Which HDD DVD recorder the best ?

[come_mon]

Hi,

I'm looking for one 160GB HDD DVD recorder. The most important requirements for the recorder's are:

1. durability - I need to record several hours TV programmes per day and I will often view recorded video files on recorder HDD, burning HDD content to DVD disc and doing online recording all at the same time;
2. Compatibility - can read & write various kinds e.g. DVD+/-RW & brands of DVD disc;
3. Speed of burning DVD disc - expect the recorder can burn one full 4.7GB DVD disc around 10 minutes;
4. User friendly video file searching functions - that enable me to locate requested video file from recorder HDD easily;
5. Accessible by computer - I haven't found any recorder has this capability although I found once one model of Toshiba recorder has LAN port at its back;
6. Other more advanced features such as HDMI, HDTV compatibility were not that important to me.

I'd just walked through several electronics appliances shops and found below candidates HDD DVD recorders:

1. Pioneer DVR-440H-S
2. Panasonic DMR-EH57
3. Philips DVDR3570H
4. LG RH277H
5. Toshiba HD-E1
6. Sony RDR-HX750

The prices of Pioneer, Panasonic, LG & Toshiba are similar (difference within 2%). The price of Sony model is explicitly 10% higher than average while Philips model is 10% below average if including the free coupon (exclude the coupon, its price is just average). I chatted with different salesman of the shops. They gave me feedback that quality of Philips model was actually similar to Pioneer model (Actually they wouldn't tell me which model was obviously inferior to others). One salesman told me he ran Philips recorder continuously in the demo room and there was no problem with Philip recorders' durability. Another salesman said Philips' model could read some DVD disc not readable by Pioneers' model. They all said Pioneers' model was more expensive than Philips' model because Pioneer was the first to produce HDD DVD recorder.

I would like to ask your comment on the above DVD recorders. Based on my requirements which was the best (ignore price consideration). Thanks for comment !

[wabjxo]

Here's a short thread on the Philips 3570 that might help.

[come_mon]

Concerning requirement 1 above, I have below supplement:

1a. While HDD to DVD disc burning is ongoing, I must be able to view current TV channel;
1b. TV programme recording and HDD to DVD disc burning must be allowed to proceed simultaneously, at the same time, I must be able to continue watching TV (at the channel which recording ongoing of course);

[come_mon]

Hi,

I'd just walked through several electronics appliances shops and found below candidates HDD DVD recorders:

1. Pioneer DVR-440H-S
2. Panasonic DMR-EH57
3. Philips DVDR3570H
4. LG RH277H
5. Toshiba HD-E1
6. Sony RDR-HX750

My mistake, the pioneer model should be DVR-540H-S, sorry!

[jjeff]

I agree with Wabjxo. I have a US model 3575, that I believe does all that you requested, with the exception of #5, able to access by computer. And from what little I've read about the 3570, it sounds like it has even more features than the 3575.
I'm happy with my 3575. Not familiar with any of the other models though.

[come_mon]

I agree with Wabjxo. I have a US model 3575, that I believe does all that you requested, with the exception of #5, able to access by computer. And from what little I've read about the 3570, it sounds like it has even more features than the 3575.
I'm happy with my 3575. Not familiar with any of the other models though.

Tks jjeff! Did you hear about 'Time Shift Buffer function' not functioning in DVDR3455H ? I'm not sure if that's true because I just read about it in one forum.

[jjeff]

No I haven't heard about it. Is that similar the the "pause live TV" button on the Philips 3575? If so, I haven't really played with it enough to notice anything not working.

[redwudz]

nina96, please don't dig up old threads to continue your discussion. Create a new topic if you like, but please leave out the other comments and stick to the topic. Continuing to dig up old threads in this manner will get you a warning card.

Moderator redwudz

[nina96]

nina96, please don't dig up old threads to continue your discussion. Create a new topic if you like, but please leave out the other comments and stick to the topic. Continuing to dig up old threads in this manner will get you a warning card.

Moderator redwudz

I apologize. My posts were honest and legitimate, and then I was harassed by another poster, and for some reason, I was the one who was punished for it. I needed a place to give a final response. I noticed that no one issued a warning to him/her. Anyway, I am sorry.

[johns0]

nina96, please don't dig up old threads to continue your discussion. Create a new topic if you like, but please leave out the other comments and stick to the topic. Continuing to dig up old threads in this manner will get you a warning card.

Moderator redwudz

I apologize. My posts were honest and legitimate, and then I was harassed by another poster, and for some reason, I was the one who was punished for it. I needed a place to give a final response. I noticed that no one issued a warning to him/her. Anyway, I am sorry.

You weren't punished,just too much name calling in that thread so i closed it.

[nina96]

Hdd recorders for the U.S are not lost. I have conversed with many who feel as I do that our digital rights are being denied. A poster on another forum pointed out that we won the battle with analog copyrighting, and so we simply need to be vigilant in demanding our digital rights. Once those are secured, companies will bring the recorders here, prices will become affordable, and they'll sell like hotcakes.

But what is the best brand in terms of reliability, longevity, and ease of use? I hear that LG and JVC are low-grade, but is that snobbery or reality? Panasonic seems more expensive imo, but I personally have had such great luck with them. Is Phillips a reputable brand?

[nina96]

nina96, please don't dig up old threads to continue your discussion. Create a new topic if you like, but please leave out the other comments and stick to the topic. Continuing to dig up old threads in this manner will get you a warning card.

Moderator redwudz

I apologize. My posts were honest and legitimate, and then I was harassed by another poster, and for some reason, I was the one who was punished for it. I needed a place to give a final response. I noticed that no one issued a warning to him/her. Anyway, I am sorry.

You weren't punished,just too much name calling in that thread so i closed it.

Ok, fair enough. I just wanted it known that I did not instigate it, and I was being harassed. An informative exchange was being thwarted by one poster and as a result we all got shut out. I wanted a chance to defend myself against personal attacks. I will be more careful in the future. I'm sorry.

[JCWBobC]

This is the newest of the Magnavox HDD models:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DPKOKK/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I have the model before this and it's been great.

[oldfart13]

Last of the LGs here in Canada:

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/lg-electronics-lg-250gb-hdd-1080p-up-converting...4bb35a587ben02

This one records in Mpeg 4 as well as Mpeg 2. Haven't tested one to find out what pic quality is like though.

[nina96]

Great info! Thanks!