SAMSUNG BD-D8500 vs PANASONIC DMR-PWT500GZ

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › SAMSUNG BD-D8500 vs PANASONIC DMR-PWT500GZ

maccasparks

39 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#95678 10-Jan-2012 16:42

My Samsung BD-D8500 has died and looking for replacement. There were some good features on the 8500 but also a few painfull ones:

-always cut off last 2 or 3 minutes of recording program
-could only record one channel at a time
-if watching a recording and a scheduled recording started it would stop what your watching and show new recording
-recorded format not work to view on PC

Pretty keen on Panasonic Panasonic DMR-PWT500GZ - any painfull features on that?

(still like a Samsung as matches TV but no stock in NZ apparently)

Cheers

bfginger

1330 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 191

#567062 10-Jan-2012 20:24

Skip the 500GZ and get the DMR-BWT700GZ. It is available for $944 at the moment which isn't much more than the 500GZ for a better unit.

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#567129 10-Jan-2012 21:46

The Panasonic trounces the Samsung.
While the 700 is an excellent unit, the 500 is a lot closer to the Samsung you had...
Not being able to record to an external HDD is the biggest feature missing in the Panasonic devices - but I really do like the rest of the package.

maccasparks

39 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#568751 14-Jan-2012 11:56

Picked up a DMR-BWT700GZ from Noel Lemming as I had a store credit from the Samsung. They matched JBs price of $944.
Have set it up but not had much of a play so far. The interface looks a bit dated compared to the Sammy.

maccasparks

39 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#574323 28-Jan-2012 09:41

I've had a bit of a play with the Panny 700GZ now and I am very impressed. It is a far superior unit than the Samsung BD8500D .

Thanks for the good advice.

bfginger

1330 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 191

#574634 29-Jan-2012 15:19

If you want to region-free it for DVDs it needs a special remote code. There are details in this thread
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=95100

Or else you should be able to take it to a Panasonic authorised service centre with your receipt and have them do it for you. I would update the firmware before doing anything.