Just tell me what TV and BD recorder to buy.

[chebby]

I want a Panasonic 32" screen with 'Viera link', Freeview HD and BBC iPlayer capablility.

(Don't need 3D)

I want a Panasonic BD/DVD recorder with built-in hard-drive (250GB is ok) and Freeview HD and 'Viera link'.

I would like to pay as close to £1000 as possible (shop prices) for the two items in total. (Less would be even better [🙂])

This will all be plugged into a Yamaha YSP-600 compact soundbar (it is Viera link compatible and well reviewed and I trust Yamaha).

I have tried researching all this but get a headache with all the numerous models. (And if reviewed finding out they are no longer sold.)

Thanks.

 

[Dave_]

chebby:I want a Panasonic BD/DVD recorder with built-in hard-drive (250GB is ok) and Freeview HD and 'Viera link'. Well there's only two Pana Freeview HD/Bluray/HDD recorders, the DMR-BW780 and the DMR-BW880 .

The only difference between them is HDD size, but both are still too expensive (and have poor advert laden EPG) imo, which won't leave a very healthy budget for a Pana TV.

 

[Anonymous]

unless you plan to burn to disc then why not use said pana tv's usb port? attatch an external hard drive and you can record what you want from the built in freeview hd tuner.. your s370 can play any discs..

 

[chebby]

maxflinn:unless you plan to burn to disc then why not use said pana tv's usb port? attatch an external hard drive and you can record what you want from the built in freeview hd tuner.. your s370 can play any discs..

I currently have a Panasonic DMR EX-78 DVD recorder with plain 'vanilla' Freeview and a built in hard-drive and, of course, the Sony S370 which was only ever meant to be a quick/cheap n dirty means to getting BBC iPlayer on the telly for £99.

I want all this capability in one box one day, not two or three boxes (no external HDDs thanks). I also want everything to run from the one remote (including soundbar).

Thanks Daveh75 for confirming that the DMR-BW780/880 models are (a) current and (b) the only options. (I had given up the will to continue searching after all the TVs)

I am already familiar with the adverts on the DMR-EX78 and - despite the ads being a bit of a cheek/insult - the EPG is extremely easy to use for setting up recordings and it is familiar to use for the family after many years of Panasonics. (Especially for recording BBC radio stuff that is on whilst I am out and I may want to keep for longer than iPlayer keeps it.) We don't do any disc burning but like to record from tv and radio for convenience.

It is a shame about the price of the BD/HDD recorders but I will shop around and see if I can get a deal from someone selling all three components.

We currently have three remotes on the go for the Sony (BD) and Panasonic (DVD recorder) and Samsung (telly) and then there is stereo audio (Beresford DAC and hifi) which the wife and kids don't even want to touch! I am coming under a bit pressure to get it all simplified*. (And I agree with them!)

A complete Panasonic set-up running from one remote (including the sounds) would be excellent.

*Not the hifi. That stays. Any pressure to get that simplified was purely from me.

 

[Anonymous]

ah the picture is clearer now, ok you dont want an external hdd, hence the need for a pana blu-ray recorder? but they are still quite expensive, heres a suggestion, it includes the hdd but....

get an external hdd and connect it using a usb cable, put it out of sight behind the tv, the usb port is at the back of these pana sets, that means you only need a regular 2d pana bluray player, still all working from one remote, £200-£300 all in, and the change to buy the 5 star winning 32d25?

edit.. no i player

 

[chebby]

maxflinn: get an external hdd and connect it using a usb cable, put it out of sight behind the tv, the usb port is at the back of these pana sets, that means you only need a regular 2d pana bluray player, still all working from one remote, £200-£300 all in, and the change to buy the 5 star winning 32d25?
edit.. no i player

iPlayer essential. Being able to easily setup recordings from Freeview HD to hard-drive using the EPG and the remote control is essential. (Timeshifted so it can record when no-one is around.)

Being able to watch something else or listen to something else whilst all that is going on, essential. Your external USB HD + S370 solution fails to cover all the 'bases' and would not be completely compatible with seemless control of the soundbar via a common remote control.

Anyway. Thanks for the input on the BD/DVD/HDD options. Looks like the DMR-BW780 is the default choice. Thanks again Daveh for clarifying that.

What is the best value, good quality, Panasonic 32" televsion with Freeview HD (not 3D) and iPlayer and Viera-link? (Doesn't matter what it sounds like as the soundbar will cover that.)

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

i dont think any of the pana tv's have i player, no mention of it in whfi's 32d25 review anyway..

 

[Sorreltiger]

I wouldn't worry about having to go with one manufacturer when you can get yourself a Harmony One remote. I don't think my other half would look quite so kindly on all my AV spending if she couldn't enjoy it in all its glory with just a few simple touches on the remote! It really is my best piece of kit (I voted for it in the awards!)

 

[Andy Clough]

maxflinn:i dont think any of the pana tv's have i player, no mention of it in whfi's 32d25 review anyway..

Correct. We're still waiting for Panasonic to confirm when its Freesat TVs will have iPlayer, but none of the Freeview ones have it yet.

 

[Dave_]

maxflinn:i dont think any of the pana tv's have i player, no mention of it in whfi's 32d25 review anyway..
Neither do the Freeview HD recorders, afaiaa.

 

[chebby]

daveh75:maxflinn:i dont think any of the pana tv's have i player, no mention of it in whfi's 32d25 review anyway..
Neither do the Freeview HD/BD/HDD recorders, afaiaa.

Oh c###!

I had thought that most recent model ranges from the 'premier' manufacturers had this.

 

[laserman16]

Then there are these, but will need a Sat dish and no iplayer as of yet.

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

Hang on a short while till these have been reviewed/come down in price ( todays WHF home page also) They do what you want. and then look for BD recorder a short while after.

 

[simonlewis]

What about the samsung BD8500.

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx?app=detail&view=2&params=item^564292,tpl^uk,sc^,cc^,from^,navlist^563612*564292*564334*564386*,cm_scid^24hr

 

[Dave_]

slewis:
What about the samsung BD8500.

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx?app=detail&view=2&params=item^564292,tpl^uk,sc^,cc^,from^,navlist^563612*564292*564334*564386*,cm_scid^24hr
It's not a Panasonic and doesn't have iplayer...Yet!

 

[John Duncan]

chebby:Oh c###!I had thought that most recent model ranges from the 'premier' manufacturers had this.

You wanna Sony mate...

 

[John Duncan]

But more seriously. I understand you wanting one brand, but I'd be more inclined to get whatever provides you with the right functionality at the right price and get a universal remote...

 

[grdunn123]

I don't know who you are John Duncan but you seem to meander through the forums talking absolute dross most of the time

......you remind me of the Paul Whitehouse character in the Gentlemans Club..(that's a compliment by the way)

 

[John Duncan]

grdunn123:I don't know who you are John Duncan but you seem to meander through the forums talking absolute dross most of the time

Finally somebody gets it.

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

grdunn123: but you seem to meander through the forums talking absolute dross most of the time

That's forum generic!

 

[Anonymous]

grdunn123:I don't know who you are John Duncan but you seem to meander through the forums talking absolute dross most of the time

......you remind me of the Paul Whitehouse character in the Gentlemans Club..(that's a compliment by the way)jd is to the forum what god is to creation

 

[grdunn123]

I kinda guessed that Max!

 

[John Duncan]

maxflinn:jd is to the forum what god is to creation

No. He got to take a day off.

 

[bob.g]

I just realised why I like this forum so much

 

[Dave_]

maxflinn:jd is to the forum what god is to creation

Are you saying JD doesn't exist?