Compare results - Choice reviews DVD Blu-ray recorders

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This report is free to view, as only a small percentage of the models reviewed are available on the market. As an alternative, you can take a look at our Blu-Ray players review. For more information about this test, email us at ausconsumer@choice.com.au.

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Select up to 5 items below. Then click the compare button Compare	Price ($)	Overall Score	Ease of use (%)	Reception (%)	DVD upscaling (%)	Standby energy (%)	Annual running cost	Disc media type	USB port	Ethernet port	Memory card reader	Hard disk capacity (GB)	Maximum recording time (approximately)	Number of digital tuners	Dimensions (cm, HxWxD)	Weight (kg)	Contact	Good Points	Bad Points	Brand
Items to compare	First Previous Showing columns 1 - 9 of 19 Last Next

Panasonic DMR-XW480GLK	899	73	78	70	63	60	7.1	DVD recorder	Yes	LAN	SDXC	500	72 hours	Twin HD digital	6.5 x 43 x 25	3.3	www.panasonic.com.au	• This is the best overall performer by a clear margin. Being able to access internet sites such as YouTube, Picasa albums, Weather window and Bloomberg TV stocks will appeal to some, as will the ability to change the thumbnail for programs you've recorded (it can be quite off-putting to have an image from an ad as the thumbnail for a program). Its informative and easy-to-read front panel display makes navigation easy.	• It cannot play Blu-ray discs and scores poorly for DVD upscaling, but this won't be an issue if your TV or AV receiver upscales well.	Panasonic
Panasonic DMR-BW780GLK	999	67	77	71	63	60	6.6	BD recorder	Yes	LAN	SDXC	250	36 hours	Twin HD digital	6 x 43 x 25	3	www.panasonic.com.au	• The Panasonic has the ability to access internet sites such as YouTube, Picasa albums, Weather window and Bloomberg TV stocks. You can also change the thumbnail for programs you've recorded. It also has an easy-to-read and informative front panel display.	• The Panasonic lacks the ability to limit channels to your "favourites" and scores poorly when dealing with a damaged DVD or upscaling a DVD.	Panasonic
Sony RDR-HDC500	699	60	65	66	54	0	10	DVD recorder	Yes			500	72 hours	Single hybrid HD digital / analogue	7.5 x 43 x 26	4	www.sony.com.au	• The Sony can select favourites channels and performed very well in our faulty DVD handling test. It is also the only product on test with an analogue TV tuner, so it could be a good choice if you don't have digital TV in your area.	• It has only one digital tuner, which means you can't watch one program while recording another without using your TVs tuner. Its timer is limited to eight days in advance, so setting up recordings when on holidays of longer than a week isn't possible. Copying to a DVD from its hard drive is more complicated than with the Panasonics, and its front panel display is dim with small characters. The remote control has small buttons, making it difficult to use. It also has the worst DVD upscaling performance on test and uses more than three watts in standby mode – more than three times higher than the other recorders on test.	Sony
LG HR599D	899	57	60	67	73	40	10.6	BD player	Yes	LAN		500	72 hours	Twin HD digital	6 x 43 x 30.5	3.5	www.lge.com.au	• The LG can record directly to an external USB hard drive, as well as its own internal drive, which will appeal to people who record lots of TV. It can also handle MPEG4, which will be increasingly handy as free-to-air TV broadcasts begin to use this for EPGs and other extras. It can be wirelessly networked, connects to YouTube directly and has the best DVD upscaling score on test.	• Like the Panasonics, the LG lacks a favourites function, and like most Blu-ray players doesn't cope well with damaged DVDs. It doesn't play region 1(US), 5(Russia) or 6(China and Hong Kong) DVDs, and once you've recorded to its hard drive you can't copy the recording to a DVD or Blu-ray disc, nor can you protect your recordings or crop or divide them. The front panel display is dim if you don't have the front cover open.	LG
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DVD and Blu-ray recorder reviews