Digital Video Recorder (DVR) Reviews

Updated: May 17, 2013 23:27
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#1
alaScore 99

Sony BDPS790

care about quality. But once we determine that the video and audio quality are excellent, as they...

2 expert reviews | 20 user reviews

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#2
alaScore 97

Humax HDR-FOX T2

Deluxe Freeview+ HD PVR with outstanding networking

11 expert reviews | 98 user reviews

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#3
alaScore 96

Sharp BD-AMS20U

As a Blu-ray player, the BD-AMS20U is a solid performer, offering good speed and reliability...

1 expert reviews | 36 user reviews

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#4
alaScore 95

TiVo - Stream TCDA94000

The TiVo Stream works as advertised, but seems more like a feature that should be built into the...

4 expert reviews | 37 user reviews

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#5
alaScore 94

Panasonic DMR PWT500

The Panasonic DMR-PWT500GL represents a convenient all-in-one product for consolidating your...

5 expert reviews | 9 user reviews

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#6
alaScore 93

Sony SVRHDT1000B

Do you want a digital TV recorder that bundles all manner of extra gadgetry onboard, such as Blu...

3 expert reviews | 14 user reviews

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#7
alaScore 91

Enregistreur vidéo PANASONIC DMR-BWT700

AV is a niche market, and this machine is very niche indeed. I suspect camcorder enthusiasts, who...

8 expert reviews | 21 user reviews

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#8
alaScore 91

TiVo Premiere

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

14 expert reviews | 203 user reviews

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#9
alaScore 90

Popcorn Hour C200

Popcorn Hour C-200 (HDD not included) IEC 60320 C13 power cord 1.5M length HDMI cable RF Remote...

24 expert reviews | 82 user reviews

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#10
alaScore 89

Sony BDPS5100

This is a second TV/DVD Player, for which it is excellent. The 40" screen is a bit too small for...

15 user reviews

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#11
alaScore 89

FiiO D3 Digital to Analog Audio Converter With Micca 6ft Optical Toslink...

95% of reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

22 user reviews

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#12
alaScore 89

Goodmans 5234

91% of reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

11 user reviews

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#13
alaScore 89

LG Electronics BD630

Great product.

10 user reviews

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#14
alaScore 89

Magnavox MDR515H

Experts and users say that DVD recorders with hard-disk drives are the easiest to use and leave...

1 expert reviews | 22 user reviews

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#15
alaScore 89

Night Owl ZEUS-85

The system is easy to install. I had to buy a longer cable for the cameras that i installed on...

15 user reviews

#16
alaScore 89

Digital to Analog Audio Converter with USB and Headphone Amplifier

100% of reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

10 user reviews

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#17
alaScore 89

Panasonic DMR-BS750

Superb Blu-ray recorder with Freesat tuners and 250GB HDD

13 expert reviews | 71 user reviews

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#18
alaScore 89

Toshiba DR20

64% of reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

41 user reviews

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#19
alaScore 89

LG Electronics BP220

I received a Samsung blu ray player with an LCD I bought from BB a few years ago. It's totally...

80 user reviews

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#20
alaScore 89

COBY DTV102

83% of reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

24 user reviews

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#21
alaScore 89

LG BP320

Replaced a sharp blue ray that did not play some disks this unit plays all disk and has much...

13 user reviews

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#22
alaScore 89

Night Owl - Standalone DVR - 4 channels

64% of reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

39 user reviews

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#23
alaScore 89

Toshiba DR430

I purchased this DVD player in late September 2010, it stopped working on 2/5/11 (after 4.5...

191 user reviews

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#24
alaScore 89

Avermedia C985 Live Gamer Hd 1080p Capture Card

70% of reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

10 user reviews

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#25
alaScore 89

Samsung BD-E5700/ZA

Deelighted with this product. Great Movie and Music apps Highly recommended

381 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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