Panasonic DMREX 88 - Expert Reviews

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. That sh

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 than

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

Review summary: Not cheap, but not overly expensive either, given its capabilities. This is a fantastic DVD recorder for those chasing the very best

Pros: Stupendous hard-disk space means hours of excellent recordings; complete spec; very easy to use; terrific picture and sound quality

Cons: Only that Panasonic's cheaper DMR-EX78 is very nearly as good