Toshiba RD-XS54

Toshiba RD-XS54 Recorder Review

Watch your television programming on your own time with the powerful Toshiba RD-XS54 DVD recorder with integrated digital video recorder (DVR) with a massive 250 GB hard drive.

You'll also get amazing video results when playing DVDs, thanks to the Toshiba RD-XS54 upconversion from 480p to 720p/1080i formats and its progressive 3:2 pulldown detection. It also comes with TV Guide On Screen program guide, which provides access to eight days of programming. It's easy to find the programs you want to record--just search by keyword or sort programs by category, then highlight the listing and simply press the record button. It will also control your cable box (via IR blasters) for simplified unattended recording.

The Toshiba RD-XS54 records to affordable DVD-R/RW discs as well as DVD-RAM discs, a very flexible format that enables you to re-record on the disc up to several thousand times. In addition to playing back those recordable formats, this DVD player is also compatible with playing DVD movie, CD audio, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, VCD, and SVCD, as well as MP3 and WMA digital audio files.

Recorded content remains easy to find with the help of a menu that will be automatically created when you record. It displays the date and channel you recorded, along with a thumbnail of your recording by capturing the first video frame of the recording. The date and channel can be change to any 64-character title and the thumbnails to any image within the recording. Chapters within the recording can also be created by either predetermined intervals, or by the user selecting specific points within the recording.

With Toshiba's Network NAVI system, you can connect to your home network via a LAN 10/100 port (Ethernet), allowing for easy integration between your home entertainment center and your PC. The NAVI system enables you to:

• Dub copy-free content from one RD-XS54 to another if both are connected to the same network

• Stream recorded content or even live programming to a PC

• Upload custom Menu backgrounds for creating DVD-R/RW discs

• Edit and add title information to recorded content from a PC

• Remotely schedule recordings via email

• Receive automatic software upgrades

• Use a PC scroll mouse to control the recorder for detailed video editing

With the HDMI connection, which supports uncompressed digital video up to HDTV level resolution, the RD-XS54 can up-convert standard DVD picture resolution to nearly HDTV-quality with output resolutions of 720p or 1080i. This makes a DVD player with an HDMI connection the perfect match for today's digital televisions. And because this conversion is performed in the player, the signal remains free from excessive digital-to-analog conversion artifacts.

The RD-XS54 performs 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal, too--a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. To adapt 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video, frames in the original movie must be duplicated; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this duplication by removing the redundant information to display a frame-accurate picture. A 3D Y/C comb filter further enhances resolution by removing blurred edges between colors and reducing dot crawl (tiny, moving dots of color along a sharp color separation in a vertical line, as in a depiction of a character's striped T-shirt).

It offers the following connection options:

• Composite AV (RCA): 3 in (1 front, 2 rear); 3 out (1 front, 2 rear)

• S-Video: 3 in (1 front, 2 rear); 3 out (1 front, 2 rear)

• Component video: 1 out (Y/Pr/Pb)

• HDMI: 1 out

• RF: 1 in, 1 out

• Analog audio (RCA, L/R): 3 in (1 front, 2 rear); 3 out (1 front, 2 rear)

• Firewire: 1 in

• Ethernet: 1

• Digital optical audio out: 1

• Headphone: 1

Tech Talk

HDMI -- HDMI makes an uncompressed digital RGB connection from the source to the screen. By eliminating conversion to an analog signal, it delivers an unblemished image. The non-degraded signal reduces flicker and leads to a clearer picture. HDMI intelligently communicates the highest output resolution with the source device. The HDMI input is fully backward compatible with DVI sources but includes digital audio. HDMI uses HDCP copy protection.

What's in the Box?

Toshiba RD-XS54 DVD player/recorder, remote control (with batteries), AV cable, printed operating instructions

What Features Does the Toshiba RD-XS54 Have?

• Disc capacity: 1

• Progressive scan: Yes

• VCR capability: No

• Hard drive: 250 GB

• Program guide: TV Guide onscreen

• Recording capability: Yes

• Recording formats: DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM

• Playback formats: DVD movie, CD audio, DVD-R/RW, VCD, SVCD, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA

• Aspect ratio control: Yes

• Dialog enhancer: No

• Integrated amplifier/receiver: No

• Front-panel operation: Yes

• Multi-angle viewing: Yes

• Chapter preview: Yes

• Custom bookmarks: Yes

• Karaoke: No

• Multilingual support: Yes

• Parental controls: Yes

• Picture zoom: Yes

• Play exchange: No

• Random play: Yes

• Repeat play: Yes

• Resume play: Yes

• Slow motion: Yes

• Frame advance: Yes

• Still/freeze frame: Yes

• Text display: Yes

• Video inputs: 3 composite AV, 3 S-Video, 1 Firewire

• Video outputs: 3 composite AV, 3 S-Video, 1 component, 1 HDMI, 1 Ethernet

• Audio outputs: Analog, digital optical

• Surround-sound output or Virtual surround sound: Dolby Digital, DTS

• Headphone jack: No

• Item width: Information unavailable

• Item height: Information unavailable

• Item depth: Information unavailable

• Item weight: Information unavailable

• Warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor

Conclusion

TOSHIBA RD-XS54 Multi-Drive DVD Recorder -- This versatile, cutting edge entertainment module gives you the option of either recording on a DVD disc or storing over 250 hours of video on its hard drive. Features an 250GB built-in hard disk drive, the unit allows users to record and play back their favorite TV broadcasts, and to compile personal movie libraries for archiving and preserving family videos.

If that weren't enough, the Toshiba RD-XS54 offers high speed copying from the HDD to recordable disc -- at 12x speed for transferring to DVD-RAM, and 24x for DVD-R 3 - 2 Pulldown - Digital Cinema Progressive Up to 540 Lines Resolution 181-Channel Tuner 3-D Y/C Comb Filter Black Level Expansion 3D-DNR Digital Video Noise Reduction Recording Block and Mosquito DNR Digital Video Noise Reduction Playback Time Slip Recording / Playback Pause Live TV / Channel Playback TIme Base Correction Instant Replay -- Instant Skip VCR Plus+ Inputs - S-Video, Composite, IEEE-1394 (FireWire), RF Outputs - Component, S-Video, Composite, Optical, RF (Tuner Pass-Through) Offers HDMI direct digital connection with an HD-ready TV

Best DVD Recorder Reviews Rating

7/10

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Toshiba RD-XS54 Recorder Review
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