FreesatHD recorder with DVD player

dave-lew99 · 28 May 2010 at 14:27

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.

Lord Alibaski · 28 May 2010 at 21:36

We reserved the DMR-XS350 2 days ago picked it up today fantastic bit of kit.

Though most stores are asking silly prices for it except (which isn't a competitor to OC) the main street catalogue shop begining with the letter A.

They have it on special at the moment till the 10th June, but you might have to order it for pick up because most stores are showing it out of stock.....be quick because it's only going for £299.99.

We were lookin at another 2 which had freeview but seeing as we have a TV with built in Freesat & Freeview, freesat also being much crispier we went for the DMR-XS350. If you want to look at the Panasonic DMR-EX77 which has a 160GB drive or the Panasonic DMR-EX83EB-K which has a 250GB both good machines...but the price for the 350 won it for us.

By the way the 350 is probably the best machine on the market at the moment upto £600.

insane200 · 28 May 2010 at 23:45

the new freeview hd recorders from pan are a better machine tbh, the dmrxs380 which is twin tuner freeview hd, its much quicker to use now they have improved the GUI, and the freeview hd picture is just as good as freesat hd.

it does cost 499 though, the new freesat model should be out soon aswell, tbh id wait as they are much better machines.

dave-lew99 · 29 May 2010 at 10:34

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)

Lord Alibaski · 29 May 2010 at 18:23

What you have to think is

do I buy the DMR-XS350 now for £300 or buy the DMR-XW380 for £500?

is the £200 price difference going to be justified in performance???

Yes the DMR-XS350 is 12 months old but the DMR-XW380 isn't worth £200 more...tell me what this new machine can do that the older machine can't do..and then see if it's worth £200 extra.

Couple of good place to go on to view these products

avforums

&

trustedreviews

dave-lew99 · 29 May 2010 at 19:09

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.

Lord Alibaski · 29 May 2010 at 19:21

We just bought the Sony KDL-W375810U for £500 which has freeview & freesat built in.

My friend has the Sony KDL-W375500 with a freeview HD box and the picture quality on freesat HD is better in my opinion and he thinks the same.