FreesatHD recorder with DVD player

[dave-lew99]

My parents are planning on replacing their TV setup soon and are wanting to cut down on the number of boxes.

I've suggested choosing between Freesat and Freeview for recording (with the TV having the one they're not bothered about recording built in).

I've just been looking at the Panasonic DMR-XS350 which seems to be quite highly rated. Of specific use to my parents:

* Dual HD Freesat tuners
* Upscaling DVD player (with DivX etc support) built in
* Ability to archive recordings to DVD

I just wondered what other options there are or a similar type box which is freeview instead of freesat.

On top of the dual recorder box, if they went for a sat recorder the TV would have freeview (pref freeview HD for future proofing) and then probably a WDTV live or similar for media playback.

 

[dave-lew99]

The DMR-XS380 is a freesat recorder...

I was also looking at the

* DMR-XW380 (dvd recorder with freeview HD ~ £500)
* DMR-BS850 (blu-ray recorder with freesat HD ~ £500)
* DMR-BW880 (blu-ray recorder with freeview HD ~ £900)

I've seen the DMR-XS350 for £300 at places other than the one you got yours from, it came out nearly 12 months ago so it's got quite a lot cheaper than list.

The currrent fave is either the DMR-XS350 or the DMR-BS850 blu ray version. Once freeview HD has better availability and the prices have dropped a seperate view-only box can be added to the system, for now the TVs i was looking at have freeview (not HD) built in.

The two TV's i looked at in budget and size range were the

* Samsung LE32B550 (~ £390)
* LG 32LH3000 (~ £340)

 

[dave-lew99]

Well no, that's not the choice, the choice is deciding which set of channels we want to be able to record - freesat or freeview, around here freeview is extremely limited, so freesat is favourable.

It's going to be between the DMR-XS350 and the DMR-BS850 if we want to go for blu-ray now (either of these boxes would get rid of the 3 currently under the TV, but one means possibly adding a blu-ray player later)

My brother has tipped the balance this morning by turning up with a new Sony Bravia KDL-32EX301 so that's the TV sorted, seems like a reasonable set, although only a 720 panel rather than 1080.