JVC DR-MH30S Recorder Review

The sleek, 2.8-inch-high deck permits flexible on-disc editing with DVD-RAM and DVD-RW media and easy, digital-to-digital dubbing of high-quality MPEG-2 images, including high-speed dubbing (DVD-RAM: 3x normal speed; DVD-RW: 2x; DVD-R: 4x)--and all with no ungainly component stacking or complicated hookups. The built-in hard drive boasts a whopping 160 GB of storage space, holding up to 204 hours of audio/video programming--that's more than 8 solid days' worth of quality shows, an ideal tool for time-shifted viewing and temporarily storage before you evaluate and archive only the programs you want to long-lasting DVD. The JVC DR-MH30S can pause a live recording, and it provides several simultaneous recording and playback options: recording on the hard disk while playing back from the hard disk or DVD, or recording on DVD while playing back from the hard disk. Not to be overlooked is a fail-safe recording feature during DVD recording that automatically moves an entire program to the hard disk should the program run longer than the DVD's available space. The JVC DR-MH30S Super MPEG Encode Pre-Processor is a 3-step process that takes place before MPEG-2 encoding of the input signal. A time-base corrector eliminates jitter, a frame synchronizer provides frame normalization, and Motion Active Noise Reduction provides a clearer image than with conventional frame noise reduction, such as 3D noise reduction, by way of an algorithm that predicts motion, which the recorder applies between moving pictures to minimize image lag.

The Super MPEG Post-Processor enhances playback image quality through block noise-reduction circuitry, Color DigiPure (which provides 3D noise reduction along with color and detail enhancement), and Hadamard noise reduction (to eliminate mosquito noise).

Editing using the JVC DR-MH30S is a snap, thanks to its navigation system with thumbnail images. Editing from the hard disk to DVD is as simple as creating a playlist, and the thumbnails make it easy to find the desired scenes. Dubbing is just as easy: just select the desired scenes and press "OK".

Convenience features include live memory, which allows fast forwarding, rewinding and slow replay during recording (DVD-RAM only), and DVD Navigation, which can accommodate information about 1,300 recorded programs, including disc number, title, and other details. Load a disc and DVD Navigation will display a thumbnail of recorded programs so you can easily identify content, and the player will even animate the thumbnail images, with sound, when you select them with the cursor.

Other features on the JVC DR-MH30S include quick skip for skipping 30 seconds forward, instant/1-touch replay (which replays the last 7 seconds viewed), natural reverse playback, and a multi-brand remote control. Connections include an i.Link/DV input for your digital camcorder; front and rear S-video and composite-video inputs; component-, S-video and composite-video outputs; a front-panel audio input; and digital-audio outputs (1 each optical/coaxial) alongside a stereo analog audio output.

What Features Does the JVC DR-MH30S Have?

• Playable formats: HDD, DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD, SVCD, VCD, CD-R/RW, WMA/MP3/JPEG Digital Still (CD-R/RW)

• Recordable formats: HDD, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW (VR and Video Formats), DVD-R

• Hard-disk drive (HDD): 160 GB

• HDD capacity: XP mode (9.6 Mbps) for 34 hours; SP mode (5 Mbps) for 68 hours; LP mode (2.5 Mbps) for 136 hours; EP mode (1.6 Mbps) for 204 hours; FR mode (9.6-1.6 Mbps) for 34-204 hours (Variable at 61 Steps)

• Advance recording: 1-year/32-program timer; reliable timer programming (VCR+C3, RecLink [HDD], on-calendar programming)

• Auto 16:9 Recording and Playback: Yes

• MTS decoder: Yes

• Tuner: NTSC, 181-channel frequency synthesized tuner

• Power Save Mode : Yes

• Permanent Program Memory: Yes

• 60-Min. Power Backup : Yes

• Remote control: Multibrand TV/DVD/DBS compatible remote control

• Dubbing: 2-path encode dubbing (HDD to DVD); high-speed dubbing, max. 24x (HDD to DVD); just dubbing (HDD to DVD); playlist-based editing (HDD to DVD); easy program dubbing

• Progressive-scan: Yes (Motion Active progressive-scan output for video source; Digital Direct progressive-scan Output for film source)

• Picture enhancements: Recording: Super MPEG encode preprocessor: Time Base Corrector, Frame Synchronizer and Motion Active Noise Reduction; playback: Super MPEG Post-Processor: Block Noise Reduction Circuit, Color DigiPure and Hadamard Noise Reduction System

• Library Database DVD Navigation: Yes

• Index Picture Navigation: Yes

• Setup assistance: Help function and high-resolution GUI

• Menu: DVD-R menu screen with thumbnail (18 designs)

• Recording features: Live memory (HDD) and live memory dubbing (HDD to DVD); simultaneous recording and playback (HDD); retroactive recording (HDD); relief recording (HDD); recorded program divide (HDD); Linear PCM audio recording (XP mode only), "Undo Finalization" capability (DVD-RW)

• Playback features: Instant Replay, Quick Skip, Time Skip, Live Slow

• Video DAC: 10-bit/54 MHz

• Audio DAC: 192 kHz/24-bit

• Surround sound output: Dolby Digital/DTS Digital Output

• Virtual Surround: Yes

• Variable search and slow: Yes

• Natural reverse playback (-1x): Yes

• Audio outputs: Optical and coaxial digital, 1 stereo analog (left/right) RCA output

• Audio inputs: 2 stereo analog (left/right) RCA

• Video outputs: Component, S-Video, and Composite

• Video inputs: i.Link connection (DV input to HDD), S-video and composite-video

• Front AV inputs: Yes

• Item width: 17.1 inches

• Item height: 2.8 inches

• Item depth: 13.8 inches

• Item weight: Information not available

• Warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor

Conclusion

Best DVD Recorder Reviews Rating

6.5/10

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JVC DR-MH30S Recorder Review
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