Panasonic DMR series DVD recorders: Difference between revisions

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The VCR connects to the DMR's line input via S-Video, and the DMR's output connects to the capture device. The DMR must be powered on and set to the appropriate line input, but does not need a working DVD drive or disc inserted (though having a disc may be needed to work around certain on-screen display issues on HDD-equipped models).

== Video processing chipsets ==

The passthrough TBC performance of these DVD recorders is determined by their internal video processing ICs. Brad (user vaporeon800) on VideoHelp compiled a spreadsheet documenting which Panasonic chips are used in each model, based on service manual analysis, parts lists, and physical board inspection.<ref name="videohelp-chips">[https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/405328-Integrated-TBC-chips-(-TBCish-)-the-devices-that-use-them-Reference-info VideoHelp Forum — "Integrated TBC chips ('TBCish') & the devices that use them: Reference info"] — Brad's reference thread documenting video processing ICs with TBC capability, including a spreadsheet of Panasonic MN6737xx series devices.</ref>

The early DMR-Exx models used chips from two Panasonic IC families:

* '''MN6737xx series''' — Used in models from 2001–2003 (DMR-E10, E20, E30, E50, E60, E80, HS2, T-series). These are integrated video processing ICs that handle ADC, 3D Y/C separation, TBC, and frame sync in a single chip. Variants include the MN673793, MN673794, and MN673744.

* '''MN85573''' — Used in the 2004-era models (DMR-E55, E85). This is a separate video processing IC that handles TBC, frame sync, and 3D Y/C, paired with a separate ADC chip (AN13310BA). The block diagram in the E55 service manual shows the signal path as: separate ADC → MN85573 (3DYC + TBC + frame sync) → split to display output and MPEG-2 encoder.<ref name="videohelp-chips" />

For the ES-series and EH-series models (2004 onward), Panasonic's service manuals do not include schematics for the digital processing PCB, so the specific IC part numbers remain undocumented. However, community testing has established that the ES10 uses a different (and apparently stronger) video processing chipset than the E55/MN85573 generation, and that later models like the ES15, EH55, and EH56 use yet another chip that produces nearly identical results to the ES10. The NTSC models from 2008 onward (DMR-EZxx series) and the DMR-ES20 switched to an LSI/Magnum chipset with significantly weaker passthrough correction.<ref name="videohelp-passthrough" />

== Model comparison for passthrough TBC ==

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! Model !! Year !! HDD !! HDMI !! Notes

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-ES10]] || 2004 || No || No || The most widely recommended model. Strongest line-straightening ability. Slightly more prone to losing vertical sync on tape glitches than later models. Uses Panasonic in-house video processing IC. Most consistent across regional variants.

| [[Panasonic DMR-ES10]] || 2004 || No || No || The most widely recommended model. Strongest line-straightening ability. Slightly more prone to losing vertical sync on tape glitches than later models. Uses Panasonic in-house video processing IC (specific part number undocumented). Most consistent across regional variants.

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-EH50]] (PAL) || 2005 || 80GB || No || PAL variants (EB/EG/EP) use the same video processing chipset as the ES10. '''NTSC variants (P/PC) use a different chipset''' and may not belong in this tier.

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{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Model !! Type !! Year !! HDD !! HDMI !! Passthrough TBC tier

! Model !! Type !! Year !! Video Processing IC !! HDD !! HDMI !! Passthrough TBC tier

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-E10]] || DVD recorder || ~~2002~~ || No || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-E10]] || DVD recorder || 2001 || MN673793 || No || No || —

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-E20]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || No || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-E20]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || MN673794 || No || No || —

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-E30]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-E30]] || DVD recorder || 2003 || MN673744 || No || No || —

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-E50]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-E50]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || MN673744 || No || No || —

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-E55]] || DVD recorder || 2004 || No || No || Tier 2

| [[Panasonic DMR-E55]] || DVD recorder || 2004 || MN85573 || No || No || Tier 2

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-E60]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-E60]] || DVD recorder || 2003 || MN673744 || No || No || —

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-E80]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-E80]] || DVD recorder || 2003 || MN673744 || No || No || —

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-E85]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-E85]] || DVD recorder || 2004 || MN85573 || No || No || —

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-ES10]] || DVD recorder || 2004 || No || No || Tier 1

| [[Panasonic DMR-ES10]] || DVD recorder || 2004 || ''Unknown''† || No || No || Tier 1

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-ES15]] || DVD recorder || 2005 || No || No || Tier 1.5

| [[Panasonic DMR-ES15]] || DVD recorder || 2005 || ''Unknown''† || No || No || Tier 1.5

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-ES25]] || DVD recorder || 2006 || No || Yes || Tier 1.5

| [[Panasonic DMR-ES25]] || DVD recorder || 2006 || ''Unknown''† || No || Yes || Tier 1.5

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-EH50]] || DVD/HDD recorder || 2005 || 80GB || No || Tier 1 (PAL) / Unknown (NTSC)

| [[Panasonic DMR-EH50]] || DVD/HDD recorder || 2005 || ''Unknown''† || 80GB || No || Tier 1 (PAL) / Unknown (NTSC)

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-EH55]] || DVD/HDD recorder || 2006 || 200GB || Yes || Tier 1.5

| [[Panasonic DMR-EH55]] || DVD/HDD recorder || 2006 || ''Unknown''† || 200GB || Yes || Tier 1.5

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-HS2]] || DVD/HDD recorder || — || Yes || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-HS2]] || DVD/HDD recorder || 2002 || MN673744 || Yes || No || —

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-T2020]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-T2020]] || DVD recorder || — || MN673794 || No || No || —

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-T3030]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-T3030]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || MN673744 || No || No || —

|-

| [[Panasonic DMR-T3040]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —

| [[Panasonic DMR-T3040]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || MN673744 || No || No || —

|}

† Panasonic's service manuals for the ES-series and EH-series do not include schematics for the digital processing PCB, so the specific video processing IC part numbers remain undocumented. The ES10's digital board is designated VEP79104B (EC-S variant) / VEP79104A (P/US variant).<ref name="videohelp-chips" />

"—" in the Passthrough TBC tier column indicates that the model has not been tested or documented for passthrough TBC performance.

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* [[Panasonic DMR-ES10]] — The most detailed individual model page, including full recommended settings

* [[Panasonic AG-1980P]] — Professional S-VHS deck with built-in TBC, often used alongside DMR units

* [[Panasonic WJ-GXE900]] — MPEG-2 network encoder that also uses the MN673794 video processing IC

== References ==

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 The VCR connects to the DMR's line input via S-Video, and the DMR's output connects to the capture device. The DMR must be powered on and set to the appropriate line input, but does not need a working DVD drive or disc inserted (though having a disc may be needed to work around certain on-screen display issues on HDD-equipped models).
+== Video processing chipsets ==
+The passthrough TBC performance of these DVD recorders is determined by their internal video processing ICs. Brad (user vaporeon800) on VideoHelp compiled a spreadsheet documenting which Panasonic chips are used in each model, based on service manual analysis, parts lists, and physical board inspection.<ref name="videohelp-chips">[https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/405328-Integrated-TBC-chips-(-TBCish-)-the-devices-that-use-them-Reference-info VideoHelp Forum — "Integrated TBC chips ('TBCish') & the devices that use them: Reference info"] — Brad's reference thread documenting video processing ICs with TBC capability, including a spreadsheet of Panasonic MN6737xx series devices.</ref>
+The early DMR-Exx models used chips from two Panasonic IC families:
+* '''MN6737xx series''' — Used in models from 2001–2003 (DMR-E10, E20, E30, E50, E60, E80, HS2, T-series). These are integrated video processing ICs that handle ADC, 3D Y/C separation, TBC, and frame sync in a single chip. Variants include the MN673793, MN673794, and MN673744.
+* '''MN85573''' — Used in the 2004-era models (DMR-E55, E85). This is a separate video processing IC that handles TBC, frame sync, and 3D Y/C, paired with a separate ADC chip (AN13310BA). The block diagram in the E55 service manual shows the signal path as: separate ADC → MN85573 (3DYC + TBC + frame sync) → split to display output and MPEG-2 encoder.<ref name="videohelp-chips" />
+For the ES-series and EH-series models (2004 onward), Panasonic's service manuals do not include schematics for the digital processing PCB, so the specific IC part numbers remain undocumented. However, community testing has established that the ES10 uses a different (and apparently stronger) video processing chipset than the E55/MN85573 generation, and that later models like the ES15, EH55, and EH56 use yet another chip that produces nearly identical results to the ES10. The NTSC models from 2008 onward (DMR-EZxx series) and the DMR-ES20 switched to an LSI/Magnum chipset with significantly weaker passthrough correction.<ref name="videohelp-passthrough" />
 == Model comparison for passthrough TBC ==
@@ Line 27: / Line 38: @@
 ! Model !! Year !! HDD !! HDMI !! Notes
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-ES10]] || 2004 || No || No || The most widely recommended model. Strongest line-straightening ability. Slightly more prone to losing vertical sync on tape glitches than later models. Uses Panasonic in-house video processing IC. Most consistent across regional variants.
+| [[Panasonic DMR-ES10]] || 2004 || No || No || The most widely recommended model. Strongest line-straightening ability. Slightly more prone to losing vertical sync on tape glitches than later models. Uses Panasonic in-house video processing IC (specific part number undocumented). Most consistent across regional variants.
 |-
 | [[Panasonic DMR-EH50]] (PAL) || 2005 || 80GB || No || PAL variants (EB/EG/EP) use the same video processing chipset as the ES10. '''NTSC variants (P/PC) use a different chipset''' and may not belong in this tier.
@@ Line 142: / Line 153: @@
 {| class="wikitable sortable"
 |-
-! Model !! Type !! Year !! HDD !! HDMI !! Passthrough TBC tier
+! Model !! Type !! Year !! Video Processing IC !! HDD !! HDMI !! Passthrough TBC tier
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-E10]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || No || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-E10]] || DVD recorder || 2001 || MN673793 || No || No || —
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-E20]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || No || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-E20]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || MN673794 || No || No || —
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-E30]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-E30]] || DVD recorder || 2003 || MN673744 || No || No || —
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-E50]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-E50]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || MN673744 || No || No || —
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-E55]] || DVD recorder || 2004 || No || No || Tier 2
+| [[Panasonic DMR-E55]] || DVD recorder || 2004 || MN85573 || No || No || Tier 2
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-E60]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-E60]] || DVD recorder || 2003 || MN673744 || No || No || —
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-E80]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-E80]] || DVD recorder || 2003 || MN673744 || No || No || —
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-E85]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-E85]] || DVD recorder || 2004 || MN85573 || No || No || —
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-ES10]] || DVD recorder || 2004 || No || No || Tier 1
+| [[Panasonic DMR-ES10]] || DVD recorder || 2004 || ''Unknown''<sup>†</sup> || No || No || Tier 1
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-ES15]] || DVD recorder || 2005 || No || No || Tier 1.5
+| [[Panasonic DMR-ES15]] || DVD recorder || 2005 || ''Unknown''<sup>†</sup> || No || No || Tier 1.5
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-ES25]] || DVD recorder || 2006 || No || Yes || Tier 1.5
+| [[Panasonic DMR-ES25]] || DVD recorder || 2006 || ''Unknown''<sup>†</sup> || No || Yes || Tier 1.5
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-EH50]] || DVD/HDD recorder || 2005 || 80GB || No || Tier 1 (PAL) / Unknown (NTSC)
+| [[Panasonic DMR-EH50]] || DVD/HDD recorder || 2005 || ''Unknown''<sup>†</sup> || 80GB || No || Tier 1 (PAL) / Unknown (NTSC)
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-EH55]] || DVD/HDD recorder || 2006 || 200GB || Yes || Tier 1.5
+| [[Panasonic DMR-EH55]] || DVD/HDD recorder || 2006 || ''Unknown''<sup>†</sup> || 200GB || Yes || Tier 1.5
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-HS2]] || DVD/HDD recorder || — || Yes || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-HS2]] || DVD/HDD recorder || 2002 || MN673744 || Yes || No || —
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-T2020]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-T2020]] || DVD recorder || — || MN673794 || No || No || —
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-T3030]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-T3030]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || MN673744 || No || No || —
 |-
-| [[Panasonic DMR-T3040]] || DVD recorder || — || No || No || —
+| [[Panasonic DMR-T3040]] || DVD recorder || 2002 || MN673744 || No || No || —
 |}
+<sup>†</sup> Panasonic's service manuals for the ES-series and EH-series do not include schematics for the digital processing PCB, so the specific video processing IC part numbers remain undocumented. The ES10's digital board is designated VEP79104B (EC-S variant) / VEP79104A (P/US variant).<ref name="videohelp-chips" />
 "—" in the Passthrough TBC tier column indicates that the model has not been tested or documented for passthrough TBC performance.
@@ Line 185: / Line 198: @@
 * [[Panasonic DMR-ES10]] — The most detailed individual model page, including full recommended settings
 * [[Panasonic AG-1980P]] — Professional S-VHS deck with built-in TBC, often used alongside DMR units
+* [[Panasonic WJ-GXE900]] — MPEG-2 network encoder that also uses the MN673794 video processing IC
 == References ==