Sony RDR-HXD890 160GB Storage, , Upscaling DVD Recorder Reviews

+ It's a great piece of kit. Very easy to use. Haven't watched any live TV since i got it! We're very selective about what we watch and it works very well for us, time shifting programmes. My daughter loves the fact that she now has 10 episodes of 'Charlie and Lola' to watch without anybody having to remember to record them. Menu structure easy to navigate. Interfaces really well with my other AV equip.

- None really. Manual a bit OTT. Would have liked it to have been able to see an external HDD to transfer video.

+ IT LOOKS GOOD AND IS VERY EASY TO SET UP AND USE. THE USB FOR MEMORY STICKS IS A USEFULL ADDITION.

- THE HDD [BLUE] AND DISC [YELLOW] BUTTON LIGHTS ARE FAR TOO BRIGHT AND TEND TO BE A LITTLE DISTRACTING UNDER THE TV. BUT THAT IS THE ONLY BAD THING.

+ very easy to use ,good picture&sound

- manual sends you back and forwards.

+ all good it is spot on

- no bad

+ Excellent product. It is breeze to record programmes using the EPG. Once recorded it is very easy to remove adverts from the recorded content using the A-B Edit function. Set up was easy. Dubbing content to DVD-R media was very fast and easy to use. I would like to mention that the software on the kit is very user friendly and very intuitive. always use LP top record movies so that you can then burn two movies to a DVD-R.

- None perceived. One DVD-R disc errored and could not

+ lots of features

- Better explanation of various set-ups with yout TV, Freeview box etc and the cables required.

+ Good picture and sound.

- Noisy during night when doing updates.

+ ease of setup and basic use

- difficulty of doing anything other than basic recording

+ Ease of use and reliability

- So far, I have found no bad points

+ An excellent product, well worth the money

- Took ages to set up, but was worth it in the end

+ Does all the things claimed for it that we have tried so far. Recordings are a faithful reproduction of the original broadcast and barely distinguishable (on our TV) even on LP setting.
Considering that it is our first/only HDD recorder/player, we have found it quite easy to use.
We have also found it ideal for converting original 8mm camcorder tapes to DVD format and, unlike previous copying to VHS tapes, there is no loss of quality compared to the original 8mm played from the cam itself. Easy and fast to make further copies for friends.
Exactly what we wanted at the best price on the market for its spec. PS: I won't rate reliability until I've had it for 5 years, but it's still fine after 3 weeks!

- Nothing functional - only minor niggles such as accidently touching the zapper button for 'input' and losing the picture (- where's it gone?) and the slightly awkward top left position of the dvd tray button.
Title writing for DVDs is a bit tedious.

+ Love the machine! Loads of different recording times. The music jukebox means I can store hours and hours of MP3s on the hard drive just like a media center. As a result our New Years Eve party was perfect! I also worked out how to copy YouTube videos over to it (download and convert them to Xvid using FLV to AVI). All in all very satisfied...I just hope the laser lasts! Most recorders have cheap lazers which only last a few years but hopefully the Sony will not dissappoint!

- Buttons are cheap and won't last - tend to use the remote control to eject and load discs.

+ Lots of features, good support for playing DIVX via CD/DVD only not USB

- complicated manual to follow setting up EPG

+ Compact, stylish, easy operation - so far, haven'ty tried all the buttons yet.

- No bad points so far.

+ 1. 1080p upscaling
2. Recording on HDD while watching a DVD
3. Plays divX and upscales that as well
4. Very good freeview picture quality

- 1. No optical connection
2. Slow loading
3. Digital Audio sound quality is not as good as other sony cd/dvd player
4. No clear instruction to use external source via USB

+ Has improved picture quality even on an old CRT TV, and sound is so much better.

- Can hear the DVD spinning when it is playing

+ Initial set-up easy, picture quality in HQ, HSP and SP modes excellent.

- Only one digital tuner. Guide Plus+ programming not worth bothering with. Frequent references in handbook to Video and VR modes of recording but no explanation of the difference between the two.

+ Its neat

- Istill have not figured out how to record one programme while watching another

+ It is easy to use and records without fail, even when timings are changed at last minute by the broadcasters

- It is a single tuner, which is frustrating when you would prefer to watch a different channel to the one that you are recording.

+ Tuning guide is good for setting multiple recordings on different channels

- If you have to start recording a programme after its started you can't use the guide - you have to set it to record 'manually' and this then prevents you from using the guide for subsequent recordings until you have 'manually' stopped the recording of the first programme.

+ Seemingly lots of features. Good quality playback.

- Unbelievably complicated instructions. Really difficult to set up. Instructions seem to be written for experts.

+ range of features, basic recording but also ability to down load from video camera, still camera etc.
once set up reasonably straightforward to operate.

- the instruction manual is over technical and uses terms that are not in common understanding, referencing between sections is messy some functions mean jumping around the manual to follow the procedures.

+ It has linked directly with my Sony LCD TV. Recording is very simple and quality of the image is first class. The HDMI cable ensures the playback quality is superb.

- The remote is jam-packed with buttons, my stubby fingers often catch the wrong one. However, considering all the possible functions that you can use I'd need a controller 3 times the size.

+ Easy to use

- Little on the large side

+ easy to use

- epg a little noisy

+ ease of usre, good picture and sound quality,

- none

+ I liked everything about this product.

- When you record a series it sometimes doesn't tape.

+ Ease of use. The functionality of the player with hard drive and inputs is excellent. The freeview player is built-in and the quality of reception is superb. It is a verty good allround player and as its the Multireion version, it sahould see me througfh for many years. I look forward to linking it to my 1080p TV when I buy it!!!

- This replaced my old Pioneer DV717( Multiregion) player. However the sound quality is not as good as the Pioneer. Although the Pioneer was a flagship model at the time and swept all the awrs when launched. Otherwise the Sony as very good.

+ Nearly everything

- Can't join recordings, screen output settings

+ fast,colour and hd format great

- none

+ Looks,performance,ease of use & versatility.

- No HDMI cable included.

+ easy to connect up to tv

- remote is not easy to use and seems slow to operate

+ Improved digital reception as compared to a previous cheap tuner. More channels

- No dual tuner

+ Being able to view the title list to pick clip from either the HDD or the DVD.

- Connecting it was a nightmare.
In the end I did not follow the details in the manual or the internet but decided to connect it in a way which made sense to me. All seems to work perfectly well.

+ I would thoroughly recommend this machine

- So far we havent established any bad points about this machine

+ dvd and hdd recording, dvd movie playback (no need for separate units), remote control also controls my tv (sony bravia, no idea about non-sony tv's)

- none so far

+ Easy use of remote to enter all funtios of the unit. sleek and modern looking.

- very bright blue and orange light when switched on. quite large in size. hand book can be hard to understand for the novice.

+ Quiet, good quality replay

- HDMI cable not included

+ Overall good quality of build, user friendly, packed with features. Competitive price.

- little bit slow to start up both HDD and DVD.

+ Can do many things, good value for money

- Can be a little noisey when updating

+ Automatic channel scanning, ease of programme guide recording

- difficult to set the clock manuall, the end of some programmes are 'cut off' i.e. not recorded, because it records for the proscribed 30 minutes (or whatever), but the first 4 mins were adverts - I tried to set the clock 3 minutes late to take this into account and couldn't find out how to do it.

+ excellent in every way as far its functions go
no complains...

- terribly hard to set up .. you need to be a genius !
totally confusing if one lives outside the EU !

+ Multi-region, multi-format, HDMI upscaling, MP3 Jukebox and Image Gallery features are a nice bonus.

- Slightly on the pricey side compared to similar models of other brands. Complicated to use for non-techies, and manual not very easy to follow.

+ Pause live TV.Quicker and simpler than VCR with twice the pictur quality

- Would benefit from a second built-in Freeview tuner so you can record one channel while watching another

+ High end DVD recorder ,with many sophisticated features .

- For those not technically minded , a complex machine to operate .

+ Very good all-round product.

- Front panel display too dim - especially when power off.

+ very simple and very easy set up only took 15 minutes

- haven,t found any bad points yet the instructions look difficult but plug in and follow on screen instructions and read the book later

+ Very good product, Quiet in operation, easy to set up. Excellent picture quality using HDMI cable connection to Sony Bravia 32in TV

- Problem with guideplus programme info. Could not get this to load. Maybe not available in UK!!. Used digital programme info instead, This works OK.

+ Its all good, easy to use and set up. Simple enough for your Granny to use!!

- None that I have discovered in 3 weeks of use!!

+ Freeview reception is excellent. Programme guide is well laid out and makes recording a TV programme easy. Editing and dubbing to DVD straightforward. Chase play useful and adverts can easily be skipped. A versatile machine

- This is my second Sony machine of this type. The first one broke within 2 years following a thunderstorm, but no other equipment connected to the aerial suffered damage. (It was the digital tuner that failed) Because the design and performance is so good, I purchased a similar model again.

+ Easy to set up, easy to use.

- None so far

+ Easy to setup

- Reviewer left no comment

+ Easy to install, great picture quality,

- Cannot connect Virgin Media cable through the box....will keep trying!

+ does what is says on the can

- takes a bit of time setting up if you want to record from a sky+ box, no instructions to do this but it can be done, It means that you can record three programmes at the same time using sky and freeview. may be this should be under good points?

+ It all works as it should. Multi Region very useful as I have a few American DVDs

- I found the instruction manual very difficult to follow,in fact I managed to operate it mainly by trial and error

+ ease of use, the wife can record her own programs on this one, excellent playback

- none so far

+ Very easy to record

- Bit of a faff to set up. Still don't know how to get the HDMI lead to work without messing up the channels.

+ picture clarity,packed with features,the wife can't work out how to use it!!

- instruction manual takes some reading-not that obvious how to set up with the equipment most people already have-apart from that its hard to find any bad points at all

+ Reviewer left no comment

- Very difficult to set up.
Instructions could be a lot clearer and simpler

+ Very good HD picture
Ease of recording

- Guide plus screen complicated.
Remote not the easiest to use
Function lamps very bright on front of recorder

+ easy to set up

- Reviewer left no comment

+ The image quality on this box is fantastic. Whatever you record is upscaled to HD. You are able to record a whole series and also if there is any overlaps it searches for another upcoming showing on your schedule.

- The only small downside is that when you view the tv guide the program you are watching disappears.

+ easy to setup, good picture quality, eay to use

- non so far

+ Reviewer left no comment

- The Instruction Book was nigh on incomprehencible

+ In built facilities very good

- The Instruction Manual could be more user friendly by use of nonambiguous English

+ Good price for a Sony product. Ok to set up. Digital picture was very good.

- Noise, the first film I watched, all I could hear during quiet dialogue was the fan motor (I presume), so would not have been able to listen to quiet cd's such as relaxation or classical, which then meant I was listening for it, and although sensitive to noise, this really was unacceptable by anyone's standards.

+ records alot of tv

- it's not as easy to use as one of their earlier models which i also have

+ I DON'T THINK THAT I HAVE HAD THE TIME TO CHECK OUT EVERYTHING THAT THIS AMAZING PIECE OF KIT DOES, BUT WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH IT I CAN'T FIND ANY FAULT WHITH AT ALL. I FIND THE EDITING FUNCTION TO BE VERY ACURATE. THE PICTURE AND SOUND QUALITY ARE SPOT ON, I HAVE MINE RIGGED UP TO MY 5.I SURROUND SYSTEM WITH THE HDMI LEADS. ITS BRILLIANT, AND IT IS VERY EASY TO USE

- NOT FOUND ANY YET. DON'T THINK I WILL

+ its all good

- no bad points

+ Extremely easy to use. Excellent picture quality. Great value for money

- None

+ It does everything it says on the box.

- None

+ excellent quality

- none yet

+ Good quality recordings, loads of features, brilliant for the price

- Instructions overcomplicated and onscreen recording menus are a bit awkward to navigate

+ very simple to programme after fathoming out.

- very slow to start up when switching on from standby.

+ Huge range of features which are very easy to use.

- None yet!

+ Easy to use, easy system set-up with clear on-screen info.

- Found connecting satelite receiver very confusing (still not working as we would like it to!)

+ Looks good and works well. Only had it a short time but so far very pleased.

- Quite difficult to remember what the various controls on the remote are for - have to keep referring to the manual - but I'm sure this will be easier as I get used to it.

+ Excellent picture quality, both live and recorded.

- Remote keys small and not well laid out. Instruction manual not good - structured by individual operations on the remote rather than by high level operations (e.g. "How to record to DVD", etc).

+ Excellent easy to use product - so many features! Havent used them all by any means yet!

- Reviewer left no comment

+ Better than a lot of other models at same price

- Instructions can be confusing if you have a lot of other electronic equipment in your tv

+ Easily installed. And works straight out of the box. In addition, though, it clearly has more facilities which I still haven't got around to using.

- Can't think of any.

+ Now set still finding my feet but very good easy to use

- setting up the EPG was a pain

+ Fairly straightforward to use. Similar to sky plus.

- Reviewer left no comment

+ Easy to program, good quality recording.

- Slightly noisy when running.

+ It is superior in every respect - easy to use, and very functional

- Reviewer left no comment