What features am I looking for?

madasaflake · 02-02-2009, 19:43

I am getting Sky+HD fitted on Sunday and have decided to have a DVD recorder. I don't want one with a hard drive.
I want to be able to use it for transferring film from my mini DV camcorder onto disc, and obviously for recording from the Sky box. That is it, nice and simple!
I have heard about upscaling and that would be nice if it will enhance my existing DVDs a little and some seem to have HDMI as well?
Can someone tell me what features I should be looking for and any suggestions as to models or makes which are reliable? It needs to be user friendly ( which is why I don't want one with a hard drive as we had one and it drove me mad!)
Our TV is a Sony and I like Sony but we also have Samsung in the house. I would be grateful for any further suggestions.
Thanks.

Nigel Goodwin · 02-02-2009, 20:12

As your TV is a Sony it will already have an upscaler as good as, or better, than DVD recorders include.

As you only want it for those two specified purposes the Sony RDR-GX350 is a great machine, and they have been incredibly reliable (it also upscales, and has HDMI).

madasaflake · 03-02-2009, 11:58

Thanks Nigel
I had a look for the recorder you mentioned and it doesn't seem widely available at the moment - a lot of places are saying it is discontinued.
ANyway, I had a look round my local retail centre this morning and have fund a nice looking Panasonic which does all I need it to do.
A bit of further advice if I may, the lady in Comet said I would be better with a HDMI cable to connect the DVD recorder and TV. I understand this but they seem very expensive. Do I need to pay out a lot of money for one? She said they were different speeds or something? Any advice again appreciated.

sancheeez · 03-02-2009, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by madasaflake

the lady in Comet said I would be better with a HDMI cable to connect the DVD recorder and TV. I understand this but they seem very expensive. Do I need to pay out a lot of money for one? She said they were different speeds or something? Any advice again appreciated.

Ignore what some woman in Comet says .... she just wants the extra commission on a stupidly expensive cable.

One of these:

http://www.cclonline.com/product-inf...&tid=cdlhd-002

... or any other similar (cheap) one will do you fine ... especially if it's only to connect an SD DVD recorder.

Also, given that you have a Sony TV with a decent upscaler already on board, you're not likely to notice much difference between connecting it with an HDMI cable or a half decent RGB SCART cable.

alves · 03-02-2009, 12:34

A HDMI cable is a HDMI cable. Don't fall for the sales patter from Comet - go elsewhere or buy online. You'll get one for a few quid that does the job exactly the same as their expensive ones.

Nigel Goodwin · 03-02-2009, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by madasaflake

Thanks Nigel
I had a look for the recorder you mentioned and it doesn't seem widely available at the moment - a lot of places are saying it is discontinued.

Perhaps it has been now?, it's been out for a good while and has sold in huge numbers.

Just checked on Sony's website - it's now a 360

Quote:

ANyway, I had a look round my local retail centre this morning and have fund a nice looking Panasonic which does all I need it to do.
A bit of further advice if I may, the lady in Comet said I would be better with a HDMI cable to connect the DVD recorder and TV. I understand this but they seem very expensive. Do I need to pay out a lot of money for one? She said they were different speeds or something? Any advice again appreciated.

You will see no difference whatsoever with an expensive HDMI lead, £4.99 or at most £9.99 is all you should be paying.

By connecting it via HDMI the DVD will do the upscaling, but if you use an RGB SCART lead then the TV will do the upscaling. I've installed MANY 350's on Sony TV's, and HDMI makes no difference whatsoever - I would suggest trying both and see which you find is best.

The biggest advantage of HDMI on the DVD recorder (as I see it) is that it frees a SCART socket on the TV, as sets now are getting less SCART sockets and more HDMI ones.

madasaflake · 03-02-2009, 13:08

Thanks to all of you for your lovely replies!
Once again money saved and a lot of foot slogging!!
Thank God for DS forums.

02-02-2009, 19:43	#1
madasaflake Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 812	What features am I looking for? I am getting Sky+HD fitted on Sunday and have decided to have a DVD recorder. I don't want one with a hard drive. I want to be able to use it for transferring film from my mini DV camcorder onto disc, and obviously for recording from the Sky box. That is it, nice and simple! I have heard about upscaling and that would be nice if it will enhance my existing DVDs a little and some seem to have HDMI as well? Can someone tell me what features I should be looking for and any suggestions as to models or makes which are reliable? It needs to be user friendly ( which is why I don't want one with a hard drive as we had one and it drove me mad!) Our TV is a Sony and I like Sony but we also have Samsung in the house. I would be grateful for any further suggestions. Thanks.

02-02-2009, 20:12	#2
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	As your TV is a Sony it will already have an upscaler as good as, or better, than DVD recorders include. As you only want it for those two specified purposes the Sony RDR-GX350 is a great machine, and they have been incredibly reliable (it also upscales, and has HDMI).

03-02-2009, 11:58	#3
madasaflake Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 812	Thanks Nigel I had a look for the recorder you mentioned and it doesn't seem widely available at the moment - a lot of places are saying it is discontinued. ANyway, I had a look round my local retail centre this morning and have fund a nice looking Panasonic which does all I need it to do. A bit of further advice if I may, the lady in Comet said I would be better with a HDMI cable to connect the DVD recorder and TV. I understand this but they seem very expensive. Do I need to pay out a lot of money for one? She said they were different speeds or something? Any advice again appreciated.

03-02-2009, 12:32	#4
sancheeez Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,762	Quote: Originally Posted by madasaflake the lady in Comet said I would be better with a HDMI cable to connect the DVD recorder and TV. I understand this but they seem very expensive. Do I need to pay out a lot of money for one? She said they were different speeds or something? Any advice again appreciated. Ignore what some woman in Comet says .... she just wants the extra commission on a stupidly expensive cable. One of these: http://www.cclonline.com/product-inf...&tid=cdlhd-002 ... or any other similar (cheap) one will do you fine ... especially if it's only to connect an SD DVD recorder. Also, given that you have a Sony TV with a decent upscaler already on board, you're not likely to notice much difference between connecting it with an HDMI cable or a half decent RGB SCART cable.

03-02-2009, 12:34	#5
alves Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North of England Posts: 2,997	A HDMI cable is a HDMI cable. Don't fall for the sales patter from Comet - go elsewhere or buy online. You'll get one for a few quid that does the job exactly the same as their expensive ones.

03-02-2009, 13:08	#7
madasaflake Forum Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 812	Thanks to all of you for your lovely replies! Once again money saved and a lot of foot slogging!! Thank God for DS forums.

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What features am I looking for?