Panasonic DMR-BS750 review

What you need to know

Reviewed by: Ian Morris

Reviewed on: 19 May 2009

Tags: database, televisions, setup, profile, DivX video

We like:

It does everything; the picture quality is superb; it has more features than the Himalayas; VieraCast is excellent and has loads of potential; cool design

We don't like:

Incredibly expensive; start-up time is a disgrace; BD Live is painfully slow; it's sometimes hard to know what button to press; copy protection is the work of Satan

Also known as:

Panasonic DMR-BS850 (500GB capacity hard disk)

You might also need:

6 speed 25GB Blu-ray media: £15 (1 pack)
4 speed 25GB Blu-ray media: £20 (3 pack)
2 speed 25GB RW Blu-ray media: £30 (3 pack)
6 speed 50GB Blu-ray media: £35 (1 pack)
4 speed 50GB Blu-ray media: £25 (1 pack)
2 speed 50GB Blu-ray media: £15 (1 pack)
2 speed 50GB RW Blu-ray media: £25 (1 pack)

CNET UK judgement:

We've given this excellent machine a score of 9, but it comes with the obvious 'but', which is simply that it's far too expensive. £900 is more than enough to buy a £300 freesat PVR and a £200 Blu-ray player and still have pots of cash left over. Sure, the Blu-ray recording is unique, but is it really that valuable to you?

Full review:

It's all very well having a freesat receiver, but until now if you wanted to record something you'd have to use the only freesat recorder on the market, the Humax Foxsat-HDR. Now, don't get us wrong, the Humax is excellent, but we do like a bit of choice. Panasonic seems to agree with us too -- and to prove it has launched a pair of Blu-ray freesat recorders. The DMR-BS750, which we're looking at here, also has a built-in 250GB hard drive and a gaggle of other superb features. Its bigger brother, the BS850, is identical save for a 500GB hard drive. Continue Reading...