Panasonic DMR-ES45VS DVD/VCR Recorder

Panasonic DVD recorder/VHS Combo

Posted May 5, 2006 - I've only had the unit for 3 days now, but so far I love it. The user manual is very comprehensive and easy to understand. I've only used the run-of-the-mill features so far, and I'm sure the learning curve will get more lengthly after I try everything. I don't have a HDTV, but the picture quality on a standard TV is excellent. To record from VHS to Disc is just a matter of pushing a button. I thought there would be some loss of of detail when copying from a tape to Disc, but I was pleasantly surprised at the clairity. I guess Panasonic thought that as long as you had to get up to put a disc or tape in the trays, you might as well open them from the unit instead of the remote. It's a very insugnigicant detail anyway. I tried to order a DMR-es40vs, but was told that it was discontinued and being replaced by the DMR-es45vs. I'm glad I waited for it. The only recorder that I can compare the DMR-es45vs is my 2 year old Lite-on LVW-5005, and there's no comparison. I bought the unit from Digital 1234, which was the only store that had it in stock. I paid $290.00 plus $7.00 shipping from New Jersey to Arizona. I couldn't be happier with my purchase, and I hope to update this review as soon as I get more aquainted with the product.

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Does a Great Job. A Wise Choice

Posted Nov 29, 2006 - This was a great investment. The machine's functions are sensible and easy to use. I have just begun copying 20 years of accumilated VHS tapes. Be carefull in informing others you have this recorder, because they'll have some copying for you to do.

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Panasonic DMR-ES46V DVD Recorder/VHS Combo

Posted Dec 21, 2006 - I took this PANASONIC recorder DvdDMR-ES46v out of the box last evening and try to play one of my back up movies and won’t recognize the Verbatim R+ Disk Wrong media Error then try other brand the TDK R+ same results, Well maybe they doesn’t likes the R+ Media and try With R- and RW all from My Back Up Movie collections with same results. Then I put an Original Movie and Plays Ok. At That Time i Grab the Manual to see If I connect or setup anything wrong and found this interesting and disappointing Note Discs that cannot be played 2.6/5.2 GB DVD-RAM, 12 cm (5z) 3.95/4.7 GB DVD-R for Authoring DVD-R recorded in DVD Video Recording format DVD-R (DVD-Video format), DVD-R DL, DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R, +R DL recorded on another unit and not finalized (l 61, “Enabling discs to be played on other equipment –Finalize”) PAL discs (you can still play the audio on DVD-Audio) DVD-Video with a region number other than “1” or “ALL” Blu-ray DVD-ROM, +R 8cm (3z), CD-ROM, CDV, CD-G, Photo CD, CVD, SVCD, SACD, MV-Disc, PD, DivX Video Disc, etc. I’m don’t understand why Panasonic has gone backwards with this new model, since I have owned two other Panasonics. One earlier DVD Player and another earlier Recorder that have played anything. Even, when my JVC DVD Player would not. I would then throw the movie to my One Old Panasonic and it would play without problems. I Called Panasonic Customer Service Support. They are real polite but, they would not give me any solutions to the problem of no playback on DVDs I own. They suggested I copy and finalize a movie to see if it would playback. My reply was that I already played an original movie. But, if their suggestion works with new movies, …then what can I do to play the movies I already own in my own collection? I post this because I read on different forums other posts and it seems that people only use these DVD Recorders to backup their VHS collections to DVD. Or, nobody has problems playing other DVD’s. Is there anybody that have tried to play a movie in this player from their backup movie collection and, has it played without any problems? I want to know what they have done. On the other hand, the HDMI connection is kind of noisy. I tested it against my other Panasonic DVD Player using the component connection and the Old Panasonic is less noisy than the new one using the same HDMI connection. Looks like too much sharpness on that connection. Even more than the Toshiba 860 with HDMI connected. At this time, I may end up returning the unit to COSTCO in exchange for my money and buy a LITE-ON to give it a try.

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Pansonic DVD/VCR Recorder Combo

Posted Oct 16, 2006 - I have had this since august, and still have not successfully recorded a TV show with the RAM disc that is included. It does not seem very user friendly for recording. Too many options for an average person, such as having to format a disc, and then closing it out before it is playable on another device. Why cant you just record, and play? Frustrating...This is the first Panasonic product I have ever had, that I feel this way about.

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DMR-ES45VS DVD/VCR Recorder - refurbished looks new

Posted Dec 31, 2006 - This refurbished unit looks like any new component at well below new price. Played a dvd on my new LCD TV and it looks and sounds fantastic. Silver and black looks great with either color components. Menu easy to follow. I'll be transferring those VCR tapes to DVD in a snap. It's VCR plays as soon as a tape is put in, but it needs a play, stop and pause button on console, you can't stop and rewind a video tape from console. You must use remote control for everything except power on and off, FF and FB.

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So Far, So Good

Posted Jul 21, 2006 - I took this DVD recorder out of the box this afternoon and by 5:00 I had copied a 3 hour VHS tape to DVD. Although, there are many great features that I will have to play with to learn, it was very easy to do a basic copy! So far I love it! It was a great purchase.

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Better than expected!

Posted Dec 11, 2007 - Playback is better than what I've seen from other recorders in this (and higher) price range. Functions and remote are very easy to learn and do exactly what they're supposed to. Unit came well packaged and in great shape cosmetically. As no "toss the tape or disk from the other side of the room game" function is listed in the product description, the complaint that there is no eject button on the remote is wholly without merit, except to those who aren't happy unless they can find some problem, any problem, with anything.

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Nice Product

Posted Jan 13, 2007 - So far I have been very impressed with this DVD/VCR combo. I purchased this mainly for a DVD recorder but was glad to get a VCR player along with it! The Panasonic is easy to connect, easy to use and good to go out of the box. I would recommend this product to family and friends.

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Panasonic DVD recorder/VHS Combo

Posted Dec 19, 2006 - Took the Panasonic DVD Recorder/VCR Combo out of the box this afternoon and it was very simple to set up and very simple to do a basic copy.I like this unit's quality and its features and I feel it's definitely worth the cost.

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Panasonic DVD recorder/VHS Combo DMR-ES45VS

Posted Jan 8, 2007 - Panasonic provides a quality machine at an affordable price. The Combo feature is equally astute at DVD, CD, VHS unlike other no-name "Combo" machines that sometimes can't read some of the burned DVDs or CDs I own. Progressive Scan might have something to do with it. Price through PriceGrabber companies was the best found and ordering was a lot faster than they said it would take. I would recommend this product or any of it's sister models, the 35VS as a great way to save space and copy to DVD some of those old VHS memories.

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Bummer

Posted Aug 11, 2006 - VCR doesn't always eject; no track numbers on audio CD's; no eject from remote; limited front panel controls; no repeat function for audio CD's. First unit had defective buttons and VCR wouldn't eject half the time. Replacement unit's VCR is the same. Have to pull tape out or coax it out. Don't ever know what music track you are on. Can't repeat tracks or CD's. Stop is really a pause. Defective product has to be shipped back; can't be fixed locally. Cheaply made and designed. Wasted my money. The DVD does play ok, but am afraid to try to record DVD's.

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A+++ on all counts. The remote has been very well thought out ,

Posted Feb 18, 2007 - A+++ on all counts. The remote has been very well thought out , Best part of this player/recorder-they thought enough ahead and left off worthless buttons on the remote, like Eject . Why would you even want an eject button on the remote ? So hats off to Panasonic.What kind of tard ejects from the remote ? Duh . Maybe people will complain that it doesnt remove the cd from the cradle and reinsert it back into the jewel case automaticly for you .Its a fine machine , stop whining !!!

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