dvd recorders
Posted by: artist on 21 October 2005
i am looking to replace my cheapo dvd recorder i am looking at a unit between £300-£400 sony,panasonic,this is only for recording as i have an arcam for playback
Posted on: 21 October 2005 by SimonJ
I have a Panasonic DMR-EH60 DVD/HDD freeview recorder and it is really cool to use and the quality of the recordings, especially off freeview, is amazing. Highly recommended.
Posted on: 21 October 2005 by Stuart M
I'm now on my 3rd Philips machine, 4th if you include a repair (Thanks to a certain shops cheap 3 year waranty).
In each case the recorder has worked fine but playing dual layer DVDs it starts to get problems reading the 2nd layer I believe that the laser alignment drifts.
Given up, will now use my PC to create DVDs and using a www.toppy.org to reccord TV I can grab the progs via USB. For transfering video to DVD will just plug the VCR into the PC.
BTW if archiving old videos to DVD I'd advise if it's something you treasure to make 2 copies as recorded DVDs are fragile. And always go for a known brand.
In each case the recorder has worked fine but playing dual layer DVDs it starts to get problems reading the 2nd layer I believe that the laser alignment drifts.
Given up, will now use my PC to create DVDs and using a www.toppy.org to reccord TV I can grab the progs via USB. For transfering video to DVD will just plug the VCR into the PC.
BTW if archiving old videos to DVD I'd advise if it's something you treasure to make 2 copies as recorded DVDs are fragile. And always go for a known brand.
Posted on: 22 October 2005 by Two-Sheds
I was sort of looking for a dvd recorder, but decided not getting one in the end because they could not record HD TV. I'm now starting to look at hard disc recorders and in particular one of them offered by my cable operator has something like tivo (no monthly fee though). In general the hard disc based recorders I've seen can record around 120 hours of standard tv or 40 hours of HD TV.
I don't know if you tend to keep your videos (I don't) so that will impact if you would consider a hard disc recorder, plus are you going to get HD TV in the near future and want to be future proofed?
I don't know if you tend to keep your videos (I don't) so that will impact if you would consider a hard disc recorder, plus are you going to get HD TV in the near future and want to be future proofed?
Posted on: 22 October 2005 by artist
I have an HD TV,i have heard that arcam are working on an hd recorder,as hd is a few years away(sky will be first but they are haveing problems)i am looing for something to tide me over
Posted on: 09 November 2005 by PJT
quote:Originally posted by Two-Sheds:
I was sort of looking for a dvd recorder, but decided not getting one in the end because they could not record HD TV. I'm now starting to look at hard disc recorders and in particular one of them offered by my cable operator has something like tivo (no monthly fee though). In general the hard disc based recorders I've seen can record around 120 hours of standard tv or 40 hours of HD TV.
I don't know if you tend to keep your videos (I don't) so that will impact if you would consider a hard disc recorder, plus are you going to get HD TV in the near future and want to be future proofed?
The HDD recorders are great. 250 hours of recording means that you can burn movies to dvd at your leisure (needed if you're editing out ads etc). I didn't go the PC way as the HDD was cheaper and sound is generally better thru even a Sony dvd - besided I don't own a working PC anyway...
Posted on: 12 November 2005 by artist
Thanks for the help i purcgased the panasonic DMR-EH50 which is fine i had a couple of problems at first but it now works fine
Posted on: 22 November 2005 by Rock Steady
quote:Panasonic DMR-EH60
Hmm, also been thinking about buying a dvd recorder / HDD.
Was thinking of the Topfield. only problem is if I want to burn to DVD would need to either upgrade my PC or buy a new one.
How easy is the Panasonic to use?
Is 80GB enough space?
Is the picture quality good?
Posted on: 22 November 2005 by Scott Ryan
I have a Sony RDR-GX7 and have been very pleased with its performance. Great video and sound from DVDs, good enough recording quality from cable or satellite.
I think Sony has a newer model than this now, as mine is about two years old. But, it was highly rated by What Hi-Fi some time ago, and it's never given me any trouble.
I am a big fan of Sony TV products, so it fit nicely with my TV - one remote, easy to set up and use.
I think Sony has a newer model than this now, as mine is about two years old. But, it was highly rated by What Hi-Fi some time ago, and it's never given me any trouble.
I am a big fan of Sony TV products, so it fit nicely with my TV - one remote, easy to set up and use.
Posted on: 23 November 2005 by Martin C
Hi there,
What about SONY RDR-HXD910, it even has the HDMI output and 250GB hard disk. I am thinking about to get this. The reviews seemed very promising. On the magazine said it is £500, but it turns out to be £600?
It is well worth to investigate further.
cheers
Martin
What about SONY RDR-HXD910, it even has the HDMI output and 250GB hard disk. I am thinking about to get this. The reviews seemed very promising. On the magazine said it is £500, but it turns out to be £600?
It is well worth to investigate further.
cheers
Martin
Posted on: 23 November 2005 by Steve2701
Rock,
The Panasonics are an absolute doddle to use & as for the size of the HDD.. just how much do you want to store? There is plenty of space for us on there. You can end up storing so much that you forget what you actually want to watch.
You can record from the HDD to either DVD-r (permanent) or re-recordable -ram discs (the -ram is an I think as we have not tried this one). Picture q? I doubt you can tell the difference between source & recorded if recorded in one of the higher quality modes, ie, not 'long play'.
The Panasonics are an absolute doddle to use & as for the size of the HDD.. just how much do you want to store? There is plenty of space for us on there. You can end up storing so much that you forget what you actually want to watch.
You can record from the HDD to either DVD-r (permanent) or re-recordable -ram discs (the -ram is an I think as we have not tried this one). Picture q? I doubt you can tell the difference between source & recorded if recorded in one of the higher quality modes, ie, not 'long play'.
Posted on: 24 November 2005 by SimonJ
The Panasonic DMR-EH60 I have, cost me £430 it has a 200GB hard drive and can record onto DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RAM & DVD-RW as well.
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/dvd-recorders/dmreh60d/index.htm
If I record from SKY via RGB scart the playback excellent and unless you really looked hard you wouldn’t know the difference. It also has a freeview and analogue tuner, the picture via freeview is much much better than SKY and freeview uses higher bandwidth. If you record from the inbuilt freeview tuner I think it may skip a digital to analogue convertion stage or two and the playback is indistinguishable from live. You also have the very handy EPG (Electronic Program Guide) so that you can pick what you want to record from a guide like SKY+ which makes it a doddle to program.
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/dvd-recorders/dmreh60d/index.htm
If I record from SKY via RGB scart the playback excellent and unless you really looked hard you wouldn’t know the difference. It also has a freeview and analogue tuner, the picture via freeview is much much better than SKY and freeview uses higher bandwidth. If you record from the inbuilt freeview tuner I think it may skip a digital to analogue convertion stage or two and the playback is indistinguishable from live. You also have the very handy EPG (Electronic Program Guide) so that you can pick what you want to record from a guide like SKY+ which makes it a doddle to program.
Posted on: 26 November 2005 by artist
The panasonic is a doddle to use it has enough of a hard drive and i noticed that dixons are selling it for £249 richersounds £279 for multi region version
Posted on: 07 December 2005 by PJT
quote:Originally posted by PJT:
The HDD recorders are great. 250 hours of recording means that you can burn movies to dvd at your leisure (needed if you're editing out ads etc). I didn't go the PC way as the HDD was cheaper and sound is generally better thru even a Sony dvd - besided I don't own a working PC anyway...
The b*rds - there is now a 400GB HDD recorder WITH HDMI...
Posted on: 09 December 2005 by timster
I have an older panasonic dvd recorder without a hard drive. Problem is that it don't record hi-def. Anyone know if the latest ones support this (panasonic or other)?
ta very much
ta very much
Posted on: 19 December 2005 by Rock Steady
As I understand it, nobody yet broadcasts in High Definition and you cant record in high definition to hard drive or dvd yet.
Although the quality of demo sets is outstanding it seems a bit pointless at the moment, and worth waiting a year or two for the technology to sort its self out.
Although the quality of demo sets is outstanding it seems a bit pointless at the moment, and worth waiting a year or two for the technology to sort its self out.
Posted on: 19 December 2005 by Martin Payne
quote:Originally posted by artist:
The panasonic is a doddle to use it has enough of a hard drive and i noticed that dixons are selling it for £249 richersounds £279 for multi region version
I was looking for a DVDR with Freeview in November. Richer had the non-HD unit for £220 (multi-region) or £450 for the DVD+HD version.
We ended up with the £220 DMRES20 to complement our Pace PVR.
cheers, Martin
Posted on: 09 January 2006 by ChrisG
Hi
I have a Sony RDRHX710 recorder which has a 160gb hard disc and also a freeview tuner.
It produces exceptionally good recordings but doesn't have HDMI although it does have component prog scan etc. £380 from PRC. I'm very pleased with it.
Chris
I have a Sony RDRHX710 recorder which has a 160gb hard disc and also a freeview tuner.
It produces exceptionally good recordings but doesn't have HDMI although it does have component prog scan etc. £380 from PRC. I'm very pleased with it.
Chris
Posted on: 14 January 2006 by HTK
We have a Panasonic DMR-E55. The recording mechanism has just packed up for the second time, although playback is fine. It's now going on 2 years old and we're going to skip it. It's our considered opinion that further investment in Panasonic DVD recorders would be money down the toilet. Is this view too narrow? Are their more recent efforts of higher quality?
We have a Humax HDD Freeview box that has proved so reliable and efficient that it's pretty much taken for granted. But we need a good DVD recorder for archiving what we want to keep. Any suggestions from happy users? Might go Sony - havn't heard many bad things from that direction. Excellent playback of pre recorded DVDs is a top priority - he sais, stating the bleedin' obvious! In this the pespect the Panasonic has been very good, to give credit where credit is due.
Thanks
Harry
We have a Humax HDD Freeview box that has proved so reliable and efficient that it's pretty much taken for granted. But we need a good DVD recorder for archiving what we want to keep. Any suggestions from happy users? Might go Sony - havn't heard many bad things from that direction. Excellent playback of pre recorded DVDs is a top priority - he sais, stating the bleedin' obvious! In this the pespect the Panasonic has been very good, to give credit where credit is due.
Thanks
Harry
Posted on: 29 January 2006 by Van the man
Sony 710 is my one at the moment, 160 gig hd plus freeview which is an added bonus, can use the freeview as an addition to the sky+
Posted on: 29 January 2006 by Van the man
quote:Originally posted by HTK:
We have a Panasonic DMR-E55. The recording mechanism has just packed up for the second time, although playback is fine. It's now going on 2 years old and we're going to skip it. It's our considered opinion that further investment in Panasonic DVD recorders would be money down the toilet. Is this view too narrow? Are their more recent efforts of higher quality?
We have a Humax HDD Freeview box that has proved so reliable and efficient that it's pretty much taken for granted. But we need a good DVD recorder for archiving what we want to keep. Any suggestions from happy users? Might go Sony - havn't heard many bad things from that direction. Excellent playback of pre recorded DVDs is a top priority - he sais, stating the bleedin' obvious! In this the pespect the Panasonic has been very good, to give credit where credit is due.
Thanks
Harry
We had a similar issue with the panasonic e85, just on or over 2 years old and its gone boobies up, hence the move to the sony 710.
Will obviously have to see how the sony goes, but at the moment panasonic have lost me for custom.
Posted on: 07 February 2006 by ChrisG
Van
I have the Sony 710, any idea what happens if I record a freeview radio programme to hard disc and then burn to DVD? i.e what format does it produce the audio in on the disc, it would be good to record live concerts etc and burn eventually via a computer to CD.
Chris
I have the Sony 710, any idea what happens if I record a freeview radio programme to hard disc and then burn to DVD? i.e what format does it produce the audio in on the disc, it would be good to record live concerts etc and burn eventually via a computer to CD.
Chris