Philips DVDR520H Recorder Review

Whether recording to DVD or hard disk, programming the Philips DVDR520H is simple using the GUIDE Plus+ electronic program guide (EPG). The EPG is a point-and-click system that lets you specify which programs to record, up to 7 days ahead. Using the model's extensive inputs--including an i.Link digital video jack--you can transfer and assemble your most treasured camcorder footage, archive all your old video tapes, or burn video from your PC straight to high-capacity DVD--up to an amazing 8 hours per disc side using either DVD+R or rewritable DVD+RW.

The Philips DVDR520H also gives you the ability to pause live TV and instantly replay scenes just missed. If the phone rings or someone comes to the front door, simply pause the show you're watching and resume viewing from that point when you're ready.

The hard disk time shift buffer stores up to 6 hours of programs, giving you the freedom to decide after the fact whether you want to keep something for future viewing. When the buffer is full, the oldest programs are automatically deleted, unless you've marked them for saving. The Philips DVDR520H also features a simple solution for transferring recordings from the hard disk to DVD media: high-speed archiving. With a single command, the device will digitally transfer programs to DVD at up to 20 times the speed of the program duration.

The Philips DVDR520H Recording functions include favorite scene selection, automatic/manual chapter marker insertion, selectable index pictures, append, and divide. DVD+RW discs require no finalizing--you can record, eject, and play them with minimal fuss, thanks to "background formatting." This feature, which lowers total burning time, is an advantage over the "dash" formats. Other DVD+RW advantages include on-disc content editing and multisession writing. And, through DVD+RW and DVD+R's compatibility with most existing DVD players, they're a great way for you to share your special memories with family and friends.

The Philips DVDR520H is also a first-rate DVD player, featuring progressive-scan video outputs, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround sound passthrough, MP3 CD playback (CD-R/CD-RW), JPEG picture CD/DVD playback, and compatibility with most DVD media (including video-mode DVD-R and DVD-RW).

Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the Philips DVDR520H stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.

Top-of-the-line interlaced component-video outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts from component-video sources and on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video inputs and outputs bring compatibility with nearly any video component and television monitor. Philips DVDR520H's Audio inputs consist of 2-channel analog jacks with 24-bit/96 kHz analog-to-digital conversion and Dolby Digital 2.0 audio compression (compression is nondefeatable). Video conversion is performed by 9-bit, 27 MHz converters for recording and high-quality 10-bit, 54 MHz converters for playback.

Two sets of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (1 each coaxial and optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.

What's in the Box?

What Features Does the Philips DVDR520H Have?

· Progressive scan: Yes

· 3:2 pulldown: No

· Region playback: Compatible only with non-region-coded (code-free) discs and with discs coded for Region 1

· Switchable 480p/480i: Yes

· Memory card slot: No

· Playback formats: DVD-Video (NTSC), VCD, SVCD, DVD+R, DVD+RW, video mode DVD-R and DVD-RW, red book CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 CD, JPEG image CD/DVD

· Recording formats: DVD+R, DVD+RW

· Built-in hard-disk drive: Yes

· HDD capacity: 80 GB (up to 100 hours of programming)

· FlexTime: Lets you watch a program while it's still being recorded

· High-speed archiving: HDD to DVD: up to 20x normal speed

· Aspect ratio control: Yes

· Dialog enhancer: No

· Black-level enhancement: Yes

· Integrated receiver: No

· Front-panel operation: No (remote required for use)

· Quick play: No

· Multi-angle viewing: Yes (with applicable discs)

· Audio encoding: Dolby Digital 2.0 only (16 bits, 48 kHz; does not record linear PCM digital audio)

· Horizontal resolution: 525 lines

· Video DAC: 10-bit, 54 MHz

· Audio DAC: 24-bit, 96 kHz

· Video ADC: 9-bit, 27 MHz

· Audio ADC: 24-bit, 96 kHz

· HDCD decoding: No

· Video signal-to-noise ratio: Information not available

· Audio signal-to-noise ratio: 70 dB (at 1 kHz)

· Dynamic range (video): Information not available

· Dynamic range (audio): 80 dB (at 1 kHz)

· Crosstalk (audio): 110 dB (at 1 kHz)

· Distortion plus noise: 90 dB (at 1 kHz)

· Frame advance: Yes

· Still/freeze frame: Yes

· Jog/shuttle dial on unit: No

· Karaoke: No

· Multilingual support: Yes (English, Spanish, French)

· Remote control: Yes

· Recording capability: Yes

· Recording capacity: 1 to 6 hours per side, depending on selected quality level (6 levels)

· Advance recording: Yes (16 events, 1 year/daily/weekly)

· VCR Plus+ guide: Yes

· Auto clock set: Yes

· Recording features: Favorite scene selection, automatic/manual chapter marker insertion, selectable index pictures, selectable background picture, append, divide, and fit to space

· Video encoding: MPEG2 for DVD

· Editing features: Automatic/Manual Chapter Marker insertion, Selectable Index Pictures, Append, Divide

· Favorite scene selection: For easy editing of your home movies

· G-Link/IR blaster included: No

· Repeat play: Yes (A-B)

· Resume play: Yes (up to 20 discs)

· Track programming: No

· Intro scan: Yes

· Time search: Yes

· Reverse-frame step: Yes

· Screen dimmer: Yes (display on/off)

· Screen saver: No

· Slow motion: Yes

· Text display: No

· VCR capability: No

· Audio outputs: 2 stereo analog (left/right), 2 digital (1 coaxial, 1 optical)

· Headphone jack: No

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

· Video outputs: 1 component-video, 1 S-video, 1 composite-video, 1 RF

· Video inputs: 1 S-video, 2 composite-video, 1 IEEE 1394 DV, 1 RF

· Surround-sound output: Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel passthrough

· Simulated surround sound: No

· THX-certified: No

· Front-panel inputs: Yes (including i.Link)

· Power input: AC 100 to 120V, 60 Hz

· Power consumption: 38 watts (less than 3 watts standby)

· Item width: 16.9 inches

· Item height: 2.6 inches

· Item depth: 10.12 inches

· Item weight: 10.58 pounds

· Warranty: The Philips DVDR520H comes with 1 year parts and labor

Conclusion

Best DVD Recorder Reviews Rating

5/10

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