Panasonic DMR-E50K DVD Player/Recorder
Panasonic's DMR-E50K is a winner!
If you're looking for a DVD Recorder to transfer over non-copyrighted material, Panasonic's DMR-E50K does the job without a hitch!    If you're new to DVD, I wouldn't recommend this as your first player.  The instruction manual is a little confusing if you're not already familiar with wiring and general setup.  Recording a DVD is similar to recording a CD-R in a CD Recorder.  You must finalize the DVD-R before it's playable on (most) other DVD Players.  If you don't, it won't play on any other machine other than the DMR-E50K.     The picture and sound is very good.  Recording time varies from 1, 2, 4 or 6 hours on a single sided 4.7 GB DVD.  The top two speeds (XP & SP) look great!  The two low speeds (LP & EP) really looks like the VHS equivalent.    After reading other reviews and specifications with other DVD Recorders, my main concerns were disc and player compatability.  The DMR-E50K works with Panasonic's DVD-RAM (playable only in the DMR-E50K), and offers editing and re-recording on the same disc over and over again.  As for DVD-Rs, the DMR-E50K has no problems recording with TDK brand DVD-Rs.  I have 3 DVD Players (not including the DMR-E50K) and after finalizing a DVD-R, the finished DVD worked on all of them:  Audiovox, Panasonic (different model), and a high end McIntosh.      The Panasonic DMR-E50K does exactly what I expected it to do.  It offers Progressive Scan, S-Video, Composite video, DTS Output, Dolby Digital 5.1 playback (on pre-recorded discs), and the convenience of recording over and over again on a single DVD-RAM disc.    On the negative side, it only records in Dolby Digital two channel stereo (Pro-Logic compatible), and only offers an optical digital output (not coaxial).      I wouldn't consider this player to the \\"causal\\" viewer.  However, if you're into DVD and want recording capability, Panasonic's DMR-E50K may just be what you're looking for.