New Recorders Offer High-Quality Video Azusa CA

Living-room DVD recorders from Pioneer and Panasonic top our chart this month.


1 . Local Companies

Trinity Worldwide Reprographics
(562) 567-2050
10410 Pioneer Blvd., Unit 2
Glendale, CA
BurnSmart
714-447-9181
1201 S State College Blvd
Fullerton, CA
Staples
(805) 546-6100
323 Madonna Rd
San Luis Obispo, CA
Sharka Corporation
(714) 375-0275
16182 Gothard St Ste L
Huntingtn Bch, CA
Call Home
(714) 891-7823
7540 Suzi Ln
Westminster, CA
Dino Electronics
(818) 888-0996
Canoga Park, CA
Intelligent
(714) 449-9398
535 S Raymond Ave
Fullerton, CA
Keyin Inc
(626) 965-2528
17088 Green Dr
City of Industry, CA
Peripheral Direct
(949) 360-9037
Aliso Viejo, CA
Yec America Inc
(626) 338-8866
5106 Azusa Canyon Rd
Baldwin Park, CA

2 . Introduction

Click here to view full-size image.Are the format wars finally over? Thankfully, almost. Compared with the hard-drive-equipped DVD recorders we reviewed a year ago, twice as many now support both the +R and -R formats. The only exception here is the Toshiba RD-XS55, the priciest model on the chart at $700.

All of the recorders delivered high-quality video. Every model regardless of its cost (the units we reviewed range from $340 to $700) earned a Very Good score for recording quality in our tests.

We recorded a variety of content in four quality modes, and found the results almost indistinguishable among the devices. And though we noticed some subtle differences in the artifacts that marred video recorded at the lower-quality modes, they weren't enough to affect our scores.

As for the recorders' features, however, they couldn't vary more--while some of the models offer a range of useful extras, others lag behind.

3 . Skip the Ads

If you don't like TV ads, select a recorder that can skip commercials. The Panasonic DMR-EH55S, Pioneer DVR-640H-S, and Toshiba RD-XS55 each offer a commercial-skip button on their remote controls for nixing jingles before they're stuck in your head.

Two recorders, the Lite-On and the Pioneer, have jukebox functions for playing music files and JPEGs. The Pioneer earned our Best Buy nod in part because it comes with a wonderful remote control and works well as a jukebox; it allows you to select multiple albums or a particular genre to play. The Lite-On, by contrast, doesn't let you play a selected folder or play by genre or artist. The unit doesn't even display the title of the currently playing song.

4 . Specialties

The pioneer is the only model here that can write to 8.5GB discs (both double-layer DVD+R and dual-layer DVD-R), and it's one of three units that write to DVD-RAM discs. The Toshiba RD-XS55 does not write to DVD+RW--and though it's the only device here with an ethernet port, you can't download video to its hard drive or display video on your TV over a network.

For scheduling recordings, the Panasonic and Toshiba (the two costliest models we tested) offer the TV Guide On Screen Interactive Program Guide, while the other models work with VCR+ codes.

5 . Featured Local Company

Trinity Worldwide Reprographics

(562) 567-2050
10410 Pioneer Blvd., Unit 2
Glendale, CA

Rate Article
     
Articles Insider

Rss   Delicious   Digg   Add To My Yahoo   Add To My Google   Bookmark   Search Plugin

Topics:
Advertising Family Home Services Real Estate Resources
Business Services Fashion Industrial Goods & Services Retail & Consumer Services
Career Financial Services Insurance Software
Cars Food & Beverage Internet Technology
Computer Hardware Franchise Legal Telecommunications
Construction Health Miscellaneous Trade Shows
Education Holidays Nightlife Travel
Entertainment Home Appliances Online Database Weddings
Environmental Home Electronics Pets