039 EHC 08 DVD REC G.Test 21/9/04 5:31 PM Page 56
DVD Recorders
Does JVC’s fine first entry into the DVD Recorder market mark the death of VHS?
£400
JVC DR-M1
N ADMITTING DEFEAT IN THE BATTLE TO
keep its invention, the video cassette, alive, JVC
recording while it’s still being made – is unique to
RAM compatible machines or those with hard drives
(and some DVD-RW machines). Recordings can be
made onto almost universally accepted DVD-R discs.
DVD-RW disks can be formatted in video-mode or
VR-mode. The latter allows free editing of contents
but the former is more widely compatible. That’s made
up for by satellite control (only with Sky digiboxes)
and the great ‘free rate’ (FR) recording mode, which
calculates time left on the disc in various recording
modes. This means you can chop and change between
bitrates on one (recordable or rewritable) disc.
Picture quality in XP and SP mode recordings is
clear, while the DR-MI’s progressive scan playback
works with recordings and PAL software.
I
has done the DVD Recorder market a big favour.
Where we do have a few gripes with the UK’s first
combined -RW and RAM recorder is its connections,
which include a RGB enabled Scart and separate S-
Video and stereo audio outputs. However, the second
Scart at the back of the unit, which connects set-top
boxes, cannot handle RGB sources – it will only accept
composite or S-Video sources. An i.Link terminal on
front panel allows digital dubbing from camcorders.
Its ‘living memory playback’ feature – watching a
With a such a low street price, JVC’s DR-M1 is only
a hard drive and a RGB input away from perfection.
What’s good
Satellite control
Prog scan
What’s bad
No RGB input
Satellite control won’t work with Freeview or Sky+
Great features and a familiar VCR look and make this perfect for the newly converted
£300
Panasonic DMR-E55
T MAY BE AT THE LOW END OF PANASONIC’S
DIGA range, but what the DMR-E55 lacks
(hard drive, DV input) it makes up for in great
VideoPlus, and there is also a PDC facility. The DVD-
video output for PAL and NSTC progressive scan,
RGB Scart input and output, S-video support, an
optical digital audio out and front panel AV inputs
for connecting a camcorder. Missing features, like a
memory card slot, i.Link digital video connection and
hard drive can be found on other Panasonic models.
RAM format offers extensive editing and is perfect
for daily recording and deleting. It also enables
‘chasing playback’, allowing you to watch the start of
a recording while it continues to record, as well as
‘time slip’, which means the last 30 secs of live TV
can be replayed – a boon for sports fans.
I
picture, sound and a myriad of recording functions.
That’s largely down to its compatibility with DVD-
RAM and DVD-R formats – but be aware that DVD-
RW discs cannot be used for recording. Its four
recording modes, XP, SP, LP and EP, range from one to
eight hrs of recording time. Picture quality on XP
mode is outstanding – as it is with pre-recorded DVDs
– while the more flexible SP mode is excellent. Other
modes are still better quality than VCR recordings.
Timer recordings can be made manually or with
Playback functions include Direct Navigator, which
displays full-motion thumbnails of all recordings on a
disc, while Playback NR reduces picture noise and
Virtual Surround Sound mode does what it says –
with only two speakers.
What’s good
Versatility of DVD-RAM recording
Attractive design
What’s bad
DVD-RW recordings would have been useful
No DV input
Expansive connectivity comprises component
56 ESSENTIAL HI-FI & HOME CINEMA
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039 EHC 08 DVD REC G.Test 21/9/04 5:34 PM Page 59
sponsored by
MAKE
MUSTEK
R100B
PANASONIC
DMR-E55
PANASONIC
DMR-E65
PHILIPS
DVD R80
PHILIPS
PHILIPS
SONY
MODEL
DVD R610
DVD R615
RDR-GX300
SPECIFICATIONS
Price
£200
£300
£400
£500
£200
£230
£400
Recording formats
DVD+R, DVD+RW
DVD-RAM, DVD-R
DVD-RAM, DVD-R
DVD+R, DVD+RW
DVD+R, DVD+RW
DVD+R, DVD+RW
DVD+R, +RW, -R, -RW
RGB recording
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
DVD-Audio playback
Video CD/Super Video CD
CD-R/CD-RW playback
MP3/JPEG playback
Tel
NO
YES (2-channel)
YES/YES
YES (2-channel)
YES/YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
0870 0132017
YES/NO
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
0870 9009070
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
0870 9009070
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/NO
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
NO/NO
YES/NO
YES/YES
08705 357 357
08705 357 357
0870 9009070
08705 111999
Web
FEATURES
VideoPlus/PDC
GuidePlus
NO/NO
NO
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
NO
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
Variable bit-rate recording
Non-linear editing
Playlist editing
NO
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
6
NO
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
Timer
8-event
5
16 event/one month
16 event/one month
15-event/one month
6-event/one month
6-event/one month
No of recording modes
Trick-play functions
Zoom
5
5
7
7
8
NO
YES
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
Progressive scan playback
YES
We say: Instead of a
‘time remaining’
counter, the machine
gives a useless readout
of of the percentage of
space left
We say: This recorder is
ideal for time-shifting TV
shows but not for recording shows as well as recording
camcorder footage and
digital still images
We say: This recorder is
ideal for time-shifting TV
We say: The first
We say: Not yet rated
We say: Similar to the
entry-;level DVD R610
with the addition of an
8hr recording mode
We say: Sony’s entry-
level machine is a basic
model for recording TV
shows with chasing
playback
recorder to include
GuidePlus, which makes
timer recordings simple.
Editing is limited
camcorder footage and
digital still images
CONNECTIONS
RGB Scart in/out
Component video out
DVI or HDMI out
S-video in/out
NO/YES
YES
YES
YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
NO/YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
Composite video in/out
Stereo audio out
Optical digital audio out
Electrical digital audio out
i.Link in/out
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO/NO
NO
NO/NO
NO
YES/NO
YES
YES/NO
NO
NO
YES/NO
NO
NO
Photo card slot
NO
NO
We say: Plenty of outputs We say: Has everything
We say: Basically, this is
a DMR-E55 with the
addition of a DV (i.Link)
input plus PC card and SD camcorder footage
card slots
We say: No problems
with connections. There
is even iLink to take DV
We say: Not yet rated
We say: Not yet rated
We say: Not yet rated
but recording from
digital TV via S-video
suffers from a flawed
MPEG converter
you might need for
recording analogue or
digital TV but won’t
accept DV footage
VERDICT
Ease of Use
Features
Looks
★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
Picture
Sound
Value
We say: Despite the
long specs, this deck is
very average when it
comes to basics like
picture and sound. It
may be multiregional
and have lots of inputs,
but the lack of
VideoPlus or similar
programme guide and
the fact that the
progressive scan func-
tion copes only with
NTSC marks this out as
a dubious foreign import
clearly not aimed at
UK consumers.
We say: This elegant deck
may not be the cheapest
DVD recorder out there,
but but it’s one of the
best, thanks to the
combination of DVD-RAM
flexibility and DVD-R
compatibility. The RGB
input on the recorder is
vital for anyone with
We say: Like the cheaper
DMR-E55 this elegant
deck is not the most
We say: Colourful and
detail-laden pictures on
recordings made in
We say: Not yet rated
We say: Not yet rated
We say: Not yet rated
affordable but its recording optimum modes makes
and playback performance
is so damn good it makes
it impossible to seriously
this a special deck.
Others can compete
there, but not over the
fault (though DV camcorder inclusion by Philips of
enthusiasts should note
that there is no DV output
for dubbing edited footage
back to a camcorder).
Overall, a great machine if
you can justify the price.
GuidePlus, a seriously
special addition. Editing
may be limited and the
menu navigation may be
a little slow but it’s so
feature-packed we don’t
have any major gripes.
digital TV (Freeview, Sky
or cable). A great
all-purpose recorder for
day-to-day use, and
reasonably priced.
OVERALL
★★★
★★★★★ ★★★★
★★★★
ESSENTIAL HI-FI & HOME CINEMA 59
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039 EHC 08 DVD REC G.Test 21/9/04 5:34 PM Page 60
DVD Recorders
MAKE
SONY
SONY
THOMSON
DTH 8005
TOSHIBA
DR-1
YAMADA
HITACHI
MODEL
RDR-GXD500
RDR-GX700
DVR-8000
DV-RX7000
SPECIFICATIONS
Price
£500
£500
£400
£400
£200
£279
Recording formats
DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW
DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/RW
DVD+R, DVD+RW
DVD-R/-RW, DVD-RAM
DVD+R, DVD+RW
DVD-RAM. DVD-R,
DVD-RW
RGB recording
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
DVD-Audio playback
Video CD/Super Video CD
CD-R/CD-RW playback
MP3/JPEG playback
Tel
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/NO
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/NO
NO/NO
YES/NO
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES/NO
YES/YES
08705 111999
08705 111999
01732 520920
0870 4424424
0870 9063304
01628 643000
media.com
Web
FEATURES
VideoPlus/PDC
GuidePlus
Variable bit-rate recording
Non-linear editing
Playlist editing
NO/YES
YES/YES
NO
NO/YES
NO
YES/
NO
NO/NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
4
SOMETHING SIMILAR
YES
YES
YES
YES
6
YES
YES
YES
YES
6
NO
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
4
Timer
16-event
6
No of recording modes
Trick-play functions
Zoom
3
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
Progressive scan playback
YES
YES
YES
We say: The only UK DVD
recorder with a built-in
Freeview digital terrestrial TV
tuner
We say: Similar to the
GXD500 but with no
Freeview tuner - has DV
camcorder inputs instead
We say: The high price tag
does not include the picture-
enhancing progressive scan
function
We say: Use of DVD-RAM
opens-up editing
possibilities, but watch
cross-compatibility with
other DVD players
We say: Navigation display is
long-winded and of all the
recording modes, only HQ is of
any notable quality
We say: Not yet reviewed
CONNECTIONS
RGB Scart in/out
Component video out
DVI or HDMI out
S-video in/out
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/
YES
YES/
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
YES/YES
YES/YES
YES
Composite video in/out
Stereo audio out
Optical digital audio out
Electrical digital audio out
i.Link in/out
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO/NO
NO
YES/NO
NO
NO/NO
NO
YES/NO
NO
NO
YES/NO
NO
Photo card slot
NO
We say: Sports a built-in
Freeview digital terrestrial TV
tuner
We say: A pity the i.Link is an
input only as you can’t output
edited DV footage to a
camcorder
We say: Included on
We say: Neither of the two
Scart inputs will accept an
RGB video signal
We say: Lacks a DV input
but generally well-endowed
with connections
We say: Not yet reviewed
Thomson’s earlier media
recorders, USB memory card
readers for MP3s or digital
pictures have been left out
from this model
VERDICT
Ease of Use
Features
Looks
★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★
★★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★
★★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★★
Picture
★★★★
★★★
Sound
Value
★★★★
We say: Not yet reviewed
We say: Not yet reviewed
We say: With a very muted
playback of commercial
We say: With hard disk
We say: It looks chunky and
the remote is clunky, but it
boasts excellent connectivity
if not editing options, being
DVD+RW compatible. The one-
hour HQ recording mode is
great, so this deck is for people
who need to archive and is not
the best for daily use
We say: Not yet reviewed
recorders DVD still relatively
expensive, this deck makes a
good substitute. Thanks to
DVD-RAM compatibility, its
editing features are many
and extras like ‘pause live TV
are possible. DVD playback
is good and much better
than most entry level decks
DVDs, this is an average deck,
although, even coupled with
its underwhelming audio, it
would serve a basic surround
sound system adequately.
Lack of digibox control and
memory card or DV-input for
camcorders ensures a
conclusion that this is a no-
frills unit aimed squarely at
the gadget-unconscious
OVERALL
★★★
★★★★
★★★
60 ESSENTIAL HI-FI & HOME CINEMA
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