Recommended "high End" Pvr?

[DRAGONKZ]

I'm currently looking at purchasing a new TV that may not have a tuner built in, and will need to get a STB/PVR... but have no idea whats a decent one.

I've had a brief look around, and the only decent ones i can find so far are:

1. Sony SVRHD700

2. Pioneer DVR745H

The main features i would be looking for are PIP, and Twin HD tuners... HDMI is also a nice bonus.

I dont normally record TV shows (unless its for other family members) so an extremely large HDD is not a pre-requisite. And a DVD player is also not a pre-requisite.

I also have no fixed budget (so keep that in mind )

Does anyone know of the pioneer supports PIP and has Twin HD tuners? (I couldnt find any info listed on their site)

If the pioneer does have PIP/Twin tuners, then it would be the better buy? (As it has alot larger HDD, seems to support a few forms of inputs...etc)

What are peoples thoughts/suggestions? Any would be greatly appreciated

[pietro1503559499]

There may be screams of derision from some, but it has to be said if you can get a Toshiba J35 that has been hardware-upgraded by Castel you are very likely to have a reliable PVR that will do the things you requested.

[mark190706]

I'm currently looking at purchasing a new TV that may not have a tuner built in, and will need to get a STB/PVR... but have no idea whats a decent one.

I've had a brief look around, and the only decent ones i can find so far are:

1. Sony SVRHD700

2. Pioneer DVR745H

The main features i would be looking for are PIP, and Twin HD tuners... HDMI is also a nice bonus.

I dont normally record TV shows (unless its for other family members) so an extremely large HDD is not a pre-requisite. And a DVD player is also not a pre-requisite.

I also have no fixed budget (so keep that in mind )

Does anyone know of the pioneer supports PIP and has Twin HD tuners? (I couldnt find any info listed on their site)

If the pioneer does have PIP/Twin tuners, then it would be the better buy? (As it has alot larger HDD, seems to support a few forms of inputs...etc)

What are peoples thoughts/suggestions? Any would be greatly appreciated

Have you read the thread and links at:

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=36191

Re preferences, you will get as many proponents of the various models as you will get detractors - it seems that people who have stuck with their particular brand are now reasonably satisfied with their purchase. If you have the time, you can trawl through the various threads on each product to assess feedback.

[Tassie Devil]

I'm currently looking at purchasing a new TV that may not have a tuner built in, and will need to get a STB/PVR... but have no idea whats a decent one.

I've had a brief look around, and the only decent ones i can find so far are:

1. Sony SVRHD700

2. Pioneer DVR745H

The main features i would be looking for are PIP, and Twin HD tuners... HDMI is also a nice bonus.

I dont normally record TV shows (unless its for other family members) so an extremely large HDD is not a pre-requisite. And a DVD player is also not a pre-requisite.

I also have no fixed budget (so keep that in mind )

Does anyone know of the pioneer supports PIP and has Twin HD tuners? (I couldnt find any info listed on their site)

If the pioneer does have PIP/Twin tuners, then it would be the better buy? (As it has alot larger HDD, seems to support a few forms of inputs...etc)

What are peoples thoughts/suggestions? Any would be greatly appreciated

We have used a Humax Smart in this house for quite awhile now and am very satisfied with it. Nice features:

1. Twin tuner

2. The easiest unit to program in this house (in the context of 4 others)

3. Brilliant choice of speeds (and yes, that 64X IS useful)

4. Automatically bookmarks so you can resume the next day where you left off without making a special effort to mark it as you need to do with many other players

5. Excellent PQ (although most digital PVRs are very good these days)

6. Good sized remote.

About the only negative (and this one bugs lots of people around here) it has no chase play, meaning you cannot look at a program until it has completed recording it. I also cannot get s-video out of the second SCART but it seems that VCR SCART is never meant to offer more than the composite signal meant for lowly VCRs (and who bothers with them any more these days). A second negative could be the RGB out of the SCART. You will need a powered adaptor to convert that to component.

The other FTA PVR here is the Wintal. An inexpensive single tuner unit but not really what you are after.

I have a Topfield 5000PVR for recording off satellite and find the Humax much more user friendly. And I did have a MediaStar 820 PVR in the system here (actually up for sale at the moment) and it was not as ergonomic as the Humax, which has been reliable and has never crunched up a recording.

If you are tempted to look at a HD PVR, then research these boards carefully as most have given problems. SD PVRs are pretty well sorted out now.

Bottom line, the Humax is the choice of HDD player in this place.

John

[pgdownload]

Hi Dragon,

I was tempted to suggest you wait a month. The Topfield 7000 is out ($1100) and should be that long before firmware updates start making it much more reliable / featured. The BeyonWiz is also due out by then ($1400+). However the fact that you don't record much would make me suggest an LG PVR. Seems to be the best out of the Sony and Toshiba J35 and LG. Its only 'flaw' is you can't record 2 things at once via timer (you can manually though and it does PIP). Its main benefit is its much cheaper then its rivals ($600-$700 or so.) PQ top notch apparently.

Have a read of this PVR post (its mostly SD but it has a link to a HD comparison table and some good general PVR info:

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=36191&hl=

Also have a read of the LG FAQ (pinned in the PVR branch)

Happy hunting

Peter Gillespie

PS I think Tassie missed your HD requirement somehow

[Zacspeed]

When you say you're after a high end PVR im not sure if you mean youre willing to pay a premium price for one also.

Apparently theres I think an Acer or dell unit thats meant to be a really good media centre.

I dont know alot about it other than reading it on the cnet site.

But im in a similar boat.

I personally think we're still not quite there for having a reliable full featured PVR.

The Beyonwiz sounds promising but then again so did the Topfield 7000. Not that im knocking it, just that after a huge wait it left punters not all that elated with it.

My aim is to at this stage get a Sony SVRHD700 as if you look in various places they can be had for relatively cheap and then resold for pretty much the same as it was purchased.

So by that time id have marked time for long enough to get the Beyonwiz & hopefully by then had its bugs fixed (if any).

[hornblower]

I'm currently looking at purchasing a new TV that may not have a tuner built in, and will need to get a STB/PVR... but have no idea whats a decent one.

I've had a brief look around, and the only decent ones i can find so far are:

1. Sony SVRHD700

2. Pioneer DVR745H

The main features i would be looking for are PIP, and Twin HD tuners... HDMI is also a nice bonus.

I dont normally record TV shows (unless its for other family members) so an extremely large HDD is not a pre-requisite. And a DVD player is also not a pre-requisite.

I also have no fixed budget (so keep that in mind )

Does anyone know of the pioneer supports PIP and has Twin HD tuners? (I couldnt find any info listed on their site)

If the pioneer does have PIP/Twin tuners, then it would be the better buy? (As it has alot larger HDD, seems to support a few forms of inputs...etc)

What are peoples thoughts/suggestions? Any would be greatly appreciated

You may investigate NextWave 6900PVR which is a high definition twin tuner PVR with 250GB HDD. However visit Sydney HIFI and make sure that you are satisfied with all the features. The only downside I found is that you cannot timeslip (or chase play) a recording which has been started via a timer. You can however chase play a recording started manually.

hornblower

[diesel]

Does anyone know of the pioneer supports PIP and has Twin HD tuners? (I couldnt find any info listed on their site)

The Pioneer only has a single analogue tuner and is really a DVD recorder with HDD

HD Tuners with Hard Drive (PVR) are still fairly thin on the ground;

Topfield 7000PVRt - twin tuner; 250GB; USB out

Strong 5490 - twin tuner; 250GB; ethernet

Toshiba - J35 ??????

LG 5402/3 - twin tuner (not true twin tuner); 160/250GB

Sony - SVR700/900 - twin tuner; 160/250GB

BeyonWiz - twin tuner; 200GB; ethernet; DVD player (release pending)

Others - ??????

As Pete suggested the LG is pretty good value and a good compromise

[Grampus]

Strong 5490.

Hasn't missed a beat since early f/w replaced.

Twin tuner.

View 1 recorded and record 2 others at the same time.

Chase play.

Timeslip.

PIP.

1 Minute skip

10 second skip.

U/g via USB

250G HDD

[snicholas]

All current HD PVR's have some sort of bug or shortcoming that will disappoint. Hang out for the new Beyondwiz unit due for release in the next month.

<http://www.beyondwiz.com/>

Scott

[austruckie]

All current HD PVR's have some sort of bug or shortcoming that will disappoint. Hang out for the new Beyondwiz unit due for release in the next month.

<http://www.beyondwiz.com/>

Scott

I think august is more likely for beyondwiz release.

[deangelj]

Another option is the MediaStar upscaling twin tuner PVR. This is an SD PVR but upscales to 1080i and has HDMI out. So you get the tried and proven twin tuner SD technology with the upscaling. Don't have one personally but I would look at it as well.

cheers,

John

[Grampus]

I think august is more likely for beyondwiz release.

We kept on hearing this kind of moving target when I hung out for the Toppy to appear for 18 months or so.

Bit the bullit, bought the Strong and very happy that I did.

[Maton]

digitalview is releasing theirs shortly, going to be the best on the market

[dvduser]

digitalview is releasing theirs shortly, going to be the best on the market

Yeh, Yeh - that's what they all say

[Maton]

it will speak for itself when its released

[Mining Man]

I'm currently looking at purchasing a new TV that may not have a tuner built in, and will need to get a STB/PVR... but have no idea whats a decent one.

~

What are peoples thoughts/suggestions? Any would be greatly appreciated

REPORTED

Sorry folks, just curious:

Just wondering how this guy started a new thread with less than 10 posts?

I realise you've granted this in special cases before, but this particular thread has been done over and over and over and over...

Not particularly concerned, just curious where the line is being drawn.

Cheers,

Aaron.

I guess I'll find out...

[Dave®]

I think august is more likely for beyondwiz release.

Where are you getting this conclusion from?

[Tassie Devil]

Just wondering how this guy started a new thread with less than 10 posts?

I realise you've granted this in special cases before, but this particular thread has been done over and over and over and over...

Not particularly concerned, just curious where the line is being drawn.

Not trying to divert discussion away from the original posting but IMO it is a good idea, from time to time, to start new threads on a previously discussed topics. Reasons:

* some threads become far too long to wade through to glean info

* changes in releases mean that a thread of a month or so ago recommending items does not address new developmenmts

* aquisitions by more people give a better balance of experiences

Having said that I do get frustrated by queries that are answered in the stickies up top. Some nubies (and this is not aimed at DRAGONKZ) seem just too lazy :ph34r: to read and/or understand what is in them.

John

[Anton-P.]

Some nubies (and this is not aimed at DRAGONKZ) seem just too lazy :ph34r: to read and/or understand what is in them.

You should allow for the fact that newbies may not know about and/or where to look for stickies.

My suggestion is a one-line reply "You can read it [here]".

Only repeated offenders need to be told off.

[Tassie Devil]

You should allow for the fact that newbies may not know about and/or where to look for stickies.

Maybe each board should have a separated sticky [under the others] simply saying -

"NUBIES, please research the stickies above before posting"

Only repeated offenders need to be told off.

Not sure anyone here should do that

John

[psi]

I dont normally record TV shows (unless its for other family members) so an extremely large HDD is not a pre-requisite.

Actually you do need a decent HDD size A PVR will change the way you watch telly. No adds ! Never miss a show (except for finger trouble). Record 2 and watch a previously recorded. "Can you record these shows for me". Before you know it the drive will fill up, especially if you record HD.

Strong 5490 has great PQ IMO. Overall happy with unit, although HDD failed at 6 months old.

[Tassie Devil]

Actually you do need a decent HDD size A PVR will change the way you watch telly. No adds ! Never miss a show (except for finger trouble). Record 2 and watch a previously recorded. "Can you record these shows for me". Before you know it the drive will fill up, especially if you record HD.

Completely agree with that sentiment. I am also doing exactly that with Austar. Anything of the slightest interest is recorded as, if it turns out otherwise, deletion is quick and easy. Programs like 60 minutes are watched in 40 mins max, zip thru the ads and skip some or all of a segment (they repeat sentiments over and over as, at times, they appear to aim at a mental age of 8). We enjoy "Dancing with the Stars" but can see the 1.75 hours of it in under 1 hour - they fill these shows up with so much crap and advertising we could not bear to watch it live.

So, psi is spot on, a PVR will dramatically change the way you watch TV, much more so than a VCR did as FF and delete are so much easier with HDD and there is no messy tape to get tangled, rewound, inserted and removed etc. And remember that if you record in HD, you require 2x as much HDD space as SD. IMO 250 gb is the bare minimum, 320 gb should be the norm for HD PVRs.

John

[Wing Nut]

I fully agree with the sentiments above. Over the 30 years or so that VCRs have been in around, I can't ever recall being as constantly enthused by a VHS recorder as I am with my PVR. It does indeed change the way an entire household enjoys their favourite shows. The interruption of phone, doorbell, dinner or advert [click ... click .. grin] are no longer a big deal with freeze, timeshift or watch it later options. Being so used to accumulating VHS tapes, with only a (large) HDD in my PVR I thought I'd miss the easy archival option, but it is far outweighed by the convenience of all (digital) files ready to go in seconds - no digging through piles of rarely labeled (and typically analogue) DVDs. It also curbs the collector instinct that has left me with piles of VHS tapes hoarded away never to be watched (in blurry-vision).

I would rank the typical analogue DVD recorders just slightly above VCRs, but a PVR would be way ahead.

[DRAGONKZ]

Thanks for all the replies guys, i havent been online for a few days so will read through them all tonight!

I dont have a fixed budget, i will just save and buy whats best. I wouldnt spend $10K on one, but at the same time buying one thats over 1-2K wouldnt be a problem

I did read the stickies, but couldnt find much info on the pioneer PVR

I know how the function...etc (which the stickies explain), i just have no idea what was considered the "best" overall