Sony RDR-HX900 DVD Recorder with 160 GB Hard Disk Recorder
Worth having, though not unflawed.
I've had my Sony RDR-HX900 for about two and a half months now. <br /> <br />This is the first DVR I've owned (previously only VCRs), and I was <br />primarily attracted to it for the ability to store a large number of <br />recordings.  I'm the type of person who abhors \\"appointment TV\\" - I <br />watch when I want to watch.  I also like having the ability to pause <br />for any number of reasons, and come back later. <br /> <br />First, my overall opinion is that I definitely recommend this unit.  It <br />is not, however, a perfect design.  There are pros and cons that should <br />be weighed, and compared with whatever else competes on the market.  Much <br />of the information below can be read in the manual, which you can  <br />download in PDF format. <br /> <br />There are 7 quality settings available - HQ+, HQ, HSP, SP, LP, EP, <br />and SLP. They are described in the manual by the approximate length of <br />video that one can store on a single DVD, and on the hard drive.  Per <br />DVD, HQ allows 1 hour, HSP 1.5 hours, SP 2 hours, LP 3 hours, EP 4 <br />hours, and SLP 6 hours.  HQ+ is only available for hard drive <br />recording, and uses about 50% more space than HQ.  It is a setup option <br />to use HQ+ instead of HQ, while other speeds are looped through in <br />succession with a button press. <br /> <br />The difference in quality between HQ and SLP is very obvious.  The <br />difference between adjacent quality modes is difficult to detect.  I <br />was able to see differences between HQ+, HQ, on down the line, but only <br />when trying to find them.  I've come to settle into using whichever <br />recording mode will allow the program to fit on a DVD, in case I <br />decide to dub it later.  For things which I've no intention of <br />dubbing (weekly recordings, for example), I use SP mode. <br /> <br />Dubbing allows copying between the hard drive and DVD.  Normal DVD <br />Video titles cannot be dubbed onto the hard drive.  As near as I can <br/>tell, only titles created by this recorder (or perhaps other Sony DVD <br />recorders) can be dubbed from DVD to the hard drive.   <br /> <br />There are two types of dubbing - fast dubbing, and slow dubbing.  Fast <br />dubbing is only available when copying the video data directly from <br />the hard drive to DVD, which means no quality conversions.  That means <br />that only recordings which fit on a single DVD without being re-encoded <br />can be dubbed in fast mode (e.g. a 1-hour program recorded at HQ, a <br />2-hour program recorded at SP, etc.).  When a conversion is required <br />(or chosen), the recorder re-encodes at real-time speed.  For some unknown <br />reason, dubbing from DVD to the hard drive always takes place at real-time <br />speed.  It would be simple to do a direct read at maximum speed from <br />the DVD, but this device insists on actually recording to the hard <br />drive instead of copying. <br /> <br />Because the encoder can only work at real-time speed, non-fast dubs are <br />pretty inconvenient, especially considering the fact that while <br />dubbing, you can do basically nothing with the recorder.  You cannot <br />record to the hard drive or play existing recordings.  Programmed <br />recordings will not start while dubbing.  This is probably the most <br />irritating limitation of this unit. <br /> <br />Another dubbing-related limitation is that you can't split a single <br />hard drive title among several DVD's (in case you want to preserve a <br />quality level, say, or the recorded title is actually two programs that <br />you want on separate discs).  I don't have a killer need for this <br />feature, but it's an obvious omission that may be important to someone. <br /> <br />In most other respects, however, it's an able multi-tasker.  You can <br />watch titles previously recorded while recording on the hard drive, and <br />can even watch a title still being recorded (wait 15 minutes after that <br />network show starts, then begin watching and skip all commercials).  <br />You can watch a DVD as well, of course, and supposedly can watch a <br />title on a DVD-RW while another title is being recorded (untested by <br />me).  However, during a recording, the only editing function available <br />is changing a title name.  You can't erase a title, so you had better <br />make sure there's enough space before the recording starts. <br /> <br />None of the recorder functions behave any differently when the unit is <br />turned off, except of course for playing.   <br /> <br />Media support is another important feature in a DVD recorder.  This <br />unit supports both the DVD Forum standard media (DVD-R/RW), and the <br />DVD+R/RW media from the DVD+RW Alliance (which was created because of <br />the exhorbitant licensing fees charged by the DVD Forum).  I've <br />recorded on DVD-R, DVD+R, and DVD+RW media - no DVD-RW media to test.  <br />With -R/+R, the maximum write speed is 4x, and with +RW media, the <br />maximum write speed is 2.4x (which is 14 minutes and 24 minutes write <br />time for a full DVD, respectively). The maximum speed only applies when <br />fast dubbing. <br /> <br />One killer feature (for me) is the set top box controller, which is an <br />IR emitter that can change channels on a cable or satellite controller <br />box (but not turn the box on - you must leave it on).  For me, that <br />means I can program the recording of non-broadcast channels of my <br />digital cable service.  However, it's an all-or-nothing thing.  You <br />configure the unit to either use the box controller, or its internal <br />tuner.  You cannot use both.  It's a shame, too, because it'd be useful <br />to have the recorder use the built-in tuner whenever possible, so <br />casual TV watching isn't interrupted when doing a programmed recording. <br /> <br />The TV Guide system is supposed to download program listing information <br />while the recorder is turned off.  There's no data in my area, and it <br />says in the manual that no digital system (satellite or digital cable) <br />supports TV Guide listing data.  For those that have it, it looks to be <br />a fairly simple way to program recordings (select the show in the <br />listing grid).   <br /> <br />I must (and prefer to use) manual timer recording, which is still done <br />through the TV Guide system screens.  The timer entry screen is <br />functional enough, but not especially good compared to some of the VCR <br />timer screens I've used.  The one good thing is that there's room for <br />30 timer recording entries - more than other devices seem to have. <br /> <br />Beyond some playlist editing features that only work with DVD-RW media, <br />the three primary editing functions are changing the title name, <br />erasing the title completely, and erasing a section of the title (A-B <br />erase). <br /> <br />Title editing is done via a text-entry screen which is anything but <br />convenient to use, though it's not horrid once you get used to it.  I <br />think making it look like a QWERTY keyboard would have been much more <br />efficient.   <br /> <br />The A-B Erase function is very simple.  All play controls are available <br />when selecting the start and end points.  All erasing is confirmed, and <br />cannot be undone.  I primarily get rid of junk at the beginning and end <br />of movies I record, which frees up some space until I watch them and <br />erase them completely.  It can also be used to remove commercials from <br />a network program. <br /> <br />As a DVD player, this Sony is fairly modest in features.  There are <br />three fast-forward/reverse speeds, FF1-FF3 (approximately 1.5x, 12x, <br />and 150x). There are two buttons called Instant Replay and Instant <br />Advance.  The former skips back 10 seconds, with no display while it's <br />skipping.  The latter fast-forwards at FF2 for 25 seconds. There's no <br />A-B repeat feature (if you want a scene toreplay over and over), and <br />no zoom.  You can toggle the angle and subtitles with a button press. <br /> <br />Despite its spartan playback options, it is very good at reading <br />damaged, defective, and marginal DVDs (something an old Sony DVD player <br />I have is horrible at).  One defective DVD (since replaced) that <br />screeched to a halt on an old JVC player, and a newer Sony DVD/VCR <br />combo player, did nothing but imperceptibly skip with this unit (I only <br />know it skipped because the on screen play indicator flashed - <br />automatic status displays can be disabled, if such a thing would bother <br />you). <br /> <br />That concludes my review.  It's a bit long, but I figure people might <br />appreciate some detailed information before plunking down $700 for a <br />piece of electronics.