What is the best DVD recorder with hard drive

[Professor777]

I would like to copy my 8mm tapes, my VHS tapes, my DVD's to the hard drive on a DVD recorder and then edit them. Then I would like to make several copies of them to give to my children. Therefore, I need to be able to imput to the recorder from my sony camcorder which is the 8mm tapes, from my VHS player or a VHS player in the recorder, and from my DVD player. I would also like to save TV shows to the hard drive and the edit and make a DVD. What would be the best recorder to buy?

I have looked at the Panasonic DMR EH55S, the Pioneer, DVR-520H-s, the Toshiba ? and the Samsong ?. Some in the store and some online. Actually, the sales people in the stores seemed to have less knowledge about these recorders than I have. And I know nothing.LOL

Please advise which recorder would give the best quality and do what I would like it to do. I would like to keep the price under $800 if possible.

Thanks
Tom

[trhouse]

I would suggest you go the manufacturers web sites to see which are their current models. The Panasonic DMR-EH55S is current but the Pioneer DVR-520H is from three generations ago.

The Pioneers are the only brand I am aware of which allow a dvd-video mode disk to be transferred to the hard drive without re-encoding, then as many copies as you wish can be made from the hard drive backup. The hard drive backup cannot be edited however.

The above feature may not be that important if you are going to do frame accurate edits ( vs GOP level edits which are accurate to maybe 0.5-1 sec. ). Frame accurate editing requires re-encoding on these machines.

Most of the new models can handle more media types including dual/double layer disks. None of these brands will allow you to make copies of commercial dvds with out some external help.

[NiteLite]

If checking out Pioneer check out their new model 640H-S. You can check specs at their site... D/L the manual at their site if you register (any reg info will work). The 640H appears to have fixed some problems of their pervious models and can be bought for around $370. final.
After enjoying my Pioneer 220S The 640 w/ 120gb HD looks good for a fair price.
There's a thread about it at this forum that contains a lot of user feedback. Good luck...NL

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=fc65efb8deb3d3665a0a03e7ffa61508&t=683...1&page=1&pp=30

[FulciLives]

I have the Pioneer DVR-531H-s so if you ask me ... I would buy the Pioneer DVR-640H-s

I understand it is about the same performance wise as what I have but without the "dreaded" TVGOS issues that mine has ... not that the TVGOS thing was even that BIG of a deal ... as it wasn't.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Professor777]

Thank you for you advice. I have looked at the Panasonic DMR-EH55S and the Pioneer DVR-640H-s. Are they both about the same except for the hard drive? Would either one be a good recorder to buy?

Thanks again for your advice,
Tom

[FulciLives]

The Pioneer is without a doubt better than the Panasonic.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[NiteLite]

Thank you for you advice. I have looked at the Panasonic DMR-EH55S and the Pioneer DVR-640H-s. Are they both about the same except for the hard drive? Would either one be a good recorder to buy?

Thanks again for your advice,
Tom

Tom, I for one would not recommend something I would not consider myself.
The pioneer has a long history of providing very good to excellent quality, ease of use, and a lot of overall customer satisfaction.
FulciLives has posted here and other threads about his satisfaction with his 531. Many more have also.
The AVS forun thread will answer lots of questions and if you have follow up questions I'm sure you can get help here.
I've recently ordered the Pioneer 640hs. My only gripe with Pioneer is they have replaced the Optical output from my Pioneer 220s to a coaxial on the 640. A step backwards to me due to HT receivers having many more optical options than coaxial.

For me, lately, making decisions are hard. But the Pioneer was relatively an easy choice over the competition.
Good luck and hope this thread has helped.
NL

[trhouse]

Just to make it more confusing. Even thought I have a Pioneer 531H and am very happy with it, I have made fewer than 20 dvd's with it. The bulk of the dvd's I have created for a big family project ( now about 800 ) have been made with either the Panasonic ES10, ES30V combo, or the ES35V combo. The relatives by a simple majority prefer the captures from the Panasonics. Since they are paying for the media and have loaned me the ES30V and ES35V to use, I record to whatever they like.

The only time the 531H let me down was when I loaned it to a friend for recording from high resolution security cameras with 500+ lines of resolution. The 531H does not have the resolution of the Panasonics even in XP mode and in video surveillance where identification is important, the Panasonic provided sharper images. Earlier Pioneers actually performed better in that respect. For example, the Pioneer 320 ( the 220 with DV input ) is sharper than my newer 531H.

Here is a link to tests of the 531H where you can compare it to many other brands including JVC, Lite-On, Panasonic, and earlier Pioneers.

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=279460&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[Seeker47]

I have the Pioneer DVR-531H-s so if you ask me ... I would buy the Pioneer DVR-640H-s

Agreed. Maybe the picture sharpness isn't the absolute best out there (haven't read the reviews on the 640 yet, tho'.), but on ease of use and overall quality of the design and build, I'd say the Pioneer is probably the pick of the litter. The removal of the firewire connection isn't that big a deal for me, but it is disappointing to hear they only increased the HDD size from 80 to 120G. That can probably be changed -- as it could be on the 520 -- however I wouldn't attempt it until after the warranty period. It is also disheartening to learn that Pioneer is pulling out of the DVD recorder business, and that the 640 appears to be their final model. From what I've seen, there are some good reasons why their gear cost more than most other brands. Despite all this, I would seriously consider buying a 640 while it's still available, should I decide to get another unit.

One other thing really does concern me. I'm pretty sure that my current cable provider does NOT pass the dreaded broadcast flag, for the vast majorityt of their rather overpriced content. At the same time, I suspect that the 520 may be relatively "primitive", in terms of how much it discerns or obeys the BF. So, I'm wondering how much that may have changed by the time of the 640 ? But I'll probably wind up getting a decent TBC anyway, for other reasons.

[Marvingj]

I'm partial Toshiba but also have Pioneer & JVC. The RD-XS34 is a multidrive device. It is capable of recording to its own internal 160 GB hard drive, DVD-R/RW, or DVD-RAM. The DVD-RAM allows for the same kind of editing as on the HDD, plus the device manages a library of the shows recorded to this type of media. The device also allows for high speed dubbing from the hard drive to DVD media, as well as editing out of commercials from recorded shows. Playback can also be done from VideoCD, Super VideoCD, JPEG discs, and MP3/Windows Media discs (though protected WMA files from Napster or Yahoo stores will not play).

The RD-XS34 also has an IEEE 1394 (i.Link/FireWire) port in the front, to allow for attaching similarly equipped DV cameras, so you can transfer your video to the hard drive, edit it, and burn it back to DVD. Other input/output ports include. The sx-52 & 54 are the same as above but with HDMI, 160 GB & 250 GB. Right now Toshiba is try to work on a Blu-ray/HD-DVD convergence But everyone in industry Slams them, so they probably will back out until the war is over.....

[handyguy]

Get one with a HD, it makes thing so much easier.

Also, Pioneer is getting out of the recorder market, so consider a panasonic. Or read, the dvd recorder comment section, left column.

[FulciLives]

Get one with a HD, it makes thing so much easier.

Also, Pioneer is getting out of the recorder market, so consider a panasonic. Or read, the dvd recorder comment section, left column.

Pioneer has denied this rumor.

Also ... even if true ... why would you pass up the superior Pioneer on the market now for an inferior Panasonic?

I mean just because Pioneer may not make another newer unit doesn't discount the current model.

But like I said they have denied that ugly rumor.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Beavis]

The only time the 531H let me down was when I loaned it to a friend for recording from high resolution security cameras with 500+ lines of resolution. The 531H does not have the resolution of the Panasonics even in XP mode and in video surveillance where identification is important, the Panasonic provided sharper images. Earlier Pioneers actually performed better in that respect. For example, the Pioneer 320 ( the 220 with DV input ) is sharper than my newer 531H.

As you must know, that Pioneer has quite a few tweaks and adjustments that are possible to the picture / video quality. Have you played with these extensively before concluding that the 531H is always a bit softer / less sharp than your Panasonic?

[trhouse]

As you must know, that Pioneer has quite a few tweaks and adjustments that are possible to the picture / video quality. Have you played with these extensively before concluding that the 531H is always a bit softer / less sharp than your Panasonic?

If you go to this thread,

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=279460&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

you will see that every adjustment on the 531H was tested to see how much range they have and there was no significant improvement. You can also see that Gshelley61's Pioneer DVR-320 test is sharper in SP mode than the newer DVR-531 is in XP mode. As shown by Gshelley61, it is the much maligned Lite-On that is the leader for sharpness in the resolution tests of all these products.

That said, it does not mean I am unhappy with the 531H, it does fine with regular TV programming. I use it mostly to record many programs which I can fast forward through to see if they are worth viewing so the hdd is very nice.

[edit] I almost forgot to mention, even though I do not use the 531H to record much for transfer to dvd, it has a feature which I believe no other brand has. It can copy a dvd-video mode disk to the hdd and then from the hdd to dvd all in high speed mode ( no re-encoding ). I use this feature quite a bit because of the big family project I am involved in which is transferring several families and generations tapes to dvd. I can use the 531H to make duplicate dvd's so the computer does not need to be used. Obviously, this does not work for copyrighted material.

[davideck]

I give high marks to the Toshiba HDD/DVD Recorder.

Excellent Picture Quality.
Excellent TBC for analog inputs.
Extensive set of functions and setup parameters.

It also doubles as a great External TBC/Framestore/Proc Amp (minus MV removal) for a Computer capturing setup.

I prefer the RD-KX50/SX52 vintage. This machine has no TV Guide, but instead has a quick and easy programming Menu (and its standby power is less than 1 watt). It also has an HDMI interface with upconversion.

[lordsmurf]

From what I have read, the Pioneer DVD recorders of the future may or may not be Pioneer-manufactured products. That part of the information has not been clearly addresses. It might be re-brand in the future.

Anyway....

Also ... even if true ... why would you pass up the superior Pioneer on the market now for an inferior Panasonic? I mean just because Pioneer may not make another newer unit doesn't discount the current model.

... this is so true.

[trhouse]

I noticed the new Pioneer DVR-640H manual says it does LP mode ( 4 hours ) at 720 by 480 resolution. If it is a re-brand, the only other brand that does that is Panasonic.

Agreed. Maybe the picture sharpness isn't the absolute best out there (haven't read the reviews on the 640 yet, tho'.), but on ease of use and overall quality of the design and build, I'd say the Pioneer is probably the pick of the litter. The removal of the firewire connection isn't that big a deal for me, but it is disappointing to hear they only increased the HDD size from 80 to 120G.

The new DVR-640H has a 160 GB hdd.

[FulciLives]

I noticed the new Pioneer DVR-640H manual says it does LP mode ( 4 hours ) at 720 by 480 resolution. If it is a re-brand, the only other brand that does that is Panasonic..

The Pioneer DVR-640H-S is NOT a re-brand. No one has ever said that. What was said ... a recent article somewhere did say that Pioneer would do this in the future with future models but Pioneer then denied that article by saying it was not true.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Seeker47]

a recent article somewhere did say that Pioneer would do this in the future with future models but Pioneer then denied that article by saying it was not true.

From other threads and links here, what we seem to have are dueling articles or press releases, mostly from industry rags or the Far East. The actual facts will be known in due course. But if the recorders (particularly the better, more expensive ones) haven't been selling all that well, it certainly lends credence to those stories.