Philips DVDR520H DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive Review
Philips DVDR520H DVD Recorder with 80 GB Hard Drive Feature
- Combination DVD player/recorder and 80 GB hard-disk drive (HDD) with camcorder-ready front-panel DV (i.Link) inputs
- Record from TV directly to DVD or hard disk; 1 to 6 hours video recording per side (either DVD+R or DVD+RW) depending on quality level
- Progressive-scan output for seamless, flicker-free images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs; plays DVD-R/-RW, MP3 CD, JPEG image CD/DVD
- Favorite scene selection simplifies editing of your home movies; VCR Plus+ simplifies timer programming (6-event, 1-year)
- Measures 16.9 x 2.6 x 10.1 inches (W x H x D)
The Philips DVDR520H combines all the benefits of DVD recording with the digital convenience of a hard-disk digital video recorder. Archive your priceless camcorder footage to long-lasting, high-quality DVD+RW and DVD+R (4.7GB per disc), or time-shift your viewing by recording TV programs by recording shows directly to the 80 GB hard disk, which gives you up to 100 hours of storage using Philips' ShowView programming system.
Whether recording to DVD or hard disk, programming the DVDR520H is simple using the GUIDE Plus+ electronic program guide (EPG). The EPG is a point-and-click system that lets you specify which programs to record, up to 7 days ahead. Using the model's extensive inputs--including an i.Link digital video jack--you can transfer and assemble your most treasured camcorder footage, archive all your old video tapes, or burn video from your PC straight to high-capacity DVD--up to an amazing 8 hours per disc side using either DVD+R or rewritable DVD+RW.
The DVDR520H also gives you the ability to pause live TV and instantly replay scenes just missed. If the phone rings or someone comes to the front door, simply pause the show you're watching and resume viewing from that point when you're ready.
The hard disk time shift buffer stores up to 6 hours of programs, giving you the freedom to decide after the fact whether you want to keep something for future viewing. When the buffer is full, the oldest programs are automatically deleted, unless you've marked them for saving. The DVDR520H also features a simple solution for transferring recordings from the hard disk to DVD media: high-speed archiving. With a single command, the device will digitally transfer programs to DVD at up to 20 times the speed of the program duration.
Recording functions include favorite scene selection, automatic/manual chapter marker insertion, selectable index pictures, append, and divide. DVD+RW discs require no finalizing--you can record, eject, and play them with minimal fuss, thanks to "background formatting." This feature, which lowers total burning time, is an advantage over the "dash" formats. Other DVD+RW advantages include on-disc content editing and multisession writing. And, through DVD+RW and DVD+R's compatibility with most existing DVD players, they're a great way for you to share your special memories with family and friends.
The DVDR520H is also a first-rate DVD player, featuring progressive-scan video outputs, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround sound passthrough, MP3 CD playback (CD-R/CD-RW), JPEG picture CD/DVD playback, and compatibility with most DVD media (including video-mode DVD-R and DVD-RW).
Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the DVDR520H stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.
Top-of-the-line interlaced component-video outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts from component-video sources and on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video inputs and outputs bring compatibility with nearly any video component and television monitor. Audio inputs consist of 2-channel analog jacks with 24-bit/96 kHz analog-to-digital conversion and Dolby Digital 2.0 audio compression (compression is nondefeatable). Video conversion is performed by 9-bit, 27 MHz converters for recording and high-quality 10-bit, 54 MHz converters for playback.
Two sets of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (1 each coaxial and optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.
What's in the Box
DVD recorder/hard disk combo, a remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, a video cable, a stereo analog audio cable, and an RF coaxial/antenna cable.
Philips DVD Recorder, w/80 gig HDD, DVD+RW, I-Link, up to 8 hours DVD+RW recording, up to 102 hour on HDD
