Panasonic are to release it’s Freesat+ recorders this spring in 3 variants. All will come with twin hi definition tuners as standard, capable of recording two programmes at the same time, and optical drives.
At the budget end, though it wont be cheap, will be the DMR-XS350 sporting a 250GB hard drive which comes equipped with a recordable DVD drive built in. The DMR-BS750 will also come with a 250GB hard drive but with a recordable blu-ray drive. The DMR-BS850 will also come equipped with the recordable blu-ray drive but with a large 500GB hard drive. Archiving hi-def programmes to blu-ray will be encoded in AVCHD, however this facility will no doubt be subject to high definition programmes that have not been flagged as ‘protected’ from copying off the PVR by a broadcaster.
A non-recording blue-ray ‘player’ without the hard drive, the DMP-BD80, will be released around the same time for about £350. This will include 7.1 analogue sound, ‘High Clarity Sound’ technology and Viera Cast (see below).
We’ve had a chance to see the physical A/V connections on the rear of the DMR-BS850 today, which sport twin scart sockets for RGB and S-video in and out, one set of composite sound and video ‘in’ connections and one set for ‘out’; an SVideo in connector and and SVideo out connector, HDMI and component connections. Digital audio out are via coaxial and optical connectors. Connections for twin satellite cable feeds, USB and Ethernet make up the rest.
On the recording side, seeing as these Panasonic twin tuner PVRs are Freesat+ certified, you’ll be getting a well thought out EPG (electronic programme guide) to make it easy to set up and manage recording schedules/timers. Features include ’series record’ and ‘accurate recording’ – a feature where the recorder tracks the programmes’ running time so it doesn’t miss any of the recording should the schedule slip.
The SD card slot, USB and Firewire on the front will enable camera/camcorder picture and video enjoyed on the big screen or recorded to Blu-ray, while media player capabilities are boosted by the support of Divx and the inclusion of Gracenote, formally CDDB (Compact Disc Data Base) which automatically identifies music and displays information about songs, artists, and albums.
The Ethernet port will enable the PVR to access BBC iplayer content over your broadband connection; a feature that should be enabled from autumn 2009. Utilising the Ethernet port, Panasonic will also be pushing Viera Cast, as long as you have internet connectivity. With Viera Cast, the PVR can access the latest news and weather from websites, and content from YouTube, Picasa, Bloomberg and some broadcasters like Eurosport. Viera Cast promises DNLA compatibility, meaning content from your own devices in the house can be streamed.
The estimated retail price of these devices have not been released. If we take into account the markets around the world where these machines are already available; you could be looking at around as much as £700 for the DVD recorder twin tuner PVR, and over £1000 for the blu-ray versions. We are sure the demand is there for a more integrated device. Indeed a twin tuner DVD recorder seems to be one of the most wanted recording devices over the last few years. It will be interesting to see what UK price points Panasonic set for these machines.
The DMR-BS850, DMR-BS750 and DMR-XS350 are planned for release in the second quarter of 2009.
Related: Panasonic Freesat+ PVR Planned
Related: June Release for Panasonic Freesat+ recoder: £1000 Price Tag
Pricing needs to be more competitive, £1000 is too much for the uk market particularly in the current climate…..
Agree with the previous comment, I have been putting off buying the Humax because of rumours of the Panny PVR…..but if the cheapest Panny PVR isn’t within spitting distance of the Humax £300 then forget it, recorder or not!
Generally speaking, i’m very pleased that a reputable company like Panasonic have ( not before time in my opinion!) thought to bring out a Blue Ray recorder with built in HDD. Though to many this would definately have seemed to be the next logical step since the inception of Blue Ray and indeed it’s ‘triumph’ over HD DVD. However, i agree with John McLaren’s comment, if the DMR-BS850 is going to debut at a retail price of 1k/+ i definately won’t be jumping on this wagon yet!, I’ll wait until the market brings it down to a more sensible price. Especially as Freesat’s HD content is so limited at present. The other interesting thing to know would be how much of the useful technical features of the HDR HUMAX machine have these models adopted in terms of the accuracy and ease of recording programmes i wonder! The fact that the HUMAX can ‘track’ transmitted programmes so as not to ‘lose’ out on any part of a film/programme recorded is in my opinion a feature that should have been introduced to the market years ago, with the advent of VCR’s! How many people i wonder have returned home only to find half or the end of a crucial bit of programme/film ‘chopped’ off because the timer switched the video off before the programme had finished because it was running late?
Lastly, when are Sony going to start shipping those lovely looking Blue Ray recorders with built in HDD, currently adorning the Japenese market ( 1 TB) to the UK market?, the twin Freesat tuner versions naturally! Lets see a bit of healthy competition in the UK market now please. After all, the sooner these prices on these machines start to fall to a sensible levels, the sooner the likes of us can start to swipe them off the shelves, then we’re all happy! ( for 5 mins!!).
With Humax now able to supply everyone and their prices dropping, Panasonic need to seriously look at pricing. I’d have said £500 is max most will want to pay.
I don’t understand why companies haven’t caught on to the fact that they would sell many more items if they entered the market at a reasonable price i.e. one that joe public can afford. Also I agree that the panasonic will need to be good to beat the Humax and its facilities. However having a panasonic plasma I trust that the quality will be up to normal thier normal standards.
I also have been hanging back, infact ditched sky+ and bought a secondhand freeview pvr in the meantime.
I feel that in a while there will be more companies coming along at cheaper prices. I think even Humax have to drop their prices but while they have no competition why should they!!
We will look back in a few years when everyone has a HD TV with built in recorders am sure.
I for one have had my fingers burned with being an early adopter – hmmmm betmax recorder.
I dont jump in first now!
I/AM waiting for a pvr/dvd twin tuner recorder but not at the
suggested prices.
I have just found the dmr-bs750 for £750 which seems like a good deal. My only problem is, should I go for the bs750 or spend abit more and get the bs850?
Interesting reading this, I have just installed the Panasonic BS750, with freesat dish, all the additional channels are mostly rubbish, and the BBC’s High Definition programmes, such as they are! are very disapointing, the clarity is only slightly better than normal freeview with a terrestrial aerial. Freesat reception is on a par with Freeview.
An expensive lesson, but we have it now, the only plus is we can play Blue-Ray DVD’s which do appear to be a bit sharper.
Barry Smith
Your TV obviously isn’t up to snuff.