... But compared to these the Pioneer is sturdier. Very well built.
Even so, anyone interested in LX61D for its Ethernet facility should note that this ONLY works with Windows VISTA. You can't connect LX61D via Ethernet to a PC running Windows XP (any flavour). XP users must connect via USB. ... Read review
Advantages: well-built, good enough picture and sound quality, easy to use Disadvantages: Ethernet on VISTA only (not on XP), rather expensive for what it is
...But compared to these the Pioneer is sturdier. Very well built.
Even so, anyone interested in LX61D for its Ethernet facility should note that this ONLY works with Windows VISTA. You can't connect LX61D via Ethernet to a PC running Windows XP (any flavour). XP users must connect via USB. Your router will see LX61D okay. But XP can't use the connection. Page 125 of the manual makes this clear:
'Use a PC ... ...
But Pioneer doesn't allude to this on its web site. Sneaky, huh?
So, unless you're running VISTA, forget about Ethernet and think 'USB ONLY'. Then go buy the longest USB cable that will work. Actually this might be best because transferring DIVX movies to LX61D via Ethernet takes ages. Whereas USB transfers go much, much quicker. The only downside is not having LX61D available to all PCs on the LAN - which is ... more
The picture quality is no better or worse than on other DVD recorders I own from Sony and Panasonic. But compared to these the Pioneer is sturdier. Very well built.
Even so, anyone interested in LX61D for its Ethernet facility should note that this ONLY works with Windows VISTA. You can't connect LX61D via Ethernet to a PC running Windows XP (any flavour). XP users must connect via USB. Your router will see LX61D okay. But XP can't use the connection. Page 125 of the manual makes this clear:
'Use a PC with a Windows Vista operating system. This operation will not work properly on PCs with other operating systems.'
But Pioneer doesn't allude to this on its web site. Sneaky, huh?
So, unless you're running VISTA, forget about Ethernet and think 'USB ONLY'. Then go buy the longest USB cable that will work. Actually this might be best because transferring DIVX movies to LX61D via Ethernet takes ages. Whereas USB transfers go much, much quicker. The only downside is not having LX61D available to all PCs on the LAN - which is why I bought the unit in the first place.
Otherwise LX61D seems a good enough machine, if slightly overpriced. While the Ethernet facility functions okay using VISTA, I'd probably have been better buying a Panasonic DMR-EX78. That would certainly have been a much cheaper and, according to some, wiser choice.
Then again, unless you know different, there isn't another HDD/DVD recorder on the market right now that offers an Ethernet connection.
Progressive scanning, JPEG photo playback, dual layer DVD recording
Power
Voltage Required
AC 230V ( 50/60 Hz )
Type
Internal
Miscellaneous
Cables Included
Video / audio cable
RF cable
Connections
Connector Type
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire/i.LINK) - front
1 x composite video/audio input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - front
1 x S-Video input ( 4 PIN mini-DIN ) - front
1 x USB ( 4 PIN USB Type A ) - front
1 x USB ( 4 PIN USB Type B ) - front
1 x component video output ( RCA phono x 3 ) - rear
2 x SCART ( 21 PIN SCART ) - rear
1 x composite video/audio output ( RCA phono x 3 ) - rear
1 x S-Video output ( 4 PIN mini-DIN ) - rear
1 x composite video/audio input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - rear
1 x SPDIF output ( RCA phono ) - rear
1 x S-Video input ( 4 PIN mini-DIN ) - rear
1 x HDMI output ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - rear
1 x G-Link Interface - rear
1 x Ethernet ( RJ-45 ) - rear
Remote control
Technology
Infrared
Type
Universal remote control
Slot(s)
Type
1 x Common Interface slot
Clock & alarm
Timer
Record
Clock
Yes (digital)
Digital tv tuner
Tuner Qty
1
Digital TV Tuner Type
DVB-T
Video features
Electronic Programme Guide
Showview, GUIDE Plus+
Tv tuner
Tuner Qty
1
Type
Standard
Digital player (recorder)
Digital Storage Media
Hard disc drive - 250 GB
Manufacturer's product description
The DVR-LX61D is more than a hard disk DVD recorder; it's an advanced media center that enables you to play record and store almost every kind of media format. Copy your entire film, music and photo collection to the DVR-LX61D, whether on DVD, CD, camcorder or home PC. Via Ethernet or USB, you can connect your PC and transfer MP3, WMA, DivX or JPEG files to the recorder's hard disc drive. Drag and drop simple as that. Music CDs can be copied at the touch of a button and stored on the hard disk along with the relevant track information from the Gracenote Database installed in the recorder. When connected, you can even retrieve the most updated information directly from the internet Gracenote Database. Fast and convenient. The DVR-LX61D has an integrated DVB-T and analog TV tuner which enables you to receive and record a host of terrestrial radio and TV programs in outstanding digital quality And if you're watching TV, time becomes less of a challenge, too. You can pause of live TV, which offers you the flexibility of pausing the program you're watching and record it in real time. Just continue watching afterwards, from the exact same point at which you stopped. Convenience is always at your fingertips. The DVR-LX61D features GUIDE Plus+, which is an electronic program guide that allows you to navigate through all the available TV channels on-screen. You can search programs by time or category, and record them at the touch of a button. The DVR-LX61D features a scaling option up to 1080p via HDMI, ensuring the highest viewing resolution. And above all, the system is easy to control; one straightforward remote gives you quick and easy access to all the functions and content. The remote's Home Media Gallery 3keys function gives you rapid, one-touch access to the DivX films, photos and music you've saved on the recorder.
