Philips DVDR5520H 160GB Storage, , Upscaling DVD Recorder Reviews

+ This model is fine for playing DVDs, and the Time-Shift Buffer (silly name for live TV recorded to the hard-drive) is great to pause live tv and watch an hour later or to go back over 6 hours of previously watch programs.

- The key things to know are as follows:
1.You can't transfer recorded TV to the DVD burner (except in DVD vob format), or to the USB memory card. This is a really big downer as to get TV recorded from the hard drive you have to burn a DVD and then rip the DVD into DIVX which takes to long.
2. Files played form a USB stick have to be DIVX - it's very fussy about recognising other file formats forget wmv,rm or XVID. The USB doesnt recognise external USB hard drives or computers - works ok with a 4GB memory stick.
3. When you select a section to record to the hard drive from the Time-shift buffer, it seems to rerecord it in real time! This is way to slow for practical use.
4. Some operations only work in standby mode which is inconvenient.

+ Very versatile modern machine

- May take a while to get used to operating

+ Always liked Philips Products. This machine is sleek and good looking!! Would recommend it excellent value for the money.

- Can take a while to load.

+ abilility to record freeview whilst watching other channels
ease to set up recordings

- original set up

+ Upscaling picture quality is fantastic- especially when you have a LARGE HDTV. Plays DIVX directly from a USB pen

- The EPG was a bit fiddly to sync.

+ COMPACT AND ATTRACTIVE CASING. PLENTY OF FEATURES.

- SLOW TO LOAD. QUITE COMPLICATED TO USE

+ Menus are easy to use as is the guide+ for selecting TV programmes to record. Silent in use.

- Use with a camcorder gave various problems which required resetting. Does not allow connecting an external hardisk and does not allow copying video files to the USB port (even if they come from a camcorder). Fairly slow startup.

+ Reviewer left no comment

- The clock is very strange as it stays at the time you have closed the DVD player for a very long time and then starts moving. It is NEVER at the correct time and the manual is not very good at explaining how to rectify this problem. Another problem is that I wanted to record directly on to disc but it appears I cannot do this and you have to record to the hard drive then to disc. This is extremely annoying

+ picture quality

- only 1 tuner
slow menu

+ Easy to use menu wth a sleek turntable on the remote.

- None, i can't fault this machine

+ Not used it extensivley yet but operates easliy with set up easy with onscreen prompts.

- Reviewer left no comment