eventually, Liteon agreed to send an upgraded unit - 5045B and uplift the old one at the same time. 4 months later, this new machine suffered the same fate. I had originally put a couple of films onto DVD so I knew this feature worked. Contacted Liteon, this time I lost 2 day's pay waiting for collection & then delivery of the repaired item. 2 months later, I have the self same problem - the machine simply doesn't recognise any DVD-r/rw, +r/rw, or even blank CDs. When it works, this machine is the business, when it breaks down, it's a real PITA getting it fixed. Rather than waste any more money taking time off work, I'm going to spend a day's wages & buy a standalone DVD recorder & link to this machine. It will pay for itself straight away because I won't need to take a second day off work. And BTW, I tried to upgrade the firmware but the machine won't recognise any disk that is or was blank, so I have a CD full of firmware upgrades now destined for the bin.

guest: Posts: 15284; Posted on: 09 Mar 07 14:06

niceeeeeeeeeeeeeee

guest: Posts: 15284; Posted on: 12 May 07 01:29

I really like this recorder, until it stopped recording my films from HD to DVD.... it does not recognize any brand of blank DVD that makes recording ( from HD to DVD) impossible. If anybody can suggest any solution, please do so..thanks.. ( Lite-on user from Italy)

guest: Posts: 15284; Posted on: 18 May 08 15:39

Model number LVW-5045A Serial Number 002535611284 LVW 5045 HARD DRIVE FAILURE **PLEASE HELP**

guest: Posts: 15284; Posted on: 20 May 08 23:28

I'm on my second LVW-5045GDL+, again, same as first didn't last a year, won't read any disks, so I can't record anything. there is obviously a problem with this product.

frankthorpe: Posts: 1; Posted on: 19 Jun 08 19:05

Can I programme the av channel?

gordon_s1942: Posts: 9; Posted on: 24 Jun 08 10:39

Not happy to read your problems regarding the difficulty of reading discs. I bought mine in sept 2005 and except for menu bounce its worked satifactorly untill the other day when I tried to play a disc it read 'Invalid'. I have it set at 'Region Free' and the disc's I want ed to play were 'Region 4'. Oddly it played Regions 1 & 2 without difficulty. Even after resetting to Region 4 it still didnt want to work. On VideoHelp site, some members reported replacing the DVD drive which in some cases worked. The label on the case says Lite-On IT' a DDW-813S but the mother board is by Sony with no discernable other details. As far as I am aware the HDD is still working ok. No one tried the swap option??

gordon_s1942: Posts: 9; Posted on: 25 Jun 08 15:00

I have found the Lite-On DVD Recorder and Home entertainment forum and I am now busy reading the postings on replacing the DVD drive.
This message was edited at: 25-06-2008 15:01

gordon_s1942: Posts: 9; Posted on: 29 Jun 08 08:42

Since my last posting I found a company in OZ who is a distributor for Lite-ON plus a dozen or so other brands of electronic items. The bad news is that there is NO after warranty expires service available for any Lite-On product. I was advised that during warranty the item is replaced not repaired due to cost but do they replace the whole item or cannabalise another so you get your original unit back? So depending on its price, you would have to seriously consider paying for an extended warranty or be prepared to replace the unit if it fails one day after the warranty runs out.

guest: Posts: 15284; Posted on: 13 Aug 08 01:13

Does anybody know where I can purchase Taiyo Yuden in Germany?

guest: Posts: 15284; Posted on: 16 Aug 08 17:00

hi iam in india

guest: Posts: 15284; Posted on: 09 Nov 08 19:58

Hi have got 2 lvw 5045, 1 from new, write error after 6 months wouldn't read after 7 replaced drive with multi writer havent had any problems since for last 4 years hooray cd freaks where i got instruction from. unfortunately i need an original drive to upgrade the firmware on the other to get it working properly. can anyone confirm that this is a 'LiteOn SOHW-1693S' thanks

guest: Posts: 15284; Posted on: 09 Apr 09 19:46

April 2009 Hi, i need to reflash my DDW-813S drive on my LiteOn LVW-5045B and need the firmware with updates can anyone supply it please? Thanks Alan glosvideo@btinternet.com

guest: Posts: 15284; Posted on: 12 Apr 09 17:44

A major flaw in this recorder is with the 'Timer Record'. The issue is that you cannot delete or remove the timer list in one go. All of these need to be done manually and will seriously piss off anyone using it. Rubbish design quite frankly. Come on LiteOn... get a new software update with a global delete option.

Cary19: Posts: 3; Posted on: 20 Apr 09 23:18

Does anyone know if the 5045 is capable of reading "dual layer discs"? Thanks!!!

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Lite-On LVW-5045 Review – Standalone HDD+DVD Recorder

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