Toshiba RD-XS34 DVD Recorder with 160-GB Hard Drive Review
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Toshiba RD-XS34 DVD Recorder with 160-GB Hard Drive Feature
- DVD recorder and Personal Video Recorder with 160 GB hard drive; measures 17 x 2.5 x 13.25 inches (W x H x D)
- Interactive Program Guide provides an easy to read listing of the television programs available to view or record
- Records to DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW; plays CD-R/RW and MP3/WMA digital audio formats
- One set of component (Y,Pr,Pb), 1 S-Video, and 1 RCA video outputs; Firewire input for connecting to video camcorders
- High-speed dubbing from the hard drive to disc without any deterioration of digital signal
Prepare yourself for ultimate quality, ultimate convenience: the Toshiba RD-XS34 combines a top-notch DVD player with a DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM optical-media recorder
and a hard-disk drive (HDD) recorder with a stunning 160 GB storage capacity. Whether you're watching the latest DVD movie releases in your home theater, recording your favorite TV programming, or archiving home movies and other videos to long-lasting DVD, the RD-XS34 is your ticket to world-class entertainment. And did we mention that the unit spins your homemade CDs filled with JPEG image files or MP3/WMA music tracks?
The RD-XS34's HDD lets you store around 175 hours of audio/video programming (at the lowest resolution), ample room for time shifting your viewing and keeping a fair number of "must watch soon" content at the ready. Imagine the complete contents of a fleet of VHS tapes at your fingertips--all easily accessible with no clumsy fast-forwarding or rewinding, and, potentially, in much higher resolution.
When you have programs you decide you want to keep, just offload them to DVD. Archiving is lickity-split: 32x normal speed when transferring from the HDD to a write-once DVD-R and 24x when burning to DVD-RAM. Time Slip recording/playback lets you begin watching a recording that's already in progress or "pause" a live recording and return to it later.
The RD-XS34 also offers an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) with upconversion capability from standard 480i to high-definition 720p or 1080i--perfect for viewing your DVDs, camcorder footage, and television programs on a high-definition or HD-ready TV, now or in the future. HDMI provides a single-cable digital connection for the highest-quality interface between the DVD player and a compatible television, keeping audio and video signals digital until they reach the monitor. Other picture enhancements include 3-D digital noise reduction (DNR), mosquito DNR, and block DNR.
Front-panel inputs accommodate VCRs and camcorders, including digital camcorders through an IEEE 1394/DV input. The digital-video input even includes controls for your camcorder to simplify the process of selecting and transferring the scenes you want. Other inputs include 3 each composite- and S-video (1 each on the front panel) and an RF/antenna input on the rear panel.
For DVD recordings, you can create virtual titles on the hard drive--including menus and chapters with thumbnail images--then burn your programming to DVDs with high-quality MPEG-2 encoding (the DVD-Video standard). A convenient library function maintains an inventory of all your recorded content by disc or title so you can sort by date, time, or genre.
The RD-XS34 offers the flexibility of recording on both DVD-RAM--perfect for instant chapter access and for multiple rerecordings--as well as on DVD-R, widely regarded as the most widely compatible of the many DVD formats (great for sharing camcorder footage with loved ones). DVD-RAM offers double-sided recording (9.4 GB total storage), and the format is rewriteable, too.
Advanced timer programming lets you use the unit like you would a VCR, specifying a time and channel for recording, and built-in TV Guide On Screen interactive program guide greatly simplifies this. Significantly, this model gives you the option of recording audio in linear PCM audio--much higher resolution than the MP3-like Dolby Digital 2.0.
For playback, ColorStream Pro progressive-scan component-video outputs (switchable between 480p and standard 480i) provide great color detail and high purity when connected to compatible televisions. The unit also has standard composite- and S-video outputs, with an RF coaxial output for passing tuner signals to an external device such as a VCR (the RF output does not pass a DVD or HDD signal). Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's Toslink optical digital-audio output for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.
What's in the Box
DVD recorder, audio/video interconnects, a universal remote control with television control capability, remote batteries, a user's manual, and warranty information.
Still using videotapes? Come to DVD and enjoy recording and playing your own. With a built-in TV tuner you can record your favorite TV shows and there's an integrated programmable timer for absolute simplicity. No discs? This recorder also has a digital hard-drive. Toshiba RCXS34 takes the chore out of recording. With a 160GB hard disk drive, this amazing unit can store recorded programming and dubbed content, then transfer it from the hard drive to a DVD-RAM, DVD-R, or DVD-RW without any deterioration. The incredible chase play feature allows you to begin watching a recording that is already in progress, and live chase play lets you "pause" live recordings and return to it when you're ready! Plays a variety of formats, including DVDs, CDs, MP3s, and JPEG photos. ColorStream Pro component video input Y/Pr/Pb, S-video, RCA-video, L/R audio, optical out, RF, IR blaster outputs / S-video, RCA-video, L/R audio, RF inputs IEEE-1394 Firewire DV port for transferring digital video directly from digital camcorder or from a comparably equipped Windows PC or Macintosh computer Digital Cinema Progressive (3/2 Pulldown) - Delivers the smoothest, most film-like images to any progressive scan television, such as an HD-compatible one, and ensures maximum resolution. Interactive Program Guide provides an easy to read listing of the television programs available to view or record. It offers an 8-day program listing, flexibility of recording directly to DVD or the HDD, the ability to perform keyword searches for locating favorite programs and includes the G-Link IR Blaster for controlling cable boxes. When recording television programs, the name of the show, along with the channel and date, are automatically captured 3D Virtual Surround Sound Auto Clock, Daylight Savings Time Adjust, Time Zone Adjust VCR Plus+ for easy selection of TV shows you want to record One-Touch Record Remote Control Universal w/T
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Nov 01, 2011 03:09:04
