Pioneer DVR-550H-S

Advantages: Great quality, lots of useful features
Disadvantages: Takes a lot of time to work out how to use!

...This is a great product, but only if you take the time to work out how to use all the features and link them together. However, my wife who has never had any problems with technology cannot fathom it, and has to ask me to carry out any recording functions. That having been said the playback, recording and sound quality are all very good - especially through HDMI cable. The player has a few tricks up its sleeve in that it can store pictures from a digital camera and has a jukebox to store music from MP3 players. The in-built TV guide is exceptional. You can list your preferences and the guide will then automatically show recommended programmes for viewing and recording. Also films and sport are shown in different colours so are easy to pick out. The remote link function is also handy. It means the DVR can be hidden from view... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Great sound quality and picture quality for video gaming
Disadvantages: Bad looking remote

...Took my time choosing what plasma to buy, I believe anything above 32' should be a plasma and I''m glad I paid the extra an got this Pioneer, OK it didn''t come with a stand as the 4270XD but you get picture in picture and two hdmi i/p. Build Quality is excellent, Picture quality excellent on DVD (will look for a upscaler dvd 1080i), Xbox360 1080i looks fantastic, standard TV and sky (haven''t upgraded) good enough as this is a HD TV rightfully, Can support 1080p but believe only 24Hz blue ray dics format.I have read that people don''t like the remote I can''t see why it matches the TV with the same look and is metal not cheap plastic also you can programme it for your sky boxes, dvd/dvr, and vcr with all manufacturer codes supplied so three extra devices can be easily added.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: EPG, recording modes, HDD recodring and DVD playback
Disadvantages: Only one recording format

...We were a little sceptible about buying this particular recorder, but since we have and eventually worked out how to set it up it's been a godsend. Before we were only able to record one channel from the ntl box when we went on holiday, but with the EPG and infra red 'dongle' this DVD recorder will allow recordings from any of the channels as it automaticlaly changes it for you! Very useful indeed. Simply use the EPG to select the programs you're after and then it'll do the rest basically. Editing function is easy to use and copying from HDD to a DVD is pretty fast. Only slight bugbear is that this particular model only allows DVD-R/DVD-RW recording and not the DVD+R, but hey with the progress of technology I now believe that Pioneer have produced one of these. No HDMI output either, but hey component video out is fine considering... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful