Page 1 of Pioneer DVR 320

Hi folks - I`m a novice here.

I`m thinking of a DVD recorder and have spent hours looking around the internet and browsing around stores.

Has anybody got this machine - and is it a good buy ?

Santa is bringing me a digital camcorder so I want a piece of kit with an IEEE 1394 connection.

There are cheaper DVD recorders with Firewire,but the Pioneer is superb and offers great flexibility.
You can get their 520 HDD/DVDR with firewire for about £449

Thanks

I saw a review today in "What Hi Fi" - said it was overpriced and not the best of the bunch it reviewed. So, that`s cooled my jets a bit !!!

The Panasonic E55 and Sony RGX 300 both got 5 stars. After checking specs, I would need the next model up in these, (E65 or RGX 700) to have Firewire.

The Panasonic is attractive - the one question mark is.........does the lack of recording ability to DVD-RW format cause limitations ?

Any advice/guidance gratefully accepted.

-RW compatibility is only needed ifyou want to record something,watch it on another player or games console then return it to the recorder to reuse.This is not possible with a Panasonic machine.And as Panny are the only company who ignore the benefits of -RW,you should in turn ignore their machines.
Most other makes (from the quality dvd- market)will offer -RW alongside RAM and -R.Pioneer do not offer RAM.But -RW(VR) can do all that RAM does so you lose nothing except a confusing unrequired 3rd format.
The Pioneer range are great,but they seem to charge quite a premium for Firewire.However,I have seen the 520 HDD model at £379/389,only £40 more than the 420

This item was edited on Friday, 24th December 2004, 21:37

Thanks again.

How`s about recommending another machine for me - other than Pioneer, just to give me something to work on til the stores re-open after Christmas.

I want -R/-RW recording format, firewire front connection and RGB with 2 SCART sockets.

The Sony GX700 looks good...however I might be missing other suitably speced kit ?

I appreciate your advice.

I can`t remember where...but I`m sure I saw the E65 on "special" somewhere?
Thikn it was around the £250-ish mark...soz I can`t remember all the details though :(

Jimbo : oÞ

"Making Teenagers depressed is like shooting fish inna barrel"

But that does not have his required -RW format.
Sony machines are overpriced.Toshiba will be ok but not sure which models have Firewire.
Panny has no -RW
JVC has no RGB input
Maybe the Samsung range offer Firewire cheaper than Pioneer

Any specific model of Toshiba to meet the specs I mentioned ?

I would definitely recommend the sony - I am well impressed with the GX300 I have just bought - the GX700 is basically the same but with a DV input.

OK you pay a bit more for sony - but the quality is just superb - I have never seen such a good picture / sound quality from any dvd player I have seen.

Records all formats +R, -R, +RW, -RW which are compatible with other DVD players (RAM is not compatible with most other players).

And you can even time slip on -RW discs (the reason most people give in favour of the RAM format!)