What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
13 OCT 2008
Sony RDR-HDX995
Ticks all our boxes for spec and performance – if you want a huge hard disk, this should be your weapon of choice
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How much TV content do you really need to keep on your recorder's hard disk? Can you settle for burning those must-see-but-actually-never-got-round-to-watching movies to a disc, or must they remain on your hard disk? And are you really going to watch the rest of Ashes to Ashes or accept it just wasn't the same?
We only ask as you pay the extra for this, the
Sony RDR-HDX995, over the cheaper
RDR-HXD890, chiefly for the monstrous 250GB hard disk.
On-screen menus are easy to navigate
The unassuming, yet stylish 'HDX995 is very easy to navigate. The connection that sets this one apart from the cheaper model is the CI slot for TV cards, should you wish to top up your channels.
Elsewhere, there's an HDMI out with 1080p upscaling, two USB ports, a DV input and a digital audio coaxial output, alongside the Scart, component and S-video selection.
There are analogue and digital tuners (digital supports pause live TV), while disc compatibility is exhaustive, with only dual layer DVD+-R/RW discs off the menu.
Decent recordings, ample storage
The quality of the digital tuner is excellent. Colours are vivid yet natural, edges are drawn carefully and sharply, motion is smooth, and deep black levels are handled well.
Not only is the recording process a painless one, but the results are pleasing. The top modes prove utterly faithful – with 250GB to play with, why bother with anything lower?
The icing on the cake is a clean, detailed and involving DVD picture when using the recorder's on-board scaler. Sonically this recorder is decent too, digital audio making a decent stab at filling our room and delivering detail and dynamics.
So another full thumbs-up for a Sony DVD recorder – you just have to decide how much storage you need.