I've had my Panasonic DMR-E80H ever since they came out... maybe 3 years ago?

I use a composite video connection to my "DTivo" (DirecTV receiver + Tivo DVR combo box) and have been absolutely delighted with the quality of the DVD-R created in SP mode. Some of my backups to DVD-R made by a digital method may be slightly better, but not by very much.

I've always been very satisfied with my E80 and its options such as "flexible record" mode so I can fit a 2hr 15min program onto a single disc with a slight reduction in quality.

I've seen several suggestions in posts at http://www.tivocommunity.com forums that el-cheapo DVD recorders from the local discount store make DVD copies "just as good" as my trusty old Panny E80... so my question for any of you that have had both: Can the "el cheapo" DVD recorders make an SP disc that is of similar quality to a higher priced DVD recorder?

Thanks!

I haven't had an "el cheapo" but I've always felt the E80 is a step below other recorders. It does well with good quality sources but I've always felt the Toshiba line has blown it away quality-wise.

Given that the E80 was a fairly early DVD recorder, it wouldn't surprise me if the technology has advanced to the point that newer units are just as good, or better, as the technology matures. Hardware video encoding seems to be improving pretty rapidly. (and many people think the chipsets used in many other recorders are better than what has ever been used in Panasonic's) That said, don't expect a $59.99 Walmart special to be built as well, or last as long, as an E80...

That said, don't expect a $59.99 Walmart special to be built as well, or last as long, as an E80...There could be something positive said about that. After all, if it breaks and gets replaced every six months, you can be assured of always having the latest in technology.

After using Panasonic DMR-E80H since it first came out myself, i have to say the record quality actually seems better on my DMR-ES15 Recorder. I used my E80H to do i think around 1,000-2,000 or more DVD Recordings, in all modes, XP, SP, LP, EP, and FR, plus 5 48 hour marathons including editing out all the commericals in 3 of those marathons, editing, and such, gonna be doing my first big edit of commerical job with Es15, will see if it frustrates me or not due to editing from ram and not a hard drive.


I'll watch some of the recordings more tomorrow i did on the E80 and compare them even more. Anyways Panasonics are good recoders, never used anything but Panasonic, so can't speak on Toshiba recorders or any other brand

search for HoustonGuy as the poster. I think he has owned just about every recorder out there and has done many head to head comparisons.

Thanks all for the feedback - I completely forgot about this topic!

Goony

I have a E80H also but recently replaced it with a EH55, which does improve on recording quality somewhat, in part because of it's upscaling over HDMI on playback, which really is a play issue and not a record issue. But I never had any complaints about the E80H copy quality - if the source was good. Many times I recorded a HD channel movie in SP mode and burnt it to a DVD-R with outstanding results. Heck I also have a 6 year old Replay Showstopper and its recording quality (highest setting) is still oustanding when the source is good. I recorded Farscape recently and it looked almost as good as DVD when I played it back. It helps that my TV is a 42" Panny ED that excels at SD material.