Customer Reviews for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
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Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Model: DMR-EZ48VK
SKU: 8696299
UPC: 037988256631
Whether you're watching movies on VHS tapes or recording onto DVD discs, this DVD recorder provides versatile recording and playback from a single unit. It also features a USB terminal and Secure Digital card slot for viewing JPEG images on your TV.Learn more with these helpful resources: DVD Recorders: Learn what's in 'em for you Build A Home Entertainment Library on DVDs
Average Customer Rating:
2.8
out of 5
(107 Reviews) 107
Rating Snapshot 107 reviews
5 stars
23
4 stars
15
3 stars
17
2 stars
19
1 star
33
41% of customers would recommend this product to a friend
(
44 out of
107)
Customer Reviews for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Review 1 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Works as advertised - makes excellent DVDs
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Ease of Set Up
5.0
What's great about it: Excellent quality of mini-DV and VCR to DVD media
What's not so great: Instruction manual is a challenge
The Panasonic unit makes excellent copies of mini-DV and VCR tapes - excellent playback to HD television. Have not tried to record TV programs, but the rest of the features work very well.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+4points
4out of 4found this review helpful.
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Review 2 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Not one of my better buys
Customer Rating
2.0
Value for Price
2.0
Picture Quality
3.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Ease of Set Up
1.0
What's great about it: Nothing
What's not so great: Almost everything
Did a decent enough job transferring old VHS tapes to DVD but it constantly freezes up (U99 error message to be exact) during everyday normal operations. Which requires powering it down or unplugging it altogether to reset it. Also powers down & then restarts on its own or starts playing DVDs on its own when it's been turned on and has been idle for awhile. Every so often it won't be able to read a DVD it was playing moments earlier so it has to be ejected and reinserted so it can be read. Just a bunch of little annoying glitches.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 3 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
worst!!
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: Anonymous
from washington
on 02/29/2012
What's great about it: NOTHING
What's not so great: EVERYTHING!!
We got this after turning in the LG brand to make copies of home movies. We thought the Panasonic would be better because of it's name. I had to take it in to the GEEK squad a few times because the tuner kept failing and the dvd part kept locking up. I owned it 2 and a half years (after the extended warranty that we paid extra for had expired) and the dvd player/ recorder died! It is a software failure, so to fix it was too much!! I was never happy with this recorder. The turner kept sliding and would jump around when trying to change stations. It easily locked up. I had to treat it like a baby!! And still it died!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Review 5 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Returned within 3 hours, VHS failed.
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: ParticularCustomer
from Virginia
on 01/14/2012
Value for Price
1.0
Picture Quality
1.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Ease of Set Up
3.0
What's great about it: Nothing
What's not so great: It failed and never completed any job.
This unit is junk.
It failed to play VHS after about 18 minutes of play on each tape, and the tapes are known good and play on other machines.
Returned to store.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+3points
4out of 5found this review helpful.
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Review 6 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
VCR and DVD recorder
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Ease of Set Up
4.0
What's great about it: Easy to use
What's not so great: A bit different in functions - but I'm learning
Very good device - old features (cable connectors) to allow working with older tv as well as hdmi for the modern ones. Great picture quality.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+6points
6out of 6found this review helpful.
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Review 7 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
OK
Customer Rating
3.0
What's great about it: Only item with new VCR
What's not so great: should be more easy to program, etc.
not easy program, play, etc. I would recommend the item, just because there is not any VCR/DVD combo in our near stores.
I would recommend this to a friend!
-1point
3out of 7found this review helpful.
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Review 8 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Easy to set up unstable
Customer Rating
2.0
Value for Price
1.0
Picture Quality
3.0
Ease of Use
3.0
Ease of Set Up
4.0
What's not so great: Unstable
Set up was easy however I accidentally let it set the vcr to RF output on Channel 3 and it should have been 4 in my area. Then I could not figure out how to change it and there were no instructions to do so. This vcr was extremely un stable. I had to reset it 3 times in the first 1.5 hours of use. it reacts slowly to input. I could not get it to go off of economy so I could get it to come on quicker. Returned. Rather have none than this one.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+1point
2out of 3found this review helpful.
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Review 9 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
So far, no problems
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: snowbird5
from Naples, FL
on 12/30/2011
Value for Price
3.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Ease of Set Up
4.0
What's great about it: Digital turner, multiple recording formats, good picture quality
What's not so great: A little pricey
After all of the bad reviews, I was hesitant to buy this unit. But since it was the only one with a digital turner, and since Best Buy allows unconditional 30 returns, I decided to take a chance. I have had no problems recording TV programs to VHS, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM media. Picture quality is very good, even with old VHS tapes. I haven’t had the unit long enough to comment on its longevity or long term reliability. I did buy an extended warranty just in case. The owner’s manual was reasonably clear, although a better index would be helpful. I would recommend buying some DVD-RAM discs since you can watch a recording from the beginning while the recording is still in progress, just like with a DVR. Best Buy does not sell DVD-RAMs; the only place I could find them was at Panasonic online. The main problems I have had were not with the unit itself. The store personnel were not very knowledgeable or helpful. And the local cable company does its best to make recording difficult. Without their cable box, only a handful of digital channels are provided. The rest come through a D/A converter, so in order to record these channels you must tune the recorder to analog channel 3, and tune the D/A converter to the channel you want to record. If you already rent a cable box, spend the extra $5 a month at get the DVR option. If not, of if you have other recording needs, this unit is a good alternative.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+5points
5out of 5found this review helpful.
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Review 10 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Difficult to use. Buy extended warranty.
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: ttimgents
from College Park MD
on 12/22/2011
Value for Price
1.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Ease of Set Up
3.0
What's great about it: Advertised features when it works.
What's not so great: Unreliable performance.
I am not recommending this unit. However, seems to be only manufacturer and unit that offers advertised recording/playback features. So if features to hard to pass up and one buys it, ONE SHOULD DEFINITELY BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY that would allow RETURN of the unit and REPLACEMENT with a new unit. I would not want to wait for--or trust--a repair.
I've owned two versions of this Panasonic unit: DVD-835 and DMR-EZ28. When these units worked as advertised, great units. Best features are: the feature "chasing playback" which, like a TiVo unit, allows one to watch/pause/rewind any recorded show while recording the same or another recorded show; the "navigator," which makes it easy to choose a recorded show one wishes to view or delete; and the "advanced schedule recording" which makes setting up advanced scheduling far easier] than the old VCR set up.
However, takes some time and dedication to learn to use all these feature. [Owner's manual approximately 80 pages long.] Also, the most advance features can only be used when using a Panasonic RAM disc: I'm not sure if such a disc made by any other digital device manufacturer.
Unfortunately, both units very quirky: it seems as if I had to "reset" the units once a week. Units would freeze during playback or scheduling. Trashed first unit and I'm about to trash the second unit: powers on, but responds to no commands from remote or main units keys; disc cannot be ejected, even by using one of troubleshoot procedures. It has just stopped working after only one year of use. I'd mail them back to Panasonic with this review if I thought it would do any good.
I've owned two versions of this Panasonic unit: DVD-835 and DMR-EZ28. When these units worked as advertised, great units. Best features are: the feature "chasing playback" which, like a TiVo unit, allows one to watch/pause/rewind any recorded show while recording the same or another recorded show; the "navigator," which makes it easy to choose a recorded show one wishes to view or delete; and the "advanced schedule recording" which makes setting up advanced scheduling far easier] than the old VCR set up.
However, takes some time and dedication to learn to use all these feature. [Owner's manual approximately 80 pages long.] Also, the most advance features can only be used when using a Panasonic RAM disc: I'm not sure if such a disc made by any other digital device manufacturer.
Unfortunately, both units very quirky: it seems as if I had to "reset" the units once a week. Units would freeze during playback or scheduling. Trashed first unit and I'm about to trash the second unit: powers on, but responds to no commands from remote or main units keys; disc cannot be ejected, even by using one of troubleshoot procedures. It has just stopped working after only one year of use. I'd mail them back to Panasonic with this review if I thought it would do any good.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+9points
9out of 9found this review helpful.
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Review 11 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Glad it finally failed COMPLETELY
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: jimgmail
from Chagrin Falls, OH
on 12/01/2011
Value for Price
1.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Ease of Set Up
3.0
What's great about it: Picture quality was good when it decided to work. The ability to use chasing play with a RAM-DVD.
What's not so great: Never worked longer than 3 days without a functional failure
Oh happy day, my Panasonic DVR has finally failed. This unit has been a daily/weekly aggravation since the day I bought it. I have been waiting for the day that it would fail completely so that I could throw it out & smash it with a sledge hammer. There isn't enough space to list the numerous modes of failure and most of the bugs I experienced have been listed elsewhere in the other reviews. Even after a few years of service it could find new ways to fail each week in addition to repeating old failures. Panasonic service was totally useless in offering any solutions to the problems and bugs that this unit displayed. Their only solution was to send the back for repair, replacement or upgrade (I paid the shipping) which I did twice, with no improvement. I have ordered a Magnavox MDR515H to replace the Panasonic - it has a high percentage of positive reviews relative to the functioning of the unit and the small number of negative reviews were usually total failures which can be covered by an extended warranty.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+19points
22out of 25found this review helpful.
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Review 12 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
alternative Magnavox ZV457MG9
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: gadgetminded
from Des Moines, IA
on 11/28/2011
Value for Price
1.0
Picture Quality
1.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Ease of Set Up
1.0
What's great about it: ???
What's not so great: lots of bad reviews, lots of reasons
I almost bought this model because of the Panasonic name, but the percentage of bad reviews scared me. After a lot of on line research I picked a Magnavox ZV457MG9, which was also on the Best Buy website from time to time. I hope it still is. It has a built-in digital tuner which lets you record Over The Air (OTA) digital TV signals on either VCR or DVD, only one at a time, and will dub either way. Not as simple to learn to use as it could and should be, but workable. If it does not seem to respond to the remote, be sure the TIMER SET is off before trying to operate. Otherwise no problems yet, lots of good reviews.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+4points
11out of 18found this review helpful.
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Review 13 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
TREMENDOUS PIECE OF JUNK!!!!!
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: Anonymous
from Media, PA
on 11/25/2011
Value for Price
1.0
Picture Quality
4.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Ease of Set Up
1.0
What's great about it: NOTHING!
What's not so great: EVERYTHING!
Somehow I've gone through 4 of these units in under 18 months. They freeze, they don't respond to commands, they have the worst instruction booklet I've ever read, and all the customer service folks have been able to do is walk me through all types of button pressing that led only to "return it for service", for around $175 each time!!!!! I tried that twice and received 2 refurbished units. One lasted 2 weeks, the other has died this week, after recording and viewing a DVD, the unit refused to eject it, did not respond except to run endless diagnostics, and again customer service could only suggest sending it back. NOT THIS TIME! Unless Panasonic sends me a new one at no cost I'll NEVER buy ANYTHING from them again. DON'T GO NEAR THIS!!!!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+13points
13out of 13found this review helpful.
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Review 14 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
$300 paperweight
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: AL123456
from Indiana
on 11/19/2011
Value for Price
1.0
Picture Quality
3.0
Ease of Use
2.0
Ease of Set Up
3.0
What's great about it: nothing
What's not so great: poor quality stopped working in less than a year
DO NOT BUY THIS! Mine work fine for less than one year. Now you never know when or if it will load a disk. Or if you will be able to remove the disk without a hour fight of resetting the unit multiple times and power cycling. Makes a noise like it is grinding the disk. Cleaning the disks doesn't help. Basically on +/-RW disk you can use only once. Reformatting the disk between uses doesn't help.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+7points
7out of 7found this review helpful.
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Review 15 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Great product
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: DisneyD
from Santa Rosa, CA
on 11/15/2011
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Ease of Set Up
5.0
What's great about it: Very reliable, easy to use once you've done it a couple times
What's not so great: Can be confusing at first to transfer from VHS to DVD
I have had this unit a few years now. It works great. Can be a little hard at first to record VHS to DVD but once you do it a couple times, its easy. Just follow the directions in the owner's manual and you'll be fine. I once had a DVD get stuck in it and I called Panasonic. They had me push two certain buttons together and it popped out. It was a newly known problem with this particular movie and they said they were putting a fix out for it. I don't know if they did because I do not have my unit plugged in to the Internet. But I know how to get it to pop a DVD out if it ever does it again which it never has. My dad had the Sony version of this unit and has had nothing but problems with it. He is now getting the Panasonic one.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+8points
8out of 8found this review helpful.
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Review 16 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Great recorder for just about anyone.
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: ancester
from Nokomis, IL
on 11/11/2011
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Ease of Set Up
4.0
What's great about it: Everything is so easy after you do it once.
What's not so great: A little pricy but well worth it.
I purchased this dvd recorder and like it so much I'm getting one for each of my children for Christmas presents. You can record one channel while watching another or start watching a program after it has started recording. It is a great product.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+10points
11out of 12found this review helpful.
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Review 17 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Seems great
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: Bowen2225
from Oceanside, ca
on 11/02/2011
Value for Price
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Ease of Set Up
5.0
I have read a lot of reviews about this product, some good, some not so great. So far, this item has worked well for me. I haven't tried most of the features, but the ones I have used worked great. This is my second Panasonic DVD/DVR and I was really happy with the first one, it just died. So far, so good and I love that the kids can still watch their old VHS as well. Saved space and I was able to get rid of the beast that we had for that. Anyway, I think it is a good value and we have been happy with it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+5points
6out of 7found this review helpful.
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Review 18 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
MISLEADING PRE-SALE INFORMATION
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: BILL85035
from PHOENIX, AZ.
on 10/12/2011
What's great about it: plenty of in and out options
What's not so great: CAN NOT RECORD DIGITAL TV PROGRAMS TO VHS tape
The DMR-EZ48V will NOT record (digital broadcast) TV to VHS tapes. Best Buy's sale liteature states "Record TV, movies or music to VHS tapes, DVD-R/-RW" ect. After you get this product home and read the operation book you find (in small print on several pages) you can NOT recorde digital broadcasts to VHS tape. That was my main intrest in purchasing this unit. The unit has a good digital tuner and dose well making DVD's and on all other functions that I have tried. The remote is a little hard to use as function buttons and navigation buttons are too close togeathor, poorly layed out. If you want to record to VHS (DVD works fine) fron an over the air antenna, you can NOT!
I would recommend this to a friend!
+18points
21out of 24found this review helpful.
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Review 19 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Great equipment for accomplishing my task
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: dortymorty
from Highland Heights, KY
on 09/01/2011
Value for Price
4.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Ease of Set Up
3.0
What's great about it: It's doing the job!
What's not so great: I'm not technically inclined so it takes me longer to figure these things out!
Although I really wanted this unit to transfer family home VHS movies to DVD, I was hesitant to purchase based on the negative reviews. However, I have had no issues with the unit as I'm transferring my VHS tapes - it's working splendidly. I had to call into Panasonic for a couple operating questions, and did purchase the two-year warranty agreement from Best Buy but so far so good. I am glad I purchased.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+27points
27out of 27found this review helpful.
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Review 20 for Panasonic Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner - Black
Only model available anywhere
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: FOTOGRAFIC
from NEW YORK, NY
on 08/10/2011
Value for Price
2.0
Picture Quality
3.0
Ease of Use
3.0
Ease of Set Up
4.0
What's great about it: Can record up to 8 hours on one DVD
What's not so great: Finicky performance -- and freezes up frequently
There seems to be a scarcity of standalone DVD-VHS decks available anywhere -- and Best Buy is no exception. This model is just about the only choice I had when in the market for a new one. It's a bit pricey, but there was no other one to get, so I had to pay the price. The unit is a bit finicky -- freezing up with various tasks and giving cryptic error messages. Good thing Panasonic customer service is good at emailing back with ways of getting the machine up and running again. The biggest puzzle and pain in the neck is that there is no "eject" button on the remote....and after one burns a DVD and finalizes it -- the machine automatically opens and closes and starts playing the DVD -- each time. It's annoying. One good thing is that when you finalize a DVD you can have it start with playing the first title on the disc, instead of mounting to the title menu -- that's a plus.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+19points
19out of 19found this review helpful.
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