Standalone dvd recorders which one to buy?

[FulciLives]

From all my reading it seems that the PIONEER models and the PANASONCI models are the best. The PIONEER models seem to have the best quality picture but at present the current models are rather expensive and they don't have a unit that has a built-in HDD like PANASONIC has available on some units. However PIONEER will soon be releasing some new models and at least one will have a built-in HDD.

For the money (much cheaper) I would go with one of the PANASONIC units. The popular E-50 and E-60 record to DVD-R and DVD-RAM but do not have built-in HDD. The two models are mostly similiar with the main decideing factor being the more expensive E-60 has a DV in port (firewire) whereas the E-50 does not. The E-80 is mostly like the E-50 (no DV in port) but comes with a built-in 80GB HDD. This is very usefull for recording from TV since you are not limited to 2 hours on a DVD-R/DVD-RAM disc. I find that the 3 hour mode is OK (even though the resolution gets cut from full D1 to half D1) but anything over 3 hours just uses a bitrate that is too low for me. So with the HDD you can record at say the 2 hour mode and fit MANY MANY hours then break it up anyway you want to then save to DVD-RAM etc.

In fact the DVD-RAM format is great because you can record/delete record/delete MANY times over and it works much better than DVD-RW or DVD+RW as far as durability. Also you can buy a cheap $50 or so Toshiba DVD-ROM drive that can also read DVD-RAM discs so if you have a computer DVD burner this is a good way to transfer your recordings from the standalone to the computer then create a CUSTOM DVD-R (or DVD+R whichever your computer burner supports) with a nice kewl menu and custom chapters etc. If you don't already have a computer DVD burner then consider getting the PANASONIC computer based DVD burner that can write/read to DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM and even CD-R etc.

The PANASONIC units of stand alone DVD recorders have features that are made to make the most of analog recordings. For instance they have a built-in TBC (time base corrector) and 3D adaptive comb filter. Such features works wonders with converting ANALOG video to DIGITAL and many other cheaper solutions (such as the mentioned APEX unit) do not have such things meaning that you could run into problems with less than steller quality video sources (especially VHS/BETA tapes).

The PANASONIC E-50 is about $100 more than the APEX but that is at a retail store. Right now you can buy the E-50 on-line for around $400 which is the same price the APEX is currently selling for in retail stores. I don't see any reason to buy the APEX when the cost is about the same and you don't get features such as the aforementioned TBC and 3D adaptive comb filter etc.

If you want a unit with a HDD then you either should go with the E-80 otherwise you can wait for the new PIONEER model or the new TOSHIBA model. Also PANASONIC will soon be comming out with a model above the E-80 that will include the DV (firewire input) and feature a larger 120GB HDD.

Overall I don't think you can beat the quality of the PANASONIC units for the money.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[thoots]

Folks,

I second Fulci's report above. I'm absolutely "turning cartwheels down the street" happy with my Panasonic DMR-E50 recorder. After screwing around with both DVD+RW and DVD-R on the computer for a couple of years, the E50 is just PARADISE!!

And, I fully expect to complement the E50 with an E80 or an E100 down the road a bit -- these actually have a "dual code" remote control system that will allow you to control two Panasonic DVD devices independently. And, the concept of a "DVD-quality VCR with a hard drive" is just totally excellent -- how convenient it would be to have "instant access" to hours and hours of recordings, plus the ability to save whatever you'd like onto a DVD-R disc for posterity! I'll take the VCR I replace with the thing up to the roof, and toss it out onto the street!!

thoots

[houtx67]

This is very usefull for recording from TV since you are not limited to 2 hours on a DVD-R/DVD-RAM disc. I find that the 3 hour mode is OK (even though the resolution gets cut from full D1 to half D1) but anything over 3 hours just uses a bitrate that is too low for me.

John,
Do you know at what point the the resolution gets cut from D1 to half D1? Is it at the 3-hour mark (ie, 2:59 is ok but 3:00 or 3:01 it switches)? I ask because sometimes I set my e-30 to start an extra minute ahead of 3 hours of timer-programming (3:01 hours). If that extra minute makes a difference, I will stop doing it (until I get the e-100 ).

[FulciLives]

This is very usefull for recording from TV since you are not limited to 2 hours on a DVD-R/DVD-RAM disc. I find that the 3 hour mode is OK (even though the resolution gets cut from full D1 to half D1) but anything over 3 hours just uses a bitrate that is too low for me.

John,
Do you know at what point the the resolution gets cut from D1 to half D1? Is it at the 3-hour mark (ie, 2:59 is ok but 3:00 or 3:01 it switches)? I ask because sometimes I set my e-30 to start an extra minute ahead of 3 hours of timer-programming (3:01 hours). If that extra minute makes a difference, I will stop doing it (until I get the e-100 ).

XP (1 hour mode) and SP (2 hour mode) both use Full D1 but any of the other preset recording modes use Half D1 (perhaps less if you use the really really long mode). I find that the preset 3 hour mode (wait sorry my mistake it actually does 4 hours) is OK even though it uses Half D1 and a low bitrate. The EP mode (6 hour) is totally unacceptable in quality.

There is a flex mode when you use the program mode. I think the cut off from full D1 to half D1 is something like 130 or 135 minutes.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[FulciLives]

Hello

Someone saw my post in this thread and sent me a PM asking where they could find the PANASONIC DMR-E50 for $400 or less.

I thought it might be useful to also share this info here so here was my reply:

I just used PRICEGRABBER.COM and there are 18 on-line shopping sites listed as having the DMR-E50K (the black version) for less than $400 and 9 of the 18 sites were less than $400 even with the shipping charges.

I also checked the DMR-E50S (the silver version) and again there was a decent list of on-line stores that had it for less than $400 although there were less for the silver version than the black version.

Simply go to PRICEGRABBER.COM and enter DMR-E50 in the search field.

You could also try MYSIMON.COM which works just like the PRICEGRABBER.COM website.

I just checked MYSIMON.COM and they only have 5 matches total but all are less than $400 and one of them is ABE'S OF MAINE which I know has been around for a long time and is respected for having LOW prices on consumer electronics. In fact the ABE'S OF MAINE price is only $381.00 and that includes the shipping (they are located in NY).

Also if you need a cheap DVD-ROM drive (for your computer) that can read DVD-RAM discs then look no further than the TOSHIBA SD-M1712 which I found on PRICEGRABBER.COM for prices anywhere from just over $30 to as high as $60 (with 6 matches being $40.00 or less WITH shipping).

The other option is to get the PANASONIC DVD BURNER II model. This unit burns to DVD-R (2x) as well as DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R, CD-RW etc.

The PANASONIC DVD BURNER II can be found on PRICEGRABBER.COM by searching for the model number which is LFD521U

I found 6 on-line stores that have the LFD521U for a total price (with shipping) of just under $200

Well good luck

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[next]

The prices are coming down nicely. As far as the LDF521U goes the OEM version of the drive is the SW-9571 - it the same drive. Its now down to $128 at Avlogic. Here's the link:

http://avlogic.com/product.cgi?code=18030019