Pioneer DVR-RT601H-S Review

Overall Rating

Compact
Easy to use
Excellent editing tools

Does so much, need the manual on hand, all 132 pages!!!

Needed to reduce the number of pieces cluttering the TV cabinet. What with the Sky+ box, DVD player/Home cinema system and VCR it took up a lot of room. TV was playing up so that needed replacing.

After slating Comet in and earlier review, ended up there looking for the replacement TV.

Bought a Sony LCD TV and happened across this Pioneer HDD/DVD/VCR unit.

It was everything I needed in one package. Although I no longer have a surround sound system, I don't really miss it.

This HDD/DVD/VCR recorder is the only one I've found that has a built in VCR. All the other HDD units only had a DVD recorder. Although the HDD is only 80Gb I have found it more than ample for my uses.

You can record directly from source [i.e. incoming TV program] to either Video, DVD or HDD.

It will handle:
DVD video
DVD-R
DVD-RW
CD
Video CD
VHS (PAL/SECAM)

To comply with legislation it will not copy, Copy Protected Video's or DVDs

By recording onto the hard drive you can edit the recording, to remove excess recording at beginning and/or end plus there is also the ability to remove the adverts from the recording. There is also the option to create chapters at 10 or 15 minute intervals. Transferring a 2 hour film from HDD to DVD-R in SP quality takes about 15 minutes

Quality selection for a 4.5 Gb DVD-R/RW:
XP 1 hour
SP 2 hours
LP 4 hours
EP 6 hours
SLP 8 hours
SEP 10 hours

Programming is straight forward. OTR as you would expect. There are three timer setting methods. The usual setting time/date/duration, Videoplus and Pioneers own Guideplus system.

The Guideplus can download and store the electronic program guides from SKY and/or FREEVIEW boxes and using the supplied G-Link, programs to be recorded can be selected from the on-screen program listings.

You can copy directly from a camcorder, copy unprotected Video's and DVD's [i.e from DVD camcorders etc.] to the Hard Drive. You can edit out the bits you don't want to keep. You can then 'burn' onto DVD R, joining together multiple films and create a menu.

The hard drive will also store music from Cd's and create a 'Jukebox'

There is also a PhotoViewer facility to view JPEG photo from CD-ROM/R/RW on your TV.

Overall I have found this Pioneer HDD/DVD/VCR to be extremely versatile and once you master the basic functions, easy to use.

Highly recommended