Philips HDRW720 Multi Region Capable DVD Recorder / Hard Disk - Silver
Philips HDRW720 Multi Region Capable DVD Recorder / Hard Disk - Silver
Customer Review: Good box, but a very high rate of failure.
I was happy with my Philips HDRW 720. The stand-out feature for me was that it had an on-screen TV guide that worked with ordinary analogue signal (I live in a non-freeview area). This allowed me to check what was on, and record programmes or entire series very easily. The picture quality was good, and the features covered all the requirements that I ever had.
Unfortunately, mine has now broken down 3 times, the first two times it was repaired under warranty, but now it has broken again, and is out of warranty. After checking the various forums out there, it seems this is a *very* common occurence with the Philips HDRW 720.
I miss having a tv recorder, and I can’t find another that gets a guide from an analogue signal, but I still wouldn’t buy another Philips.
Customer Review: Never again
After 5 months of use, machine failed. On switching on the red record button and the red light around the disc traye came on. The machine would then turn itself off. None of the switches on the machine or the remote would work.
The unit was returned to Philips for repair.
3 months later the same problem reoccured. Returned to Philips and repaird again. Now the machine comes up with the message “Blocked”. The disc tray will not open. The manual is less than helpful on this topic. When contacted Philips helpline stated that unit would have to be returned. No other information was given, other than to state that it is just out of warrenty and repair and transport will have to be paid for. As I live in Ireland and the unit has to be shipped to the UK it is not worth the cost.
I will bin it and buy a new machine but needless to say it or any other electrical goods purchased will not be Philips. Having read the reviews already left I am amazed that this item was on sale for so long. Any respectable manufacture would have withdrawen this product from the market.
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Panasonic DMR-EZ27 - Multi Format DVD Recorder - With 1080P Up-Conversion & Freeview - Silver 
Panasonic DVD Recorder
Amazon Price: ?189.98
Sony RDRHXD970 - 250GB Hard Drive DVD Recorder 
HDD DVD RECORDER 250GB INT DIG TV TUNER HDMI OUTPUT IN
Amazon Price: ?265.51
Customer Review: Early days yet…but initial impressions poor.
Had my 970′ unit delivered to a neighbours house as I was out last week… She told me she had been also been out when it was delivered and later found it on the garden side of her six foot fence (with no access gate) sitting on its side in a huge ornamental flower pot ! I am frankly amazed that a ?300 (and very fragile) item could be handled so carelessly and now I’m just waiting for it to break down. Performance, well, so far unimpressed, the freeview tuner is poor and cannot pick up, previously perfect ITV1 and C4 channels. My Samsung TV does not automatically switch over to it when wanting to watch a recording from DVD or HDD (does anyone know how to solve this?)and upscaling even with progressive scan setting to ‘on’ is no better than my replaced ?29.00 Philips DVD player! Only redeeming feature is ’series recording’. Moral of the story…. stay in for delivery and consider carefully whether you think a Sony branded, Pioneer recorder is really worth this kind of money.
Customer Review: Can a black box change your life?
I bought this after a bad experience with a Sony 860 (which went back), so I approached this machine with some trepidation. The previous machine had great facilities, but just didn’t work very well (poor sound, switched itself on and off etc!). Happily, this is a wonderful piece of kit and brilliant value for the money. Recordings to the HDD drive are superb (especially in HQ), and the EPG and series link work well. Setting programmes to record is so easy and dubbing to DVD is also simple and fast. Reviewing what has been recorded is a breeze; the recording list has thumbnails which play excerpts to remind you what the programme contains, as well as the programme title, time it was recorded, channel (BBC1..) etc.! Being able to start watching a recording before it has finished and the ease and fuss-free operation actually changes the way you watch TV. Also, it is a great DVD player and the upscaling via the HDMI link makes standard DVDs look near ‘HD’ quality. What’s not to like?
Sony RDRHXD560S 80GB HDD DVD Recorder with Freeview 
80GB Hard Drive DVD Recorder model with Digital Tuner.
Used Price: ?105.99
Customer Review: Switches off every 5-10 minutes - stay away from this!
It is too late for me to return the product to Amazon, but I will see what I can do with the Sony customer services. I have used it for a month and, with a few minor problems, it has worked OK for 3 weeks. In the last week, however, it keeps switching off VERY frequently. It does so when I watch TV and also when I am watching TV. On the TV, it freezes for a few minutes, so you lose 5 minutes every time it switches off - frozen image, switch off, switch on again and bring it back to the right channel. I am going back to my cheap freeview box + dvd player. If I cannot return the dvd recorder, I will only use it for the occasional recording, but then it is far too expensive for this!
Customer Review: Sony DVD recorder just keeps powering off
Bought this recorder in March 2007. Initially thought it was fantastic but after a few weeks started powering off at random times. This week, despite putting everything to the factory defaults I am now trying to return it to Amazon. It can be ok and then will power off and try to restart. My wife has missed loads of programmes and is not happy. We have loads of Sony gear, telly, camcorder etc and always thought Sony was great. First Sony product I have had which has been faulty (replaced a Sony video recorder which was brilliant) I think I am being harsh but I expect a really high standard from Sony - might have expected this from some unknown brand.
