I'm looking to get a dvd recorder. Can I get some recommendations?
Thanks,
General

There have been a ton of threads on this. Use the search function and you'll find more than you ever wanted to know.

Also, if you're interested, Sound & Vision has a nice article on PVRs (both HD based and DVD based) this month.

Thanks for the link

if you are looking to go straight quality, the pioneer elite with a HD is awesome.

is it my imagination, or does it seem like none of the DVD or HD recorders handles a cable/satellite box with an infrared emitter? Standard on most higher-end VCRs.

Thanks for that Sound and Vision link, the RCA one looks to be the only one with an IR emitter, but alas, no component connections. Which is probably ok.

While the Pioneer Elite's do seem to have a lot of desireable features, and, so far as I know, make excellent recordings, their editing capabilities leave an awful lot to be desired. For instance, you can't edit out commercials!

A number of people look favorably on the Sony, but at $799 with no hard drive, I don't see why.

Unless TIVO is an absolute must in your recorder (a feature of the top two Pioneers), I recommend the Panasonic E80 (I own) or the E100 (wished I owned). Both make excellent recordings and feature a hard drive, which I believe is a necessity if you're serious about recording, and easy editing.

But, dvd recorders are evolving rapidly; in six months to a year, new models will far eclipse current models and then do it again a few months after that. Next spring or summer the first recordable dual-layer discs and recorders will be released and we'll be all agog over them - maybe.

I've been extremely happy with my Philips DVDR75. I've had it for almost 3 months and have made a bunch of DVD's without a single coaster.

It has COMPONENT INPUT/OUTPUT, Fireweire input, and VCR+.

I just manually set my timer ( I only record shows a couple of times a week so no IR blaster doesn't bother me).

For around $375 it's an awesome recorder.

Oh and it plays both +R ad -R discs unlike the Panny's (no +R support).

Good luck in your search!

Alfer - does the player have a place for a GLink cable for an external emitter? Damn Philips site produces a blank page when going to their consumer audio web page.

The Philips has no hard drive..........right?
I wouldn't want a recorder without a HD.
Also, I'm waiting for a recorder that will record 5.1.
Right now, the only way to record 5.1 is with a computer............

I've been very happy with my "old" Panasonic DMR-HS2. You gotta get one with a hard drive!

You'll be waiting a LONG time...there are no plans for recording in 5.1 on standalone recorders from all the info I've been reading.

With a Directivo and a PC DVD burner, I have ZERO need for a HD in my standalone. Just an extra wasted cost for me.

Oh and no, it doesn't have the IR blaster ability. Just VCR+.