I'm having a nightmare trying to find a DVD recorder (standalone) that actually works, I've tried 4 different models now and not one works properly, can anyone offer a model that will??

Summary of which ones I've tried and the problems with them :-

Philips DVD890 - After a while, wouldn't play ANY disks (including originals) except for the occasional +RW disk.

Lite-on 5001 - drops frames after a while of being left on (which you have to do as the unit doesn't have any passthough capability when it's off)

LG - 4810 - Wouldn't read any +rw disks, including ones it had formatted itself (LG say only 2 brand actually work on this model (!))

Cambridge audio DVD55Rwi - same as the lite-on only instead of dropping the occasional frame, it only bothered rendering ~10% of them after being left on for 4/5 days, again though you can't turn it off as it has no passthrough

This is getting ridiculous to be honest, I'm looking to spend no more that ?250 (obviously the less the better), are there any inexpensive models that actually work??

I need the following spec :

DVD + or - RW recording (which knocks the panasonics out)
S-video in and out

preferably I would like not to have to keep the unit on all the time (i.e passthough when off)

What about the Lite-On 5005 from http://www.svp.co.uk?

Only ?189 and it gets spoken highly of.

Don't know if it'll do what you want though.

To be honest, given the piss-poor performance of DVD recorders so far, I want to be able to take it back and get a refund if it doesn't work.

The 5005 is supposed to be good, but if it doesn't work properly for me the hassle of returning to SVP will be a nightmare

I was thinking about getting one, but not one seems to have the right mix. Mostly far too expensive, the cheaper ones don't have hdd so drop frames, overheat and don't have advanced features like timeshift.

Something with a 120GB HDD, decent burner and the ability to play mpeg4, and I'd most certainly buy one.... providing its not trounced in reviews or rediculously priced.

@PCA, you don't keep your recorders on top of the microwave between two industrial strength electro-magnets and infront of a radiator do you? Damn thats some unlucky experience you got there

you ever have any luck PCA?

Naah, given up for the time being

ya if your looking to get a good one with features you want your looking to send almost a grand for something like a pioneer http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/p ... 86,00.html

or some of these http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wc ... upId=11058