Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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162 of 163 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Machine, Buy One!, 20 Oct 2007
I've owned the 160Gb version of this machine (EX77), and sold it to upgrade to the 250GB EX87. It's fantastic. It has great functionality, is very easy to use, plenty of hard disc space and great picture quality in all but the lowest quality mode.
I don't see how a previous reviewer can criticise it for not being multi-region. NO, i repeat, NO DVD players or recorders are multi-region from the factory, so it's unfair to point it out as a negative for this one. Those bought ready-modified have been made so by the retailer, and in the process has voided the 1 year Manufacturer's Guarantee, so keep that in mind when buying one. If it stops working or completely dies as a result of being modified, you can't complain to the manufacturer, but it is the responsibility of the retailer to repair or replace it for you.
As long as you have a good aerial and live in a good area regarding digital broadcasting, the freeview reception is superb, with a very easy to use EPG (it has none of the glitches present in the equivalent Sony models or the absolutely shocking Samsung 853/855 recorders).
Please be aware, this machine has a Time Slip function, but this IS NOT the same as a Pause Live TV function. Time Slip is just a name Panasonic have given for the ability to skip through a recording in 10-minute increments (or however many you want), instead of sitting there fast-forwarding through it to find where you want to watch it from. It is NOT like Sky+ which automatically records whatever channel you are watching.
You can simulate Sky+ by recording the programme yourself, then you can pause or rewind it while it continues to record so you don't miss the programme (useful for sporting events so you can go back and watch something again immediately). This is called Chase Playback.
If you know these things before buying, you won't be upset when you find out it doesn't have "true" Pause Live TV, so a little research before buying can be very useful.
And before anyone complains that it doesn't have twin digital tuners (which would allow you to record one freeview channel while watching another), don't. No DVD recorders outside Japan have more than 1 digital tuner, so again, don't criticise the Panasonic, none of its competitors have them either.
And if they are advertised as having "twin tuners", only 1 of them is digital, the other is analogue, which will become redundant when the analogue signal is switched off over the next couple of years anyway, so is not necessarily worth having. If you want twin digital tuners, then buy a PVR instead, or buy this type of machine, and also buy a separate £20 Set-Top Box, so you can record one channel from the recorder's own freeview tuner, and watch something else on the STB.
Overall I can't fault it and would recommend it to anyone (as long as you don't need to play divx material (avi files), as the UK-spec machines have had this feature removed due to licensing issues. European machines can be imported because they do play divx, but the digital tuner might not work properly in the UK, so it's a risk you have to weigh up).
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79 of 81 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Panasonic DMREX87, 18 Jul 2007
Had one of these for approx 1 week, so far really like it.
Plug it in and it self tunes the digital channels, although I live in an area where we get a very poor Digital reception and limited channels.
Picture quality is excellent, especially when upscaling through HDMI lead.
MP3 playback is easy to navigate around so is the HDD/DVD, you can pick from 5 different quality settings , I chose LP mode which gives me over 200H of space to record onto without the need for a single disc, more than I will ever require I would think and gives me decent picture quality .
I have so far recorded From HDD to DVD which was simple, again the menu system I found to be intuitive. I like the remote too.
Unit is also quiet when operating.
I also inserted an SD card and got great upscaled pictures.
Haven't tried playing back DVD audio yet, but cd's played fine through my Denon Amp.
Very easy to use, was ready go within 10 minutes of opening the box.
On the downside I think I got a dudd, I set up to record onto the HDD and only got about 7 minutes worth programme then just a black screen with no sound, however Panasonic technical helpline was great, advised the HDD is unstable and am having the unit replaced without any hassle.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect recorder, 22 Nov 2007
The picture quality of this recorder is what distinguishes it from the competition. The on-screen menus maybe aren't perfect or even as good as on a Sony player, but anyone who appreciates great image and sound quality shouldn't look any further than this Pana.
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