Buying a recorder... Another Panasonic?

[justinz]

Hi folks. I'm shopping for another recorder, so I'm hoping you all can help me sort out some questions.

First stop -- what simple units are available... I noticed that I can buy a refurb E75V for the living room, which is the same generation as my E95H, so good compatibility... but... the greed for features is setting in! (I have a Panasonic DMR-E95H, and I like it except for the lack of Mute and Last-channel. Its cluncky interface isn't great, but its PROs are that it has TVGuide+, only records ahead when I tell it to, and it's very quiet in our bedroom, which is invaluable when it turns on just after midnight to record TVGuide+ data.) BUT, I can't in good conscience buy another PVR that's missing Mute and channel recall. (I had bought the E95H unaware of this, but the connected TV is a Pany so I use one remote and make due without)).

Next stop -- better, faster, stronger... I see there's a HDMI model -- EH75V (another VCR combo, handy) -- or the EH55 (no VCR, but 250GB vs only 80GB no HDD). But No Mute or Last Channel!!

Which brings me to my question... what units do this (in order of importance):
- TVGuide+
- HDD
- Learning remote (with Mute!)
- DVD-RAM, DVD-RW DL (as a minumum)
- Ethernet
- Good on-screen display menus
- Upgradeable hard drive and firmware (the Pany allows updating firmware, but when all hell breaks loose it must be sent to Panasonic for a full firmware load)

Since sound and quietness is a factor, I don't want a linux or Windows media-based, allways on system, so a consumer unit is the only way.

Since I don't yet have HDTV or widescreen AND I also need a VCR, I may go with the sub$200 refub E75V just to get me by until the industry matures a bit more. That unit at least has an 80GB HDD (oops, no HDD) and some of my must-haves.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT -- Oops, I had thought the E75V had a hard drive, but it doesn't. Sorry.

-Jaz

[trhouse]

You might want to check those model numbers again. The E75V has no hard drive. It is a combo unit.

[MJA]

bestbuy got the Liteon for $99,but no HDD.I think Wal-MART still carry the Pioneer 531H with 80GB HDD FOR $289

[justinz]

You might want to check those model numbers again. The E75V has no hard drive. It is a combo unit.

Well color me stupid -- dang! I though I was onto something

Well, on the bright side, I just stumbled onto this thread, where other important issues are discussed such as build quality, use of heat sinks, etc. And then there's hard drive upgrades (e.g. another thread) -- add that to my short list (I've had my current VCR since 1986 -- 20 years!)

-Jaz

[CrayonEater]

Just a head's up from a fellow Panasonic owner - I upgraded the old firmware in my DMR-E50 and the video quality was noticeably worse in the new (circa April of 2005) firmware. Most manufacturers recycle code - especially things like MPEG-2 compressors and decompressors. Altohugh this is the only DVD recorder I've ever owned and I have little to compare it to, you may well find that Panasonic's renowned video quality isn't quite what it used to be.

[justinz]

While we're on the topic of Panasonic, I just thoguth I'd mention that my E95H, when new, had some issues and quickly became DOA (but due to moving it took me 2 months to unbox it, so I had to deal with Pany for repair.) Pany replaced the boards and loaded the latest firmware, and it's only frozen once in the 9 months it's been in use.

I've decided to aviod Pany for now....

Thanks all!

[ofbarea]

On the other hand, I get very good transfer from VHS to DVD-R using my Panasonic DMR-ES10. But for other activities, I think you will get better result with a Pioneer unit.

[oldfart13]

Lotsa new recorders coming out. You may want to hold off. I was actually looking at the new LG 790 myself (see my other thread) as I don't like the way Panasonic has decided to handle dual layer discs (burn 1 layer, finalize, burn second layer, finalize seems like a bad idea especially for long recordings)....

[CrayonEater]

Exactly - Pany's niche is VHS transfers. Half the reason I bought the Panasonic is to do VHS transfers (the other being it's highly-touted video quality). I've heard horror stories about VHS transfers using other machines or capture cards, but the Pany made them easy (so far ... knock on wood!) Of course, if you have the dough for a good TBC then you have the luxury of picking any DVD recorder for VHS transfers...

[oldfart13]

I use the E80 exclusively for Satellite TV recordings and never use LP (4 hour mode) unless it's for music only channels that I convert to MP3 for portable use. I use my converted Daytek DP-30 exclusively for VHS/Beta transfers. It helps that it's also hooked up to an editing deck that originally cost over $1,500USD that does a superb job of playback of old tapes. I was looking at the LG 790 as it has a large HDD (250 Gig) as well as it will accept all my DVD rewritables (+RW, -RW and RAM). This would mean I don't have to throw out anything when I replace one of the decks. I think that would do me until Hi-Def recording becomes viable.