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DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

Last post Aug 04, 2008, 5:50 PM by MarionHaist. (23 replies)
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Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 1:40 PM

DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

Hi there, am hoping you folks can help.

Those of you with DVD recorders, do you record much telly? Do you find this a handy thing?

I am looking to upgrade my decrepit, aged and cheap DVD player with something more suited to my snazzy Panasonic TH-37PX do-dah. I have read all the reviews about the Denon 1940, and, particularly at sub-£150, it appeals very much. But then I was thinking, maybe a DVD recorder would be a better idea, as I actually watch more telly than I rent DVDs. The Panasonic DMR-EX78EB offers "Viera-link", got a good review in WHF, and is in the £250 ballpark.

I don't actually need a player for CDs, as my music is an iTunes/Airport Express set-up from my apple laptop to my powered speakers, so the sonic advantages of a particular CD-capable DVD player aren't really an issue.

Thanks for any advice.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 3:00 PM

107114

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

MarionHaist:

Hi there, am hoping you folks can help.

Those of you with DVD recorders, do you record much telly? Do you find this a handy thing?

I am looking to upgrade my decrepit, aged and cheap DVD player with something more suited to my snazzy Panasonic TH-37PX do-dah. I have read all the reviews about the Denon 1940, and, particularly at sub-£150, it appeals very much. But then I was thinking, maybe a DVD recorder would be a better idea, as I actually watch more telly than I rent DVDs. The Panasonic DMR-EX78EB offers "Viera-link", got a good review in WHF, and is in the £250 ballpark.

I don't actually need a player for CDs, as my music is an iTunes/Airport Express set-up from my apple laptop to my powered speakers, so the sonic advantages of a particular CD-capable DVD player aren't really an issue.

Thanks for any advice.



Have you thought about Sky + or similar? At least you can record stuff and watch another channel at the same time. I would go down that route and then buy a standard dvd player (Denon 1940 is excellent - I just sold mine on ebay (absolutely spotless) for £102!
CA 840A; Sony BDP S550; CA DacMagic; MA RS6AV with Radius R90s; Sony KDL40W2000; Sony STR-DA3400ES; Sky HD; Linksys DMA 2100; Chord Chameleon Silver Plus RCA; Chord Chorus 2 XLR; Chord Odyssey 4 cable; QED SR hdmi and Clearer Audio Silver Line Coaxial.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 3:23 PM

107189

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

Or get a DVD recorder and built-in HDD. The built in hard drive allows you to schedule lots of recordings more easily without worrying about recording quality or how much more you can fit on a DVD and then anything you want to keep, you can burn off to DVD.

And all without having to pay Sky money each month for the rubbish TV they show (in my opinion of course, but then I think that about most TV!)

Put away those fiery biscuits...

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Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 4:24 PM

107208

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

My Sony has a DVD recorder and also a 250gb hard drive.

I'll be honest here, I've used the DVD recorder about twice in 2 1/2 years, but I use the HDD side of things all the time.

I find it very, very useful. We even record programs with adverts, then start watching the beginning of the program about 15 minutes after it has started (HDD is still recording while we're watching the beginning).

This means we can skip all the ads, and catch up with 'real time' by the end of the program...It's great.

Also, it's my only source, and I find the DVD playback to be very good. Upscales to 1080i/720p (which is the max for my TV)

I believe the Sony RDR-HXD860 is the current fave, and if it's as good as my 910 I'd recommend it without hesitation.
A/V: Sony KDL-V40A12U & BDP-S350, BT Vision, Onkyo TX-SR875, B&W MT-30 7.1, QED audio cables, Russ Andrews power cables.

Hi-Fi: Arcam CD72T & A65+, B&W 602S3, Partington stands, Grado SR125, Kimber I/Cs, QED speaker cables, Russ Andrews power cables.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 4:43 PM

107240

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

Thanks for the tips. I should have been more explicit -- I meant HDD when I referenced DVD recording.

As I am loathe to pay Sky or anyone else for tv, that's not an option. 

I will look at the Sony, thanks for the suggestion.

 

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 4:49 PM

107256

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

MarionHaist:

Thanks for the tips. I should have been more explicit -- I meant HDD when I referenced DVD recording.

As I am loathe to pay Sky or anyone else for tv, that's not an option. 

I will look at the Sony, thanks for the suggestion.

 



In that case, wait for Freesat to bring out a pvr version of it's boxes. No monthly fee and you will be able to watch Corrie whilst recording Celebrity Masterchef! A dvd recorder HDD or otherwise won't let you do that.
CA 840A; Sony BDP S550; CA DacMagic; MA RS6AV with Radius R90s; Sony KDL40W2000; Sony STR-DA3400ES; Sky HD; Linksys DMA 2100; Chord Chameleon Silver Plus RCA; Chord Chorus 2 XLR; Chord Odyssey 4 cable; QED SR hdmi and Clearer Audio Silver Line Coaxial.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 5:42 PM

107267

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

Gerrardasnails:
MarionHaist:

Thanks for the tips. I should have been more explicit -- I meant HDD when I referenced DVD recording.

As I am loathe to pay Sky or anyone else for tv, that's not an option. 

I will look at the Sony, thanks for the suggestion.

 



you will be able to watch Corrie whilst recording Celebrity Masterchef! A dvd recorder HDD or otherwise won't let you do that.


You can. Don't forget the TV has a tuner too!

:-)
A/V: Sony KDL-V40A12U & BDP-S350, BT Vision, Onkyo TX-SR875, B&W MT-30 7.1, QED audio cables, Russ Andrews power cables.

Hi-Fi: Arcam CD72T & A65+, B&W 602S3, Partington stands, Grado SR125, Kimber I/Cs, QED speaker cables, Russ Andrews power cables.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 5:50 PM

107306

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

Gerrardasnails:
you will be able to watch Corrie whilst recording Celebrity Masterchef! A dvd recorder HDD or otherwise won't let you do that.

Also, quite a few Freeview HDD recorders have twin tuners to let you do just that.

Put away those fiery biscuits...

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Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 9:49 PM

107308

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!


And I can recommend the Humax........

I understand the lure of one box, but the point made above about twin tuners is a valid one - once you can record anything you like, you'll soon run out of tuners to record and watch with - to me a twin digital tuner is mandatory, which I'm fairly sure you won't get on a DVD/HDD recorder.



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Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 11:24 PM

107420

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

I can never seem to find enough worth watching/recording with a single tuner, never mind a dual tuner :)

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 11:33 PM

107478

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

Thanks again. My tv already has a Freeview tuner. Do I really need *two* more to watch one program whilst recording another?

And, I still need a DVD player in the mix.

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 11:47 PM

107483

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!


Yep, but you can add a reasonable one for £70 - a player + a Humax = £250, say.

And yes to three tuners, since all the good stuff is on at the same time! Admittedly, it hasn't hit me recently, but it's been a pain in the past. Furthermore, you'll invariably watch telly from the PVR, as the pause functionality is worth the entrance price alone, so your telly might as well not have a tuner Smile.



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Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 12:03 AM

107486

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

Yeah, JD is spot on. Days without anything then I find myself recording two programs whilst watching a third.

May be worth waiting to see what the HDD Freesat PVR's have to offer - should be some news out soon.

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 4:27 AM

107491

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

Hmmm, on extremely rare occasions, I've been glad I've had the two tuners in my Topfield box and I could record two TV programs on that and watch a third on my TV tuner (and I mean extremely rare as in, I think this has happened twice in the last 4 years).

I can understand the wait for a Freesat PVR boxes (I'm doing the same), but don't let anyone tell you it'll be so much better than a box is now - the truth is, unless all of this is being kept under wraps, until one is released, no one knows. I'm not so sure Freesat will rival Sky HD for many years.

Just my opinion!

Put away those fiery biscuits...

My Useful Posts:
HOW TO... Upgrade your PS3 Hard Drive

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 6:40 AM

107515

Re: DVD player? Recorder? Can't decide!

I'm with The Prof.

Since I've had my stuff, I've never encountered a situation where I needed to record 2 programs at once. I've always found watching one thing on my TV tuner, and recording with my DVDR/HDD tuner more than adequate.

But. I'm picky about what I want to watch. If you love loads of TV programs, the ability to record a couple of programs at once may appeal. If like me there are only a couple of 'must see' programs each week, twin recordable tuners becomes less important.
A/V: Sony KDL-V40A12U & BDP-S350, BT Vision, Onkyo TX-SR875, B&W MT-30 7.1, QED audio cables, Russ Andrews power cables.

Hi-Fi: Arcam CD72T & A65+, B&W 602S3, Partington stands, Grado SR125, Kimber I/Cs, QED speaker cables, Russ Andrews power cables.
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