Panasonic DMR-E20S DVD Recorder and Player, Silver

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [7.60mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 14 x 17 x 4.8 inches ; 12.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 17 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00005QI5G
• Item model number: DMR-E20S
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #217,225 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Color: Silver

Amazon.com Product Description

As the popularity and uses of the DVD format expand, there's increasing demand for the ability to record high-resolution digital video and high-quality audio on DVD discs. The DVD-RAM standard answers this challenge, providing a recordable format that's compatible with not only PCs, but a variety of digital entertainment products.

The DMR-E20 is Panasonic's award-winning second-generation DVD-Video recorder, which digitally records high-quality MPEG2 video on both DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs. In particular, the unit was engineered to take full advantage of DVD-RAM, which offers features never before possible with removable media: vast storage capacity, incredible speed, expansive memory, exceptional picture and sound quality, and enormous flexibility in writing, erasing, and rewriting.

You can record up to 12 hours of video on two-sided 9.4 GB DVD-RAM discs. Discs can be played back on DVD-RAM-compatible DVD players or on a PC or laptop computer equipped for DVD-RAM playback. (PCs must have either a 4.7 GB DVD-RAM drive or compatible DVD-ROM drive capable of reading 4.7 GB DVD-RAM discs, and must contain installed support for Video Recording Format, or VRF.)

The DMR-E20's innovative, proprietary Time Slip playback function lets you view the recorded portion of an ongoing program from the beginning while continuing to record the program in progress, much like the popular VCR-like digital video recorders. With a VCR, you either have to wait until the whole program has been recorded to view it in its entirety, or else view the ending of the program first and then the beginning. Unlike DVRs, this deck lets you easily share your recordings with friends and family.

The Playlist function lets you perform simple nonlinear video editing, such as rearranging the order of scenes, skipping over unwanted scenes, and creating custom playlists of favorite scenes on a disc. Of course, original scenes recorded on the disc remain as they are.

As a home-theater-ready DVD player, the DMR-E20 handles multiple entertainment formats, including DVD-Video, audio CDs, video CDs, CD-R/CD-RWs, and DVD-R discs recorded with this unit. It also passes Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound through its back-panel optical digital-audio output (for use with a surround-decoding receiver).

Potential drawbacks to note: the unit is not designed to play MP3-encoded CDs; the machine compresses all audio recordings with Dolby Digital 2.0 (which is MP3-like in nature); CD-quality PCM audio recording is not possible.

Video recording and home-theater-quality DVD playback are the priorities here, and that's where this piece excels. CNET's editorial staff selected the DMR-E20 as best of show in the personal technology category at the 2001 CNET/PC EXPO.

Product Description

Silver Stereo Advanced Virtual Surround Sound (V.S.S.) 1 year warrantyHaving been deeply involved with the development of the DVD-RAM format Panasonic has released a DVD Video Recorder that can record on both DVD-R

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth The Price., December 18, 2001

By 

Robert Krejcik "krej" (NEW YORK, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic DMR-E20S DVD Recorder and Player, Silver (Electronics)

You can record up to 6 hours on one side, then afterwards delete
unwanted sections (e.g. commercials and PBS Pledge Breaks),
The deleted parts become free to record over, at the end of the disk.
(Works like a computer disk.)

Also, Memorex makes an afforable 9.4GB disk that works on this
unit (#32025900 Double Sided DVD-RAM Type 1). (...) They need to be formated when first used, but that only takes about 1 minute (on the DMR-E20 machine).
They are equal to the more expensive brand names.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unit does not make compatible DVD-R disks, May 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Panasonic DMR-E20K DVD Recorder and Player, Black (Electronics)

I bought this unit, not for the DVD-RAM features, which are very good, but to transfer my video tapes to DVD's. I made 3 DVD-R's and none of them would play in any of my machines, my friends, or even a number of machines at Circuit City where I purchased the unit. The disks would play fine for 30 secs to a few minutes, then the picture would freeze as if I has pushed the "pause" button. Panasonic doesn't guarantee that the DVD disks you make will play on any other machine nor any future machine after the one you buy needs replacement. Buyer beware.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You will not be sorry that you bought this product..., April 10, 2002

By 

Steve "A Jersey Guy" (Bergen County, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic DMR-E20S DVD Recorder and Player, Silver (Electronics)

I purchased the DMR-E20s about 3 weeks ago. Let me start off by saying that you will not be sorry if you purchase this machine, it is amazing. You can record DVD-R which is playable in most current DVD players, (HOWEVER these discs can only be written to once) or you can record DVD-RAM, which is much more versatile and recorded programs can be edited without losing the time (any part of a recording that is erased is then RECOVERED in the total remaining time). Having the DVD-R option means this machine will never become obsolete even in the unlikely event that DVD-RAM does not become a popular format(one of my biggest concerns).
There are many many options, but expect to use the 2 or 4 hour speeds the most (6 hour speed is not a quality picture---to me at least!). If you are stockpiling your favorite sitcoms and want to keep them commercial free, then editing all of the commercials out of 4 half hour episodes will give you enough room for a fifth half hour episode on the disc in 2 hour mode. The setting of the timer is easy because VCRplus is included on the unit. You turn the unit off to "set" the timer to record, you dont have to put it in a "timer" mode.
The price of the discs has also dropped dramatically, but even a DVD-R at the current market price is still alot for a recording you weren't planning to keep. I hope to soon get a laptop with DVD-RAM capability so I can watch my discs on the road then ERASE and REUSE them.
As for picture quality, it is very good, however you have to have a clear sharp picture for the recorder to capture a clear sharp recording. If the broadcast is grainy, the recording will suffer and look even more grainy. But if your cable quality is good, this will be a non issue.
I bought this machine because my VCR was on its last legs (it really was a great VCR) and I just could not see myself buying outdated technology again when this amazing piece of equipment was available. It's alittle pricey, but if you are used to this kind of quality like I am, nothing less will do.

The Memorex 9.4 GB double sided DVD-RAM is an VERY VERY ECONOMICAL alternative to the other brands ... I have 4 of the Memorex 9.4 double sided discs. The only problem I noticed was the little sliding door on the cartridge will sometimes stick when it is being loaded into the machine. I could imagine that because of their fantastic price (usually being less than 15 bucks each), that maybe Memorex is still working out all the quality control bugs, but in my experience with all of the different discs I have used none has refused to format. I seriously doubt this problem would be caused by the machine itself.
Someone mentioned a PANASONIC DVD-RAM not formatting. That might be because there is an older generation of DVD-RAM out there---easily recognized by the size (2.6 GB single sided and 5.2 GB double sided) that are from an earlier version of DVD-RAM, and these are NOT compatible with this new unit, which only accepts 4.7 GB single sided and 9.4 GB double sided discs.

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