Panasonic intros DMR-BR360V Blu-ray / VHS combo player

Blu-ray and VHS together at last -- so crazy it just might work? Probably not, but if you're still clinging to a library of tapes and haven't been able to bring yourself to upgrade or transfer them to a more 21st century-friendly format, you'll no doubt be happy to know that Panasonic has now introduced the combo player of your dreams -- in Japan, at least. For maximum combo-ness, the DMR-BR30V also boasts a 320GB hard drive to boost your recording options, along with both digital and analog TV tuners, a USB port, and an SD card slot. For those ready to make a clean break with their past, Panasonic also has three VHS-less models with hard drives of various sizes, each of which are also apparently exclusive to Japan for now. Just don't expect any of them to come cheap, as the DMR-BR360V leads the way with a price tag of ¥160,000, or just about $1,500.

[Via OhGizmo!]

[Roberto @ Aug 25th 2008 11:30AM]

I demand a Betamax/Bluray combo player!

[ScOObyDoo @ Aug 25th 2008 11:37AM]

HD-DVD-Betamax would make more sense. Or even CD-I with Video 2000...

[Mike @ Aug 25th 2008 12:14PM]

You'd have to talk to sony about betamax I don't believe they still let anyone create a betamax player.

[TVGenius @ Aug 25th 2008 12:14PM]

No, it's all about CED. Blu-Ray is going the way of HD-DVD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance_Electronic_Disc

[Ed @ Aug 25th 2008 1:08PM]

I had a Sanyo SuperBeta player... way back in the 80s...

[AlphaTeam @ Aug 25th 2008 2:25PM]

I'd rather take a HD-DVD/Betamax combo player.

[Jon @ Aug 25th 2008 11:32AM]

What no Laserdisc ? Circuit city DIVX ? 8 Track ?

[tekdroid @ Aug 25th 2008 11:39AM]

with all due respect to VHS, Hi-FI VHS VCRs have excellent sound quality and lots of storage for it. Unlike nearly all (compressed, lossy) DVDs.

Thank you.

[Jack Storm @ Aug 25th 2008 12:18PM]

VHS 1080p upconvert through HDMI??

[MBN @ Aug 25th 2008 4:08PM]

Are you serious? HI-Fi VHS audio is stereo analog. The magnetic tape is subject to degradation, static, tape hiss, and worble, worse.

Nearly all DVD audio is 5.1 channel Dolby Digital which isn't very lossy, or 5.1 DTS which is even less lossy. Neither digital format degrades noticeably over it's life. That and the fact that you have 6 or more discreet sound channels vs. just 2 makes the comparison to analog tape ridiculous.

Oh, yeah, blank VHS tapes never got as cheap as blank DVDs.

[MBN @ Aug 25th 2008 4:08PM]

Are you serious? HI-Fi VHS audio is stereo analog. The magnetic tape is subject to degradation, static, tape hiss, and worble, worse.

Nearly all DVD audio is 5.1 channel Dolby Digital which isn't very lossy, or 5.1 DTS which is even less lossy. Neither digital format degrades noticeably over it's life. That and the fact that you have 6 or more discreet sound channels vs. just 2 makes the comparison to analog tape ridiculous.

Oh, yeah, blank VHS tapes never got as cheap as blank DVDs.

[MBN @ Aug 25th 2008 4:10PM]

Are you serious? HI-Fi VHS audio is stereo analog. The magnetic tape is subject to degradation, static, tape hiss, and worble, worse.

Nearly all DVD audio is 5.1 channel Dolby Digital which isn't very lossy, or 5.1 DTS which is even less lossy. Neither digital format degrades noticeably over it's life. That and the fact that you have 6 or more discreet sound channels vs. just 2 makes the comparison to analog tape ridiculous.

Oh, yeah, blank VHS tapes never got as cheap as blank DVDs.

[MBN @ Aug 25th 2008 4:11PM]

Double-post shame. :(

[vdogg89 @ Aug 25th 2008 6:09PM]

more like triple post

[tekdroid @ Aug 26th 2008 5:56AM]

VHS *is* analogue, yes. Your point being it doesn't sound great? Have you ever taken a good tape on a hi-fi vcr seriously for audio?

What I was trying to illustrate was that even the stereo tracks on nearly every DVD are heavily data-reduced (ie. compressed) versus the (yes, analogue! oh noess) great audio quality of a hi-fi VHS vcr.

Not talking about anything else. No HDMI, nothing else.
Just giving credit where it's due.
VHS VCRs with a decent tape make some of the best-sounding 'consumer' analogue tape machines.
Digital or analogue is irrelevant. Most of the CDs you listen to were recorded and/or mixed on analogue tapes with higher fidelity than the CD format.

[Pip @ Aug 25th 2008 11:43AM]

Wow, I can honestly say I never saw this combo coming. Does it just play BR and VHS or does it burn VHS to BR? I guess it's not that bad of an idea. I mean, if I was doing a main project backing up my VHS', I'd decide to go with the best format available. DVD's days are becoming numbered, why not backup stuff to Blu-Ray?

[iSmoke,therefore emit death by breathing @ Aug 25th 2008 11:43AM]

uhh..what is a VHS?


(^_^)

[LondonConsultant @ Aug 25th 2008 11:44AM]

This machine would be bad for your reputation. Probably worse than using a Pink Eee PC in the office.

[telepheedian @ Aug 25th 2008 11:45AM]

You could probably pull it off if you're a woman.

[apeguero @ Aug 25th 2008 11:45AM]

VHS? Why not a PS3 with DVR capabilities? That's what I'd love to have. Also, Sony, why not throw in Home Theater functions while you're at it? I'll pay the premium. This would be the ultimate Home Theater/Entertainment device rolled into one.

[James Venning @ Aug 25th 2008 11:46AM]

Loving the sound of that '320GB hard rive', Engadget.

[James @ Aug 25th 2008 11:51AM]

Loving the ultra-fast typo change too :)

[James @ Aug 25th 2008 11:52AM]

Hating the commenting system though >.

[cheng @ Aug 25th 2008 12:13PM]

also hating 3 posts in a row.

[James @ Aug 26th 2008 2:33PM]

Sort the comment system out then.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 25th 2008 11:53AM]

Not even S-VHS?

[Frankenstein Black @ Aug 25th 2008 1:36PM]

I'm sayin, especially since JVC and PAN championed S-VHS as superior to VHS and Betamax. Why would you exclude the millions that bit on this superior to ordinary VHS "prosumer format"? Come on Panasonic, better add a last minute S-VHS spec inclusion if you want this bird to fly east of the Pacific. Now get to work...

[Billy Gun @ Aug 25th 2008 12:05PM]

Comeon, when they will understand that we need a cheap Blu-ray player, cheap blu-ray recorder, cheap Blu-ray disks and movies. Is Blu-ray the next laserdisk?

[rick @ Aug 25th 2008 12:12PM]

Can Blu-ray handle an entire NFL game?

If not, count me out I'm staying with VHS.

[MadMike @ Aug 25th 2008 12:22PM]

Obviously you didn't get the memo. It's against NFL copyright if you record an NFL game without prior written permission and copying it in High-Def - HA, fahgettaboutit. You need permission forms in triplicate and then the NFL commission has to give you a temporary license but that only includes the first 20 minutes. That and each form costs about $3,000 each.

Oh and then you have to kick a puppy and chop off your first borns left arm or else they will sue you.

[indecks @ Aug 25th 2008 12:39PM]

Dont know about BluRay handling a whole NFL game (which is boring anyway) but Im sure your DVR can handle it.

VHS = crap.

[rick @ Aug 25th 2008 12:54PM]

My bad, i forgot to add the sarcasm tags

[Brian @ Aug 25th 2008 12:10PM]

Something seems wrong about this. You'll be playing blu-ray on an LCD and chances are you'll be playing VHS on that same LCD....won't the quality difference be lacking at least a little bit.

This seems like a terrible mixture. Anybody that has VHS AND blu-ray...surely has to be confused

[shawnmos @ Aug 25th 2008 12:11PM]

They are releasing a BD/VHS combo player, but can't release a BD/HD DVD combo player?

[Dave @ Aug 25th 2008 2:40PM]

Because HD DVD sucked unlike VHS.

[tcc3 @ Aug 25th 2008 4:58PM]

Whatever helps you sleep at night Dave.

[Indefinite Implosion @ Aug 25th 2008 10:04PM]

didn't several companies have blu-ray hd-dvd playing players while the format war was still raging...
for all those people who just couldn't decide...

[MadMike @ Aug 25th 2008 12:19PM]

Seriously other than home-made movies from after 1984 and 80's and 90's porn who uses VHS?

[Xenoterranos @ Aug 25th 2008 5:09PM]

Well, that's enough reason right there, isn't it?

[y3k.nik @ Aug 25th 2008 12:20PM]

Well, we all need to see those old childhood disney movies on out hdtvs on a terrible pixelated video, for nostalgia's sake.

Popcorn anyone?

[JoeNES @ Aug 25th 2008 12:32PM]

Some movies are only available (legally) on VHS. Like my favorite movie growing up, Rad. Plus I have a lot of old VHS home movies, and converting to BD is too expensive at the moment. That being said, I would never buy this product because it is stupid.

[indecks @ Aug 25th 2008 12:42PM]

Rad is available as an HDNet rip for DVDs, and it's damn good quality. Sure it may not be 'legal' in the strictest sense, but who gives a crap. You want an old movie that's not on DVD and you want good quality?

Download it. Again, there is NO valid reason to hold on to VHS tech. It's old, busted, and worthless compared to a 10 year old tech like DVD.

[Bobby Digital @ Aug 25th 2008 1:28PM]

what what? I'd say go for it. I still have a stack of VHS tapes..too many DVD players and all my old VHS ones are horrible.

[Lancelot @ Aug 25th 2008 3:34PM]

Now if it played "8 Tracks" too I'd be a buyer..

[Leo @ Aug 25th 2008 2:18PM]

wow wow wow, wait, if you transfer vhs videos to blue ray disc it doesn't mean that the blue ray disc will play a higher resolution videos right?

[Paul Romein @ Aug 25th 2008 2:27PM]

Does this mean I can finally down-convert my Blu-ray to VHS???

[albi @ Aug 25th 2008 3:54PM]

ah, vhs die already

[E @ Aug 7th 2009 1:54AM]

Umm, VHS is dead, There are still a ton of libraries and home made movies out there that people want to watch.

[Omar @ Aug 25th 2008 10:57PM]

Holy shit, a 1TB hard drive are they fucking serious. I just crapped my pants, and able to record to Bluray, once again I crapped my pants. Forget Tivo this is going to be my new child if it makes it over to the U.S. and you can record to regular dvd's damn there I go again crapping my pants. Thank you Panny I need a replacement for my DMR EH50.

[deck1701 @ May 15th 2009 10:26PM]

VHS IS THE BEST!