I am interested in getting a DVD Recorder that has the following abilities.

1.) USB Connection
2.) NTSC DVD Recording
3.) HDD
4.) Firewire or DV input


A tuner is not a necessary item as I will be recording off the output of my Direct-TV box.

What does everyone think of this model ?

Panasonic DMR-EH58 1080p


ThanX AmcAmx

Nothing wrong with it: aside from minor tweaks, this is the same basic recorder design Panasonic has used since 2006. The discontinued Americanized version was named EH-55 and was probably the single most popular, most coveted recorder among the AVS membership (although in large part this was due to an on-screen "TiVO-like" program guide feature which is not included on the generic global-market EH-58).

Note however for about the same price you can also get the similar Pioneer DVR-560 or DVR-660 global model. Features and quality match the Panasonic, but Pioneers use of RAM media is more standardized and the Pioneers have a very useful complete manual control over "in between" recording speeds (you can fit a particular movie or group of TV shows precisely onto a DVD, maximizing bitrate and quality). For example, if you set the timer for a 105 minute movie you can specify it be recorded at a 105 minute bitrate. If you know you'll be cutting commercials out of a TV series before burning it to DVD, you can specify a hard drive recording speed that assumes this (three one-hour dramas fit on a DVD at the 130 minute speed after commercials are deleted). Panasonic has a similar feature called "flexible recording", but its completely automated with no manual control, often requiring kludgy workarounds to "trick" it into doing what you want. The only caveat with Pioneer global models is that unlike Panasonic, Pioneer makes way too many versions, confusingly all with the same model number. To guarantee getting a "global" Pioneer best suited for use in North America, buy it from B&H Photo or J&R Electronics: these vendors sell only the Pioneer models with standard program timers and standard (not European) A/V connections on the back panel. (It has been reported recently that other suppliers stock a mix of Pioneer versions, so its possible to receive one from them thats a pain to use in USA/Canada.)

Both the Panasonic and the Pioneer are excellent, solid machines: can't go wrong with either one. Which is great, because there aren't any other choices suitable for North America ;). If you do not live in North America, there are many more choices of DVD/HDD recorder, most with region-specific tuners and electronic program guides. If you don't need a specific tuner/EPG, the above generic models would still work nicely for you.

Which is great, because there aren't any other choices suitable for North America . If you do not live in North America, there are many more choices of DVD/HDD recorder, most with region-specific tuners and electronic program guides.


I have noticed this... been wondering why it is this way.... Some of the European models have ALL the bells and whistles... not fair ! :(


ThanX !

AmcAmx

I have noticed this... been wondering why it is this way....

Short answer, DVRs and TiVo-like devices killed most of them off.

European countries like the UK have heavily-subsidized "free" off-air digital and even satellite broadcasts, including a standardized, reliable electronic program guide for timers. So there is a substantial consumer demand for sophisticated DVD/HDD recorders with dual tuners (but note with most models, this is misleading: one tuner is for the satellite service, the other is their version of ATSC, not dual tuners in the TiVO sense). Consumers in Europe are not put off by a $400-500 pricetag, but Americans have a collective stroke when they see a tag higher than $99 for anything. Except videogames, of course: we'll bankrupt ourselves and leave our children to starve in the streets to pay for our PlayStation and Wii addictions, but otherwise we're the most gnarly cheapskate consumers on the face of the earth.

This combines with our very heavy dependence on cable TV service to kill sales of high-feature DVD/HDD recorders (Europe doesn't know from cable: its a non-factor there). Cable TV and independent recorders don't mix, going back to the VCR days: too difficult to coordinate for timeshifting. The minute cable copied the TiVO idea and rolled out integrated decoder/PVR boxes for a few dollars more on the monthly bill, it doomed DVD/HDD recorders to a quick death. Why buy one for $400 if you can rent the same features for $9-11 a month, seamlessly integrated with your cable service program guide? Then, the federal mandate for early implementation of ATSC tuners a couple years back added so much to the recorder price most mfrs chose to simply abandon further development for US market. Only Funai has figured how to build a reliable ATSC tuner into a DVD/HDD machine at a reasonable price (The Magnavox H2160 at $229). And even that doesn't sell very well, except to AVS members who stalk it like it was made of gold.

ThanX Tulpa and CitiBear.... Unfortunately this only adds more to my already tough question... What do I need to get to do the things I want to do :) ! Trying to decide is driving me crazy... I guess I am asking too much for any one DVR to do !


ThanX again !

AmcAmx

What are you doing with the usb port. I may be wrong, but on most recorders, the usb only allows you to "stream" files; not put them on the hard drive in order to edit them. A Computer is used to do that.

AmcAmx, no need to be confused. While we were discussing alternatives you might consider, really you nailed it with the Panasonic EH-58: it will do all you ask. The Pioneer 560 alternative is nice if you know the minor differences and care enough to search out the "correct" Pioneer for USA use, but the Panasonic is a total "no-brainer"- just buy it and forget it. The Magnavox is much cheaper, but trades the USB port you want for a nice ATSC tuner you say you don't need. If you like the Panasonic EH-58, buy it- no one here on AVS who bought one regrets it. Nice machine with better-than-average HDMI performance.

Do note as timtofly mentioned, you shouldn't expect miracles from the USB port. USB in recorders does not offer the wide functionality that USB offers on some players like the Phillips. The USB port on recorders is used almost exclusively to connect cameras for downloading still pictures, and USB sticks for downloading pictures or MP3 music files onto the recorder HDD. This serves the dubious Japanese fetish for viewing photos on their DVD recorders and using them as giant iPods, but isn't terribly interesting to US consumers. There is no computer connectivity involved and you cannot reverse-load photos or MP3 files from the recorder to a USB device. You cannot stream video from another device or external hard drive thru the recorder USB port, as you can with some DVD players. The Pioneers do allow connecting a USB computer keyboard for convenient title entry, and I believe the Panasonic might. But thats about it for USB features.

Cable TV and independent recorders don't mix, going back to the VCR days: too difficult to coordinate for timeshifting.

I can't agree with that. For 3 years, I've had a DMR-EH75V that works perfectly with cable. The only two problems are an inadequate HDD and a now-dead DVD drive.

(Note, though, that I'm still on analog cable and do not have a converter box.)

For 3 years, I've had a DMR-EH75V that works perfectly with cable. The only two problems are an inadequate HDD and a now-dead DVD drive.

When I see a report that a Panasonic DVD Drive is "dead" I don't always assume that "dead" is "really dead."

See this post from less than an hour ago:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17245116#post17245116

(Note, though, that I'm still on analog cable and do not have a converter box.)

Exactly.:) Thats a very small group, most people paying for cable opt for a "standard" tier with scrambled sports channels and "free" movie channels that require the decoder box, to say nothing of HBO, Showtime, etc. Boxes and recorders don't mix at all. The closest one could get to "convenience" was your particular Panasonic with its IR blaster and its only-Panasonic-ever-made-it-work TVGOS system. Even then, who the hell wants to be bothered with that crap, really, if you could get it all integrated with the rental decoder box? Because I want DVD hard copies, I put up with managing the recorder and the box and coordinating their timers. But if I was only interested in timeshifting, like 99 out of 100 other Americans, I would be on the cable PVR in a second.

(Note, though, that I'm still on analog cable and do not have a converter box.)

If your cable company migrates to all digital, you may find yourself among the group who have been pinched by it.