Samsung DVD-VR357 DVD Recorder / VCR Combo

We bought this for about $199.00 at Best Buy, it was only one of two choices for a DVD Recorder with VCR included. The other option was a Sony for $50 more - but with the same features, so we opted for the Samsung.

We were able to set it up quickly and record a CBS tv show with ease, but when we played it back - BOOOO it was very grainy and blotchy, with digitized smarmling all over the screen. We used a brand new sony DVD -RW disc, so maybe we should try a plain DVD -R and see if it's clearer, but at this point we're just taking it back and getting the Sony otherwise we might as well just record to vhs!