Editorial Review:

Item Description:
The Panasonic DMR-ES15K Diga DVD Player and Recorder is a new generation of DVD recorder, for modern home theater. Taking what worked well in previous models and improving them, it also includes new features that make everyday DVD recording simpler than ever. The HDAVI-Control allows you to connect multiple components without the mess of wires and remotes that you'd normally face. The DV input and multi-drive recording and playback let you record & play back DVD-Audio & Video, CD audio, CD-DA and MP3/JPEG discs. With its easy operation and versatility, the DMR-ES15K offers you the DVD player and recorder you need to complete your home entertainment center. VCR Refresh Dubbing with advanced DNR Transfers content from a DV camcorder in just one step Auto DVD-R Finalizing DV auto recording and playlist creation Task-oriented GUI menu for easier use and completion of DVDs Simultaneous playback and recording Chasing playback tool allows you to watch the start of a program while you're still recording it Records using MEPG-2 compression, for up to 8 hours of video on one disc VBR recording for optimized bitrate depending on type & length of recording Time base corrector for stable, natural images Front A/V input Inputs - 2 S-Video, 2 Component, 2 SCART, 2 line in 1 line out, 1 Optical, 1 Component, 1 S-Video, 1 Composite Playable formats - DVD-RAM, -R/RW, +R/RW, DVD Video, VCD CD-R/RW, MP3 CD Recording formats - DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW Dolby Digital 2-channel audio recording

Amazon.com Item Description:
Record your home movies and your favorite TV programs easily to DVD disc with the Panasonic DMR-ES15S progressive scan recorder/player, which provides ultimate flexibility in recording media options. You can choose write-once DVD+R and DVD-R discs or rewritable DVD-RW/+RW and DVD-RAM discs (the latter being a great choice for temporary storage of recorded material as it can be rewritten more than DVD-RW). It's easy to record TV programming with the built-in analog TV tuner with RF pass-through. In addition to standard DVD movie and CD audio discs and its compatible recordable formats, the DMR-ES15S can play back CD-R/RW, dual layer DVD-R/+R, and VCD disc formats as well as JPEG, and MP3 digital formats.

Panasonic's Time Slip function consists of two features designed to give you added flexibility and control when making DVD recordings: Chasing Playback and Simultaneous Record & Play. With Chasing Playback, you don't have to wait for an entire program to be recorded before watching it from beginning to end. This feature allows you to watch a program that's currently being recorded from any point that's already been recorded--while continuing to record the live program in progress. Simultaneous Record & Play allows you to record a program onto a disc while simultaneously watching any other program that's previously been recorded on the same disc.

You can set your recorder to one of five different recording speeds, each varying in recording quality and length. EP mode yields the most recording time, LP & SP modes provide less recording time with higher quality recording, and XP mode gives you the highest quality recording. There's also the FR (Flexible Recording) mode that lets you record with the best picture quality possible for the recording time and remaining space on the disc.

The Direct Navigator feature makes it easy to find a previously recorded program on a disc. A list of recording dates, times, channels and (user-entered) titles are shown on screen. With the Playlist Playback function, you can perform simple non-linear video editing using, such as rearranging the order of scenes, skipping over unwanted scenes, or copying selections

Jump directly to any spot on a disc and begin playback or recording right away with the Rapid Random Access function when using DVD-RAM discs. Even if there is no sequential area of empty space available, this DVD recorder can record data on available space throughout the rest of the disc. You will also avoid searching for a blank spot to start recording, or accidentally recording over desired material.

Enjoy a great picture on you flat screen LCD or plasma HDTV using the component video output, and immersive surround sound via the optical digital audio output for Dolby Digital and DTS home theater effects. It also offers a FireWire port (also known as IEEE1394 or i.Link) for direct connection to a digital video camcorder, enabling you to download footage directly to disc. The full lineup of video and audio connections includes:

• RF Input: 1
• Composite video/audio input: 2 (1 front)
• Composite video/audio output: 1
• S-Video input: 2 (1 front)
• S-Video output: 1
• Component video output: 1
• Digital audio output: 1 optical

Tech Talk
Component video (also called Y/Pb/Pr) features a three-jack video input, which provides separate connections for luminance (Y), blue color difference (PB) and red color difference (PR). This results in increased bandwidth for color information, resulting in a more accurate picture with clearer color reproduction and less bleeding than you would get with S-Video or composite (RCA yellow video plug) connections. You will need a separate RCA left/right audio cable for sound.

What's in the Box
DVD recorder/player, remote control (with batteries), AV cable, RF cable, power cord, one DVD-RAM disc, printed operating instructions

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Rating: - * Great Recorder, but be careful unplugging it... ...
I had this for a while, recorded some stuff, and it worked perfectly. Unfortuantely, I am at a school where all the power cords are unplugged over breaks. Unplugging it while it was on caused a clock reset- now it constantly asks me to set the clock.

However, there is no menu button on the unit (a major design flaw in my opinion), and ALL remote button presses only cause the display to say "SET 1." So, I cannot use the remote, and there is no menu button on the unit, so I cannot preschedule recordings, fix the clock, or anything.

After this fiasco, I realized that I have no real desire to record stuff. Even WITH prescheduling you have to always remember to change discs, etc. So, I'm just getting a DVD/VCR combo.



As long as you make sure the unit is OFF when you unplug it, there should not be problems. And other than this one design flaw, this unit is perfect. So if recording is your cup of tea, this is a good choice.

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Rating: - * Panasonic DMR-ES15S DVD Recorder with DV Input ...
This recorder does what its manufacturer says it will do.
Not being all that confident in my ability to follow the setup and operating instructions in the manual, I used the web site included and also the tech support 800 number to set the recorder up and then to use it.
I also liked the wiring diagrams that were available on the Panasonic web site for each kind of audio visual setup one might have or choose to have: TV, recorder, VCR, cable without a cable box, etc. These diagrams were more clear than how they were shown in the manual that accompanied the recorder. "A picture is worth a thousand words"
Lastly, their tech support people were quickly available when called on the 800 number and were courteous, patient, helpful.
To me, none of this technology is self-evident or instinctive; I need all of the help I can get.

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Rating: - * panasonic DMR-ES15S DVD recorder ...
Great buy. Don't know why this was so cheap. Takes Dvd ram, +r&rw, and -r&rw.

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Rating: - * Excellent! ...
I returned a Philips DVDR3400 to get this Panasonic DMR-ES15, and that was the smartest thing I have done in a long time. The reliability, remote control, and ease of use on this unit are fantastic. Mechanical DVD tray opening is smooth and quiet, button feel is excellent with instant response, it records on any disc I have tried, and it comes with a DVD-RAM disc. I mention these things because they are ALL the exact opposite of the Philips unit.

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Rating: - * Couldn't be happier!!! ...
This is a FABULOUS dvd player and the fact that it's a recorder as well makes it even better. I love being able to record my favorite tv shows this way. The system is fairly easy but a little more tricky than a normal vhs recorder. Highly recommend!! I am even thinking of getting another one.