Why Buy a DVD Recorder

One of the best parts of DVD technology is the ability to personalize your video library. A DVD recorder makes it possible to make copies of your favorite shows or movies. And unlike VHS cassettes, DVDs are durable. While the quality of a VHS cassette deteriorates with each viewing, a DVD retains its quality no matter how many times you watch it.

If you want to make a compilation of your favorite TV series, a DVD recorder is a perfect choice. You can record your shows in a durable DVD format, and some recorders have the ability to let you edit the video and take out commercials before you burn the show to a disc. You may never have to buy a season compilation again.

If longevity is important, DVD recorders are your best choice. Instead of leaving your favorite movies on VHS cassettes that slowly degrade, you can copy your taped movies to DVDs. Your movies will last longer and you won’t have to worry about repair and compatibility issues as VCRs become less and less prevalent. You’ll also save money using DVDs over VHS cassettes.

No  matter what you are using the DVD recorder for, it’s a great way to get reliable entertainment that you can view again and again.

In this site, you'll find articles on buying DVD recorders, news stories and comprehensive reviews on DVD recorders that will help you make an informed decision on which one is right for you. At TopTenREVIEWS - We do the research so you don't have to™.

What to Look for in a DVD Recorder

Not all DVD recorders are created equal. You want to get a reliable product that does quality recordings. We took all this and more into account when ranking DVD recorders. We used a variety of criteria to do the ranking, and below you’ll find an explanation of some of the most important considerations in choosing the top DVD recorders.

Outputs – This is the kinds of formats that the DVD recorder can burn onto the DVD. Make sure that your DVD recorder can use formats that are compatible with your DVD player and any other devices in your home entertainment center.

Hard Drive Capacity – Having a good hard drive can be useful if you want to store or edit video before you burn it to a disc. In this category, more is better.

DVD Record Time – It’s important to have a DVD recorder that can record for long periods of time, especially if you have a large video or a long TV show to record. The longer the DVD record time, the longer you can capture video.

TV Tuner– If you want to record anything from your TV, like your favorite shows or an important game, then you need to make sure your DVD recorder has a TV tuner.

With all this information, you can make an informed decision about which DVD recorder is best for you. To get a breakdown of all the features and criteria for each product, take a look at our side-by-side comparison of DVD recorders.

 
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DVD Recorder Player Review

Never Miss Another Episode
DVD recorders are a perfect way to catch your favorite show or even backup your video library. It's easy; just record and watch whenever you want.
Rank #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10
Excellent score   Excellent
Very good score   Very Good
Good score   Good
Fair score   Fair
Poor score   Poor
Panasonic DMR-EA18K Toshiba DR420 Toshiba D-R410 Panasonic DMR EZ28K Toshiba DR570 Sony RDR-GX257 Toshiba DKR40 Panasonic Diga DMR-EZ48VK Panasonic DMR-EA38VK Panasonic Dmr-es15s
Panasonic DMR-EA18K Toshiba DR420 Toshiba D-R410 Panasonic DMR EZ28K Toshiba DR570 Sony RDR-GX257 Toshiba DKR40 Panasonic Diga DMR-EZ48VK Panasonic DMR-EA38VK Panasonic Dmr-es15s
Reviewer Comments Read Review
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Lowest Price Buy Panasonic DMR-EA18K DMR-EA18
$159.99
Buy Toshiba DR420 DR420
$109.99
Buy Toshiba D-R410 DR410
$189.99
Buy Panasonic DMR EZ28K DMR-EZ28K
$191.38
Buy Toshiba DR570 DR570
$159.60
Buy Sony RDR-GX257 GX257
$113.72
Buy Toshiba DKR40 DKR40
$114.95
Buy Panasonic Diga DMR-EZ48VK DMR-EZ48VK
$289.99
Buy Panasonic DMR-EA38VK DMR-EA38VK
$499.00
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Overall Rating Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good
Ratings
Features Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good
Expert Reviews Very Good Very Good Good Very Good Very Good Good Poor Poor Poor Very Good
User Reviews Very Good Very Good Excellent Good Very Good Fair Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good
View Specifications Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Features
Video Upconversion 1080p 1080p 1080p 1080p 1080p 1080p 1080p 1080p 1080p 1080p
Digital TV Tuner     Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   With TV Tuner
Digital Input Firewire Firewire Firewire Firewire Firewire firewire Firewire Firewire Firewire Firewire
DVD Player Warranty 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year
HDMI Connection Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Progressive Scan Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Digital Coaxial Output   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    
DVD Player Depth 9.7 in 9.7 in 9.7 in 9.8 in 9.7 in 9.7 in 9.7 in 13.6 in 13.6 in 12.4 in
DVD Player Height 2.4 in 2.3 in 2.3 in 2.4 in 2.3 in 2.2 in 2.3 in 3.3 in 3.3 in 2.28 in.
DVD Player Weight 6.2 lbs 6.2 lbs 5.3 lbs 6.2 lbs 6.2 lbs 5.5 lbs 6.2 lbs 6.2 lbs 6.3 lbs 7.1 lbs
DVD Player Width 16.9 in 16.5 in 16.5 in 16.9 in 16.5 in 17.0 in 16.5 in 16.9 in 16.9 in 16.93 in.
Memory Card Slot Check Mark    Check Mark     Check Mark Check Mark  
Optical Digital Output     Check Mark     Check Mark Check Mark  
Parental Control    Check Mark    Check Mark   Check Mark   Check Mark
 
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Lowest Price Buy Panasonic DMR-EA18K DMR-EA18
$159.99
Buy Toshiba DR420 DR420
$109.99
Buy Toshiba D-R410 DR410
$189.99
Buy Panasonic DMR EZ28K DMR-EZ28K
$191.38
Buy Toshiba DR570 DR570
$159.60
Buy Sony RDR-GX257 GX257
$113.72
Buy Toshiba DKR40 DKR40
$114.95
Buy Panasonic Diga DMR-EZ48VK DMR-EZ48VK
$289.99
Buy Panasonic DMR-EA38VK DMR-EA38VK
$499.00
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