Advice on buying Digital DVD/HDD Recorder with Freeview

[andyden]

Apologies for any phrases that are incorrect.

Where do I start to even look to buy something like the following:

1. Looking for a dvd recorder that records onto hard drive at least 160GB and onto a dvd, so the kids can watch it later on their dvd player.
2. Something with freeview too. Just got rid off sky!
3. Multi format though I tend to use DVD -R.
4. Well most of all some good advice what to buy please.

Wife mentioned the 160 GB Digital DVD/HDD Recorder on sale this Sunday at Aldi for £149.99. Having searched the forum I am lead to assume this is bad news? Please any help would be great as its a minefield out there...much needed for christmas though. Cheers Andy

[Adrian_F]

The Panasonic EX77 will fulfill your needs and is an excellent machine. It can be bought for around the £199 mark online at the moment, Digitaldirect is one such site

http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/produ...VD%20Recorders

Another possibility is the Sony870, again highly recommended by users of this forum.

[Gavtech]

I second all Adrian's comments.

Those machines are basically your choice... although Pioneer machines are also worthy of consideration.

[john renard]

Originally Posted by Adrian_F

The Panasonic EX77 will fulfill your needs and is an excellent machine.

I completely endorse this recommendation. I was in your position a few weeks ago and I am so pleased that I took the advice and went for this machine. It is simple to use yet produces excellent results.

Its full title is Panasonic DMR-EX77EB. There is a K model, which simply means it is coloured black, and an S, which is silver.

Do some research on this and other forums, read the reviews on the net, and you will see how delighted people are with it.

It supports all formats, including -R and RAM.

It has a 160GB hard disk. If you anticipate the family doing a very great deal of recordings, consider its big brother the EX87, which is the same machine with a bigger HDD.

[andyden]

Thanks for the advice, looks like I am buying the DMR EX77EB. I have started a new thread seeking advice if my present Panasonic surround system SC-HT870 is compatable with the Panasonic DMR EX77EB. I did think about buying the DMR EX87EB what do you think?

[JohnG]

I would imagine that the purchase has already been made about a year and a half ago

[filmnet]

Just wondering, I'm also looking for a DVD recorder with HDD.

I only have three main requirements:

1) Either 2 AV inputs (for my Freeview box & satellite receiver); or 1 AV input (if it already has Freeview tuner).

2) NOT made in China - I accept it's often difficult to find this information without looking at back of actual unit or packaging.

3) Generally good reviews, as it's intended to be used for many years primarily by my father - so something reliable.

I have found that Panasonic units seem to fit the bill, however I also had a look at Philips, but the new Freeview ones have bad reviews and the old analogue ones only seem to have 1 AV input?

many thanks in advance,

-filmnet

[Gavtech]

Originally Posted by filmnet

Just wondering, I'm also looking for a DVD recorder with HDD.

I only have three main requirements:

1) Either 2 AV inputs (for my Freeview box & satellite receiver); or 1 AV input (if it already has Freeview tuner).

2) NOT made in China - I accept it's often difficult to find this information without looking at back of actual unit or packaging.

3) Generally good reviews, as it's intended to be used for many years primarily by my father - so something reliable.

I have found that Panasonic units seem to fit the bill, however I also had a look at Philips, but the new Freeview ones have bad reviews and the old analogue ones only seem to have 1 AV input?

many thanks in advance,

-filmnet

Welcome to the forum.


Consider the Panasonic models as follows.

EX 769, EX79, EX89 - All possibly difficult to get now...

or the newer replacement models EX773 or EX83.


More information is available on the models here.
{All these models have Freeview tuners}