get? Looking to spend Between $400 and $450

It's a little pricy, but any of the Toshiba's with hard drive are very good. The newer model XS52 records in very good quality, even in LP mode. Plus with the hard drive, you can store 100+ hours worth of programming and create nice menus and everything. It cost me about $400.00 though- but I think its well worth it, becuase I record a lot and create many DVD's.

I can only say that I've had my Panasonic DMR-E80 for two and a half years and haven't been disappointed with it, but they've probably come out with better and cheaper models since then. It's the type with a hard drive, so you can edit out commercials before burning a disc, though I know you like commercials, so you may not want a hard drive model.

It's a little pricy, but any of the Toshiba's with hard drive are very good. The newer model XS52 records in very good quality, even in LP mode. Plus with the hard drive, you can store 100+ hours worth of programming and create nice menus and everything. It cost me about $400.00 though- but I think its well worth it, becuase I record a lot and create many DVD's.


That's what I want to spend, between $400 and $450

That's what I want to spend, between $400 and $450\\

for that much money you will get a darn nice one with numerous features

overstock.com and outpost.com

are both very good sources for items, fast shipping and good service

outpost is actualy the web store for frys, the retail giant, but better deals than at the brick and mortar store

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for that much money you will get a darn nice one with numerous features

overstock.com and outpost.com

are both very good sources for items, fast shipping and good service

outpost is actualy the web store for frys, the retail giant, but better deals than at the brick and mortar store

Yeah. I also recommend Vanns.com

I have a Panasonic DMR-E80, Sony RDR-HX900 (for some odd reason, you cannot split a title with this recorder, go figure?), Sony RDR-HX715, and a Liteon LVW 5045. I would have to give the nod to the Sony RDR-HX715, because recording quality and navigating the menu are great.

I got a Polaroid DRM 2001-G and Lite On A760X

Both of these work great and not that expensive.
Polaroid was $200 from Wal Mart
Lite On was $350 from Costco

Both of these have HDD
80 GB for the Polaroid
250 GB for the Lite On

I have 2 Go Video VCR-DVD Recorders Model # VR3930

And i absolutely love them the absolutely best for transferring your vhs-dvd and I only paid about $200 a piece for them new on e-bay.

Have no experience with other brands, but I'd encourage you to look at the Panasonics. Still loving my E85. The hard drive gives you a lot of manipulation options. Was $533 from Amazon two years ago and worth every penny.

Anyone (especially traders) considering a disc-only recorder should take several deep breaths and toss that idea in the trash. Seriously. A hard drive is well worth saving/waiting for, if you must.

DON'T GET an EMERSON!!!

Not sure if you have a Costco nearby by I like getting my electronics through them as there is no need for a warranty.

I have taken a hard drive back after 2 years when it crapped out on me, they gave me the original value for a refund. Was able to turn a 40 gig into a 160 gig and got change back.

My mom bought her dvd player there and took it back after a year and again it was refunded no questions asked.

Cheers

Not sure if you have a Costco nearby by I like getting my electronics through them as there is no need for a warranty.

I have taken a hard drive back after 2 years when it crapped out on me, they gave me the original value for a refund. Was able to turn a 40 gig into a 160 gig and got change back.

My mom bought her dvd player there and took it back after a year and again it was refunded no questions asked.

Cheers


This is very nice to know. TY!

DON'T GET an EMERSON!!!
I have an Emerson and, aside from having trouble finding discs that will actually record in it, it's served me very well.

BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. Any model, doesn't matter.

When Philips first came out, they were pure junk. They may have improved since, they may not have. I'd still probably be leery of them, although mine seems to record on all DVD brands except Imation.

I also have a Panasonic DMR-E10, and at first it was great, but lately it's ruined every disc I burn. I'm hoping it was just a bad batch of discs because it did it even after I updated the firmware. But the E10 is a far outdated model, so the other Panasonics may be better.

Check Amazon.com for reviews. When those people aren't happy, they tell everything. Great place to see if what you're looking at is junk or not.

I got an RCA in December 2004 for about $320. It's very nice. Prices are even better now.

I bought a DVD recorder about a year and 1/2 ago, but I didn't quite research them enough.

When I bought our first DVD recorder, I bought a nice, brand name model (I forgot what brand it was, but that's irrelevent. might have been a JVC)...bought it at Target... anyway, I transferred a movie from VHS to DVD, and then found out it wouldn't play on any of the (three) DVD players we have in the house... that's when I found out about the DVD+ and DVD- formats. It only recorded in "plus" format, but our players only played back in "minus" format.

After doing a little more research, I ended up getting an model made by "Insignia"...it's model # IS-DVD100121... and I like it a lot...it does not have a hard drive, but it records and plays back in all formats. The "minus" format seems to be the more popular playback mode for DVD players around here (Florida), but maybe it's different in other parts of the country(?)...

Anyway, it's a nice model...has 4 recording speeds (1, 2, 4 and 6 hours...and actually, it's a little more than six hours at the slowest speed, something like 6 hr and 20 min or something like that).

I'm assuming most people probably know about the 'plus' and 'minus' formats, but I sure didn't, so if this helps anyone out there to check on that first, then I'll have accomplished what I set out to do! :) While it's easy to return stuff, it can also be quite inconvenient!

Neither recorder that I bought had a hard drive, but on the Insignia, you can pause it while transferring info from VHS to DVD, so you can edit out commercials in that way.

Good luck!

Am I the only one who has never had trouble with + playback, but tons of trouble with - playback on other DVD players?

It's good you want to spend that much, because this is an area where quality makes a big difference. With $400, you can and should get a top brand WITH A HARD DRIVE!!:happyface

Panasonic
Pioneer
Toshiba

Avoid Polaroid: trouble-some, and noisy fan.
What will you be doing with the recorder? Then I can give specifics.

In the long run, extended waranties aren't worth the price. If a good unit lasts 1 year, it'll last over 3 years. After that, there'll be digital + Hi Def recorders to go with the digital "change-over" in Feb 2008. :crazy: