AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › DVD Recorders (Standard Def) › Panasonic DVD recorder US models, years produced and features
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Panasonic DVD recorder US models, years produced and features

post #1 of 94
4/1/09 at 11:02am
Thread Starter 

This thread will be a work in progress and will list the various Panasonic DVDRs available in the US starting with the newest and going backwards. I will update this first post as information becomes available. If you know of a Panasonic model that's not listed please post Model number, year produced and a brief description of features such as: Does it have a HDD and what size, digital tuner, upconverting, VHS, etc. Also post any corrections and I will update this first post, prices are US$ retail. Link is to the most used thread or threads.
Note, this post looks best with a display setting of 1360x768 or greater. If your settings are less each model may wrap to a second line and may look cluttered.

Year__model#____________Features
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International models:

'12-'09__EH-69___________*, 320 GB HDD, SD slot, USB, DV, ($449 W.I. now), 1080p upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL, Divx, Gracenote, Link, Manual, Link,
'12-'09__EH-59___________*, 250 GB HDD, USB, DV, ($369 W.I.), 1080p upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL, Divx, Gracenote, Manual, Link,
'10-'09__EH-49___________*, 160 GB HDD, USB, DV, 1080p upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL, Divx, Gracenote, Link,
'09-'08?_EH-68___________*, 320 GB HDD, SD slot, USB, DV, ($449 W.I. now), 1080p upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL, Divx, Gracenote, Link, To manual,
'09-'08?_EH-58___________*, 250 GB HDD, USB, DV, ($395 BH now), 1080p upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL, Divx, Gracenote, To manual-see EH-68
'09-'08?_ES-18___________*, $199 (W.I.), +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL(similar limitations of '07 US Panasonics), Divx, DV, manual
'09-'07?_EH-67___________*, 250GB HDD, ~$500($399 W.I. now), upconverting, +-R, +-RW, DL, RAM, SD slot, DV, Divx, Link, Link, Manual,
'09-'07?_EH-57___________*, 160GB HDD, ~$400($369 W.I. now), upconverting, +-R, +-RW, DL, RAM, DV, Divx, Link, Link, Manual,
'09-?___EH-55(Intl.)______*, 160GB HDD, ~$400($349 W.I. now), +-R, +-RW, DL, RAM, SD slot, Divx, Manual(this manual may be incorrect, doesn't match W.I. info)
'09-'06?_ES-35v(Intl.)_____*, ~$500 W.I. VHS, +-R, +-RW, DL(1st layer must be closed before 2nd layer can be used), RAM, DV, Manual?,
'09-'06?_ES-15(Intl.)______*, ~$269 W.I.,+-R, -RW, RAM, DL(1st layer must be closed before 2nd layer can be used), DV, Manual?,

* NTSC, PAL, SECAM, NO NTSC tuner(line input NTSC recording only, eg. from STB), Dual voltage, Region free, DL burning only possible from HDD. Note line inputs need to have a 0 IRE input for proper black level on N. American TVs. N. American line outputs are 7.5 IRE and unless input is darkened, burned DVDs will be slightly light for a standard N. American calibrated display. SD outputs(S-video and composite) are 0 IRE, N. American TVs are calibrated for 7.5 IRE input, playing standard DVDs (via SD outputs) on a international Panasonic will result in a slightly dark picture on a standard American calibrated display. HDMI/component outputs will be fine since US displays use 0 IRE(international standard) for such inputs. Please read this thread for more IRE info.
x8 and x9 international models allow user to set the Wide Screen bit on - and RAM media.

Canadian only models:

'08-'07?_ES-36___________Canadian, NTSC, VHS, +-R, +-RW, DL*, RAM, DV, Divx,(Very similar to '06 US ES-35v), Manual,
'08-'07?_ES-16___________Canadian, NTSC, +-R, +-RW, DL*, RAM, DV, Divx,(Very similar to '06 US ES-15), Manual, Link

US models:

'08-'09 model year added:Continuous recording from first later to 2nd on DL discs, tunerless EA models, USB port, all models have LSI/Magnum silicon, 1080p upconverting, Divx on all models,
'08-'12___EZ-48v aka EZ-485__VHS**, digital tuner, upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL, SD slot, USB port, DV, Divx, $299, Link, Manual,
'08-'10___EA-38v_________VHS, tunerless, upconverting, IR blaster, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL, SD slot, USB, DV, $249, Link, Manual,
'08-'11___EZ-28__________Digital tuner, upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL, SD slot, USB port, DV, Divx, $229, Link, Manual,
'08-'10___EA-18__________Tunerless, upconverting, IR blaster, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL, SD slot, USB, DV, $179, Link, Manual,

'07 model year added: Digital tuner, dropped HDD models, all models now have LSI silicon, Divx on upconverting models, TVGOS dropped in all models,
'07___EZ-47v aka EZ-475__VHS**, digital tuner, upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL*, SD slot, DV, Divx, Link, Manual,
'07___EZ-37v____________VHS**, digital tuner, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL*, DV, Link, Manual,
'07___EZ-27_____________Digital tuner, upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL*, SD slot, DV, Divx, Link, Manual,
'07___EZ-17_____________Digital tuner, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL*, DV, Link, Manual, Link, Link,

'06 model year added: First year 720x480 resolution LP and faster, Divx playback on HDD models, DL all models, 1080i upconverting HDMI models, Navigator ring on remote, larger remote buttons, Last year of Panasonic silicon, supports +RW in all models, Last year of TVGOSv9, Last year of Phrase Save feature,
'06___EH-75v____________VHS, 80GB HDD, upcnvrtng, IR blaster, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL(only HS from HDD), TVGOS, SD slot, Divx, DV, Manual, Link, Link,
'06___EH-55_______________200GB HDD, upcnvrtng, IR blstr, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL(only HS from HDD), TVGOS, SD slot, Divx, DV, Link, Manual, Link, Link,
'06___ES-45v aka ES-46v__VHS, upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, SD slot, DV, DL*, Link, Manual,
'06___ES-35v____________VHS, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL*, DV, Link, Manual,
'06___ES-25_____________Upconverting, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL*, SD slot, DV, Manual, Link, Link,
'06___ES-15_____________+-R, +-RW, RAM, DL*, DV, Link, Link, Manual, Link,

'05 model year added:First year of 704x480 resolution LP and faster(previous models had 352x480 LP), introduced two models with LSI silicon (ES-20&ES-40v both had 720x480 in LP and faster), added -RW support, Phrase Save feature added(except ES-20&ES-40v),
'05___EH-60_____________200GB HDD, IR blaster, +-R, -RW, RAM, TVGOSv7, SD slot, DV, Link, Manual,
'05___EH-50_____________100GB HDD, IR blaster, +-R, -RW, RAM, SD slot, TVGOSv7, Link, Manual, Link, Link, Link,
'05___ES-40v____________VHS, +-R, -RW, RAM, DV, (similar design flaws as EZ models),LSI silicon, Manual, Link, Link,
'05___ES-30v____________VHS, +-R, -RW, RAM, Dual displays, Manual, Link, Link,
'05___ES-20_____________+-R, -RW, RAM, DV, Link, Link, Manual, Link, Link, Link, (similar design flaws as EZ models), LSI silicon, Cannot pause FR,
'05___ES-10_____________+-R, -RW, RAM, Link, Manual, Link, Link, Link, Link,

'04 model year added:First year HDD models added DVD -R (realtime) dubbing to HDD and TVGOSv7(on HDD models), 8hr speed added, Thumbnail view added, TVGOS added to some models,
'04___E500H_____________400GB HDD, IR blaster, RAM, -R, SD & PC slot, DV, TVGOS, LAN, Link, Manual, Link,
'04___E95H aka T6070_____160GB HDD, IR blaster, RAM, -R, SD & PC slot, DV, TVGOS, Manual, Link,
'04___E85H______________120GB HDD, IR blaster, RAM, -R, TVGOS, Manual, Link, Link, Link,
'04___E75v aka E74v______VHS, RAM, -R, First Panny combo, Dual displays, Manual,
'04___E65_______________IR blaster, RAM, -R, SD & PC slot, Only non HDD Panny w/TVGOSv7, Manual,
'04___E55_______________RAM, -R, Link, Manual,

'03 model year added:First year HDD models added HS dubbing from HDD to -R, last year of eject on remote,
'03___E100H_____________120GB HDD, RAM, -R, SD slot, DV, Manual, Link, Link,
'03___E80H______________80GB HDD, RAM, -R, Link, Link, Manual,
'03___E60_______________RAM, -R, SD slot, DV, Manual,
'03___E50_______________RAM, -R, Manual, Link,

'02___HS2 aka 3040***____40GB HDD, First US Panasonic w/HDD, RAM, -R, DV, PC card slot, Link, Link, Manual, 3040 Manual, 3040 info,
'02___E30 aka 3030***____RAM, -R, Manual, 3030 Manual, Link,

'01___E20 aka 2020***____RAM, -R, FR for timer use only, EP6 added, Only Panny DVDR w/o progressive scan, Manual, Link,

'00___E10***____________RAM only, First US Panasonic DVDR, Jog shuttle ring, FR only for timer use, Manual, Link,

*1st layer must be closed before 2nd layer can be used, IOW you cannot record non stop from one layer to the next, disc will have a thumbnail for each layer.
**Digital broadcasts cannot be recorded to VHS
***'02, '01 and '00 Panasonics have a black level bug similar to the international Panasonics listed near the top of this thread. Please read the note on the footnote for international recorders only as it pertains to IRE issues.
All Pannys w/TVGOS include a IR blaster.
All Pannys with LSI silicon lack the basic RAM disc editing feature shorten title, to shorten a title you must add chapters marks and then delete the chapter.

Link to Panasonic manuals
Link to master TVGOS thread
Link to Panasonic flat rate repair thread
Link to spindle cleaning thread


Edited by jjeff - 12/12/12 at 6:15am
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 94
4/1/09 at 12:13pm
The DMR-EH50 has a 100GB HDD, TVGOS and an IR blaster.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 94
4/1/09 at 1:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelson View Post

And, why are you doing this?

Presumably as a public service, which I for one appreciates. I think as the DVDR market dwindles it would be very helpful to know what older models are out there. Should I get a second DVDR it is likely to be a older refurb model.


_Lazza
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 94
4/1/09 at 2:50pm
I think upconverting should apply only to those models with 1080i/p output, which doesn't exist in '06 and earlier. Listing HDMI/Component/Optical/Coax outputs would also be useful.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 94
4/1/09 at 4:22pm
Jeff,

I'll not go into features of various machines but just give the model, type of machine, model year (or possible model year), Operating Instructions copyright year, and month/year the Operating Instructions were approved for printing, if that information is found in the manual:

DMR-E30, DVD, poss 2002/2003, 2002

DMR-E80H, HDD/DVD, poss 2003, 2003
DMR-E100H, HDD/DVD, poss 2003, 2003

DMR-E55, DVD, poss 2004, 2004
DMR-E75, DVD/VCR, poss 2004, 2004
DMR-E85H, HDD/DVD, poss 2004, 2004

DMR-E500H, HDD/DVD, poss 2004/2005, 2004

DMR-ES10, DVD, 2005, 12/2004
DMR-ES20, DVD, 2005, 6/2005
DMR-ES30V, DVD/VCR, 2005, 1/2005
DMR-ES40V, DVD/VCR, 2005, 1/2005
DMR-EH50, HDD/DVD, 2005, 12/2004

DMR-ES15, DVD, 2006, 12/2005
DMR-ES25, DVD, 2006, 3/2006
DMR-ES35V, DVD/VCR, 2006, 1/2006
DMR-ES45/46V, DVD/VCR, 2006, 1/2006
DMR-EH55, HDD/DVD, 2006, 3/2006
DMR-EH75, HDD/DVD/VCR, 2006, 1/2006

DMR-EZ17, DVD, 2007, 12/2006
DMR-EZ27, DVD, 2007, 2/2007
DMR-EZ37, DVD/VCR, 2007, 12/2006
DMR-EZ47/475, DVD/VCR, 2007, 12/2006

DMR-EA18, DVD, 2008, 12/2007
DMR-EZ28, DVD, 2008, 12/2007
DMR-EA38V, DVD/VCR, 2008, 12/2007
DMR-EZ48/485V, DVD/VCR, 2008, 12/2007

I have Service Manuals (Canadian English) for the DMR-ES30V, DMR-ES15, DMR-ES35V, DMR-ES45/46V, DMR-EH55, DMR-EH75, DMR-EZ17 and DMR-EZ47/475.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 94
4/1/09 at 5:35pm
Add the HS2, the first Panny with a HDD (40gb) and it's "pro" version, the 3040. Bothe also had PC card slots.

There was also a "pro" version of the E30, the 3030. No HDD

They were preceded by the E20 and 2020, the "pro" model.

Surprised no one posted the E95 (same year as the E85 and E500 I think) with a 160 gb HDD and card slot, and it's "pro" version, the T6070.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 94
4/1/09 at 6:25pm
Don't forget the one that started it all ... the Panasonic DMR-E10. This one was released in 2001, and only recorded to DVD-RAM.

Reply
Reply
post #8 of 94
4/1/09 at 7:48pm
I believe the U.S. version of the EH55 had a 160GB HDD and the Canadian version had a 200GB HDD.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 94
4/2/09 at 6:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelson View Post

And, why are you doing this?

Yes as Lazza said I just thought it would be nice to have a thread that one could look at and find a brief description of model number and year produced. That way when someone posted a question about a particular model # we would know for example what disc types it supports etc.
It kind of came up in another thread talking about a Panny ES-10. It took several posts to find out what year it was produced and their was still questions regarding what discs it supported.
This thread will only cover Panasonics since that's what I'm mostly interested in and have the most knowledge in. It would be nice to have a similar thread on say Pioneers, Toshibas etc. but one only has so much time.
Currently when I try and search for a particular model to find out specifics most of the time I just get bits and pieces and mostly questions. Some of the newer "Official" threads such as the EZ-28 and EZ-48 have very nice OP's but that's more the exception than the norm. Then there's the threads like the Tivo HD or Philips 3575/6, if all threads where like those there wouldn't be a need for a thread like this. I really applaud the OPs for there diligents and upkeep.
Ideally it would be cool to have links in this thread to say the official or most posted threads for a particular model DVDR, the problem is I'm trying to keep each model down to one line and I don't know how people post links just using one word. When I post a link it makes the actual link the hyper link, not just one word. Maybe as time permits I can check into it.
I'll try and update the previous posts and corrections later today or tomorrow. I'll be tied up all day and the better part of tomorrow. Keep the updates coming, Thanks Jeff
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 94
4/2/09 at 7:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdavej View Post

I think upconverting should apply only to those models with 1080i/p output, which doesn't exist in '06 and earlier. Listing HDMI/Component/Optical/Coax outputs would also be useful.

I think?? all models with HDMI also do upconverting and only HDMI models upconvert(although some will upconvert over component I think only the HDMI models have upconverting). AFAIK '06 and '07 HDMI models, they only upconverted to 1080i while the '08 EZ-x8 models did 1080p.
Again I could be wrong but I'd like a little more conformation before changed anything.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 94
4/2/09 at 7:37am
I see that now, checking one of the old manuals. You're right. Nevermind.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 94
4/2/09 at 8:00am
Panasonic's support website is helpful in obtaining information and online manuals for the various DVD Recorder models. Just click here and fill in the model number or partial model number (like "DMR-E").

Thanks for starting this thread. I find it helpful in knowing what years each model was made. Most of my recorders date back before 2006.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 94
4/2/09 at 11:49am
Here is an interesting group of pictures showing the progression of the DIGA engine PCB boards used in the early Panasonic DVD recorders 2000-2004. Notice the size decrease and price decrease with each newer model. Click on the pics for the full-size image. This was gathered from this thread.

DMR-E10


DMR-E20


DMR-E30


DMR-E50


DMR-E55
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 94
4/2/09 at 2:30pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks DigaDo, Breyean, tomwil, JMas,
I updated OP to reflect your info.
I'm still interested in the main differences between the ES-10 and ES-20, they seem? like duplicate models as well as the main differences between the ES-30v and the ES-40v.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 94
4/2/09 at 3:18pm
I have an HS2 that is still working. The manufactured date on the back is September, 2002. This model has the black-level problem and does not do high-speed dubbing.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 94
4/2/09 at 3:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeff View Post

Thanks DigaDo, Breyean, tomwil, JMas,
I updated OP to reflect your info.
I'm still interested in the main differences between the ES-10 and ES-20, they seem? like duplicate models as well as the main differences between the ES-30v and the ES-40v.

Jeff,

The DMR-ES30V is the heavily featured combo recorder that is trouble-free and rock steady, an outstanding product. The DMR-ES40V was held back and made it to market toward the end of the 2005 model run, in most cases entering the market only after the supply of DMR-ES30V models was gone. I purchased two DMR-ES30V models, the first in September 2005. Both DMR-ES30 models are great machines, having accumulated around 7,500 recording hours between them and still fully functional at last use.

I browsed around looking for a third DMR-ES30V in November and December 2005 but none were to be had. Instead, I purchased one DMR-ES40V in December 2005. The bugs and design flaws became apparent at once. Panasonic advised me that there was no remedy for the problematic behavior of the DMR-ES40V because these were part of the design. Firmware upgrades did not correct the problems. Panasonic made no offer to exchange the machine because, in their view, bugs and design flaws are not defects so the warranty does not cover such problems. The DMR-ES40V was used only intermittently, accumulating only 355 recording hours until around March 2006 when it was put back in its box and stored for around two years. After that it saw some service as the VHS/DVD player on the family TV. At $270 the DMR-ES40V was a very expensive DVD and VHS player. A few months ago the DMR-ES40V was put back in its box where it reposes in the same closet where it spent most of its life. I’m saving the ES40V for its little-used DVD Drive, the same model DVD Drive used in the ES30V, in case the DVD Drive in either DMR-ES30 fails.

The DMR-ES40V is stripped of the essential Time Limited and Flexible (Record) dubbing features that make the DMR-ES30V such a dubbing workhorse. As with some earlier models and the 2007/2008 models the DMR-ES40V must be powered off in order to initiate a scheduled recording. And, like some 2007/2008 models, the DMR-ES40V is full of bugs and design flaws.

It is interesting that the 2006 models did not have those bugs and design flaws found in the 2005 DMR-ES40V. I’ve purchased many 2006 model year Panasonics, all outstanding products. I currently own eight functional 2006 model year Panasonics, three DMR-ES15 models and five DMR-ES35V models, four of which have accumulated around 3,000 recording hours per machine.

Panasonic reintroduced the 2005 DMR-ES40V bugs and design flaws into the 2007 models. No wonder such a high rate of EZ series machines were retuned by customers, only to be sold cheaply on eBay. In the fall of 2007 I purchased two DMR-EZ17 models for around $50 each, including shipping. By the fall of 2008 I purchased two more DMR-EZ17 models and a DMR-EZ28 for less than $25 each, including shipping. Using workarounds to overcome some bugs and design flaws, all five of these EZ series machines are still in daily use. If it weren’t for the workarounds these EZ machines would have been junked by now. No wonder Panasonic has "thrown-in the towel" with DVD recorders.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 94
4/2/09 at 3:41pm
I have an E85 and it has a 120 GB hard drive. The US version of the EH55 has the 200 GB hard drive, I have one of these as well.

This really shows the DVD recorder history. Sad. The market for quality hdd equipped recorders starts in about 2003, and really ends in 2006 with the last HDD recorders from Panasonic, the EH55 and EH75. That was a brief run, about four years. There were some that were earlier, and a few that survived until last year (2008) but this really was not a product with a long lifetime. VCRs were being made for more than 25 years, but DVD recorders, around five.

Other manufacturers might have done better than Panasonic in the longivity of their product lines, but not greatly.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 94
4/2/09 at 4:28pm
Thread Starter 
DigaDo, I took liberties and called the ES-40v a '05+ and also added a disclaimer about the reliability of this model. The ES-40v is a interesting model indeed, as you said Panasonic had a great year in '06 after the ES-40v but took a step back again in '07.
"'05+__ES-40v____________VHS, +-R, -RW, RAM, (problematic model, similar design flaws as EZ models)"
Not that I intended the OP to be a rating of the various Panasonic DVDRs but per your post and a few others I've read it think it's a deserved warning.
I also had some very bad luck with 6 EZ-17/27's but I've documented my problems extensively in the EZ-17 thread, and it seems others did not have the severe problems I did with those models(so I did not note this in the OP).
Church AV Guy, Updated E85 and EH-55 info, thanks. Oh and did you notice the EH-68? was it available when you bought your EH-67?
DigaDo, does your ES-40v record to +RW or DL discs? as you probably know in '05 +RW and DL wasn't officially supported but it was by '06 model year.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 94
4/2/09 at 6:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeff View Post

DigaDo, I took liberties and called the ES-40v a '05+ and also added a disclaimer about the reliability of this model. The ES-40v is a interesting model indeed, as you said Panasonic had a great year in '06 after the ES-40v but took a step back again in '07 . . .

Not that I intended the OP to be a rating of the various Panasonic DVDRs but per your post and a few others I've read it think it's a deserved warning.
I also had some very bad luck with 6 EZ-17/27's but I've documented my problems extensively in the EZ-17 thread, and it seems others did not have the severe problems I did with those models(so I did not note this in the OP) . . .

DigaDo, does your ES-40v record to +RW or DL discs? as you probably know in '05 +RW and DL wasn't officially supported but it was by '06 model year.

Jeff,

If you will notice, the DMR-ES40V Operating Instructions were approved for printing the same month (January 2005) as those for the DMR-ES30V. I did so little recording with the ES40 that I didn't try out a variety of formats. I just remember that finalizing discs with the ES40 was so problematic that I used other Panasonics to finalize ES40 recorded discs. The Operating Instructions show support for DVD-R DL discs and the ES40 "officially" records to DVD+R discs LOL! (Panasonic power users know not to use "+" media in Panasonics.) The Operating Instructions do not show support of any kind for DVD+RW discs.

While the DMR-ES40V is a 2005 model, I think it was held back from the marketplace until the DMR-ES30V models were cleared out. The retail box gives no hint that this is a stripped-down model. If I had not already had extensive experience with the great DMR-ES30V, the DMR-ES40V would have soured me on Panasonic right then.

Before purchasing several DMR-ES35V models I was able to study the Operating Instructions to determine that most of the outstanding DMR-ES30V features were carried over into the the DMR-ES35V, and, of course, the DMR-ES45V and DMR-ES46V models. All these are full-featured combo recorders; the ES45 and ES46 with HDMI and the ES46 (a Sam's Club/Costco model) included the HDMI cable itself. These, and the DMR-ES30V, are the best combo recorders Panasonic offered in the US market.

Even though the EZ series have digital and analog tuners and provide outstanding picture quality (as do the 2005 and 2006 models), the EZ series combo recorders are a dubbing/copying nightmare when using the built-in VHS section. Add to that the other design flaws and bugs and it is no wonder that last fall one eBay seller was offering many hundreds (perhaps thousands) of DMR-EZ48V/485V customer returns for a starting bid of just $20.98, including shipping. With my many functional ES30 and ES35 models I had no desire to purchase an EZ series combo recorder, even at a cheap price.

If a Panasonic fan that chose the "DigaDo" name will not recommend or buy certain Panasonic models, then Panasonic was in trouble. Even "DigaDo" has been recommending and buying certain Philips and Magnavox HDD/DVD models over the last year. It should come as no surprize that Panasonic left the recorder market.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 94
4/2/09 at 7:12pm
Additional notable features/operating capabilities noted in bold below for applicable HDD models:

'06___EH-75_____________VHS, 80GB HDD, upconverting, IR blaster, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL only HS from HDD, TVGOS, SD slot, Divx playback, full D1 resolution (720x480) in XP, SP, LP modes (previous models only recorded in Broadcast D1 resolution - 704x480); 6 and/or 8 hour EP modes.
'06___EH-55_____________200GB HDD, upconverting, IR blaster, +-R, +-RW, RAM, DL only HS from HDD, TVGOS, SD slot,Divx playback, full D1 resolution (720x480) in XP, SP, LP modes (previous models only recorded in Broadcast D1 resolution - 704x480); 6 AND 8 hour EP modes.

'05___EH-50_____________100GB HDD, IR blaster, +-R, +-RW, RAM, TVGOS, First to offer Broadcast D1 (704x480) in LP mode (previous models recorded LP in 352x480 only)

'04___E500H_____________400GB HDD, TVGOS, LAN
'04___E95H aka T6070_____160GB HDD, SD slot, TVGOS
'04___E85H______________120GB HDD, TVGOS, First Panny HDD to offer DVD-R dubbing (Real Time Only) to HDD applied to E95H and E500H above

'03___E100H_____________100GB HDD,
'03___E80H______________80GB HDD, First Panny HDD recorder to offer high speed dubbing to DVDR - also applied to E100H

'02___HS2 aka 3040_______40GB HDD,
'02___E30 aka 3030_______

'01___E20 aka 2020_______

'00___E10_______________RAM, I still own one of these. Built like a tank and great PQ
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 94
4/3/09 at 6:45am
As one who only has experience with the DMR-EH75, which I absolutely love and would be lost without, I find this a very interesting thread and thank all who are contributing helpful information to it.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 94
4/3/09 at 11:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Church AV Guy View Post

This really shows the DVD recorder history. Sad. The market for quality hdd equipped recorders starts in about 2003, and really ends in 2006 with the last HDD recorders from Panasonic, the EH55 and EH75. That was a brief run, about four years. There were some that were earlier, and a few that survived until last year (2008) but this really was not a product with a long lifetime. VCRs were being made for more than 25 years, but DVD recorders, around five.

Other manufacturers might have done better than Panasonic in the longivity of their product lines, but not greatly.

There are still International Panny models available, of course. I say get 'em all while you can. I don't even mind paying a little more for an American model if it has an IR blaster.

I'd rather have a Panny without a usable internal tuner stashed away for future use than a Funai-made model with a digital tuner. At least among the stuff that's been out so far. But that's just me.

I suppose I might feel differently if I had cable, but then there's switched video, and by the time I get around to using that recorder, the digital QAM tuner might be useless anyway.

(Hey, I like this thread. How about we designate this the official "No-Funai-Spin" zone?)
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 94
4/3/09 at 12:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rammitinski View Post

I'd rather have a Panny without a usable internal tuner stashed away for future use than a Funai-made model with a digital tuner. At least among the stuff that's been out so far. But that's just me . . .

(Hey, I like this thread. How about we designate this the official "No-Funai-Spin" zone?)

My screen name is "DigaDo." Why is that? "Diga" is the name found on Panasonic recorders. But why "DigaDo?" Well, most "Diga" Panasonics "Do" serve me very well, especially my many 2005-2006 ES series Panasonics. My five 2007-2008 EZ series Panasonics are bug-laden and have design flaws not corrected by firmware updates. EZ series Panasonics need workarounds to keep them functional.

Where does one turn when Panasonic fails it's customers? Over the last thirteen months I've purchased three Funai-manufactured HDD/DVD recorders, a Philips 3575, a Magnavox 2080 and a Magnavox 2160. Just recently I installed a larger hard drive in my Magnavox 2080 so it's "grown up" to be like it's "Funai chums." For my purposes these Funai products are proving themselves to be more flexible and reliable than the Panasonic EZ series set up near the Funai products.

I can not comment on the overall quality of low-line Funai products found with the Philips, Magnavox, Sylvania, Toshiba, Emerson, Symphonic and (surely) other brand names. With the economy of scale I would think that some of these inexpensive low-line Funai DVD recorders might be a future swapping source for the same model DVD Drives as those in the higher-line HDD/DVD recorders.
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 94
4/3/09 at 6:06pm
Thread Starter 
Vic, please check out the OP again to make sure I added your info correct.
Are you positive '05 was only 704 and not 720 resolution for LP? I have a '05 ES-30v and don't notice anything different(viewing) from my '06 ES models, although I do know '05 was the first year Panasonic advertised the 500 line LP. Do you know if XP and SP was also 704 instead of 720 in '05 and earlier?
You also said '06 was the first year of the 8hr speed but my '05 ES-30v also has a 8hr speed so do you think maybe '05 was the first year for that speed?
Thanks for the HDD size on many of the models I had ???'s for.
I don't use a computer to view my DVDs so I never check the resolution that way. I only know on '05 and newer(only models I've used) there is a big drop in resolution going any speed above 4hrs/disc (including 4hr 1 minute and above using FR).
It's fun reading some of your early posts in the archives when you would get into it with Lordsmurf the resident Panny hater at VideoHelp He really likes his old JVCs. I once PM'd him and offered a DVD recorded in FR3 on one of my Panasonic EZ models(recorded off a WS HD channel and looked gorgeous IMO) but he never responded to me....Oh well, I guess he made up his mind about Panasonics years ago.
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 94
4/3/09 at 8:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeff View Post

Vic . . . Are you positive '05 was only 704 and not 720 resolution for LP? I have a '05 ES-30v and don't notice anything different(viewing) from my '06 ES models, although I do know '05 was the first year Panasonic advertised the 500 line LP . . . I only know on '05 and newer(only models I've used) there is a big drop in resolution going any speed above 4hrs/disc (including 4hr 1 minute and above using FR).

Jeff,

A Panasonic engineer (not just a tech) mentioned that the picture quality drops off only incrementally for Flexible Recordings a little longer than four hours in duration. He doubted that I would notice the picture quality difference between a Flexible Recording of four hours in duration and one of four hours six minutes in duration. Of course, he may have realized that he was speaking to a "geezer" that may no longer have the sharp eyesight of a young man.

The 2005 model year DMR-ES30V Operating Instructions (at page 75) shows this (claimed) resolution:

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

That is the resolution Panasonic claims for the 2005 model year down to the present day models.

********

The 2004 model year DMR-E75V Operating Instructions (at page 73) shows this (claimed) resolution:

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

That is the resolution Panasonic claims for the earlier years down through the 2004 model year.
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 94
4/4/09 at 4:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DigaDo View Post

It is interesting that the 2006 models did not have those bugs and design flaws found in the 2005 DMR-ES40V. I've purchased many 2006 model year Panasonics, all outstanding products. I currently own eight functional 2006 model year Panasonics, three DMR-ES15 models and five DMR-ES35V models, four of which have accumulated around 3,000 recording hours per machine.

Panasonic reintroduced the 2005 DMR-ES40V bugs and design flaws into the 2007 models.

It's actually very simple. The DMR-ES20 and DMR-ES40V were both based on the LSI Logic SOC rather than Panasonic's own internal silicon. The 2006 models went back to Panasonic silicon.

Likewise, all of the ATSC tuner EZ models are LSI Logic based. There's nothing wrong with the LSI Logic silicon. In fact, Panasonic had no choice but to use LSI, since they didn't have their own silicon that could do ATSC.

However, great silicon is useless without great software.

Ron
Reply
Reply
post #27 of 94
4/4/09 at 5:31am
Thread Starter 
dr1394, you make some interesting points. If I understand you correctly the following models contain the LSI Logic silicon: '05 ES-40v and ES-20 as well as all EZ models. All the rest contained Panasonics own silicone. Also the "consumer electronics division of LSI was sold to Magnum in 2007" which is why '08 Panasonic DVDRs are labeled Magnum instead of LSI.
I did purchase a '05 ES-20 shortly after my ES-30v and I promptly returned it. It lacked many of the features found on the ES-30v that I had become accustomed to. I only had it a couple of days so reliability never became an issue. At the time I was looking for a second DVDR and didn't want to spend the $400+ that the ES-30v was selling for.
Since then I have read on AVS several negative posts about the ES-20 and ES-40 dealing with there poor feature sets.
So if I understand you correctly it's not necessarily the LSI Logic silicon but rather the way Panasonic integrated in in there DVDRs. Interesting point, thanks for sharing.
In a way it's like Panasonic tested the water with outsourcing it's silicone to LSI in '05 with the ES-20 and ES-40, maybe with all the problems they switched back to in-house Panasonic silicone for model year '06 (which many including me consider their best model year) and from '07 and on they've stayed with LSI/Magnum despite certain problems/bugs.
Just as Toshiba has their "Toshiba built Toshibas" the XS series, Panasonic also has their "Panasonic built Panasonics" that contain the true Panasonic Silicone.
Reply
Reply
post #28 of 94
4/4/09 at 9:04am
The first photo shows the Panasonic chip on a 2006 DMR-ES35V Digital PCB.

The second photo shows the LSI chip on a 2007 DMR-EZ17 Digital PCB.

The third photo shows the Magnum chip on a 2008 DMR-EZ28V Digital PCB.
LL
LL
LL
Reply
Reply
post #29 of 94
4/4/09 at 5:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeff View Post

dr1394, you make some interesting points. If I understand you correctly all models except the '05 ES-40v and ES-20 as well as all EZ models contain the "LSI Logic silicon".

No, that's inverted. All models except the '05 ES-40v and ES-20 as well as all EZ models contain Panasonic in-house silicon.

Some of the software in the LSI based models was a port of the user interface software from the Panasonic based models. They wanted the same "look and feel". However, pretty much everything else under the user interface is different. Different processors, different operating system (LSI based models use VxWorks), different base functionality libraries and different encoding algorithms. In the end, some features didn't "translate" well.

BTW, the consumer electronics division of LSI was sold to Magnum in 2007. For Panasonic DVD recorders, Magnum = LSI.

Ron
Reply
Reply
post #30 of 94
4/5/09 at 6:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dr1394 View Post

No, that's inverted. All models except the '05 ES-40v and ES-20 as well as all EZ models contain Panasonic in-house silicon.

BTW, the consumer electronics division of LSI was sold to Magnum in 2007. For Panasonic DVD recorders, Magnum = LSI.

Ron

Thanks dr1394, I think I got it now and corrected post #28. I will also somehow add this info the the OP, I think it helps explain things a lot, at least for me
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: DVD Recorders (Standard Def)

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › DVD Recorders (Standard Def) › Panasonic DVD recorder US models, years produced and features