DVD Recorders Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best DVD Recorders. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best DVD Recorders, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for DVD Recorders. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and DVD Recorders prices.

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DVD Recorders Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	DVD Recorders Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	DVD Recorders Editors of Consumer Reports Updated Sept. 2007		Right now, Consumer Reports is the most comprehensive source of professional DVD recorder reviews. For this update, the editors rate 24 DVD recorders on ease of use, recording time and more, providing information about compatibility with various DVD formats. As in most Consumer Reports reviews, the DVD recorder ratings are based on objective tests that are fairly and competently done. However, the discussion is limited to just a few sentences for each model and over half score well enough to get recommendations. All of the reviewed recorders comply with the latest FCC rules.

DVD Recorders Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	DVD Recorders Ratings Comments on Reviews

2. CNet.com	DVD Recorders Editors of CNet.com As of Nov. 2007		Though CNet.com once stood as the best source for DVD recorder ratings, the site has reviewed only two current DVD recorders -- both combo DVD recorder/VCR decks -- to date. Of the two, the Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK scores much higher. Though some issues are found, the conclusion is that this DVD recorder/VCR combo "does almost everything right." Unfortunately, the LG RC797T does not fare as well compared to the Panasonic, especially at the slower LP recording speed.
3. Big Picture Big Sound.com	One Small Step For Pan(asonic) Chris Boylan Aug. 8, 2007		This single product review is among the most complete we've found for any current DVD recorder. Author Chris Boylan is disappointed about the lack of a hard drive, but otherwise finds lots to like about the Panasonic DMR-EZ27. In particular, Boylan says that improvements such as "enhanced LP recording quality, support for anamorphic widescreen recording on DVD-RAM, DivX playback and high quality upconversion over HDMI," make it a great follow-up to Panasonic's earlier DVD recorders and "definitely worth a look."
4. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	How to Buy a DVD Recorder Editors of PC World Nov, 3 2006		While this article does not make specific recommendations about which DVD recorders are best, it does provide practical and useful guidance on what to look for when shopping for the right model. Types of DVD recorders, recordable DVD formats, features and more are discussed. There's also a discussion of the relative importance of different specifications and features, as well as a listing of things to consider before making your final selection.
5. AVSForum.com	DVD recorders Contributors to AVSForum.com As of Nov. 2007		AVS Forum is one of the better user-to-user home entertainment and technology discussion sites on the Internet. Within the site's DVD Recorders forum, you can find user reports, reviews, discussions of features and flaws and more. And while most of the opinions posted are not from professional reviewers, this currently is one of the better places to learn about how the new generation of DVD recorders with digital tuners is shaping up.
6. Videohelp.com	DVD Recorders Contributors to Videohelp.com As of Nov. 2007		This website lets users rate and comment on DVD recorders they own. While the quality of the feedback is variable, there are a lot of fairly sophisticated and knowledgeable contributors as well, and some of the comments provide details -- like how to work around issues or add features -- that are hard to find anywhere else. All the listings include information on which types of media are compatible with the recorder, and some include information on which brands of media work best in that machine. While most if not all current models are included, there are hundreds of long-discontinued models and models not sold in the U.S. listed as well. That makes this resource most useful once you've narrowed down your choices.

DVD Recorders Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	DVD Recorders Ratings Comments on Reviews

7. CircuitCity.com	DVD Recorders Contributors to CircuitCity.com As of Nov. 2007		Circuit City gives users an online forum where they can give feedback about equipment that they own. Naturally, since these are non-professional reviews, the quality and usefulness is uneven, but many of the DVD recorders -- especially older models with analog tuners -- get lots of feedback, so it's easy to see which models most people like best.
8. Amazon.com	DVD Recorders Contributors to Amazon.com As of Nov. 2007		Like Circuit City, Amazon.com provides users with a platform to let others know how pleased they are with their DVD recorder selection. However, some issues make Amazon.com slightly less useful than CircuitCity.com for user reviews. For example, the site contains lots and lots of discontinued models, and some of those have been off the market for quite some time. The listing of DVD recorders also contains some non-recording devices. Both of these factors make navigation tedious, unless you know exactly what you are looking for.
9. BestBuy.com	DVD Players & Recorders Contributors to BestBuy.com As of Nov. 2007		Best Buy is the latest electronics retailer to allow consumers to post reviews of products they buy. It offers an advantage over Circuit City.com or Amazon.com as you can see ratings -- and the number of reviews -- from the main landing pages without clicking on individual products. However, most products don't have as many reviews as at those other sites. Judging from the plethora of negative comments about a DVD recorder from house brand Insignia, it is clear that Best Buy is not censoring its customers.
10. Which.co.uk >> Details/Subscribe	DVD Recorders Editors of Which.co.uk Oct. 5, 2007		Which? Online is a British consumer site that offers product reports for paid subscribers. Products of all types are reviewed and rated based on their features. If you're looking for a DVD recorder to use in Europe, this is a worthwhile stop. Model numbers don't correspond to US models, but DVD recorders from Sony and Panasonic dominate the list of Best Buys.
11. Epinions	DVD Recorders Contributors to Epinions As of Nov. 2007		Owners posting to Epinions offer some insight into various products' performance. Like Amazon.com, Epinions lists lots of discontinued models, so it’s better to visit once you've got your choice narrowed to a few models. While many DVD recorders -- especially newer models -- have little or no feedback compared to what's seen at retailer review sites, reviews here tend to be considerably longer and more detailed, and they often reflect the experience of months of ownership.
12. About.com	Top 6 DVD Recorders Robert Silva As of Nov. 2007		About.com's Home Theater guide lists what he considers to be the top six DVD recorders. Unfortunately, the recommendations seem to be based on manufacturer reputations, specifications and feature lists, with no indication that the author has actually tested -- or even seen -- these units. On the plus side, most are current models that meet FCC requirements. There is also a companion list of DVD recorder/VCR combo decks. Unfortunately, it is not quite as current and half the DVD recorders listed there are discontinued.

DVD Recorders Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	DVD Recorders Ratings Comments on Reviews

13. Consumer Guide.com	DVD Recorders Reviews and Prices Editors of ConsumerGuide.com As of Nov. 2007		While Consumer Guide's reviews have taken a sharp turn for the better since its association with How Stuff Works.com, it's not currently a worthwhile stop since none of the reviewed DVD recorders on the site are current models. In addition, while it is increasingly clear that someone is at least looking at the DVD recorders reviewed, the writeups still depend much too heavily on company supplied information.