Panasonic DMR-E80H Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with Hard Drive , Silver
Excellent product.
This is a great electronic component. The recorded picture quality utilizing the SP mode is excellent. The XP mode is even better, with virtually no difference from the original source. I have not found the need for recording in the XP mode since the SP mode is superior, but it's there for anyone who may require it. Just remember, you get approximately 1 hour of recording time in the XP mode as compared to approximately 2 hours in the SP mode.<br />If you are recording movies from your satellite (or cable), this unit is capable of editing out commercials or any other unwanted up-front and rear &quot;garbage&quot; that gets recorded before and after each recording. Just record to the hard drive, edit, then dub to DVR -R and your done. In addition, the DVD -R recording you just made can be copied over as many times as needed just by hooking up a second DVD player to the inputs.<br />One reviewer below mentioned &quot;You cannot copy a DVD, copy protected or not, to the hard drive unless it is a DVD-RAM disk.&quot; Well he is just plain WRONG. In fact, not only can you copy a DVD -R to the hard drive, you can also copy it to another blank DVD -R and utilize the flexible recording mode to get the best possible (highest quality recording). I have done it and have tested the recording in the three other DVD Players I own. Each one is a different manufacturer: Sony, JVC, Samsung.<br />This unit is not TIVO. It's much better. You cannot edit out &quot;stuff&quot; with TIVO and you cannot make a DVD with TIVO.<br />Look at the consumers report on this unit. It is ranked #2 (right behind the Panasonic dmr-e100h model) in the DVR/DVD Recorder Combo Category. It received an excellent rating for Hard Drive/DVD recorders and these guys are the experts. According to their 12/3/2004 report on DVD Recorders, this unit scored excellent in DVD Playback Picture Quality, Recording Picture Quality and DVD Playback Ease Of Use. Very good in all others categories. If you are looking quality playback, recordings, sound, etc... in a recording unit, look no further.<br />I have recorded approximately 70 movies with this unit, with only one failure due to a bad DVD disc. I have used a number of different DVD disc. Sony, Panasonic, Memorex, TDK and Maxell disc. All work fine, so just pick the least expensive. My preference are the Sony &amp; Panasonic brands. You can tell the difference in the quality workmanship. The manufacturer recommends using Panasonic disc. But of course, they would.<br />GACty playback, recordings, sound, etc... in a recording unit, look no further. <br />I have recorded approximately 70 movies with this unit, with only one failure due to a bad DVD disc. I have used a number of different DVD disc. Sony, Panasonic, Memorex, TDK and Maxell disc. All work fine, so just pick the least expensive. My preference are the Sony &amp; Panasonic brands. You can tell the difference in the quality workmanship. The manufacturer recommends using Panasonic disc. But of course, they would. <br />GAC