Panasonic DMR-EA18K Tunerless 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder
- Does not include TV Tuner
- Multi Format playback: DVD, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW
- Viera Link to Panasonic Televisions
- 1080p Upconversion via HDMI
- SD card slot
By interpolating video data using proprietary algorithms, SD format data is up-converted to 1080 x 1920p HD format video data. This conversion increases the richness of the original data by almost six fold, producing the highest possible image quality when viewing content on a large-screen HDTV.Connect your Panasonic DVD recorder to your Viera flat-panel HDTV via an HDMI cable, and the TV channel setting information is automatically downloaded to the recorder. Once the auto preset download is complete, the DVD recorder will keep whichever TV channel you’re watching as its receiving channel. This means you can record the program you’re watching by just pressing the Record button on the Viera remote. With Viera Link, you don’t have to worry about setting the recorder to the right channel every time you want to record something.The Panasonic DMR-EA18K DVD recorder is equipped with an SD Memory Card slot and USB terminal, which makes it easy to view photos from your digital camera. Just sl… More >>
Panasonic DMR-EA18K Tunerless 1080p Upconverting DVD Recorder
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5 comments
Doreen Appleton on November 20, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Mine couldn’t access the cable. The manual said, “Split the cable to accommodate this recorder.” What arrogance! “I can’t do my job, so you modify your equipment to suit me.”
My ancient DMR 50 had no trouble at all accessing the cable, and wasn’t fazed at all when the cable went digital.
Touching it, pushing the buttons, listening to it, I saw a tackiness, a cheapness, that is not the Panasonic I thought I knew.
It also has a horrible playback picture.
To make the disaster complete, the Panasonic phone tech hung up on me twice.
It’s sad to lose Panasonic, which for 20 years was the only reliable maker of DVD players and recorders.
Finally, a comment about Amazon. When you buy something from an Amazon seller, you are at the mercy of the return policy of the seller. That is a flaw in this great company. If Amazon guaranteed a full refund with free return shipping for everything bought even from its sellers, it would earn many new customers and make more money. More than enough to offset the price of return shipping.
Put that in the suggestion box.
Lili Guralnik on November 20, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I bought this DVD recorder because I wanted a Panasonic to match my Panasonic LCD and take profit of the Viera link. Have not tested yet the recorder but as far as reproduction is concerned, with the HDMI cable, image is excellent, easy to use, you can manage both, TV and DVD with the same remote control. I like it very much!
J. Paul Mobley on November 20, 2009 at 8:22 pm
To say I was surprisingly disappointed is an understatement. I have owned Panasonic products before and was very pleased. However, I can not say the same for the EA18. I worked as an IT professional for over 30 years, so I am not a novice when it comes to technical expertise. The manual is almost worthless in my humble opinion. After 3 separate calls to support, I had the recorder working. BUT, when next I attempted to set a scheduled recording, I spent 5-10 minutes trying to get manipulate the recording set time, when I gave up in frustration. I returned the recorder!
I would NOT recommend the EA18 recorder to anyone.
HOWEVER, I would very HIGHLY recommend Panasonic’s support personnel. They were very patient and professional in providing answers to all my questions.
Sandy on November 20, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Picture quality seems fine. I own another Panasonic DVD recorder and like it but this product will not allow you to watch a TV show and record a different one if you are hooked up to a digital cable box. I called Panasonic customer service and they tried hard to solve the problem but came to the conclusion this model will not allow you to watch one channel while recording another. I’m NOT HAPPY with that. I knew this model did not have a tuner but thought it was ok since the cable box did. Evidentially, you need anpother connection to the TV in order have that functionality and this model doesn’t support that. I would need a different model if I want that functionality–wish I would have known that. Also I agree with other reviewers, that the control cable which allows you to use the remote to control the cable box is ugly because you have to set it in front of the unit and tape it down which is an eye sore. Personally I wish I would have chosen a different Panasonic unit.
cappakis on November 21, 2009 at 12:25 am
Connection with the HDMI cable was easy, and everything looked great. I was able to play DVDs without a problem, and really liked the user interface.
BIG PROBLEM – I could not get it to record either on DVD-R or DVD+R, and I tried several of each. It would accept the disc and identify it. It even let me name the disc, but every time I pressed “record” it would say ‘there might be a problem with the disc,’ and then would go into self-check mode. This is never a good sign. I had to unplug it to get it out of self-check mode each time.
I was trying to record from a Tivo, but I don’t think this was related to the problem.
I called Panasonic customer service, who suggested a disc cleaner or buying individual DVDs as opposed to a scroll or stack of DVDs. Upon pressing for a diagnosis of the problem, they said the drive likely was defective, and I could send it in for service. I’ve only had it for 1 week, so I’m opting to return it, as I don’t want to get stuck with what might be a dud.
On the bright side, Amazon returns has been great, they sent me a shipping label and said they will accept it. I haven’t decided what to get to replace it. My friends and family encouraged me to get a Panasonic and have had good luck with them, so I’m considering trying one again. Maybe I really did just get the random defective one.
UPDATE 8/12/08: After looking long and hard for a good replacement DVD Recorder, and not being successful in finding one that got generally positive reviews, I’ve decided to edit and record my videos using my computer. If you are looking for a DVD recorder to edit existing videos (i.e., not record directly from the TV) and just want the videos to play on your DVD player, I would highly recommend using your computer for this. I’m using Video ReDo TV suite, and so far it’s worked well for me and my Tivo. The cost of the software + a new upconverting DVD player comes to about the same price as this DVD Recorder. I’ve also found that editing videos on my computer is much easier and faster.