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Digital Video Recorder (DVR) Reviews

Updated: Mar 18, 2024 17:44
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#1
alaScore 100

Humax Aura

As a Freeview PVR, the Humax Aura is solid, but its useability foibles and lack of Netflix give...

2 expert reviews

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#2
alaScore 99

TiVo Bolt

The Bolt isn't for cord-cutters, or power TiVo users who value Lifetime service or need more...

7 expert reviews | 3 user reviews

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#3
alaScore 98

Humax FVP-4000T/500GB

There isn't much to choose between YouView and Freeview Play, so this box is a direct competitor...

10 expert reviews | 979 user reviews

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#4
alaScore 98

TiVo Edge

Bottom Line: The TiVo Edge is a perfectly serviceable DVR hampered by a high price, a dated...

2 expert reviews

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#5
alaScore 97

TiVo Roamio Pro

The new TiVo Roamio addresses almost every major complaint we had previously. In short, it's most...

5 expert reviews | 5 user reviews

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#6
alaScore 97

Hauppauge HD PVR 2 Gaming Edition Plus

Today DaveChaos takes us through the Hauppauge HD PVR 2 Gaming Edition Plus . Be sure to check...

10 expert reviews | 1698 user reviews

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#7
alaScore 96

TiVo Roamio Plus

The speed of the menu system still has the occasional hiccup, as with any set top box with a...

3 expert reviews

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#8
alaScore 96

Hauppauge HD PVR 2 Gaming Edition

The Hauppauge HD PVR 2 gaming Edition is slightly pricey and suffers from HDMI limitations with...

12 expert reviews | 1589 user reviews

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#9
alaScore 95

Humax PVR-9200

Fast and feature-packed, this box offers great pictures and versatile socketry. It's smaller...

18 expert reviews | 1451 user reviews

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#10
alaScore 95

Hauppauge HD PVR

The DVD burning portion of the software offers a nice assortment of design themes and menu...

13 expert reviews | 1505 user reviews

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#11
alaScore 95

PANASONIC DMR-EH49

The product didn't meet my needs plus the product was not made for use in the US.

2 expert reviews | 114 user reviews

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#12
alaScore 94

Humax HDR-1010S

The Humax HDR-1010S is a good choice for ex-Sky customers with a satellite dish already installed...

5 expert reviews | 666 user reviews

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#13
alaScore 94

Western Digital TV HD Live Media Player

Included in the box is the power cable, manual, the remote control plus batteries. The remote...

16 expert reviews | 61 user reviews

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#14
alaScore 93

Sony BDPS370

It's difficult to not be impressed by the BDP-S370. Even though it is pitched as an entry-level...

5 expert reviews | 363 user reviews

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#15
alaScore 93

Panasonic DMR-EX77

The DMR-EX77 seems to be having a hard time deciding what kind of device it wants to be. Although...

8 expert reviews | 506 user reviews

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#16
alaScore 93

Humax HDR-FOX T2

Deluxe Freeview+ HD PVR with outstanding networking

7 expert reviews | 1151 user reviews

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#17
alaScore 93

TiVo Premiere 4 TCD750500

TiVo continues to stand head and shoulders over provider-issued DVRs, but it still falls short of...

20 expert reviews | 1615 user reviews

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#18
alaScore 92

LG bd390

The LG BD390's combination of excellent image quality, superfast loading times, and its currently...

5 expert reviews | 13 user reviews

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#19
alaScore 92

Wadia 121

Very good product at a great price. This product replaced a line drive (passive preamp), and a...

3 expert reviews | 8 user reviews

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#20
alaScore 92

Panasonic DMR-BST745

Review of Blu Ray player/recorder Panasonic BMR-BST745 BEWARE! I have allocated a 3 star rating...

1 expert reviews | 10 user reviews

#21
alaScore 92

Nuvyyo Tablo

It’s hard not to like the Tablo. Setting it up is easy, the app is intuitive and looks good, and...

2 expert reviews | 6 user reviews

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#22
alaScore 91

Panasonic DMR-EX85

More manufacturers should be following Panasonic's example with the DMR-EX85. A truly outstanding...

7 expert reviews | 48 user reviews

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#23
alaScore 91

TiVo HD

A year ago, we gave the $800 TiVo Series3 our Best of Test award. Now, you can get most of its...

9 expert reviews | 785 user reviews

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#24
alaScore 91

Panasonic DMP-BDT230

The Panasonic DMP-BDT230 is a mostly solid Blu-ray player, except it serves up obnoxious ads in...

4 expert reviews | 226 user reviews

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#25
alaScore 90

TiVo HD XL

Everything's getting tiny. The once sexy V-8 engine is now an automotive pariah while the Smart...

6 expert reviews | 4 user reviews

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    Buying Guide

    Buying Guide - Digital Video Recorders (DVR)

    A DVR allows you to easily and efficiently record and save programming directly from your television, just as how it used to be done with a VCR. The main difference is that DVRs are simple and intuitive to use – search through the interactive programming menu by category, show title, or broadcast time, and with the push of a button you can record any show you want – there's no need to fiddle with setting a start time or a stop time (although you can customize this if you like), or changing out clunky tapes, it is all handled automatically.

    Advanced models can even transfer recorded programming to your computer or a flash storage device, letting you save shows for as long as you like. The technology is designed to make television viewing a pleasure again, rather than a chore with a fixed schedule. Once you have experienced television with a DVR, you will never want to go back!



    Contents

    Why Should You Buy a DVR?

    Missing your favorite television shows and programming is very easy to do. The demands of work and family are obvious, but today there are so many entertainment formats competing for your time, it can be simple to miss an episode or two and be left helplessly behind. DVR offers a simple solution, allowing you to organize and schedule your viewing for when it is most convenient – watch shows when you want to, see episodes you would otherwise miss, all at the touch of a button.

    Are you a fan of two shows that broadcast at the same time? No problem, a DVR allows you to negotiate schedule conflicts – watch one show while recording and saving the other for later. All DVRs allow you to watch live programming while recording at the same time, and some models allow you to do this while recording multiple programs. Customer satisfaction is built into the technology.

    A DVR also optimizes your viewing habits by allowing you to fast forward through and skip entirely all of the commercials and wasted time within a typical broadcast. With the commercials removed, watching an hour long show only takes forty minutes! A three hour football game can be enjoyed in well under an hour if you are simply interested in skimming the highlights. Miss a subtle clue in the murder mystery you are watching? Rewind and see it again. Time is money, as they say, and the extra hours that a DVD returns to you every week is well worth the investment.

    Most, if not all, cable and satellite television providers will offer to lease you a DVR unit as part of your subscription – the monthly fee for this is typically $10-20. While this is a modest fee in the short term, as the months add up the total can become quite expensive. Purchasing a DVR saves you the subscription fees and ends up saving you money in the end.

    Popular DVR Brands

    Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, and Panasonic each make several different models of DVRs, and they allow them to be re-branded with a cable or satellite service provider's name for many leased units – these products perform well with few technical problems. TiVo is a popular and familiar brand, and one of the first on the market.

    Popular Digital Video Recorder (DVR) products

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