DVD recorder reviews of the Panasonic DMR-E55The Panasonic’s DMR-E55 holds up as a good basic machine in our DVD recorder reviews. Panasonic’s entry-level fifth-generation model, the DMR-E55, is their most reasonably priced player-recorder.The DVD recorder has plenty of features that will satisfy the average household. It comes packaged like most other machines in our DVD recorder reviews. It has a detachable power cord, composite A/V cable, a coaxial cable, and batteries for its remote control. The remote is an improvement over the one that came with Panasonic’s earlier DVD recorders. Like other machines in our DVD recorder reviews the DMR-E55 has a component output, which can be used in either interlaced or progressive mode, along with a composite/S-video and analog and digital audio outputs. There is also a 75-ohm output.
The DMR-E55 has three inputs that accept analog audio, and your choice of composite or S-video. As you may have read in our other DVD recorder reviews these are the basic necessities for a DVD recorder. The DVD RAM format gives the Pannies their TiVo-like abilities. The recording runs faster than the feed, so you can record one program while watching another that you’ve already recorded. If you’re watching a ball game you can set the DVD-RAM to start recording at the beginning of the game, and then pause or do an instant replay. Its DVD-RAM format gives the Panny true random-access memory. It finds open slots and records in those areas much like a computer stores information on random spots on its hard drive.
The Panasonic DMR-E55 is also a general-purpose player that will handle pre-recorded DVDs and CDs. It can play DVD-Audio discs in analog stereo and MP3s on a CD. It won’t play SACD, DVD-RW, DVD+R/RW.
There are small nuances to this machine. I.E.When you use the recommended S-video connection for your cable or satellite box, you’ll also have to use the 75-ohm input to take advantage of the DMR-E55’s automatic channel- and time-sensing features. Then you connect everything to your processor, plug in the DMR-E55 it starts looking for available channels and the correct time.
The DMR-E55 comes with a built-in tuner but doesn’t include an IR blaster. The recorder's inability to control a cable or satellite box limits its real-world usefulness for TV recording. You'll have to set your tuner box to the correct channel before timer recordings. To get that kind of control over your cable or satellite you’ll need a DVD recorder that has an IR blaster
If your cable system doesn’t require a cable box, setting up your recording will be a piece of cake. Just program the channel and time (or use VCR Plus+), and the signal will go through the DMR-E55’s internal tuner. If your cable system does have a box, or if you’re a DirecTV subscriber, you’ll have to make sure the box is tuned to the channel you want to record when the DMR-E55 pops to life
Similarly as we have seen in other DVD recorder reviews the Panasonic DMR-E55 records at different speeds. At the DMR-E55’s highest speed, XP, a standard DVD-R blank will hold one hour of programming; at its lowest speed, EP, it will hold eight hours.
Panasonic offers FR (Flexible Recording) mode, which is useful. When films run 90 minutes or less, or over two hours, you can program the DMR-E55 for the film’s precise length. The machine then automatically selects the best possible rate to fit that time.
The 1 hour mode image is indistinguishable from the original source media. The 2-hour SP mode image quality is excellent. It’s extremely close to the original source media. Recordings made at the DMR-E55’s four-hour LP speed looked like a good VHS tape, the six-hour EP speed like a poor VHS tape. The eight-hour EP speed is useless.
One important drawback to this machine is that it lacks a FireWire input. As we seem in other DVD recorder reviews a FireWire input is important for folks with video cameras that have a FireWire output. Also if the intended user finds operating a VCR difficult, the DMR-E55S isn't for him or her.
DVD-RAM is much less compatible than -RW or +RW formats, so you'll want to use the rewritable discs for those expendable TV recording sessions Highly compatible write-once DVD-Rs are best for archive-worthy video that will play back on virtually any DVD player.
Overall the Panasonic DMR-E55 is what I call a “value” machine. It offers “timeslip” (TiVo like features), a very good image, Panasonic reliability (they’re in the DVD recorder game longer than anyone else) and a VERY reasonable price. If you’ve read our other DVD recorder reviews you see why this DVD recorder is a fine choice.
You can find this machine at a competitive price at Amazon. They usually offering some pricing advantage and you’ll save on tax too. Follow this link to get pricing on the Panasonic DMR-E55S
Another way to get pricing is too simply go to your local electronic store. You're best using a large chain. Keep an eye out because soon Walmart will be jumping into the electronics field.
Keep you eye on our DVD recorder reviews to stay abreast of DVD recorder technology.
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