Humax PVR9200T 160GB Storage PVR Reviews: HDR with HDMI

+ It's so easy to record using the electronic program guide that we record everything we want to watch and can easily wizz past the adverts, pause it to go to the loo etc. We use the facility to record 2 programs while watching a third which I didn't expect us to. The ability to download music from my itunes library was an unexpected bonus and as I plug the Humax direct into my hi-fi means I can play music from it without having the TV on..

- Can take a long time to load the program guide unless you leave it on all the time rather than on standby.

+ Ultra efficient in recording TV programmes.
Simple to set up and use - excellently designed
Contains Freeview and records sub-titles too.

- None

+ Great product. Does what it says on the tin. Doddle to use.

- Good job it's easy to use because the manual's in jibberish.

+ high quality picture.
excellent build quality.

- slightly noisey fan and hard disk.
takes a while to compile program list
and scheduler after startup.

+ Does what we exected

- Unreliable
Performs inconsistently

+ Looks smart. Worked straight out of box
excellent picture quality. easy to use

- none

+ PVRs are tremendous devices and this one seems as good as most, but cheaper. Mine has been very reliable so far (6 months)

- Software functionality could be improved. I am hoping that they will release another over-the-air upgrade.

+ Quiet.Easy to set up, and recording is a dawdle.

- No "padding" available for recording times with losing "auto name".

+ Excellent would recomend

- Reviewer left no comment

+ This does everything I expected of it and more. Its design is far better than almost any other recorder that I've ever used. It is easy to set up, with clear instructions, and mine worked immediately "straight out of the box", as they say.

- There is no device of this kind that an average user can't make any mistakes with, so a more comprehensive "troubleshooting" guide would be helpful - but that's minor point.

+ Great picture, easy to set up and use once you've read the manual, big storage capacity

- Hard disc can be a bit noisy. Handset a bit fiddly with some of the buttons under a flap.

+ Easy to set up and use. Quality of recordings are very good. Twin tuner allows you to record two channels whilst watching a previous recording.

- Only one RGB scart.

+ Dual tuner, navigation pages, looks and user interface - excellent.

- Lack of support for downloaded files - when your hard drive gets full you can download your files to your PC but the file format is not normally compatible with any standard software except with the Video Lan player which is the only software I found that can play downloaded files. Also, you can't upload files back to Humax box, which is in my opinioun RUBISH, so I have to play recorded and downloaded files using a pirat software Video Lan. Not very toughtfull of the producers!!!!

+ Excellent, we can watch a channel and record two others

- None

+ Dual recorder, easy programming. Quality of sound and picture. Upgradeable firmware and hardware. Good program guide. Easy remote.

- Not so good ;- the process for splitting and deleteing recordings is very complex.

+ Well thought out, good features and it just works exactly as you'd expect. Quality product and very easy to use.
Quality of picture much better than I expected - previously used a standard sky box with mt HD TV which looked very pixelated but the Humax is a pretty good picture.

- Bit slow downloading all the TV guide when first switched on (not much worse than most digiboxes).
Not HD compatible - fine at the time, and considering it'll be ages before everyone is transmitting HD on freeview it really makes no difference anyway.

+ Excellent product - a quantum leap!

- Quite noisy and we cannot find how to listen to recorded radio programmes

+ Two tuners, so you can record one programme while watching another

- A bit slow to start up, also sometimes very slow to update the programme guide

+ easy to use and a very good performer

- has 'frozen' on a couple of occasions. I had to remove the plug and re-start.

+ Easy to setup and use. Plenty of recording memory. Good general picture quality.

- Some times 'freezes' and requires reset by powering off then back on.

+ Extremely easy to operate and program

- There is no way to export the video file to another device.

+ Uncomplicated and easy to use. Fits neatly into television cabinet.

- Some functions were not easily discovered at the time of seting up the machine.

+ It just works. Utterly reliable, easy to use. Being able to record two programmes while watching a third comes in handy more often than you'd think. Chase play is fantastic. It's hard to know how I ever lived without one.

- Doesn't yet support series link. Doesn't store the EPG on the disk, so takes a while to build it when you switch it on. Download of recorded programmes over USB to a PC for archiving is slow, and the supplied software is buggy (but you can find better online).

+ good picture, easy setup installation, once you get use to the remote features and programs its a very good product.

- when you switch on machine the epg needs 5mins or more for channel programs to be displayed, unlike the previous recorder (digifusion) that i had which had all program guides instantly. i found that by switching machine on a few minutes before usage usually illiminates this problem. but don't be put off by this small problem as i recommend this as a brilliant piece of technology.

+ Reliable, good EPG, fast menus, easy to use. Thanks to an over-the-air automatic software update (Jan 2008) it now has the series link feature, which makes recording a whole series very easy indeed. The cooling fan for the hard-drive is fairly quiet and can only be heard when there is no sound on the TV and no background noise in the room. Also, the fan only runs when the box is on, so if you want total silence you can simply turn it off into stand-by mode.This is my first PVR, so I can only compare it to my previously used freeview only box, but I recommend it very highly. Once you switch from a standard freeview box to a PVR such as this, you will never go back!

- No major bad points to speak of. The only minor point I can think of, is that the EPG can take a little while to populate with programme info after the box is switched back on. However compared to all the good things this box has to offer, this is so minor it is hardly worth mentioning.

+ The PVR has a simple to use menu, does picture in picture and has a hard disk that will store hours of programs.

- Reviewer left no comment

+ Easy to use.

- Keeps freezing and needs power cycled to restart.

+ Easy set up and use of.

- Very occasionally locks up.

+ So easy to set up for recording that it made me think that I had been operating in the dark ages

- None that I have found so far

+ Works very well.....recording is great...and the updating is excellant

- Reviewer left no comment

+ great unit-excellent quality and capacity, easy to use

- 7-day programme seems to take a long time to fully load

+ Twin tuner. Can pause a live TV programme if the phone rings.

- Didn't want Top-Up TV facility, but there was no choice so we don't use it.

+ easy to use.
intuitive user interface.
regular software updates.

- USB support is a bit flaky.

+ Simple as could be to set a recording. Pausing a live program and restarting without missing a moment — brilliant! DVD quality sound and picture. Large hard drive allows you to save scores, almost hundreds of programs. 100% reliable, well designed and good quality construction. Silent operation compared to a VCR.

- Only one — the display of information about recorded programs could be better. The titles tend to get clipped short, and it would be helpful if the actual playing time of the program was shown rather than the start and finish times. Also, editing the title could be improved if you could move a cursor within the text rather than having to delete to get to a specific place. Small point, but it does irritate over time.

+ So easy to program a recording, find the program on the guide and press ok.
Can pause and rewind live telly - great if the phone rings.
Can skip through the adverts on recordings - can just forwards and backwards easily.
I love this machine (in a slightly unhealthy way)!

- Slow to load the program guide - should be around 15 minutes, but can take longer for some channels.
No smart recording to get a whole series.

+ Changes the way you watch freeview. No more adds and never miss a programme you wanted to watch. Ability to record 2 while recording a third.

- Hard drive sometimes jams so that it won't record properly until you format it which means you lose all your recordings. Annoying if theres items you wanted to keep indefinately.

+ Easy to setup, good quality feel to the unit, Easy to use remote control, It records subtitles, Twin tuner.

- Only records digital and not analogue as well, so only buy if you have a decent digital signal - luckily I have, most of the time.

+ Very easy to use and set up.

- Reviewer left no comment

+ A really simple menu and setting up procedure.

- I have been using TIVO for a few years now and I'm afraid it has rather spoilt me for features, BUT I'm told that the lack of TIVO features will be put right with some new softwear. So tihs will nolonger be a bad point!

+ Ease of use

- Slow loading of EPG

+ User friendly.

- Reviewer left no comment

+ Excellent piece of kit! It just works as expected.

- Very minor point;- Doesn't store the TV guide. So it can take a while to load every time the unit it switched on.

+ Easy to use. Recording programs is a doddle.

- After powering up it takes a while for the programme information to load up. Tried USB transfer to laptop but it was far too slow to be useful.

+ for a non technophobe very easy to use. especially like the hiding of non essential buttons.

- none to date one week after purchase

+ Seems to work well. It's fun looking at 2 programmes at once!

- We thought it was very noisy at first, we had to put it onto the carpet to stop vibration. It's not very user friendly. It took about 2 hours to work out how to use it.

+ good product, item as expected

- handbook slightly obscure

+ Marvellously easy to use and good quality picture. My wife can use it whereas she wouldn't know where to start with the VCR. Excellent purchase.

- The time taken to load the EPG.

+ Recording of the tele and watching back in digital quality.

- Unable to record series-link, like with a SKY+ box.

+ The humax price for price is as good as it gets. I've had Sagem and Digifusion( x2) PVR's before. We now have 2 Humax one for Mrs Boston. She likes the ease of use.

- The disc or fan on this box is very very slightly louder than the other makes. Nevertheless the noise level is not really noticeable, unless you listen for it.

+ This is the third one of these i've purchased for different locations - can't fault them

- Reviewer left no comment

+ It does what I want in a PVR. Very satisfied with this product. Very easy to use the basic features. More advanced features take a little more practice.

- Takes a long time for the EPG to load the full weeks program for all the channels.

+ Easy to use, reliability, fantastic build quality, lots of features - we love it

- None found so far

+ Ease of use, good quality picture good digital reception

- None

+ So easy my mum could use it straight away.

- You may need to upgrade the software from time to time

+ So easy to use even the missus hasn't complained yet.
Changes the way you think about TV. The one click to record an entire series is great - though I now have half a hard drive full of Family Guy as it's on about three times a day on BBC3.

- Takes a while to populate the TV listings in the program guide when first brought out of standby.

+ Large list of features. Extremely easy to set up and main features are easy to operate.

- Maybe too complicated in some areas. Ability to backup to an external source either DVD or external hard drive or something would be good.

+ Simple to set up and use. Versatile in letting you record two different programmes whilst watching another or a recording. Great storage capacity. Time-slip is useful to answer the phone or make a cuppa without missing anything. Set up of recording shedule is very simple to use.

- Loud hum of disk. Sometimes "freezes" and has to be switched off and on again at the unit. Facility to keep recording if programme over-runs doesn't always work.

+ you can view all the epsidoes of a particular series. you can search for particular programs, you can record two channels at the same time

- It is very unattractive to look at. It does not have a function to just set an alarm/reminder for programs you want to watch you can only reserve programs you want to record. It does not save your favourite channels when you switch it off, so you have to reset them again each time you turn it on. It has a complicated program guide - you are unable to switch viewing mode so that you can see the guide as you scroll over the program, you have to open a new page and then switch back to the program schedule. The info bar is not that clear and it is hard to see when the program started and when it finishes when you are on a particular channel.

+ Easy to programme and has worked without fail whenever needed.

- None

+ Excellent reception

- Need to read manual carefully as some remote control functions are not intuitive

+ Ease of use and price

- Reviewer left no comment

+ Easy to use. Easy to schedule a recording. Great being able to record 2 programmes at set same time, and still watch a previous recording (or a third channel).

- Couldn't get the E-linker software to download recorded programmes to my PC, but that's resolved now.

+ Recording 2 programes at once and watching another.
Ease of use - so easy even the wife can manage it!
Never having to rumage again for spare cassettes or disks.
Massive hard drive. Never run out of room yet and still have 50+ items recorded ready to watch whever it's convenient.
and the Freeview tuner is the best I've had so far.

- There are none really apart from the fact that the technology has already changed.
I've heard that you can now get the same thing but which provides internet access through your telly as well.

+ Almost everything. The ability to pause and record at least two channels is excellent.

- Fan is noisey - Humax must really sort this problem, it's by far the biggest issue with this otherwise fantastic product. I don't really like the number of commonly used but hidden buttons on the remote control e.g. next day/previous day.

+ It works straight out of the box, no complicated set-up and extremely intuitive to use.
The electronic programme guide is reasonably quick once the Humax has downloaded it over the air.
Picture and sound quality are very good

- Whilst it supports Freeview playback and series link, it seems to frequently miss either the start or the end of programmes. It is only possible to add buffer time when not using series link. Slightly noisy when in use but not a major problem. Silent when in standby mode.

+ You do not need to write down what you have recorded, or start and finish times. It is all in there for you to go straight to. Plenty of recording hours. Easy to use feathures. Very user friendly. Which I had ordered one
before.

- No bad bits as far as I can see.

+ very easy to use, programmes recorded easy to locate and overall would definately recommend this product to others

- epg takes around 15minutes to load up I don't think there are any other bad points about this product.

+ It really does make recording from the TV a lot easier than using a vcr and no tapes to store/mix up/record over. Chase play is excellent. Picture quality is excellent, but it's worth taking time tweaking the image quality for sharpness etc to get the max (we have a sony 32"crt tv). Spend time at a weekend to program the whole of the following week's programmes. Then sit back and relax.

- Every so often we've missed a programme that has been entered onto the recording schedule and not recorded. This can be due to the hard drive filling up but we've found this isn't the reason in all cases but currently unsure of what the cause is. Not a major problem but has put me in the doghouse a few times.
Any negatives outweighed by far by the positives. Father's bought one and a friend after seeing ours.

+ Very easy, using the program quide, to set up a week's viewing every Sunday, and then watch the programs when it suits me.
I like it so much I bought another one to give to my son as an early Xmas present.

- Hard disk a little noisy - my TV stand is wooden and acts a bit like a sound box, so have had to put spongy material under the PVR to deaden the spinning noise.

+ Easy to use and great being tape free. Quiet.

- Reviewer left no comment

+ Brilliant piece of kit highly recommended

- A bit noisey but you do ignore it, does take a few seconds to boot up

+ Very easy to use in both recording and playing modes;
excellent picture quality;
very quiet operation;
easily connected to television set and to VHS/DVD recorder for maximum flexibility.
black finish unobtrusive in appearance.
having two digital tuners is most useful, allowing recording of two programmes at once (though seldom use the facility) - an analogue tuner in addition would have made it even better (perhaps there is one on other models?);
facility for starting play from the beginning of a programme whilst it is still recording is a great boon.
a first-class replacement for recorders using VHS tape, and I would not hesitate to buy again.

- a little noise from the fan when running, but not intrusive in a normal-sized room;
a clearer indication on the front panel of when the machine is on/operating would be helpful;
I still worry a little about accidentally pressing the 'yes' button when asked whether I want to format the hard disk - I haven't done it yet, but perhaps a slightly tighter safeguard to prevent it being done unintentionally - you need to think what you are doing.

+ As a woman in the house with a husband who refuses to learn anything about computers I set this up and have had no trouble in using it, the wonderful thing is once you have set it up to record your favourite programme it just does it everytime, then its up to you when you watch it

- Only thing i found was it tokk a little while to get used to it but as far as i'm concerned no bad points

+ Too many to list.

- Not as easy to use as sky+.
No 'series link' as with sky+.

+ Exelent picture quality

- Slow programme guide

+ The product is quick and the picture clear. It is easy to use. Connectivity options are many, the main points for me are digital connection to surround sound amp and connection to PC.

- None so far

+ brilliant product changes the way we watch TV

- locks up sometimes and has now developed a fault

+ easy to set up and understeand

- none so far

+ It seems to work!

- Doesn't store Electronic Programme Guide, so setting recordings can be time-consuming. Slow to boot.

+ Fantastic piece of kit!

- Reviewer left no comment

+ Changes the way you watch television. Recording programs could not be easier. Fabulous quality recordings depending on reception of course.

- Could do with signal being transmitted on freeview to start and end recoring in time with program and not just on physical time.

+ Easy to use, just plugged in and off we went

- None as yet

+ Easy to set up.

- Some features not intuative to use initially.

+ good features and easy to understand even for over 60. no dvd or videos to store

- Guide sometimes takes a long time to load. Would be good if it changed the timings on weekly programming if the schedule changed

+ Easy to use, never miss your favourite programs

- Doesn't adjust to changes in programming schedules