Panasonic's latest VHS-equipped machine, the DMR-EZ49V, is a straight DVD recorder/VHS combi, which can be used to play or record onto both formats, as well as copy content from one onto the other internally.

Get past the dull, chunky design and you'll uncover the sort of array of features for which Panasonic is renowned.

The recorder section supports every type of recordable DVD, which means there'll be no head scratching when buying discs.

Disc recording includes standard XP, SP, LP and EP modes, as well as Flexible Mode that squeezes programmes into a given space. VHS recording gives you SP, LP and EP options.

Predictably there's only one Freeview tuner, which means you can't change channel while recording. With so many channels to choose from that's a real bind. And because it's not a Freeview+ recorder it also lacks Series Link, although admittedly this is not as useful a feature as normal without a hard disk on board – DVDs tend to fill up pretty quickly. But you can set recordings from the EPG or set the deck to record manually.

As for digital media support, the deck will play DivX, MP3 and JPEG files from USB sticks plugged into the front-mounted port, but there's no slot for an SD card or DV input for hooking up a camcorder.

Located on the back panel, the HDMI input offers upscaled Freeview, DVD or VHS pictures in 1080p, 1080i or 720p, while the Scart input supports RGB, S-video and composite video, as well as the EXT Link feature for making timer recordings from external digiboxes.

Finally, on the VHS side you get S-VHS Quasi Playback (SQPB) for playing S-VHS tapes in VHS quality, and Jet Rewind.

Ease of use

User-friendliness has always been a feature of Panasonic's recorders and once again the simple onscreen layout makes it a doddle to operate. However, there's little room on the EPG for the broadcast grid, and as a result, you can't read any of the programme names.

The single-channel portrait view makes things a bit clearer. Another annoyance is the programme info banner, which only displays now and next information. We also think the Setup menu should have been placed with the main Functions, not hidden away in a separate submenu.

Those things aside, the EZ49V is terrific. With a DVD-RAM disc you can partially delete, divide and combine titles/chapters as well as sequence your own video playlists.

It's all conducted using the excellent Direct Navigator and editing screens, which use moving thumbnails and tools for entering accurate start/stop points – the resulting edits are nigh-on seamless.

One of the most useful features is Auto Chapter Creation, which inserts chapter markers when it detects a gap in the audio; it worked brilliantly and enabled us to skip straight over the adverts.

Copying titles or playlists from VHS to DVD or vice versa couldn't be simpler. The deck brings up a straightforward menu screen that lets you enter details such as copy direction, recording modes, copy time etc, then does the rest for you. You can copy JPEGs from USB to DVD-RAM using this method.

All of these functions are controlled using the superb remote, which sports large, idiot-proof buttons and no-nonsense labelling.

Picture

The EZ49V does a fine job of playing DVD movies. In 1080p, edges are clean, detail is sharply resolved and movement is fluid. It also avoids such video nasties as block noise and banding.

Recordings made in XP and SP are up to Panasonic's usual high standards. Whether it's the eye-ball-burning décor of daytime TV studios, or the subtle hues of premium BBC dramas, the EZ49V captures it all on disc with the same accuracy and intensity as the original broadcast.

In LP and EP modes the results aren't as impressive, with greater amounts of block and mosquito noise sullying the pictures, but they are still watchable enough.

The EZ49V plays tapes with admirable stability, but the quality of VHS to DVD dubs depends on the state of the original. If you can put up with a bit of fuzz you'll be happy with the results.

Sound

VHS audio is obviously the weak link here, but the deck does its utmost to keep hiss to a minimum.

However, there are no problems whatsoever with DVD recordings (captured in stereo Dolby Digital) or movie playback through any of the audio outputs. However, the flat and muffled CD and MP3 playback is certainly not music to our ears.

Value

At £300 the DMR-EZ49V is far too expensive for a product that doesn't even feature a hard disk, and you could probably pick up a separate VCR and DVD recorder for a lot less money, but then you'd miss out on the space-saving convenience of having both in one box.

However, if you have the cash, then the Panasonic is certainly an impressive purchase. It packs features a-plenty, offers superb pictures and goes about its business with typical slickness.

A few things grate, such as the EPG, single tuner and frumpy looks, but on the whole it's a decent way of bridging the gap between new and old technology.

Only a few short years ago, the DVD/HDD recorder was third in the AV desirability stakes, behind a plasma screen and a decent surround-sound audio system. Not only would this digital dream-ticket play DVDs, but TV shows plucked out of the ether by an integral tuner or external set-top box could be recorded onto the HDD.

Any material deemed worthy of preservation could be subsequently dubbed onto blank DVD-Rs, compatible with practically every regular DVD player.

Extra points could be awarded if the recorder had a digital tuner. Today, it's nearly impossible to find a recorder that doesn't have a digital tuner.

Something else that can also be taken for granted is an HDMI output, which usually combines with an upscaling feature to give standard-def DVDs and TV programmes some extra sparkle.

All of these desirable features are built into Panasonic's new DMR-EX773, which sits at the more affordable end of the brand's range.

It's quite obvious where savings have been made to meet the aggressive price-point: build quality is somewhat on the lightweight side; there's only a single digital-only tuner; and the component output and front-panel S-video input of previous generations are absent.

Owners of DV camcorders might also be put off by the absence of a FireWire connector for digital dubbing. To be fair to Panasonic, though, DV camcorders are somewhat passé nowadays.

That's probably why the company has instead provided a USB port, which can be used to dub footage from HDD and SD card camcorders, and play DivX, JPEG and MP3 music files. There's no SD card slot, but you can plug in a USB interfaced SD card reader.

Flexible

The DMR-EX773 doesn't record a TV channel's digital datastream as broadcast – it's re-encoded – but this means recording times are more flexible. And, if you stick to the lower-quality modes, you can cram a lot more on the HDD or DVD.

Unfortunately, subtitles – if specified – are permanently burnt into the recording, and the recording of radio programmes is inefficient because video is preserved, too.

In all other respects, though, the machine performs splendidly. I love the no-nonsense user interface. It may not have changed very much in the ten or so years that Panasonic has been making DVD recorders, but what it lacks in chic is more than compensated for in terms of friendliness.

Less staid in appearance is the colourful GuidePlus EPG, which can schedule the 32-event/1-month timer directly. It also offers a programme-search facility, categorisation of programmes and auto-renewal recording. In other words, it helps you make the most of the expanded viewing opportunities that Freeview gives you.

Panasonic provides a choice of four recording modes, ranging from 1 to 8 hours per single-layer disc (up to 279 hours, if you're using the 160GB HDD). Editing tools for HDD allow unwanted material to be discarded with the minimum of hassle.

The EX773's DVD recorder is multi-format, with support for dual-layer media. You can copy from the HDD to DVD at high speed if you're using the same recording mode. Alternatives include 'real-time' copying in a different mode, and a 'make-it-fit' option that automatically determines the recording bitrate needed to fit your selection neatly on a single disc.

Compatibility crisis?

During testing, I encountered a problem with the deck. The USB port meant I could dub footage from my Everio camcorder to the HDD, and thence to DVD. Well, that's the theory; unfortunately, while the dubbing operation proceeded (at high speed) without a hitch – and the newly-HDD'ed content being playable initially – I returned to it later to find that it could no longer be accessed.

There was no alternative but to carry out the dubbing operation again with fingers crossed. I've alerted Panasonic – frankly, such incompatibilities should not arise. I'm sure that everything's hunky dory if you're using a Panasonic cam, but what if you're not?

In regular use, this machine is difficult to fault. Pictures are impressive – in the top ('XP'/1hr.) mode, it's difficult to discriminate between a recording and the original source, and the SP mode is tidy, too.

Digital TV itself is also nicely rendered. In all modes, sound quality is superb – as is DVD playback.

Conclusion

So overall, the DMR-EX773 is a tasty box of tricks, but one that isn't without its niggles.

I also think it's about time that Panasonic included a 'data stream' recording option on its Freeview models. Come on Panny, you've already built it into your Freesat/Blu-ray recorders – don't forget the little guys!

The Panasonic DMR-EX83 the ideal way of switching over to digital, because not only does it come equipped with a Freeview tuner, but it also packs a sizeable 250GB hard disk and a burner for dumping recordings onto a DVD.

It replaces last year's superb DMR-EX79 and we're hoping the newcomer can provide a similarly impressive performance.

Features

That hard disk gives you 441hrs of recording time in the lowest quality EP mode, although in XP that reduces to 55hrs. SP and LP offer 110 and 221hrs respectively, while Flexible Recording optimally fits a recording into a given space.

With a hard disk on board, DVD-RAM's versatile array of editing tricks is rendered redundant but write-once recording is always useful for making archive copies. The hard disk doesn't only store Freeview recordings, it also acts as a library for music (MP3, WMA) and JPEG photos, with a clear onscreen menu system that makes it easy to organise your content. Files can be transferred from USB stick or disc, and additionally you can play DivX from USB, DVD or CD.

The EX83 also features the CD ripping feature, which enables you to upload music without a PC. This recorder is strictly standard definition and will never be able to receive DVB-T2 broadcasts. So if you've got your eye on free terrestrial HD then you're advised to wait until later in the year when Freeview HD recorders become more widely available.

A more considerable problem is the inclusion of only a single Freeview tuner built-in, which prevents you from changing channel during a recording. That said, you won't find twin tuners on any other Freeview DVD/HDD combi either, so the DMR-EX83 isn't exceptional in this regard.

Connections are plentiful and include a pair of Scarts, one of which enables you to record material from external sources in crisp RGB quality.

Ease of use

As ever, there's a stupendous amount of recording and editing features on board, and they're easy to use, largely due to Panasonic's simple, cartoon-like onscreen layout and the intuitive remote. Even potentially tricky tasks such as editing out ads using Partial Delete are child's play. Select start and stop points using the moving thumbnail, hit delete and the job's done.

Auto Chapter Creation makes it even easier to avoid the adverts. The deck places a marker whenever it detects a long gap in the audio, which means you simply press the Chapter Skip key to move onto the next section. It efficiently detected all of our recorded ad breaks.

The straightforward layout extends to the Direct Navigator menu, which displays recordings with a moving thumbnail and the full programme name. Hitting the Options key brings up all of the possible editing and playback functions. You can add whole titles or individual chapters to a playlist and watch them in your own preferred order.

The Setup screen is also well laid out, but it's tucked away in an superfluous submenu. But Panasonic's biggest onscreen mistake is the cluttered 8-day Guide Plus+ EPG, which is hindered by the presence of a grey box that takes up about a third of the screen and squeezes up the programme grid.

It's also a shame that the onscreen digital TV banner is limited to Now and Next info and won't let you browse the schedules. And setting series link is quite long-winded, too, as the deck takes you through two confirmation screens before it's finished.

Picture

The DMR-EX83 upscales Freeview pictures to 1080p and the results are magnificent. There's none of the jagged edges or hazy pixel noise we've encountered on some Freeview receivers, while excellent colour and detail reproduction make good quality broadcasts, such as BBC One's Holby City, look terrific.

The deck also delivers faultless recording quality in XP mode. Thanks to its high bitrate, this mode can exactly replicate the live Freeview broadcast quality, which means deep, vibrant colours, crisp detail and no additional block or mosquito noise.

SP delivers virtually identical results, but eats up less space, making it perfect for copying a two-hour recording onto DVD. LP drops the quality considerably, but keeps the picture watchable, while EP's low-bitrate pictures are only suitable for slow-moving material.

You're also getting a top notch DVD player into the bargain. Pre-recorded discs are cleanly reproduced in 1080p, with the deck offering a similar level of quality to a decent budget player.

Sound

This deck is no replacement for your CD player, but music sounds enjoyable through the analogue outputs. The Dolby Digital encoder also does a great job of capturing stereo TV sound, making speech clear and audible. And, although it doesn't make much difference, you can choose to record in XP mode using space-hungry linear PCM.

Value

Another year, another impressive HDD combi from Panasonic. The DMR-EX83 once again offers a generous range of features and a faultless picture performance.

But it's not all hunky dory: the EPG is poor, some aspects of the operating system are clunky and there's little difference between this and last year's models. At this price, we'd have expected some new additions, such as a second digital tuner or Freeview HD support.

For the benefit of younger HCC readers baffled by the picture below of Panasonic's new DMR-EX99V, take note: that large slot on the left of the front panel takes analogue VHS tapes.

Yes, while it may cater for Freeview terrestrial digital and DVD, this Panasonic deck also connects with the old-tech past, by featuring a VCR.

The very mention of VHS makes many of us go all misty-eyed and nostalgic for the early 1980s, when VCRs were prized family possessions. The good news is that, with the EX99V, those vintage tapes lurking at the back of the cupboard can easily be transferred to DVD.

Get editing

First, though, you can dub them to the 250GB HDD. This'll let you eliminate unwanted material, thanks to Panasonic's friendly editing functions, before copying what's left to blank DVDs. Discs/tracks can be named, and thumbnails and basic menus chosen, before the disc is finalised. Bingo.

What's also cool – especially if someone in the family is either not au fait with modern tech or merely charmed by the retro fuzzy chic of clunky VHS – is that HDD and (non-copyright) DVDs can be dubbed to tape.

The VCR supports index search, hi-fi sound, NTSC playback/dubbing and SP/LP/EP recording modes, but lacks full S-VHS compatibility. Sure, it will play/dub such tapes, but with mere VHS quality. S -VHS users can, however, connect up their old VCRs to the front-panel AV inputs.

Naturally, there's far more to the EX99V than its VCR talents. It's also a Freeview+ HDD recorder, upscaling DVD player and music jukebox. It doesn't record Freeview's digital datastreams as broadcast directly, though. Instead they're decoded and then re-encoded by the machine's recording electronics. On the plus side, you can cram a lot more on the hard drive or DVD – but with a drop-off in AV quality.

Another niggle is the EX99V's timeshifting feature. For a start, the annoying onscreen graphic that appears cannot be turned off. What's more, you can't permanently preserve a recording that's in the buffer, should you decide it's a 'keeper'.

But beyond that, I'm pleased with the EX99V's TV-related features: the GuidePlus EPG, which can schedule the 32-event/1-month timer directly, offers a programme search facility as well as basic categories; and 'auto renewal recording' means you need never miss another soap again...

The EX99V lacks a Firewire input for DV camcorders, but the USB port will accept footage from modern cams. The SD card slot allows playback and copying of JPEGs and MPEG-2 video, too.

File support extends to MP3 music, and you can rip CDs to the hard drive, where an onboard Gracenote database will even attempt to identify your disc.

Setup

Owing to HDMI incompatibilities with my Onkyo AV receiver, I had to connect the EX99V directly to my TV, sound being carried to the AVR via optical digital (the only non-HDMI option that Panasonic gives you).

I immediately discovered the machine pesters you with a 'new channels found...' message whenever it's started. Rescan and reboot, and the message persists! Thankfully, it can be turned off in the menus.

Freeview pictures were impressive, even after upscaling (which is available for all sources including VHS). Naturally, recording quality depends on which of the modes you've set. In the top (XP) mode, it's difficult to tell the recording apart from the original.

As far as digital TV is concerned, though, the next rung down (SP) is probably an adequate bet. The third choice (LP) retains all of the source's detail, but is spoilt by blocking. EP is best described as wobblymatter swimming in a sea of artifacts. Even VHS is better!

On which subject, the VHS-to-digital dubbing facilities exceeded my expectations in terms of the picture quality. I expect Panasonic is using some very clever processing. In all modes, sound quality is superb, and the jukebox facility uses linear PCM (no MP3 compression here) so there's no perceptible loss of quality relative to the original CD.

Old faithful

Okay, Panasonic's EX99V is a bit dowdy in terms of looks, and feels about as cutting-edge as rubber scissors, but it's still a very versatile, solidly-built machine that covers all bases (excepting S-VHS, maybe).

However, Freeview datastream recording would give you the best possible AV quality. It's also annoying that the EX99V doesn't automatically play the next HDD recording – something Panasonics used to do. oh, and finally, the machine can be very slow to boot up. A bit like an old VCR, in fact.

The Toshiba RD99DT is a refresh of the RD98DT, a disappointing 250GB HDD/DVD recorder we reviewed a while ago.

Toshiba has made some subtle tweaks to the external and onscreen design of the RD99DT and has added a USB port, but otherwise the spec is virtually identical to its predecessor. So we hope the rough spots have been ironed out.

Features

The 250GB hard disk can hold up to 424hrs of recordings, but the exact amount depends on what modes are used. Toshiba offers five of these, including best quality XP, SP, LP, EP and lowest quality SLP.

These come in handy when archiving HDD recordings on DVD, as you can squeeze up to eight hours on to a single disc. Sadly, the recorder won't save to any of the dual-layer DVD variants.

Formatting DVD-RW discs in VR mode gives you the same range of editing features as hard-disk recordings, including the ability to create your own playlists. It also features Freeview+ and the all-important series link option, which unusually shows you a list of all of the relevant broadcasts over the coming week.

Also on board are split and alternate instance recording options. You get all the usual hard disk tricks, too, such as chasing playback, simultaneous recording/ playback and pause live TV, although the latter feature eats up precious hard disk space.

Unlike many of its rivals, the RD99DT doesn't let you copy music, video or photos onto the drive, which may disappoint those who want to enjoy their media collection on their home cinema system.

Ease of use

The revamped EPG still leaves a lot to be desired, with its cluttered arrangement and squashed grid (that shows seven channels at a time). But on the plus side, it's quick to populate and the coloured keys make it simple to get around.

Hit 'Info' while watching TV and an onscreen banner provides 'now and next' programme details, but it's a shame you can't search further ahead or browse other channels.

Elsewhere, the Title List's use of moving thumbnails, plus the 'New' icon that tells you which recordings you haven't watched, make it easy to identify your recordings. Most useful is a surprisingly simple editing function that enables you to cut out unwanted parts of your recordings.

The editing screen plays the programme in a box with a time line below it showing your current position – simply find the start and end points using the playback keys and hit delete. You can even preview your edits before making them final.

Toshiba has retained the same clunky remote as the previous model, which doesn't make life easy. The playback, info and programme change buttons get lost in the crowd and it's not particularly ergonomic.

But we do like both the dedicated button for changing HDMI output resolution and also the intuitive menu controls.

Picture

We are slightly dissatisfied with the live Freeview pictures upscaled to 1080p; they're soft, gauzy and contain a significant amount of mosquito noise, which detracts from their overall clarity. The deck struggles to render fine detail and TV presenters' facial features during midrange shots, while feathery edges make the image look untidy.

We tried changing the output resolution to 576p, 720p and 1080i to check if these were upscaling issues, but in each case the artefacts remain.

We compared it directly with a Sky+ HD box and although some of the processing noise can still be seen on Sky, they're more pronounced on the Toshiba.

But it's not all bad news. Colours are richly saturated without over-egging skin tones, motion is fluid and free from break-up, and a decent black level makes picture detail clearly visible in dark scenes.

The RD99DT's video encoding capabilities are excellent. Pictures look their best in the top quality XP mode, which captures the Freeview broadcast exactly as it looks live. SP mode shows a slight increase in noise, but it's hardly noticeable.

Picture quality in LP mode takes a dramatic tumble, but the image remains watchable. You can't say that about EP and SLP, but these poor pictures are a by-product of low-bitrate recording and on a par with most rivals.

When we load up The Limey on DVD, the RD99DT delivers some top-drawer 1080p picture quality. Detail on Terrence Stamp's face is well-defined, shadows within his black jacket are clear and nuanced, while skin tones look natural.

Sound

Like most digital recorders, the RD99DT features Dolby Digital Stereo Encoder technology to record sound more efficiently than PCM, and on the whole it does a fine job.

With TV recordings, speech is forthright and the other elements sound dynamic without suffering from distortion or drop-outs. There are no complaints either about Dolby Digital or DTS movie tracks fed to a receiver digitally, while music CDs played back through the analogue outputs boast a well balanced sound.

Value

At £250, the RD99DT represents good value, considering the plentiful array of recording features on board and the sizeable hard disk.

It's just a pity that you have to tolerate some clunky onscreen displays, a poor remote and some below-par picture quality, all of which makes similarly priced recorders from LG and Panasonic, for example, much easier to recommend.

Although you can still buy standalone VCRs, most of the larger manufacturers prefer to combine them with a DVD recorder – as Panasonic has done here with the release of the DMR-EZ48V.

Most people will probably fancy the EZ48V as a space-saving idea, but the added bonus of having a VCR and DVD recorder in one box is that you can copy tapes onto disc quickly and conveniently, bringing your analogue archives right into the digital age.

The machine is a chunky beast, but that's a necessary evil given the thickness of tapes and the drives needed to play them. Stylishly, Panasonic has diverted attention from its girth with a smart black or silver finish and a flap to conceal the front sockets and buttons.

Features

As per the rest of Panasonic's recorder range, the EZ48V can record onto any type of blank DVD, including dual layer DVD-R and +R. Fitted inside the unit is a Freeview tuner that enables you to watch terrestrial digital TV and record it to either media.

The inclusion of a single tuner is restrictive, but expected – more surprising is the lack of Freeview+, which denies you the convenience of series and split recording, as per Panasonic's DVD/HDD range. The lack of a hard disk makes the absence of Freeview+ a little less galling, but it should have been included.

The EZ48V does at least offer Guide Link, which automatically adjusts timer recordings to account for changes to the schedule. The seven-day EPG makes it easy to look for programmes and set the timer, as it is laid out in a neat, logical grid that shows seven channels at a time (although you can switch to a single channel programme list) and instructions are listed at the bottom.

Rear connections are comprehensive and on the front you'll find DV, S-video, composite and stereo audio inputs only. Playback can only be done from DVD or CD and the EZ48V's format support is limited to MP3 and JPEG.

You get four recording modes – XP, SP, LP and EP – which offer between one and eight hours of recording time on a single-layer DVD. The Flexible Recording mode will enable you to fit something into an exact space on a disc.

VHS recording offers SP, LP and EP recording speeds, while S-VHS Quasi playback (SQPB) plays S-VHS tapes in VHS quality, and the VHS Index Search System (VISS) adds index points to recordings to help you find what you're looking for.

Rounding up the feature list is video upscaling to 720p, 1080i and 1080p (for Freeview and VHS pictures as well as DVD) and a range of non-linear editing tools for DVDRAM and DVD-RW discs.

User interface

As ever, Panasonic's operating system is exemplary. Simply but effectively designed, the main Functions menu lists all of the options clearly, while the Setup menu covers a straightforward and uncluttered range of tweaks.

There are dedicated buttons on the remote for switching between the DVD and VHS drives or selecting the various inputs, and the unit is fast at flicking though Freeview channels. Onscreen programme information, called up via the Status button or by entering the EPG, is sadly limited to now/ next information.

Using the deck to back up VHS tapes is blissfully simple, as a dedicated menu guides you through each step of the process.

Picture

Using XP mode to capture a selection of daytime Freeview programmes, the EZ48V does a fine job of preserving the strong colours and fine detail of the source broadcast. The garish sets of This Morning are reproduced with warmth and depth, with few traces of blocking or banding within them. Edges are crisp, fine patterns are stable and moving objects exhibit low amounts of mosquito noise.

Artefacts increase gradually as you move down through SP and LP but the deck maintains solid, watchable picture quality. Only EP mode is far too soft and hazy to enjoy for any great length of time.

When making VHS to DVD dubs, the results are faithful, but the final quality largely depends on the state of the original recording. It can't work miracles and remove the jitter and edge tizzing inherent to VHS but it does keep them to acceptable levels. Detail is also soft, but colours are strong and operating the VCR is a smooth process.

We're also impressed by the quality of upscaled DVD playback, which makes our copy of The Matrix look crisp and clean at 1080p, with smooth edges, stable motion tracking and solid blacks.

Sound

Freeview recordings are accompanied by clear, sharp sound, and VHS also sounds fine despite a faint hiss. As a music source the deck performs well, making CDs and MP3s sound balanced and lively when channelled through a good quality receiver.

Verdict

The DMR-EZ48V carries out its basic tasks brilliantly, thanks to Panasonic's typically slick operating system, and its picture quality is superb with both VHS copies and DVD Freeview recordings.

But at this sort of money, we expected more on the features front – the lack of series recording, a USB port or SD card slot are disappointing and there aren't enough improvements over the EZ47V to justify the extra cost.

The convenience is alluring, but you might be better off saving money and pairing a cheaper DVD recorder with your existing VCR.

Those who liked the look of Panasonic's revolutionary DMR-BS850 Freesat combi, but have no need for Blu-ray recording, might like to check out the DM-XS350A.

The XS350A is a cheaper alternative to the BS850, which records onto DVD and not Blu-ray, and sports a 250GB hard disk as opposed to the BS850's 500GB. Otherwise you get a similar range of features for around £400 less.

• Read TechRadar's Panasonic DMR-BS850 review

The most important of these are the twin hi-def capable Freesat tuners, which provide a level of flexibility that you don't get from any other DVD/HDD combi. It means that fans of both The One Show and Emmerdale never need miss either – they can watch one and record the other. You can also record both simultaneously and watch a previous recording, it's so versatile.

Recording TV

Like the BS850, the XS350 boasts the 14Mbps Direct Recording (DR) mode, which captures the original broadcast stream on the hard disk (including subtitles, Audio Description and 5.1-channel sound) without decoding it first. That way you get the cleanest pictures possible, but it does mean that you can't record Freesat programmes directly to DVD – everything has to be copied from the hard disk.

However, the lack of a Blu-ray drive means that you can't make copies of hi-def programmes in their native resolution. Although it is technically possible to record HD onto DVD, Panasonic is keen to draw the line between the two formats, hence this deck doesn't do it – despite having an efficient H.264 (MPEG4) encoder on board. There is a minor upside, though: with no copy protection flags to worry about, you can make as many copies as you like.

There are four H.264 recording modes that can be used to compress hi-def, hard-disk recordings and free up space. They are HG (which uses a bitrate of 12Mbps with a maximum HDD recording time of 40hrs), HX (8Mbps, 60hrs), HE (5Mbps, 90hrs) and HL (4Mbps, 120hrs). You also get four modes for DVD copying – XP, SP, LP and EP – offering between 1 and 14hrs of recording time on a single platter, depending on the disc type used.

Elsewhere it boasts all the killer features found on Panasonic's much-lauded Freeview combis. You can load MP3, JPEG, SD video and AVCHD onto the hard disk from USB port and SD card, creating a media library in your living room. You can also play music, photos and DivX from a flash drive connected to the USB port, or rip tracks from CD directly onto the hard disk.

Nestled among the regular connections on the rear is an Ethernet port. This facilitates the Viera Cast feature also found on the company's latest Blu-ray gear and plasma TVs, which currently enables you to watch videos from YouTube or browse photos from Google Picasa.

Rounding up the feature list is a comprehensive range of editing tools such as Partial Delete (great for removing adverts), as well as PVR-style features such as Pause Live TV and chasing playback.

Ease of use

A cutting-edge product like this could be a nightmare in the wrong hands, but thankfully, Panasonic has got operation down to a fine art. The XS350 is exceptionally easy to use, due to three key factors: the uncomplicated, no nonsense design applied to its onscreen displays (all pastel shaded boxes and large text), the instant responsiveness of the software and the remote, which cleverly separates its large, well-labelled buttons into clearly distinguishable sections.

The seven-day EPG is clearly laid out into a grid that shows seven channels at a time, or you can focus on an individual one. It's disappointing that you can't keep up with live TV while browsing.

To set the timer, you select the programme, and a series of screens lets you check all details such as whether or not you want to record the entire series, or the SD or HD version, if it's being simulcast.

Picture

Hi-def hard-disk recordings look magnificent, showing no signs of deterioration compared with the original broadcast. Wimbledon coverage on BBC HD is crisp and fluid, while detail is sharp. The delicate textures on the worn-down baseline and colour reproduction is effortlessly natural.

The high quality of the original BBC HD broadcast means that an XP mode DVD copy looks better than the same footage recorded from BBC One. Also impressive is the quality of the MPEG4 compression; hi-def tennis coverage converted into HL mode retains a distinct HD flavour, despite the increased amount of mosquito noise in the picture that results from the lower bitrate.

There are no complaints elsewhere – recordings from a Sky+ HD box look superb in XP, SP and even LP, while pre-recorded DVDs upscaled to 1080p are reproduced with pleasing depth and clarity.

Audio quality

One of Freesat's lesser publicised features is 5.1-channel Dolby Digital sound, which accompanies many hi-def broadcasts. We channelled the bitstream via HDMI to an AV receiver and with Wimbledon coverage the results are superb. Recorded stereo sound is clear and dynamic too.

It's expensive, granted, but if you can afford it we guarantee you won't be disappointed – there are loads of useful features and connections, the operating system is blissfully easy to use, and the twin Freesat tuners make it more flexible than your average HDD combi.

If you're looking for an affordable digital recorder that doesn't skimp on features, LG is always a good place to start. Its latest DVD/HDD range includes three models and the RHT497H is comfortably the cheapest.

The 160GB hard disk equates to a reasonable recording time of 477hrs in the lowest quality or 43hrs in best, which should be fine for most people, although hardcore telly addicts will probably fill it up in no time.

There are five recording modes that reduce picture quality to extend recording time – XP, SP, LP, EP and MLP respectively.

When recording to DVD, you can use any format except dual layer DVD-R, but DVD+R DL support means that you can archive up to 21hrs on a single disc.

The RHT497H is equipped with a single Freeview tuner, which means you can't record one channel and watch another. To do that you'll have to use your TV's tuner, which is inconvenient and denies you the pleasure of pausing live TV. The sooner manufacturers start putting twin tuners inside Freeview combis, the better.

TWIN TURBO: The rear of the LG RHT497H reveals an RF loopthrough with twin tuners and an HDMI port capable of outputting 1080p upscaled images

Compensation comes in the form of the inclusion of Freeview+ features such as Series and Split recording that ensure you never miss your favourite programmes.

Thanks to a major revamp, the RHT497H is one devilishly good-looking recorder, with an all over black finish, bare fascia and circular drive selection buttons surrounded by a ring of light.

You can copy DivX, MP3, WMA and JPEG from USB memory stick to the hard disk and create your own content library, plus the deck will also play DivX HD. 'Timeshift' is LG's pause live TV mode, which stores everything in a temporary buffer, but lets you keep sections permanently using Clip Record.

There's no smart chaptering mode like you'll find on the latest Panasonic models, but these can be added manually or automatically at 5, 10 or 15-minute intervals. For recordings on DVD-RAM/-RW (VR) or the hard disk, you can perform a range of non-linear editing features, while RAM and –RW discs also enable you to make playlists from titles or chapters.

Installation

The LG gets off to a good start with an auto installation mode that guides you through the basics, including digital and analogue channel tuning. For the main menu, LG keeps faith with its well thought out Home Menu system, which lists the options across the top with a drop-down menu for each one. All of your recordings and digital content can be accessed from here.

The 7-day EPG looks basic, but is easy to navigate and superimposed over live TV. You can switch between a channel overview and a now/next layout, and unusually you have to enter the date you want to look at instead of jumping forward or back 24 hours.

Unfortunately, Series recording is far more complicated than it needs to be. Select something to record from the EPG and up pops a menu packed with pidgin English. We know what they're getting at, but this deck definitely needs to sharpen its communication skills.

We're not particularly fond of the remote, either. Its layout is cluttered, the buttons are too small for comfort and many of the important keys aren't prominent enough. It also lacks a button to toggle through the recording modes, forcing you to enter the setup menu.

Picture quality

Thankfully the LG's recording quality is up to scratch. Recordings from the Freeview tuner in XP mode are virtually indistinguishable from the original broadcast, boasting high levels of detail, sharp edges and bold colours.

There isn't a dramatic drop in quality in SP mode and when taking advantage of LP's extended recording time, the increased amounts of noise are perfectly tolerable, although the pictures don't hide their lower bitrate as well as the equivalent mode on Panasonic's latest recorders.

EP recordings are inevitably riddled with artefacts, but you could just about put up with them if you stick to programmes without fast movement or loads of detail. No one in their right mind would find the soft and juddery MLP recordings enjoyable to watch.

Pre-recorded DVD playback is on a par with a budget DVD deck – upscaled 1080p images are solid across the board, boasting decent levels of colour and detail with no obvious artefacts, although they lack the wow factor of a decent mid-range or high-end disc spinner.

Dolby Digital-encoded stereo sound is open and audible, even through bog-standard TV speakers; movie soundtracks bitstreamed to an amp are as crisp and dynamic as you'd expect and CD playback through the analogue or digital audio outputs is at least enjoyable.

Two hundred smackers is an absolute steal for a good-looking combi with this many features on board: multiformat DVD recording, a reasonably sized hard disk and excellent digital media support, plus a healthy range of Freeview features. It also boasts solid recording quality and enjoyable DVD playback.

That said, it's a shame that LG hasn't ironed out the flaws found on last year's models that are still present here, such as the muddled Freeview+ function and poor remote. One reason why you might be tempted to pay a bit more for one of LG's slicker rivals.

Panasonic's DMR-EX79 is a one-box recording studio, bristling with cool DIY dubbing tech: Freeview+ tuner, 250GB of hard drive storage, multiformat DVD recording, a GuidePlus EPG, USB multimedia playback and 1080p upscaling. More than enough to warrant a system upgrade.

That said, it's similar to its EX78 predecessor – improvements are evolutionary rather than revolutionary. In a good way.

Initial installation is automatic and reliable, and the menus are as thorough and well-organised as ever. The GuidePlus EPG comes with an extremely handy 'word search' programme-finder – which makes scheduling of the 32-event/1-month timer a doddle.

I'm also delighted to discover that the EX79 is Panasonic's first DVD/HDD recorder able to automatically chapter HDD (rather than just DVD) recordings, for quick access to a specific section.

The EX79 can also archive from VCRs or LaserDisc players thanks to its analogue AV inputs – a front panel FireWire port does the same from digital-camcorder footage.

Once all of this stuff is on the HDD, it can be trimmed or divided before being copied to DVD at high-speed (or 'downconverted', in real-time, to make it fit your disc). DivX/WMA/ MP3/JPEG playback from USB or disc, and a CD-ripping jukebox, also feature.

Stopping the EX79 from wowing me completely are some irritating quirks – the power button is next to the disc tray where you'd expect the 'open' button to be, and the front panel display no longer shows which recording mode is in use. It also lacks a second tuner, which will be a deal-breaker for many shoppers.

There is an RGB Scart input for Sky or digi-cable, but Panasonic's implementation of GuidePlus stops short of an infra-red wand to take control of your set-top box. Combining manual timer-programming with Sky's planner is just clumsy.

Performance

Like most of its competitors, the EX79 recompresses the audio and video of a digital channel when recording. In contrast, a typical PVR records the channel's datastream directly to its HDD – a lossless alternative that will always yield superior results.

The EX79's recordings show that high-quality AV is nevertheless possible; the trick is to choose the right mode.

Under most circumstances the full-resolution LP mode (four hours per DVD) yields superlative detail, certainly until movement and complex scenes distract you with artifacts. For this reason, TV recording benefits from the two-hour SP mode.

The exemplary XP (one-hour) mode would be wasteful here; this is recommended only for digital camcorder dubs. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the economy (six-/eight-hour) EP setting, which fails to impresses with its flat, soft and block-ridden pics. It can be useful for Freeview radio recording, though, given that the EX79 lacks an audio-only mode.

Sound quality is good with a wide dynamic range and transparent tonal character. And DVD playback, often overlooked on a DVD recorder, is characterised by splendid amounts of SD detail, solid colour fidelity and a decent level of contrast.

The EX79's timeshift mode – the video quality of which depends on the selected recording mode – is, however, spoilt by two flaws. An onscreen graphic is constantly-present, and content can't be preserved as recordings.

Conclusion

Despite having a few reservations, I found plenty to like about Panasonic's EX79. It strikes a sensible balance between conventional PVRs and DVD recording, and high audiovisual standards are maintained.

Panasonic has long owned the higher-end of the DVDR market and it looks likely to hold its position. For those looking for more capacity, the 400GB EX89 is also available, for around £400.

Buy from our affiliates: John Lewis | Play.com | MicroWarehouse

Panasonic has performed a subtle refresh on its DIGA range of combined DVD and hard disk recorders. The DMR-EX79 is in the middle of the lineup and includes a 250GB hard drive plus several new features.

The main points are as usual for a combi. You can record from Freeview onto hard disk or blank DVD and from external sources. It's Freeview+ compatible, so automatic series recording is a one-button process, and it also upconverts video output to 1080p.

Features

The DMR-EX79 includes most of the usual connections. The front has i.Link for digital camcorders and a USB port for transferring photos and music files or playing DivX video. There is no SD slot for instant access to digital camera photos and, unlike some recorders, it lacks a CAM connection for extra channels on top of Freeview.

However, given the fortunes of Setanta Sports at this time, that's not much to be bothered about. It's via the HDMI that you'll see the upscaled Freeview and DVD playback to 720p, 1080i or 1080p resolutions, depending on your TV.

As with other current Panasonic recorders, it uses the advert-based Guide+ for onscreen listings and timer settings.

The 250GB hard drive stores from 55hr to 441hr of recordings, depending on the quality chosen. There are four presets for this, and a handy FR (flexible recording) setting where you can specify precise running times for the best trade-off between DVD capacity and picture quality. The recorder tells you how much time is left per mode whenever you change the setting, which is helpful.

Panasonic has added two more tweaks in the background, such as auto standby mode that keeps power consumption down when the TV is off – and fan noise reduction, to keep distractions to a minimum.

Ease of use

With this generation of recorders, Panasonic has taken a few cues from Pioneer and Sony by adding little prompts to the onscreen menu that explain exactly what it is that different settings do.

Another feature that brings this range in line with the best digital recorders is automatic scene chaptering – a superb system that adds chapter marks at major scene changes, so that navigating through recordings is more like the DVD experience. It also makes it much easier to skip or edit out ads, which will be a relief to most users.

The timer setting is dead simple, with series recording choices shown if a programme is not a one-off. It's also straightforward to check and modify timer settings to change picture quality mode and so on.

Options to record digital TV subtitles or audio description are included too. Sadly, with this year's models you still cannot edit, copy or access the programme guide if the machine is recording, so be sure to make your selections at quiet times.

Along with other DVD-equipped Freeview recorders, there is only one tuner, so you can't record two programmes simultaneously. Being Freeview+ compatible does at least mean that the Guide helps resolve overlaps by finding any repeat showings due within the week. The TV Guide Explorer option is another convenient tool, as it searches for upcoming programme titles that match existing recordings on the hard drive.

Picture

Live upscaled Freeview is produced in sharp detail, punchy contrast and colour and with very few obvious digital side effects. It doesn't quite replicate the zing of a genuine HD broadcast of the same material, but it's a close approximation and a good way of getting more out of both Freeview and HDTV screens.

The same excellent quality can be seen in the top XP recording mode (equivalent to 1hr on a single layer DVD). SP (2hr on DVD) retains the vivid hues and reproduces a decent level of sharpness. LP (4hr) is acceptable, with only slight jagged edges showing up. EP can be used in 6hr or 8hr versions.

Both are extremely soft and suffer from very blocky image break-up during fast movement, but that's not surprising at this low level and, actually, the 8hr option looks better than expected.

DVD playback presents you with faithful and not too overbearing colours, while the upscaling shows more detail and less picture noise than Panasonic's previous upscaling combi recorders.

Sound

In line with most of its contemporaries in the hard disk recorder sector, the DMR-EX79 acts as an audio jukebox as well as a digital video recorder. It's versatile enough to play MP3 and WMA music files from USB memory sticks or copies of your PC collection burned onto CD or DVD.

It can also transfer these to its own hard drive, and with 250GB, there's plenty of space. In addition, it can rip directly from original CDs onto hard disk in original LPCM format where it adds automatic track naming from the upgradeable Gracenote database.

The sound quality for digital surround soundtracks, especially music, is pretty good, though not truly exceptional.

Value

At the time of testing, you can get the DMR-EX79 for slightly less than £300, which is a very fair price for a recorder with a 250GB capacity, particularly one which has all the user-friendly features and top-notch picture quality on offer here.

It makes it a superb AV hub for playing music, viewing photos, scheduling and making TV recordings and playing DVDs.