Recording two channels while watching an already stored programme, then burning everything to a disc that will still be readable in ten years: the hard drive Blu-ray recorder has become a rare category, and Panasonic is one of the last to maintain it. This model sits at the top of the range, with one terabyte of storage, two HD DTT tuners and a video processing block capable of converting Full HD to Ultra HD.
The two DVB-T tuners operate in parallel: two different programmes can be recorded simultaneously to the hard drive, including in high definition. “DR” mode records the stream as broadcast, without recompression, providing around 259 hours of HD at 8 Mbit/s and twice as much in standard definition. As actual DTT bitrates vary from one channel to another, these figures remain approximate.
The rest of the time, the choice is between quality and capacity. HG to HM modes recompress HD and extend capacity from 157 to 684 hours; XP to EP modes, inherited from DVD, switch to standard definition and reach up to 1,724 hours. Keyword recording complements manual scheduling: enter a term, and the device searches the electronic programme guide and automatically starts the corresponding recordings. Pause Live TV and Rewind Live TV use the hard drive as a buffer for the current channel.
A useful clarification in 2026: these tuners receive DVB-T, not DVB-T2. Standard HD DTT channels, broadcast in MPEG-4 over DVB-T, are received without difficulty; the ultra-high-definition multiplex, which relies on DVB-T2 and HEVC, is not supported by the device.
The hard drive serves as a working area, while the recorder provides long-term storage. A 25 GB BD-R or BD-RE holds almost six and a half hours of HD in “DR” mode, or seventeen and a half hours in HM mode; 50 GB dual-layer discs double the capacity. Recordable DVDs and DVD-RAM are still supported for standard definition, from one to eight hours depending on the mode on 4.7 GB media.
Copying a programme from the hard drive to Blu-ray remains the only way to take it out of the device in a durable format: there is no transfer to a computer or USB flash drive. This is standard operation for this category, due to broadcast protections, but it is worth bearing in mind before accumulating hundreds of hours on the internal drive.
For playback, the catalogue is broad: BD-Video, Full HD 3D Blu-ray, DVD, audio CD, CD-Rs burned with FLAC, ALAC, WAV, MP3 or AAC, and data discs filled with MKV and Xvid. The 4K Direct Chroma upscaling circuit reconstructs colour information before scaling to 3840 × 2160, which requires an Ultra HD television to see any benefit. Playback of 4K MP4 files is supported up to 100 Mbit/s, at 25 and 30 frames per second, and up to 4096 × 2160 in 24p.
3D has not been abandoned: 3D Blu-ray playback, 2D-to-3D conversion and adjustable effect intensity. On the audio side, Pure Sound mode switches off unnecessary video circuits when listening to a CD, while 96 kHz Surround Re-Master widens the stereo soundstage, with one consequence to be aware of: it changes the CD playback sampling frequency to 88.2 kHz.
The built-in Wi-Fi module avoids running a cable to the TV unit, while the Ethernet port remains available for those who prefer a wired network. As a DLNA client, the device accesses a NAS or computer with a generous list of formats, from MPEG to DSD, including MKV, FLAC and Vorbis. As a server, the list is reduced to MPEG, AVCHD and JPEG: recordings can be sent to a television in another room, but not the entire media library.
The “TV Anywhere” block covers three distinct uses: scheduling a recording from a phone, remotely watching what is stored on the hard drive, and streaming live television to another screen in the home. Two limitations apply: only one device can connect at a time, and certain pay-per-view programmes are excluded from remote viewing. Miracast mirrors the screen of a certified Android mobile device from version 4.2 onwards. Finally, the built-in web browser does not support Flash or certain character sets, making some websites unusable.
The card reader supports SD, SDHC and SDXC formats, with direct playback of MP4, AVCHD, AVCHD 3D and JPEG. Videos and photos from a camera can be copied to the hard drive, then burned to BD-RE or BD-R, solving the issue of archiving memory cards without using a computer.
Two USB 2.0 ports are provided, one on the front and one on the rear. The first is mainly used for reading a USB drive: MPEG2, MP4, Xvid and MKV videos, photos, and an extensive audio list including DSD, FLAC and ALAC. The second accepts an external hard drive to extend recording capacity. Pay attention to the direction of transfers: from USB media, copying to BD-RE, BD-R or DVD-RAM is possible, but not to the internal hard drive.
At 430 millimetres wide, 59 high and weighing 2.4 kilos, the chassis fits beneath a television without requiring a dedicated shelf, resting on hi-fi-style feet. The HDMI output handles everything, picture and sound, and the cable is supplied. A coaxial digital output allows connection to a slightly older home cinema amplifier, although it is limited to compressed formats and carries neither Dolby TrueHD nor DTS-HD Master Audio.
The rear panel is deliberately uncluttered: no SCART, no video input, and no analogue audio input or output. The consequence is straightforward and should be considered before purchase: programmes from an operator set-top box or satellite decoder cannot be captured by this device, whose only television source is its own aerial input. VIERA Link compatibility sends basic controls through the television remote control. Power consumption remains low, at 28 W in operation and 0.2 W in standby, with the latter figure assuming quick start is disabled: the convenience of “Quick Start” comes at the cost of standby power.
No. The device records only what its own tuners receive via the rooftop antenna input. The lack of a video input and SCART socket prevents it from capturing the output of any external decoder.
Yes. Conversion to 3840 × 2160 is performed via the HDMI output and only makes sense if the display supports this signal. On a Full HD television, the image is output in 1080p and processing is not applied.
The device formats it for its own use, which erases all of its contents. The drive then becomes dependent on this recorder: programs stored on it cannot be played back on a computer or another machine.
Recordings are written in BDAV format, which differs from the BD-Video format used on commercial discs. Most standalone Blu-ray players support it, but compatibility is not universal, especially on very old players or on computers. For DVDs, finalization is required before playback on another device.
About six and a half hours in high definition without recompression, thirteen hours in standard definition, and up to seventeen and a half hours in HM mode, the most economical of the HD modes. A 50 GB dual-layer disc doubles these durations.
No, its purpose is to put the video circuitry into standby while listening to music, whether from a CD or a file. It activates when no image is needed and deactivates as soon as video content is played.
Yes, the card reader supports 4K MP4 files up to 100 Mbit/s, with immediate playback on the television and the option to copy them to the internal hard drive for later burning.
Michel
Excellent device, easy to use, very reliable, which I really appreciate as I own two other PANASONIC recorders, the DRM-BWT745, that have been working perfectly for years.
Comment from December 09, 2025 — Experience from July 05, 2025
Christian
excellent product with no real competition at the moment, unfortunately;
it offers numerous programming and editing options
however, I find it unacceptable that for a device at this price, Panasonic didn’t include an EJECT (disc) button on the remote control — it’s the first time I haven’t found this button on the remote of a device with an audio or video disc drive!!
Comment from November 03, 2025 — Experience from October 23, 2025
Vincent
Panasonic digital video recorders are easy to use and offer UHD quality. They more than fulfill the roles of a VCR and a Blu-ray recorder. This recent model lives up to its predecessors. Very handy network features let you watch files on different players, PCs… in short, I’m a die-hard fan of this kind of equipment.
Comment from September 01, 2025 — Experience from November 22, 2024
