Hello there

I am in struggling whether to buy one of the following HDD/DVD RECORDERS with Freeview.

I already have a Sony digital TV, but the TV’s digital receiver is playing up, so I was going to purchase one of these with a built in digital receiver.

SONY RDRHXD710 or PIONEER DVR540HX

Obviously the smart-link that Sony has would be advantageous, but the TV’s digital receiver is playing up at times, so I am not too sure if it would be beneficial, unless anyone else out there knows any different. Also I am bit reluctant to go Sony as their customer service was quite poor if the TV is anything to go by.

When you have a look at Pioneer's own site the new DVR540HX does look pretty impressive, with what looks like a good bit more functions.

I would be also be using the machine for hooking UP my VCR as well to transfer VHS to HDD and then final edit to DVD, which the Pioneer looks like it would do a better job.


What would you say would be the best choice ? They can both be found for approx £370

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

Copper

Had a fresh rumage thru Pioneer's site and the 540HX manual has appeared, all 152 pages! Apearing tonight on work's laser printer....

Cool.

Does this mean that I can expect your expert opinion on this!!

Copp3r

Tried a RDRHXD710 for a week and it went back. Nice bit of kit but it only supports +R double layer media and has a widescreen issue with +R media meaning that anything archieved from the HDD to +R is re-encoded to 4:3 letterbox.

After a wait I got the DVR540HX-s today and its so far in another league!!

Hi Damien.

Can you please let me know if the Pioneer has better EPG layout, which would say gives a better picture quality.

What abut the editing from HDD to DVD which would one takes the biscuit.

Cheers
Copp3r.

The editing is about the same. Both seem to be very accurate. The Sony uses the Freeview EPG only as it has a digital tuner only.

The Pioneer can use either the Freeview 8 day EPG only or Guideplus as it has an analogue and digital tuner built in.

As for picture quality the Pioneer is definately better. Not by much in the XP and SP modes but definately in the SEP (8hr) modes.

Very pleased with it.

Sorry Damian.

Last time I annoy you with this!! :yawn:

I forgot to ask about the noise! Are both machines quiet enough, or which is the more silent.

What would you say to sway me to the Pioneer machine?

Thanks
Copp3r

Ive ordered for Pioneer DVR540HX-S and still waiting for delivery to come up either today or tomorrow - it look nice one as my LCD TV has built-in freeview include EPG.. this 540HX-S included Guideplus and EPG which make you easier to record - see on www.europe.guideplus.com

I let you know how Im getting on when I get it.. I bought for about £358 inc delivery.

Thanks mjt03

Where did you find the Pioneer for £358 inc delivery ?

Thanks
Richard.

here the link: http://www.totaldigital.biz/product_...oducts_id/1692

its still in the stock for 440HX or 540HX

Can't say it's particularily noisy. It's quieter than my LiteOn LVW5045 was and the Philips DVDR7250H and on par with the Sony RDRHXD710 if I remember correctly.

When backing up the odd disc the unit can get a little more noisy but that's it.

I got it today and im quite impressed with DVR540HX-S and it much quieter as it didnt any noisy, etc.. when I installed it (very easy) and then press setup and then just leave itto dvd recorder to sort it out include set the clock and date itself -- the Digital EPG look nice listing include tell you how many hard drive space left to use also you can switch over to Guide Plusvery easily - Im much happy with it. it look nice on front panel -- it has HDD-DVD switch with Blue and Red led (Blue is HDD and Red is DVD) so that you would know which one - it included multi-region as well. Its made in the UK - I would recommend it for 440HX-S or 540HX-S but one thing is SCART cable isnt include so get one at £2.49 that not very much... it has power save, you have to plug the digital into normal antenna and the from antenna to tv so that you can use Anlog/Digital switchover -- it got plenty of features,etc..

I forgot one thing is -- you can record into HDD or directly to DVD as you can choose which one you want to record, either you want to record to HDD to DVD very easily also it included fast copy, jukebox, etc.. as you can find this plenty of features you like to see also today its my first automatic update latest firmware as it just updated itself and then it worked fine.

It sounds like the Pioneer is good but not having an iLink (firewire) input would rule it out for me and many others.

I dont need iLink (firewire) either as Im much happy with DVR540HX - it can record into HDD or DVD plus copies from HDD to DVD and DVD to HDD... it really good recorder, my LCD tv has 2 USB ports

Sony All The Way For The Best Recording Quality By Miles

Having tried both and now owning the Pioneer DVR540HXS I'd say the Pioneer's picture is quite a bit better. The DVB tuner seems slightly less blocky and you can select your own bitrate up from 32 manual steps.

The Pioneer also hasn't been crippled with a anamorphic recording issue on +R media like the HXD710.

The sony can do all the HDD to DVD, DVD to HDD editing and dubbing functions.

The Freeview image quality is as good as anything I have seen.

The 32 quality settings on the Pioneer will never get used!

The lack of firewire is an issue for most.

Overall the two are very similar bar the firewire input.

But as always it is a matter of personal preference.

Hi


They certainly do

Regards

Phil

but anyone own LCD TV?? I have one with 32" and there arent any blocky, etc..it seem very smooth picture.

Ive done DVD +R DL and it much clear picture when I copied from HDD to DVD but it depend on which tv you own when installed and plugged with Sony or Pioneer - my home area still great picture with all channels (Freeivew and Sky Digital)

As we often see,someone who thinks their own requirements are also those of the majority when they aren't.
Who gives a toss about Firewire?
If you do,buy a Pioneer that has it.
And only someone who has never used a -R machine with flexible recording settings could say that the quality levels will never be used as they don't even know what they are for.
The Pioneer has increased recording quality on lower quality settings just like the current Panasonic range,Sony does not.
The 32 recording levels on the Pioneer are so you can record in the best quality to fill a dvd without leaving wasted space,unlike Sony.
The Pioneer has a Disc Backup feature that clones discs in 20 minutes just like a PC,the Sony does not.This feature allows high spped copying of finalised -R discs to the HDD,then a high speed burn back to -R/-RW.
The Pioneer records to dual layer blanks,the Sony does not.
The PIoneer has Jukebox feature that stores up to 999cd's,the Sony does not.
Seems an easy choice.
If this is one of the very latest Pioneer machines it also writes to +R/+RW and RAM.

You got it all correct....

Hi

What is the interface like for the Pioneer Freeview. Can i use the PIONEER DVR540HX as a Freeview box instead of the one on my Sony IDTV as it plays up.

Thanks
Copp3r

both 440HX and 540HX has built-in Freeview digital tuner as it can work with freeview and Sky digital, it worked great in my TV (I dont used freeview box) -- my LCD TV has built-in Freeview and plug the antenna cable into digital port and then from digital to antenna and from antenna to tv so that you can use digital EPG as freeview channel to record very easily - just install through Auto Scan..

Yes it can record freeview into hard drive or dvd directly via Digital EPG or GuidePlus+ ive tried both as it worked. so you just need to use the aerial cable plug into DTT and the other cable (included with the box) from DTT to Antenna and other cable form Antenna to TV then set up in few mins as it does tuning up freeview channels (clock/date are automatic setup) so that you can use Digital (DTV) and Analog (ATV).

Hi


It is a complete Freeview tuner so has all the same teletext functions as a standalone or TV integrated box. You can use it to watch Freeview all the time if you like, however if you are recording a channel you will not be able to watch another one from the Pioneer, but would need to switch to your TV's own tuner.

Sony Freeview boxes in their TV's have a software upgrade available this week, check your model here: http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/download_schedule.pl and make sure you get the new software by selecting the upgrade option in the menu's somewhere in the TV, this may improve it's reliability.

Regards

Phil