A DVD recorder, as the name suggests, is a DVD player which can also record. A DVD recorder is superior to a traditional VCR in two ways: Firstly all DVD Recorders play pre-recorded DVDs and audio CDs, and secondly they can make recordings on to blank discs, which will not deteriorate in quality over time. More sophisticated DVD recorders possess hard-drive memory capacity, allowing you to record hours and hours of viewing directly onto the hard drive without needing to transfer it to disc. If you want to learn more about the features of a DVD Recorder, check out So you want to know about DVD Recorders?

Back to buying - what is right for you? There are a wide range of DVD recorders currently available, and the choice can be a bit overwhelming. Below we have selected three of the best on the market, which each possess a variety of features and aim to suit a range of budgets.

LiteOn LVW-5002B - Multi region capable DVD Recorder

Good: Perfect as a first DVD recorder The LiteOn LVW-5002B - Multi region capable DVD Recorder records to both DVD+R and DVD+RW disks, giving up to 6 hours recording time on one disk. A built in tuner allows the user to record one programme while watching another, or use the timer record function (either manually or with the VidioPlus feature) to record your favourite programs. The LVW-5002 can record from various sources including VCR and movie camera using the front panel connections, digital TV through the SCART connection and digital video camera through the DV Link connection. During the recording process a menu is automatically created on the DVD to allow quick and easy access to recorded video. A DVD recorder to replace your VCR'

Sony DVD Recorder RDR-HX510 with 80GB Hard Drive

Better: If you want some memory for your money If you already know what you want in a DVD recorder the Sony RDRHX510 Recordable DVD + 80GB HDD is a great choice. The Sony RDRHX510 Recordable DVD + 80GB HDD has an 80 GB hard drive with a large capacity of recording time. It also has the high picture quality you would expect from a Sony product and an array of features including: 'Chasing Playback' which lets you watch a show from the beginning while it is being recorded and 'Precision Cinema Progressive' which detects image changes at the pixel level and uses separate algorithms to process the moving and still parts of an image to achieve sharper backgrounds. In addition the DVD recorder includes the new feature 'Pause Live TV' which allows you to pause a live programme via the remote control, meaning you can view your programmes with a delay or simply fast forward to catch up with the real time broadcast. Also features Automatic Program Naming, meaning your recorded programmes are automatically named for you (names extracted from Teletext). The RDRHX510 has MP3 Playback & JPEG Playback (CD-R/RW).

Pioneer DVR-630H-S Ultra slim DVD-R / DVD-RW Recorder, 250 Gb HDD - Silver

Best: Plays all DVDs, copies quickly and has heaps of memory – what more could you want? The Pioneer DVR-630H-S Ultra slim DVD-R / DVD-RW Recorder, 250 Gb HDD gets you a whopping 711 hours of recorded entertainment on the 250 GB Hard Disk and up to 24 hours on a dual-layer DVD-R disc. Pioneer HDD models offer you the ability to copy a 2-hour programme in just 1.2 minutes. That's copying at 100 times faster than real-time - the quickest in the world. So not only does Pioneer offer you the longest and fastest copying time ever, but also incorporates state-of-the-art technology so you can benefit from exceptional video quality recording and playback. The innovative MPEG encoder improves video resolution for all recording modes, including the new ultra-high quality XP+ mode. It also makes it possible to record in VR mode on the HDD.