TVPast Forums

bigk181 · #1 06-10-2009, 01:02 PM

I have a Panasonic DMR-EZ47V and I think the quality is excellent. However, some people think that Panasonic is not a very good brand. I've heard that Philips has good DVD recorders. What do you think is the best newest DVD recorder brand and model? How much do they cost?

konfusion · #2 06-10-2009, 04:33 PM

to record what? straight off digital cable/sat?

Philips 3575/3576

but finding one now might be a problem

i use that with s-video
this one
http://www.bettercables.com/s-video-silver-serpent.aspx

lordsmurf · #3 06-10-2009, 04:55 PM

Philips (with-HDD 3575 or 3576, or non-HDD 3505/3506), maybe followed by a current Toshiba, maybe. Then the Panasonic. It's slim pickings, really it is, in 2009. Read up about recorders here: http://www.digitalfaq.com/reviews/dvd-recorders.htm

bigk181 · #4 06-10-2009, 07:10 PM

I want to use it to record shows from my Tivo, so I don't really care if the DVD recorder doesn't have a HDD. I use the included AV cables but I'm sure it would be better if I used s-video.

lordsmurf · #5 06-10-2009, 11:08 PM

Yes, please do use s-video, that can make a big difference in quality.

bigk181 · #6 06-10-2009, 11:21 PM

After reading some reviews on amazon.com for the Philips 3505 and 3506, I think I'm going to invest in the Philips DVDR3505.

I just need to find a good deal on a new unit. I don't want to buy a used or refurbished unit and end up with a bad unit. I may even buy the s-video cable that konfusion recommended.

lordsmurf · #7 06-10-2009, 11:46 PM

I highly suggest the refurb units, and here's why: New equipment is more likely to be DOA (dead on arrival) because it's never been tested. A refurb does not necessarily mean the unit was ever broken, or even used by a consumer. What "refurbished" means is that the unit left the warehouse, and for whatever reason, was returned. The factory then re-tested it, certified it, and it is guaranteed to work -- unlike the "new in box" units that are not as strenuously tested.

Quite a few items of mine, mainly professional cameras/lenses, video gear and computers, were bought as refurbs or used equipment. And I have to be honest with you -- I have more problems with "brand new" items than used ones, and I don't recall ever running into issues on a refurb. Best of all, refurbs are usually "steals" of a price, less than half the price of the hig-markup "new in box" items. You're paying less for something that has been tested more? That's a negative how?

I've referred a number of folks to the 3505 and 3506 refurb units on Amazon.com, and they have all reported that the units look brand new, and have worked as beautifully as I said (and as they had hoped). It was not damaged/used goods.

And if you use these links, you help fund this site:

Philips 3505 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...reative=390957
Philips 3506 - http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...reative=390957

If I didn't trust the quality of this exact DVD machine, the seller/marketplace, or the nature of refurb goods, I would not suggest it.

bigk181 · #8 06-11-2009, 12:01 AM

Scratch that. I spoke too soon. After reading the reviews on digitalfaq.com, I decided that I'm going to invest in either the Philips 3575H or 3576H. According to the reviews, any Philips DVD recorder made before 2007 aren't nearly as good as the ones made during and after 2007.

I haven't decided yet which one I'm going to buy. The 3576 is a newer model but it's also more expensive. The 3575 is cheaper but it's older than the 3576. Both are pretty expensive though.

LS, because of your suggestion, I'm going to get a refurbished unit. Also, I have the amazon.com homepage link for CPS support saved in my bookmarks. Anything I buy on amazon.com helps this forum.

Ebay links:

Philips DVDR3575H

Philips DVDR3576H

lordsmurf · #9 06-11-2009, 02:23 AM

The 3505/3506 (no hard drive) are the same as the 3575/3756 (with hard drive). Unless you just want to pay more for the HDD units (or have need for HDD units), there's no reason to not get the 3505/3506.

I only have the 3575 because I wanted a HDD unit with my HDTV setup downstairs. I prefer to save directly to disc, instead of recording to HDD then disc. Because it has to be on a disc before it can be ripped to the computer hard drive for editing/authoring. My HDD Philips is mostly used for timeshift+delete, rarely save anything on it.

Oh, one more thing --- these Philips models make for excellent XVID players.

bigk181 · #10 06-11-2009, 12:35 PM

I save shows to my Tivo and then burn them using my DVD recorder. I have no need for a DVD recorder with a HDD. If you can guarantee that the 3505/3506 (no hard drive) are the same as the 3575/3756 (with hard drive), then I will buy the 3505. Using the links you gave me, I can see that the 3506 doesn't have any customer reviews but the 3505 has 23 customer reviews with an average rating of 3 and a half stars.

lordsmurf · #11 06-11-2009, 01:07 PM

Video encoding and quality is supposed to be the same on 3505/3506 and 3575/3576, yes. Just no HDD on one, HDD on the other. Amazon customer reviews are often misguided, especially with tech, don't put too much faith into them.

bigk181 · #12 06-11-2009, 05:59 PM

It sounds like the 3505 and 3506 are pretty much the same.

lordsmurf · #13 06-11-2009, 06:15 PM

I think the biggest difference is the color -- one's silver, one's black.

bigk181 · #14 06-11-2009, 06:19 PM

I ended up buying the 3505 but I wonder if maybe I should have bought the 3506 because it's a newer model. The pictures look the same, though. There's no product description for the 3506.

bigk181 · #15 06-11-2009, 06:25 PM

I even bought a 3.28 feet Silver Serpent S-Video cable because of konfusion's recommendation. I don't need a cable longer than that. I currently use a 3 feet gold plated AV cable and that's plenty long enough. Since s-video doesn't support audio, I will continue to use the AV cable for audio.

manthing · #16 06-13-2009, 07:56 AM

LS, Philips 3505/3506 available in UK? or best alternative?
my jvc dr-m150 went to dvd heaven last night. sob.

lordsmurf · #17 06-13-2009, 09:10 AM

You can probably easily get that JVC repaired. For cheap too.

manthing · #18 06-13-2009, 12:25 PM

hmm, well i'll ask around for a repair.

i get the "please wait" sign flashing forever and the dvd recorder won't go any further.
googled for this to see if there was something i could do to reset it.
but no luck.

do you know of a solution i could apply?

JonathanEntertainment · #19 06-13-2009, 01:03 PM

I have a JVC I got from ecost a little back havent used in a little that is for sure.

bigk181 · #20 06-21-2009, 11:40 AM

I bought a Philips 3505. I compared a recording I made on it with the same recording I made on my Panasonic and the quality doesn't look any better than the quality on the Panasonic. Maybe I should have bought the 3506 since it's a newer model. I might just do that.