I'm looking for recommendations on a DVD player/recorder.

Here's what I'm looking for:

Price preferably under $300 could go as high as $350

Ability to record off digital cable (just the unscrambled channels no need for cable card type capability if such even exists for DVD recorders)

Excellent up-conversion to my HDTV and must be able to up-convert through
component not just HDMI as I run all my video into my Denon so that I have only one video out to my TV and my Denon doesn't have HDMI, only component.

I want quality, ease of recording Television programming as well as external sources like my VCR and old 8mm video camera so that I can finally put home videos to DVD which will make it easier to edit them.

A Hard Drive would be a nice option with TIVO like options, but not the biggest factor. Mostly I want a good quality machine not known for glitches and is known for ease of recording, and that has excellent quality up-conversion.

Thanks for any help.

I've looked through the variety of threads here, and they are a bit overwhelming, I'd just like some boiled down recommendations of the best bets in my price category. I know you can't quote prices here, so if it's over $300 just let me know by saying it's within my maximum, and otherwise don't recommend anything over my maximum. Thanks.

What you want does not yet exist - the HDD equipped Phillips due at Walmart soon may come close.

Currently no DVD recorder, or player will up-convert through component out of the box. I have read some could be hacked through various ways, but the new digital tuner capable have just been released and I doubt such hacks are yet available.

I really don't understand people's fascination with up conversion, the DVD has only 480 lines, you can do anything with that, you're not going to get a higher resolution.

As far as picture quality, my personal favorite so far is the Philips DVDR3505.

if you must have upconversion over component then forget about ever meeting your requirements. The MPAA put a lid on that. You may find some old players that can do it (I have an LG LST-3510A that can upconvert over component), but nothing in the recorder line with an ATSC / QAM tuner.

You already have an upconversion process happening, it just happens in your TV/Projector instead of the DVD recorder. Since component is already an analog source, you could argue that your HDTV could have a better scaler than any upconverting DVD Players that can do component.

If the Magnavox uses the same MPEG engine as the Philips, I agree that it has a very good recording quality. I tested with the 3 hour (LP) mode and was impressed on the playback on my 42" plasma. Not HD, and not DVD quality, but very watchable, especially for the time you get on the disc.

So then up-conversion is just a bunch of hype? I hear all these people talking about how much better standard DVD's look on their HD's. If I am not going to get any significant improvement, then no, I guess up-conversion isn't that important. Quality of picture of course still is, as is ease of recording and reliability, also, component in is that doable? I've seen recorders with S-video in, but not with component in. For recording direct from my DVR I'd like to be able to send component quality signal. Also, one more question, recording 16:9 format as 16:9 is that possible?

So then up-conversion is just a bunch of hype? I hear all these people talking about how much better standard DVD's look on their HD's.
The arguement goes something like this.

An upconverting DVD player can yield a better picture than a standard (progressve-scan) DVD player if the HDTV you're using has a lousy scaler. Typically, a quality upconverting DVD player has a scaler chip (i.e. Faroujda) in it that is better than the ones used in TVs.

So if you have an excellent upconverting DVD and a lousy scaling TV, the upconverting DVD player is worth it. If the TV has a good scaler, then not having an upconverting player won't be a big deal.

ft

... For recording direct from my DVR I'd like to be able to send component quality signal. Also, one more question, recording 16:9 format as 16:9 is that possible?

Read my older posts / thread ... Record HD TV Signals - RJTech RJ-1000ATSC HDTV Tuner Box (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=798636&page=1&pp=30).

I accomplish pretty much what you want to do (details in my above linked post) using ...

1) RJTech RJ-1000ATSC HDTV Tuner Box ($79 +SH)

... and ...

2) Samsung DVD-VR330 DVR / VHS Refurb Combo Unit. ($79 w/FREE SH) :D

Last night we finally watched the previously recorded HD 16x9 broadcast of "The Unit" (from March 13th or 20th?) and the PQ (downconvert = 480p DVD -RW disc) was great vs. the previously recorded VHS fuzzy analog 4x3 video! I could use the 30-sec. DVR skip function to skip the commercials and the recording was in Dolby Pro Logic, so some of the effects were heard in my side surround channels!!!

Phil