2009 UK Panasonic Blu-ray recorder

[admin_exported]

No price or spec as yet, but two new 'Blu-ray Disc Recorder' products have appeared today on Panasonic's dealer site. The model numbers are:

DMR-BS750
DMR-BS850

Will be interesting to find out exactly what these are. Also listed are three new players:

DMP-B15
DMP-BD60
DMP-BD80

Further details when they arise.

 

[Clare Newsome]

We first reported on this a year ago, and Panasonic confirmed back on October (story here) that they were in discussions with Freesat about a Blu-ray recorder. They've also already launched a version in Asia/Pacific and France, so it's a logical next step.

We're at a huge Panasonic press briefing next week, so will bring you all the details....

 

[Clare Newsome]

.. and in the meantime, you can read the first review of Panasonic's new 2009 plasma line-up - test of the 42" Panasonic TX-P42X10B now online

 

[Big Aura]

Clare - (without asking you to speak for Panasonic) I only have one satellite cable coming from my dish (and as it's a rental property, I can't add to it), would I still be able to record using a panny blu-ray recorder/freesat box? I know I wouldn't be able to record one; watch one, but does one input get used solely for recording and the other for viewing, or can one input serve either (but not both at the same time) functions. (assuming that's clear!).

 

[Clare Newsome]

Well I obvious can't comment on what will/won't work on a currently non-existent product! However, this recent discussion about single-satellite feed to the dual-tuner Humax Freesat PVR could be useful.

 

[Big Aura]

thanks Clare - looks like this will have to wait until it's fully tested! I presume (purdy please!) that this functionality issue would be one of the things your testing team would note!

Cheers

 

[jon_connon]

looking good

http://www.dvb.org/products_registration/dvb_compliant_products/by_specification/product_list/index.xml?csID=53

Looks like 3 models all with Freesat .

DMR-BS750EBK
Blu-ray/DVD Recorder with HDD & DVB-S/DVB-S2 tuner

DMR-BS850EBK
Blu-ray/DVD Recorder with HDD & DVB-S/DVB-S2 tuner

DMR-XS350EBK
Blu-ray/DVD Recorder with HDD & DVB-S/DVB-S2 tuner

 

[Andrew Everard]

Big Aura:thanks Clare - looks like this will have to wait until it's fully tested! I presume (purdy please!) that this functionality issue would be one of the things your testing team would note!

Well yes, if the thing records, then of course we'd test its recording. But as with all satellite products, it's one feed one box, so you'd have to keep switching cables if you can't have twin feeds from the box. I'd assume Panasonic sees this as an alternative to the likes of the Humax PVR, rather than as an adjunct to such a unit, but really until we have full specs on a UK unit, should the company even decide to sell it here, it's hard to comment further. But presumably as alsina is a Panasonic dealer, having access to the Panasonic dealer site, he may be able to enlighten us further...?

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:Big Aura:
thanks Clare - looks like this will have to wait until it's fully tested! I presume (purdy please!) that this functionality issue would be one of the things your testing team would note!

Well yes, if the thing records, then of course we'd test its recording. But as with all satellite products, it's one feed one box, so you'd have to keep switching cables if you can't have twin feeds from the box.

I'd assume Panasonic sees this as an alternative to the likes of the Humax PVR, rather than as an adjunct to such a unit, but really until we have full specs on a UK unit, should the company even decide to sell it here, it's hard to comment further.

But presumably as alsina is a Panasonic dealer, having access to the Panasonic dealer site, he may be able to enlighten us further...?

The models I posted will definitely be sold here in the UK, they appear on the dealer website in order that we can place orders for those products. At the moment though, there are no specs/details/prices available on the site, just the product description (BLU-RAY DISC RECORDER) and the model numbers. Another model has now appeared, the DMR-XS350 (DVD RAM DISC RECORDER) which would suggest if these are Freesat recorders, that there will be 1 x DVD/HDD and 2 x BD/HDD machines with the latter having different sized hard drives.

 

[Clare Newsome]

UPDATE

More details on Panasonic's Freesat Blu-ray recorder here, including model numbers and pricing guide

 

[Clare Newsome]

Second Freesat recorder also announced - more details on Panasonic plans here

 

[Andy Clough]

Panasonic told me there's likely to be a Freesat launch event for the press in mid-April, so I'm guessing the new recorders will be released around then.

 

[Anonymous]

Now with RRP and delivery dates:

DMR-XS350 DVD/HDD (250GB) - June - £699
DMR-BS750 BD/HDD (250GB) - June - £799
DMR-BS850 BD/HDD (500GB) - June - £999

Also listed are three new players:

DMP-B15 - May - £599

DMP-BD60 - April - £299
DMP-BD80 - March - £399

 

[simonlewis]

If those prices are correct i'm glad i got my DMP-BD35 when i did, the DMP-BD60 is over £100 more than i paid for the BD35.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Ah, but the original RRP of the DMP-BD35 was £300 and the DMP-BD55 was £400, so the Panasonic DMP-BD60 and DMP-BD80 are coming in at the same level.....

Incidentally, we expect a Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray player in for test very soon - the review will appear in our May issue, out first week of April

 

[Anonymous]

I know these new machine are going to be FreeSat, and Panasonic are heavily investing in this area, but does anyone know if there will be a normal freeview version released?