Got my Humax HDR a few days ago, and while I'm generally very pleased with it, one thing I've noticed when I've recorded a couple of things off the BBC HD channel is that the playback doesn't look quite as spectacular as the original broadcast.

With Sky+ the machine records the raw data coming down the satellite cable, so the playback looks 100% identical to when the programme was actually shown. Is this not the case with the Humax? Is it effectively recording a copy of the original picture, same as a video or dvd recorder would, so there's a minor drop in quality when viewed back?

Yes, the Humax records the data stream and plays it back intact.

Hard to see how there could be a difference if you are actually watching in HD (i.e. the data is transfered between the Humax and TV digitally).

I had my HDR for a couple of months, I do a lot of series recording in HD and I find the playback quality exceptional.

Hmm, that's odd. It was only a couple of programmes but in each case I'd watched a bit of it during the actual broadcast and was impressed by the picture quality, but when I later watched the recording of the full programme something seemed slightly lacking.

Dunno, guess I will have to try a few more to see if I was just imagining it.

Are you recording 108 (BBC HD) from the guide?

Yes.

It only seemed to be a very minor difference, barely perceptible, but enough to make me think it wasn't recording the actual data stream. However perhaps I was wrong.

You were wrong.

Try doing a direct tv record in NON FREESAT mode of LUXE HD TV. This is excellent quality HD. See if you still see a difference