A VCR killer extraordinaire, but with limitations nonetheless
Written: Aug 12 '06
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Pros: Exceptional recording quality on dvd-r and hard drive with XP or SP modes.
Cons: Menu selections limited and inflexible, editing is inexact, no Dolby 5.1 or DTS recording capability.
The Bottom Line: As a vcr replacement with great video quality and flexibility, it works fabulously. But if you want to back up sources with 5+ channel audio, this deck won't satisfy you.
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| brownstem's Full Review: Panasonic DMR-HS2 (40 GB) DVD Recorder |
The DMR-HS2 provides exceptional recording quality in XP (1 hr per dvd-r) and SP (2 hr per dvd-r) modes. DVD-Rs created with this machine play well in most dvd decks (I have not tested the model with DVD-RAM discs due to the excessive cost of these media in comparison to DVD-R), and audio quality is good for many, though not all, purposes.
Unfortunately, the unit has a couple of drawbacks which hamper it severely depending on what one uses it for. I use the unit primarily to make back-up copies of dvds I already own. The video quality is fine, though the unit's inability to record audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS hampers the end product dramatically (depending on the source, of course). For older movies which have been recorded in 2-channel stereo this is not an issue, of course, though it is very limiting for backing up many recent releases. Obviously, the unit is not created with this purpose in mind, but for those who choose to use it for backing up commercial dvds this is a very limiting factor.
In addition, the unit's "shorten segment" and "divide" features function inexactly, creating the possibility that video artifacts will remain even after careful editing. This is particularly evident in trying to shave out commercials from recorded television (as I've been doing the last few days with the World Series). The unit can be paused during the brief but destinct gap between program and commercial, but trimming programs at this point can result in an end product which still has perhaps an eighth of a second of overlap. In other words, trimming out commercials PERFECTLY is virtually impossible, even though clear breaks in programming are evident when using frame-by-frame advance. Most frustrating.
Also, the DMR-HS2 has 9 preset menus to choose from, though the only differentiating feature is color. The menu choices are bland and ugly. Given the fact that the unit can import JPG images via a PCMCIA card slot it would be nice if users could create custom menus--or at least custom backgrounds for their menus.
Overall this unit offers many advantages over its ancestors, the E20 and E30. In particular, the large hard drive allows for a fair amount of editing without having to worry about making a mistake. Units offering only direct source-to-dvd recording don't have this flexibility. In other words, the DMR-HS2 offers plenty of time for dress rehearsals before you actually burn to dvd.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 849.00
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Epinions.com ID:
brownstem
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Reviews written: 2
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