WHat is the best stand alone dvd recorder for 4hr recording? I have no problem tapin in 4hr speed except when i tape wrestling,be it off tv or off a video tape. No matter what brand of media i use.Is there a stand alone machine that would give me better quailty. I currently use the panasonic DMR-ES-20.And i plan on gettin a new come in come tax time..any ideas?

anything recorded with more than 3 hours per dvd isn't going to look very good - unless you use dual layer disks or something

I almost exclusively use 4-hour LP mode (I have an Emerson), and it always looks great.

If you insist on 4 hour mode - I highly suggest the Sony RDR-GX7. I've had it since 8/8/03 and it finally went 7/25/06 after massive usage. Supports -R.

As stated above, I would also agree with not using a 4 hour mode, but if you have to this would be the best in my opinion. The three hour mode on this unit runs more like 3 hours 7 minutes. The 4 hour mode is actually really good compared to everything else I have seen. When I have a show that runs 3 hours 30 minutes or so (say, the MTV Video Music Awards) I'll put two chapters/scenes/"movies" on the disc that are run in 4 hour mode compensating the time and using the entire rest of the DVD in 3 hour mode.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e368/willpower8/rdrgx7.jpg

My Toshiba RD-KX50 allows you to manipulate the bit rate rather well, along with the audio selection for quality. So you can screw around with it and test things - on DVD itself or the hard drive.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e368/willpower8/bitrate.jpg

I didn't even see the wrestling part - we should talk sometime.

With the Sony RDR-GX7, I'll record Monday Raw similar to what I said above. Like in 2000, the show ran often 1:38 and often even 1:40 without commercials giving a total 2 show time of 3:15 or so. This is where the Val Venis and Steve Blackman segments, or anything involving the RTC were switched to 4 hour mode for compensation, then the rest of the show in 3 hour mode.

Nowadays that punk Orton gets my 4 hour mode shaft when he starts talking. Or the Conway.