Compare Prices : Panasonic DMREX 88

Review summary: The Panasonic DMR-EX88 comes with a high-end price tag, but its features are certainly up to scratch. A Freeview recorder PVR with a massive 400GB hard drive and a DVD recorder built in, it will also play Xvid and DivX files and upscale your DVDs. ...

Pros: Picture and sound quality ; huge number of useful features ; fairly easy to use ;

Cons: Only one tuner ; slightly too expensive ; LP and EP picture modes are pretty grim quality ;

Verdict: A sturdy performer that will do virtually everything you could ever want a DVD player, recorder and PVR to do. The DivX and XviD playback from disc or USB is a really nice addition that improves the machine over previous iterations

Award: Editor's Choice!

Review summary: Panasonic continues to impress with its Freeview recorders, with this DVD/HDD combo unit matching its peers in every imaginable way.

Verdict: If you're looking for a recorder that combines the versatility of an HDD/DVD combi with the simplicity of Sky+ then you won't go far wrong with the DMR-EX88. It's packed with features, delivers superb picture quality and although it's more expensive ...

Review summary: The 400GB hard-disk holds up to 712 hours of TV but if you want to record onto DVD (or copy programmes from the hard-disk) then the unit accepts any format you throw at it, including dual-layer DVD-R and DVD+R discs.

Pros: Loads of features, ease of use, recording quality

Cons: No WMA playback, can't transfer DivX to HDD

Review summary: We feel that this Panasonic deck justifies its high price with its excellent performance and wealth of features

Pros: Good features and picture quality ; Ease of use ;

Cons: Expensive ; No WMA ; Dull design ;

Verdict: There are four recording presets, ranging from the top-quality XP mode, offering 89 hours' recording time on the HDD, down to the 712hr EP mode, while Flexible Recording squeezes a programme exactly into the remaining space on a disc