Sony RDR-HXD-890 Hard Drive & DVD Recorder

Advantages: Record to hard drive, DVD drive, watch and record at the same time.
Disadvantages: I needed to read the instruction manual!

...Last weekend our old video-recorder started chewing tapes, so it was about time that we upgraded. We already had a DVD recorder, but had been using it in tandem with our video recorder through an aerial booster that split the signal between the two machines without loss of quality. When it comes to such gadgets, being the sort of person that likes to see what I am buying, I went off to Comet's to see what was available. Being a Sony lover I was impressed by the RDR-HXD-890, one of the latest hard disk drive/DVD recorders from Sony's Range. It seems that black is back in vogue which I have always preferred; when I bought the last recorder, all I could get was silver, but there is a choice of black or silver with the RDR-HXD-890. When I got the machine home, I discovered that there were so many options on this machine that I had to...

derek-j-a 23.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Sony RDRHXD890B.CEK

The Sony RDR-HXD 790 is a finicky but effective piece of kit.

Advantages: Does exactly what it should. Quite smart-looking. Lots of different features.
Disadvantages: Finicky to begin with. Instruction manual not crystal clear.

...For a first time buyer of a DVD recorder, the RDR-HXD 790 is admittedly not the simplest machine to operate. To begin with is the initial connecting and setting up of the recorder. Although the instruction manual gives varying options of how to connect it to televisions, sound systems, cable receivers, etc, it was not terribly clear. I bought this DVD recorder to live in the same corner as a digital television, DVD player, and Sky + box, but the instructions seemed to imply that only an analogue signal could be received through the DVD recorder, which also has a digital input and hard drive recorder built in that allows you to pause live television. However, there is a way around it: For example, if you want to record two things on Sky +, record another on the DVD hard drive, and watch another through the television, you will need to...

tuckers87 22.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sony RDR-HXD 790

Sony RDR-HXD 870

Advantages: Built in HDD, Plays Alomost All media, Built in Freeview
Disadvantages: none that i can think of

...almost all the media types I can think of and will read almost any disk there is, so I can play all the content I have stored on my DVD, CDs etc (more about the compatible read/write formats will be below). And with the amount of connections this thing has it will fit to most if not all TV?s to give you a great media centre where you can play all your media. As well as recording to DVD, CDs etc the player has a built in HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and the HDD is 160 GB, The 160 GB hard drive can hold a maximum recording of 455 hour(s) of video which is very impressive. Just think you could most likely fit all the videos you like on there (well if your as picky as me lol). Features: DVD Recorder Hard Disk Drive Integrated Dual Digital and Analogue Tuner Series link recording function JPEG photo playback Block Noise Reduction MP3...

pfishers 13.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Sony RDR-HXD 870

Sony RDR-HXD710

Advantages: Easy to use, good picure and sound and not noisy
Disadvantages: Died too young!

...I have the same machine, which I bought in January 2006. It locks up too, but not often enough to upset me. It has been very easy to use, including recording. It gives a very clear and sharp picture and the sound is fine. The fun is very quiet too! Now the machine has gone dead on me. The only sign of life is a 20sec "Welcome" lit sign and nothing else. Then the "Welcome" goes away and nothing can wake it up. Not as dead as a dodo though, as I can hear sounds coming from inside the machine, suggesting that power is getting to it, but nothing else. I spoke to Sony. "they know nothing". They referred me to one of their recommended repairers, but before I take it to them, has anybody experienced something similar and managed to solve it? Rating: If it lasted a bit longer, I would have given a 4-5 star. But as it...

Amicha2000 27.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sony RDR-HXD710

Sony RDR-HXD870 - great picture performance

Advantages: Picture quality, series recording, connectivity, editing features
Disadvantages: Software issues, Freeview EPG takes time to populate

...Sony RDR-HXD870S We've used the Sony since summer '07 as our sole Freeview box and as a way of archiving TV series and films recorded via our Sky+ system. The only difference between the 870S and the 870B illustrated above is colour - the 870S is silver (to match the rest of our AV kit). I'll start with the bad points, of which the Sony has 2 major ones: 1. The Freeview Guide can take a very long time to populate. If you are used the the Sky guide, or other Freeview boxes for that matter, it can be a pain. Delays of over 2 minutes are not uncommon even when looking at the same day listings. We are running the 870 from a newly installed digital aerial, aligned and tested by a professional, and the 870 itself says the signal is perfect, so this is not the cause. 2. The originally supplied software that deals...

SvenP 04.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Sony RDR-HXD 870

sony rdr-hxd 870

Advantages: twin tuners hdmi upscaling
Disadvantages: even bigger hard drive would be good

...I have changed to this unit from a Samsung machine, the advantage is this has an analogue and digital freeview tuner, it also has the facility to pause live TV and record to the Hard Drive, or the DVD discs. this also has the ability to record to more formats. this feature is particularly useful, allowing you the opportunity to buy discounted blank discs of more types. i had the firmware updated and its great, also it has a digital co axial cable for sound and hdmi upscaling so allows you to play standard dvds at near to hd quality. it works too. the remote also allows you to operate your tv if it is compatible. i have a Toshiba hd tv and this remote can operate channel change and volume. very good item that i would recommend allows me to archive all my sky+ programmes.great...

silverspooninmouth 20.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Sony RDR-HXD 870

A really excellent DVD recorder / tuner

Advantages: Features, quality of picture & sound, build quality, looks
Disadvantages: Pricey, can be slow to respond

...I was looking for a DVD recorder with a hard drive so that can watch programmes from the hard drive & erase them at will rather than have to record everything to a disc. I also wanted it to feature a built in tuner so that I could wire it into another tuner & be able to record a programme whilst watching another. I did some research & narrowed down my selection to Panasonic, Toshiba & Sony. The Sony RDR-HXD860 got the best reviews in the press at the time but it wasn't cheap. Three versions were available with either 80 GB, 160 GB or 240 GB hard drives; I wanted a 160 GB version which retailed at £399.00. I searched the internet & got one from Amazon with free delivery at £299.00 two weeks before Christmas 2006. It wasn't the cheapest on the market but it was loaded with features I wanted & there is Sony's reputation for making...

ScottishWestie 08.11.2007 · Read review
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Review of Sony RDR HXD 860

User review of Sony RDR-HXD 710

Advantages: Multiple recording settings, record tv & watch DVD simultaneously
Disadvantages: when recording cannot switch channels

...I purchased one of these recorders from my local sony centre a few months ago and I have not been dissapointed, well not by much. The device is relatively simple to use in its basic functions, allthough I have yet to try the more compex features. Its 160GB capacity hard drive is ample for storage as there are various levels of recording compression you can use - I have several full length movies and multiple TV shows recorded at the standard setting and I'm only at around 30-40% capacity. The built in Free-view decoder eliminates the need for a separate box and multiple scart cables. The recorder supports several mainstream disc formats, although I have been unsuccesful in playing discs recorded on PC's - possibly due to file formats rather than disc types. All of the main surround sound types are supported such as Dolby Digital...

Jay-S 10.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Sony RDR-HXD710

  'Sony' 172 Pages Of Instructions!

Advantages: Goes way beyond just being a TV recorder
Disadvantages: You have to read through 172 pages to find out to what extent!

...Like it or not, Freeview TV is coming - that's the over-the-air digital TV that bit by bit will see off analogue TV, and in fact the process has started, with the whole country slated to be 'cut over' by 2012. Just being able to watch it, assuming you can (I'm conveniently forgetting any aerial upgrades that may be needed), merely requires either a set-top box or a TV with the digital tuner built in. Try recording it though and your options get slimmer. You can either buy a set-top box that also contains a hard disk drive and two tuners, (aka Personal Video Recorder or PVR), or buy a machine like the Sony RDR-HXD870 which can not only receive Freeview, but record to a hard drive, and thence to a built-in DVD recorder if the need to archive anything should crop up. This also means that it doubles as a DVD and CD player. So...

BNibbles 09.12.2007 (11.12.2007) · Read review
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Review of Sony RDR-HXD 870

Another winner from Sony.

Advantages: Large hard drive, music jukebox, price.
Disadvantages: Size of instruction manual.

...I recently upgraded my old Dvd recorder which had an 80 Gig hard drive to this Sony RDR-HXD870B with a 160 Gig drive. The fact that i paid nearly £150 more 3 years ago for my older 80 Gig recorder only goes to show how much prices have fallen and now is the best time to purchase these products. Pricing and warranties. I paid £220 from empire direct who also give you the option during purchase to upgrade to a 3 year warranty for an extra £20. You need to sign up to become an edxtra member at a cost of £20 for 1 years membership. You then get a free 3 year warranty on selected products over £200. There is no limit to how many items you can purchase within your 1 years membership. So I paid £240 for 3 years warranty, a bargain considering this model sells elsewhere for between £220 and £320 for a basic 1 year warranty. Audio...

eddierog 29.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of Sony RDR-HXD 870