Panasonic DMR-EX75EB-S

The panasonic model no. dmr-ex75eb worked perfectly up to digital tv switch over in november 2009.Since then I have been unable to tune in any freeview channels.The tv engineer who looked into the fault has since found the same problem with other units of this model and has been waiting for a fix from panasonic.No news of a fix in over two months.

Along with many others my Panasonic DMR 75 EX DVD drive stopped working after 15 months and it costs nearly as much to fix it as buying a new machine. Panasonic don't supply parts to repair their faulty machines at reasonable prices. You can't watch or hear programs whilst looking at the EPG. The remote is slow to respond.

The picture quality is excellent when upscaling and its relatively easy to use but I'd not buy another panasonic after poor quality and rubbish after sales service. I can replace my computer DVD for £15 so why £150 for the DMR 75? And my computer DVD lasts much longer than 15 months with regular use! My advice is to check out the reliability of panasonic machines as Panasonic don't provide the backup to support their poor quality at affordable prices.

Quality of recording great but the Panasonic DMR-EX75EB-S is very slow, remote control takes all the time in the world.Machine keeps showing errors and you have to reset then after about 2-3 years it just dies. Wish I'd scoured the web and seen all the other complaints before buying.

The Panasonic DMR-EX75EB-S is easy to use but no twin tuner, time not adjusted automatically when clocks change.

The dvd player recorder breaks after about 18 months, this has happened to hundreds of people according to the net. Also regular U80 errors unresolvable by Panasonic.I can live with annoying U80 problem which shuts the machine down, but not breakdown of the dvd hardware.

The reviews read well when I looked this up on internet, I have a 42" HD Plasma, and this sounded ideal, plus having a built in freeview tuner made my mind up, that's why I bought it as an upgrade from the Liteon LVW 5045 recorder I have had for two years. Generally it's a great unit, as I said above, but I see little, if any improvement in the picture quality from the Liteon if truthful, even using the HDMI connection to my 42" Plasma, so I would say that if you are thinking of buying it for that facility, then go into a shop, and check it out first, because, I wouldn't have made the HDMI my reason for buying it. I have various dvd's a few of which are region 1, thus I needed a multi-region unit. I had to buy this unit off the web, as no store in town will sell a multi-region unit (or so I was informed by the major retailers) Now, if this error fault U80 and U81 develop, and it could well do having checked on the internet, I have the difficulty and hassle of dealing with returning it etc...

This is a big step forward for Panasonic. I do believe them to be the best at this HDD recording malarky. Bought this to replace a 2 year old DMR E85 (I moved it upstairs and it's still being used a lot, so longevity is not an issue). This was fantastic from the moment it was plugged in. Much faster starting up than the 20 seconds or so of the old models. Now 2-3 secs. Guide mode for recording is really easy and you can't forget to set the timer as it does it all for you. Just select the program like you do when selecting a program from a Sky guide or freeview guide. Press enter a couple of times and Bingo.

Playback is faultless if you have a good continuous signal. We don't as yet (pain) but still you get an excellent picture and sound quality.

HDMI output is nice addition, but it only up-scales. You cannot play a HD or BluRay disc in this machine. Having said that, play around with the HDMI output settings, and you'll get a pretty good upscaled picture. Noticeably better than standard DVD.

The SD slot is an interesting addition. Yet to use this.

The remote is more comprehensive, but lacks the nice brushed metal finish of previous models. The fake silver plastic just lowers the tone slightly.

Just been reduced to £300 or so. Don't buy another. Buy This!

I bought this Panasonic DMR-EX75EB-S for my girlfriend, after a friend who is a AV technician suggested it. The quality is staggering, you just call up the electronic programme guide (EPG) and tick the programmes you want copied on to the hard drive or blank DVD. On maximum quality setting there is space on the drive for 80 hours of TV, at broadcast standard playback. Anything you want to keep just burn to DVD. The DMR-EX75EB-S has a in-built digital receiver in it, which is essential when you bear in mind that Currys are currently desperately trying to shift all their stock of DVD recorders with VHF tuners built in (the signal is soon to be turned off). Any DVD/HDD recorder without a EPG is pretty much obsolete. In my opinion the HDMI upscaler also achieves about 90% of HD playback from a normal DVD. Another feature is the SD card reader on the front of the machine so you can view your digital camera snaps on your TV.