dvd recorders.. but which one???

bargaingirl

Hi I am a total novice when it comes to audio equipment, have seen on other threads that the Panasonic dmr EX75 is a good dvd recorder to purchase!

But why.... what does it have that other & much cheaper ones dont!

What is a good price?? please help cos I am sick of my tapes being chewed up by video recoder and I have to move with the times...I suppose!

Thanks for any help given

Bargaingirl!

Mercenary

When you have a lot of spare time, take a look around this place: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=90

They discuss the good and bad of various brands of DVD Recorders with and without HDD plus other types of PVR.

And here: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/technology/dvrs/reviews/

Also here: http://www.homecinemachoice.com/


Research, and lots of it, is a good thing before you buy .

bargaingirl

Thanks for the advice, Mercenary, but still think its gonna be too complicated for little ol me!

but will definately have a look ta!

Mercenary

Well, speaking as another girlie, I too found it hard going at first....but the more you read and find out, the more sense it starts to make and so you can make informed decisions for yourself based on what use you want to make of an item.
Have a notepad ready while reading the information and make notes of relevant details or advice.

As an illustration.....
I bought my Sony HDD-DVDR which fitted my requirements based on my research (which took a few weeks) and have not regretted it.

Some of my research at the time ( Jan-Feb 2006) showed that the newer models due out later were to be integrated with Freeview and I didn't want that - as if there was a problem with accessing Freeview in my house, the machine would not detect an analogue signal and therefore would not work.
So I made my informed choice of a standalone version of HDD-DVDR as I could then add a Freeview box into the equation if I wanted to (which I have recently done, now that I've finally managed to get a decent signal. It's a long story :rolleyes: ).
The best thing about this setup is that if the Freeview bit goes wrong, I can just buy another box....whereas if it was integrated.....well......

HTH

f1charlie

Panasonic DMR EX75 - why more expensive than others?

- has a hard disk drive built in, means no need for DVDs at all (until you want to keep a recording then it can be transferred off the hard disk to DVD)
- Freeview tuner built-in (as well as analogue), although why Freeview adds so much more to the price, I don't know. I suspect it's the manufacturers making the most of it while they can
- Panasonic get good reviews for recording quality
- Panasonic has a good reputation for reliability

If you don't want the hard drive, look at the DMR-EZ25, ~£200.

If you don't want Freeview, look at the DMR-ES15, ~£150.

Another advantage that Panasonic claim, is the quick start-up. They say that the recorder is ready to record 1 second after putting the disc in. Having had a Samsung briefly, which took about 30-40 seconds before you could actually record, this is an advantage for those last minute decisions to record something.

I don't have a DVD recorder at the moment, but I would seriously consider a Panasonic.

coolagarry

Both the above are a little cheaper here
http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=PANA-DMRES15-R2

f1charlie

They've got the ES20 and not the EZ25. I think the ES20 is an older model, but what the other differences are I don't know.

bargaingirl

Another question.. Especially after a few coments made...

I dont need freeview as I have NTL digital, if I purchased this would I then only be able to record through freeview??

Told you I really dont have a clue.. definately want HDD and quick set up!

any advice?

Looked through a few sites which compare but I really dont know what I am looking for.. we have 7.1 surround sound at mo and an amazing receiver(I think thats what hubby called it!) Just want rid of using tapes but dont want dvd recorder to be obsolete 6 months down the line!!

f1charlie

I don't know anything about NTL or how it connects (SCART?), but I assume it allows you to watch one channel while recording another.
Just replace your VCR with the DVDR in your setup.
Since you don't want Freeview, you have a much wider (and cheaper!) choice of machines.

Gonzo

f1charlie wrote:

I don't know anything about NTL or how it connects (SCART?), but I assume it allows you to watch one channel while recording another.
Just replace your VCR with the DVDR in your setup.
Since you don't want Freeview, you have a much wider (and cheaper!) choice of machines.

You won't be able to watch a different channel to the one you are recording as the Panasonic doesn't have a twin tuner type setup. I have to switch to my TV's analogue channels if I'm taping something on Sky but don't want to watch it yet. You can however watch something else on the disk at the same time while you are recording which is nice.
They are very good though (I have the DREM20D or something, with freeview). The operating system is simple to use and is much more user-friendly than some I have seen. The RAM disks are ace for recording as well, as they work a bit like a mini hard drive and can time-slip etc.
I would get one with a hard drive if you can afford it though, as the disks are only 4 hours long and they soon fill up if you don't often catch up! It's not a great problem, it would just be handy.

Hope that helps.

Mercenary

I would say that if you have your VCR currently connected to your system and you absolutely definitely know that you can record to it from the cable box AND change what's on the screen to another channel with the recording being unaffected....then you can, as f1charlie said, just swap in a Hard Drive DVDRecorder to replace the VCR. Have a couple of practice runs with the VCR before deciding.
Of course, unless you also have an RF aerial connection, you won't be able to change the tv screen to show any analogue (normal tv) channels anyway.....

Otherwise it might be the same situation as we have for our Telewest cable for the main tv. If we ever want to record anything from a cable channel the programme HAS to be actually showing on the tv screen...which seems to be a bit silly as we can't then watch anything else on that tv. I've tried all sorts of things but no luck. Luckily we have a couple of others in the house (one with the Freeview box plus HDD-DVDR) as alternatives.