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Battle of the super-DVD recorders

David Katzmaier
Senior editor

Updated December 1, 2005

Combining the power of a hard disk with the versatility of a DVD (that V does stand for versatile), combination HDD/DVD recorders represent the zenith of video-recording power. You can treat 'em like DVRs or über-VCRs or DV-archiving decks or redheaded stepchildren, and they'll keep surprising you with all of their capabilities. Our favorite combo recorders, listed for perusal below, each offer numerous features and recording options, but only one came out of the battle on top: Pioneer's DVR-533H-S. In short, we recommend the Pioneer for people who want the most flexible recording device, period; the Panasonic for users who demand the best video-recording quality; the Humax for satellite subscribers and those who concentrate on recording TV (and who don't mind TiVo's fees); and the Sony for people who want an HDMI output. Check the cheat sheet and peruse the full reviews to find out more.

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All top DVD/HDD recorders

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Choosing the right DVR

	Panasonic DMR-E50HS	Humax DRT800	Sony RDR-HX715	Pioneer DVR-533H-S
EPG	TV Guide	TiVo (monthly fee required)	TV Guide	TV Guide
Pause/rewind live TV	No	Yes	No	No
Home networking	No	Yes	No	No
30-second skip	Yes (58 seconds)	Yes (with hack)	No	Yes (adjustable)
Edit video on hard drive	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Compatible DVD media	DVD-R/RW, DVD+R, DVD-RAM	DVD-R/RW	DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD+R DL	DVD-R/RW, DVD-R DL
Dual-layer DVD recording	No	No	Yes	Yes
HDMI output	No	No	Yes	No

	Remove from list	Remove from list	Remove from list	Remove from list	Remove from list
Product name	Panasonic DMR-EH50	Humax DRT800 (80-hour TiVo)	Pioneer DVR-533H-S	Sony RDR-HX715	Panasonic DMR-EH75V - DVD recorder / VCR combo with 80GB HDD

Review date	May 12, 2005	November 16, 2004	August 30, 2005	December 1, 2005	May 3, 2006

Editors' rating (Editors' rating explained)	7.5 Very good	7.8 Very good	8.2 Excellent	7.8 Very good	7.9 Very good

Buying choices	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...

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Review summary	Panasonic's top-of-the-line recorder boasts eye-popping recording quality, but its programming guide may pose a setup challenge with some cable systems.	The Humax DRT800 offers an excellent combination of TiVo and DVD-recorder functionality--but you'll need to pay a subscription fee to use it.	With dual-layer recording, a host of conveniences, and a slim look, the full-featured Pioneer DVR-533H-S recorder seems like a bargain.	Sony's RDR-HX715 boasts a mouthwatering feature package, but its steep price tag gave us pause.	Panasonic's DMR-EH75V DVD/VHS/hard drive recorder is a solid choice for hobbyists who want top-notch recording quality and a subscription-free DVR solution.

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Basic Specs
	• JPEG photo playback • 9.7 lbs • Stereo • DVD recorder • Remote control Full specifications	• 80 hour(s) • Yes • Remote control Full specifications	• 24bit / 192kHz • DVD-R DL , DVD-RW , DVD-R • Dolby Digital , DTS decoder • 9 lbs • 1 • 10bit / 54MHz • DVD recorder • Remote control • Tabletop • CD , Video CD , CD-RW , DVD-RW , CD-R , DVD , DVD-R Full specifications	• Block noise reduction , JPEG photo playback • 11.7 lbs • Stereo • DVD recorder • Universal remote control Full specifications	• JPEG photo playback • 15 lbs • Stereo • DVD recorder • Remote control Full specifications