I'm trying to replace a couple of old Sony's. Gx300 & GX700 I think they are.
A couple of questions about these 3new models. Sony RDR-GX360 & Toshiba R410 & Panny DMR-EZ28.

Do these new ones have issues recording copyrighted (flagged) programming? Can you choose 16x9 formatted recording? I use Directv HR20 HD DVR as my source.

The older machines work fine when recording Sunday Ticket football games & movies off HBO and such. Does anybody know if the new ones can?
Also, Do they have variable record bitrates?
Thanks for any help.
Rob

The consensus so far is that the Toshiba is a low-rent Funai-made special, the Sony shuts down if it even hallucinates a copy inhibit signal, and the Panasonic is the least annoying of the three although like every ATSC model it has its own issues. Go for the Panasonic: there isn't much choice these days with the ATSC-equipped units. If you can afford $50 more, get the Phillips 3576 or Magnavox H2160: these twins add the incredibly useful hard drive feature and are otherwise similar in rating to the Panasonic, which is rather overpriced by comparison. The Panasonic has FR variable speeds, although perhaps only in auto-record mode, and some people think it has a superior 4-hr mode. The Phillips/Magnavox have fixed speeds of XP, SP, 150 mins, 3 hrs, 4 hrs, 6 hrs. They are very nice up to 150 mins, average at longer speeds.

While the Panasonic, Phillips and Magnavox are the least twitchy when it comes to copy inhibit flags, they still respond to them when they're genuine, as do ALL current model recorders. If you are not receiving copy-prohibit signals right now, any of the three will do as well as your older recorders. But if your DirecTV starts inserting anti-record signals into HBO or sports broadcasts, you'll need to use a video filter between decoder box and recorder (see related AVS threads on that topic). Regarding 16:9, none of the currently available recorders sets the flag automatically or allows you to set it manually. Most of them will record 16:9 via their tuners, and if your decoder box outputs 16:9 thru its S-video connection they'll usually record that as 16:9, but not always. If they do record in 16:9, it will be "squished" into the 4:3 frame, appearing distorted and probably unwatchable on any 4:3 TVs you have. On your 16:9 TV, you just need to expand the image horizontally (if the TV doesn't automatically do it), and it will appear as normal full-res 16:9.

Thanks CitiBear. That's all good info.
If anybody has further opinions, Plz feel free.

I do have a 16x9 TV I can change the format on. Plus 50% of the discs I make get re-authored on my PC. I can use IFO or DVD Patcher (whatever it's called) to change the aspect ratio.

I was unsure if the Directv already had flags and my older Sony's didn't care or if they didn't have flags at all.

Has picture quality on new recorders gotten better over the last couple of years or are they equal or less than the old sonys? I also have a Pioneer 510 with a HDD that the Sonys outperform. I know PQ may be more subjective than anything else but I'm curious if they have new/better HW encoder chips nowadays.

My Sonys actually work. I'm interested in better record quality (if possible) and the Upconvert capabilites of the new ones.
Rob

No, the new recorders are not better- they only get worse, despite claims to have newer-better encoders. (I'm surprised you don't care for the 510: I find mine to be sharper than my more recent Pioneers?) In any case, all the newer units are just average PQ: enjoy your old Sonys for as long as they hold up. The two biggest advantages of a newer machine is slightly better compatibility with the crap that passes for blank media these days, and better ability to roll with weak or dysfunctional video signal such as you get when transferring VHS to DVD. The encoders in the old machines do fantastic with clean off-the-air or pay-tv sources, but they often make a useless mess of VHS tapes. The encoders in newer machines have "lower quality" but far more stable and consistent signal response.

The Panny's probably have what you would call the "sharpest" PQ of any current recorder.

I would agree with Ramm but I don't think they've changed from '05. Before that I've read they recorded differently, not as sharp. Note if recording off a digital channel it will be very clear as well as other DVDRs with the digital tuner.
Panasonics and the Canadian Pioneers/Sony clone are the only DVDRs that currently use FR or the ability to set the recording length to available disc space.

I would agree with Ramm but I don't think they've changed from '05. Before that I've read they recorded differently, not as sharp. Panasonic DVDR's circa '05 had a couple differences. First only SP and XP were recorded at full resolution, LP was recorded at 320 x 240 to keep the bitrate up. The LP PQ was acceptable on a 32" SDTV -- noticably softer but with no artifacts. Second, full resolution was not 720x480 but rather 704x480. 16 less pixels doesn't seem to matter much in practical use. The later models went to full D1 resolution and the DIGiC encoder was tweaked to give really good PQ at LP using full D1 resolution and minimal artifacts due to the low bitrate.

If one sticks with SP or higher mode, the DIGiC processors in the Panasonic units have always given superior recorded PQ.

Panasonic DVDR's circa '05 had a couple differences. First only SP and XP were recorded at full resolution, LP was recorded at 320 x 240 to keep the bitrate up. The LP PQ was acceptable on a 32" SDTV -- noticably softer but with no artifacts. Second, full resolution was not 720x480 but rather 704x480. 16 less pixels doesn't seem to matter much in practical use. The later models went to full D1 resolution and the DIGiC encoder was tweaked to give really good PQ at LP using full D1 resolution and minimal artifacts due to the low bitrate.

If one sticks with SP or higher mode, the DIGiC processors in the Panasonic units have always given superior recorded PQ.

Panasonic picture quality (claims) did change between the 2004 and 2005 models:

DMR-E75V (2004) Operating Instructions, Specifications, page 73:

Video data:

Horizontal resolution: More than
XP: 500 lines SP: 400 lines
LP: 200 lines EP: 200 lines

**********

DMR-ES30V (2005) Operating Instructions, Specifications, page 75:

Video data:

Horizontal resolution: More than
XP: 500 lines SP: 500 lines
LP: 500 lines EP: 250 lines

^^^That's pretty much what I was saying. Thanks for the details.