Group test: DVD/HDD recorders pt2

Overview Price comparison: Sony RDR-HXD870 More info: Sony Hard disk capacity: 160GB DVD recording: DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-R(DL), DVD+R(DL) HDMI upscaling: 720p, 1080i, 1080p Connections: Rear: HDMI output, component video output, 2 Scarts (RGB in & out), composite video output, S-video output, coaxial digital audio output, analogue stereo audio output, 2 x RF in & out Front: USB port, PictBridge port, iLink (DV) input, S-video input, composite video input, stereo audio input Sony RDR-HXD870 This 160GB deck is the only one in our group test to embrace automatic series recording, which uses the Freeview EPG to record an entire series without you having to set the timer - just like Sky+. But there are many more strings to its bow, such as the ability to upscale recordings and DVDs to 1080p, 1080i and 720p through the HDMI output. It also records onto a wide range of DVD formats, including DVD-RW and DVD+RW, plus single and dual-layer DVD-R and DVD+R discs. For users of the analogue tuner, the deck is equipped with the cumbersome Guide Plus+ timer system. Add USB and PictBridge ports and an MP3 Jukebox feature into the mix and you've got one highly versatile digital deck. Unlike the other combis on test, the HXD870 offers manual recording quality settings as well as preset modes, giving you greater flexibility over picture quality. When set to the highest bitrate, Freeview recordings look sensational, boasting rich and dynamic colour reproduction and competent handling of fine detail, particularly with the resolution ramped up to 1080p on a full HD TV. The lower quality presets LSP, ESP and LP retain a fairly high horizontal resolution, making them still appear reasonably sharp and stable. It's only when you reach the EP, SLP and SEP presets that you notice a dramatic drop in picture quality, but they remain watchable and the lengthy recording time goes some way to make up for the increase in artefacts.

Verdict Plus points Series Recording, picture quality, features Minus points Frustrating Guide Plus EPG

Overview Price comparison: Toshiba RD-97DT More info: Toshiba Hard disk capacity: 250GB DVD recording: DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R HDMI upscaling: 720p, 1080i, 1080p Connections: HDMI output, 2 Scarts, component video output, coaxial digital audio output, stereo audio output, 2 x RF input & output Toshiba RD-97DT As Toshiba's flagship digital recorder, the RD-97DT's stellar feature list should come as no surprise. Key features include 1080p upscaling via HDMI, a built-in Freeview tuner and a 250GB hard disk, which holds up to 424 hours of TV. The fact that it boasts all of this at the same price as the 160GB Sony and Panasonic counts in its favour. Sadly, it lacks a USB port or memory card slots and there's no dual-layer or DVD-RAM recording (although it will play the latter). However, the presence of HDD and DVD-RW (VR) recording means there's a mind-boggling array of editing functions to play with, as well the ability to pause live TV and chase playback. The deck's wonderfully simple menus and displays make this an easy deck to understand, but flicking through digital TV channels is a slow process and the remote could have been more clearly laid out. Live Freeview pictures are among the best in this test, and its recording quality is equally superb. XP mode delivers magnificent pictures from the built-in digital tuner, full of bright, vivid colours and not a trace of MPEG block noise to be seen. Dropping down to SP mode reveals only a slight increase in noise, but the drop in quality between LP and EP is greater than on its rivals, the latter making a TV recording look more like a viral video on the web.

Verdict Plus points Picture quality, good price for 250GB recorder Minus points Slow digital channel changing, overly scruffy EP mode pictures, no USB port or card slots

Final verdict It was a tough tussle for top spot between Sony and Panasonic, as both offer impressive picture quality and exceptional ease of use - but the RDR-HXD870 comes out on top by virtue of its superior feature list. Yes, the Panasonic offers versatile DVD-RAM recording, but the presence of a hard disk effectively renders that format's talents redundant, making the Sony's Series Recording and DivX playback a lot more valuable. Bumped into third is the Toshiba RD-97DT, which is a fine machine that offers an extra 90GB for the same cash as the Sony and Panasonic, but it lacks USB and elements of its digital TV functionality are sluggish. Bringing up the rear is Samsung, whose DVD-SH855M is the only one to lack 1080p upscaling and comes with an unhelpful remote. But in its favour it offers a 250GB hard disk and a USB port, plus TV recordings look superb.

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