Would like some help & advice please on choosing a new DVD player & VCR. We have a budget of around £300.

As we already have a Panasonic wide screen tv, we would like to stick with Panasonic products manly for aesthetic reasons. And because we like them.

What do you recommend? Any help would be much appreciated!

Also, are there any sites were I can read independent reviews on the above.

[Rasczak]

Panasonic and JVC have by far the best VHS machines on the market. Looking at your budget (£300 for VHS and DVD) then I would suggest this VHS machine:
http://www.avland.co.uk/panasonic/nvsv120/index.htm

If you want a non-Panasonic option then I would suggest the JVC
HRS5965EK (available from a store such as http://www.rgbdirect.co.uk/ ).

For Panasonic DVD players the most appropriate models are the S35 or S75. You can see the specs here:
http://www.avland.co.uk/panasonic/dvds35/index.htm
and here:
http://www.avland.co.uk/panasonic/dvds75/index.htm
Both have had good reviews.

If you want a non-Panasonic option then the Toshiba SD330E (again see http://www.rgbdirect.co.uk/ ) is a top unit.

The other option is a DVD/VHS combo although I would always suggest seperates is the way forward. The Panasonic DVD/VHS combo is good - it got a good review in What Video and Widescreen Entertainment a few issues back. You can see the specs at AvLand:
http://www.avland.co.uk/panasonic/nvvp30/index.htm

If you are thinking of a DVD Recorder, and are certain you want the 'all-in-one' solution of a DVD/VHS combo the upcoming E70 might be of interest:
http://www.avland.co.uk/panasonic/dmre70/index.htm
You would have to expand the £300 budget though!

Hope this helps - the links provided are just so you can see the specs. If you shop around you'll find the machines slightly cheaper elsewhere.

[Rasczak]

Just a slight update the JVC VCR I mentioned is reviewed in the current issue of What Video & Widescreen Entertainment (June 2003 issue). Rated 5/5 - Good points: Price, Sound, Analogue Pictures - Bad Points: Will be outgunend when recordable DVD becomes affordable, SVHS-ET is overhyped.

The Toshiba 330 is also reviewed in the same issue - Rated 5/5 - Good Points: Pictures, connections - Bad Points: Sluggish JPEG and WMA playback.

Hey Rasczak,

Thank you very much for your very thorough input, thats going to be of great help to us.

Did think about a combo but, reading through the various post, every one seems to be of the same mind.

Any way, thanks again, your efforts are very much appreciated.

If you ever get stuck in a pc game.....

I can help you from here.

http://www.exiled-gamers.co.uk/forum/

try to hang on a little the panasonic dvd-r, ram, recorders are due to be sub £300 this summer.
ive got an e30 and it beats s/vhs into a cocked hat.
check:-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...872544-5117265
and they arnt the cheapest around.

Problem is aaronjon, we have a cupboard full of video tapes!
we still look at, so we really still need a VCR.

But sub £300 DVD-R is good news.

Thanks for that