ON TEST / PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER

Verdict Approx price 200

Humax PVR-9200T
Its back and this time its personal with added chasing playback
BGenerous features, top-notch performance EFlaky editing
ITS BEEN OVER a year since the Humax PVR-9200T rst hit our test bench (Issue 302), but its still regarded as the best personal video recorder available. So why are we reviewing it again? Well, instead of launching a replacement, Humax has simply updated its awardwinning PVR with a couple features that should have been there when it made its debut. But is it enough to stay at the top of the PVR tree? Lets nd out recording automatically, so you dont miss anything if the programme schedules over-run. This can be set to add between one and 10 minutes to the start or end of the programme. The great news for owners of the original PVR-9200T is that these new features can be added to the old box using a software download from the Humax website. Elsewhere, the feature list is pretty much the same. Theres a 160GB hard disk (about 100 hours of programmes) and there are two digital tuners, which means you can watch one channel while recording another, record two channels at once or even record two channels while watching a third provided its on the same multiplex as one of the recorded channels. You can even view two channels at the same time using the picture-in-picture mode (but not while recording). Another smart feature is the buffer memory, which holds up to two hours of programmes and makes it possible to pause live TV. Sadly, you cant save anything held in the buffer. Theres a reasonable array of sockets on the rear including two Scart sockets, one of which pipes RGB, S-Video or composite pictures to your TV, and the other offers S-video and composite output. Theres also a modulated RF aerial output in case you have an age-old TV with no Scart input and its also pleasing to see an optical digital audio output. Under a ap on the front youll nd a slot for a conditional access module, paving the way for Top-Up TV. Also under the ap is a USB port, which lets you connect to a PC and transfer MP3 and JPEG les to the Humax using the supplied Media eLinker software. You can also transfer recordings from the PVR to a PC and edit them if youre a dab hand with editing software. You can also make basic edits on the unit itself, which is still quite unusual for a PVR. You can rename recordings or chop out unwanted sections (such as adverts). However, the results are far from seamless, as the picture stutters and breaks up either side of the edit point.

The rivals

/ Evesham PVR160
Ugly as sin, but a solid feature list and assured performance. Reviewed: Issue 314

Features

Humax has added two crucial features to the PVR-9200T, the rst being chasing playback, which enables you to watch a programme from the start while its still recording. The absence of this on the rst version was its biggest aw, as its a fairly standard feature among hard-disk recorders. The other new feature is auto padding, which allows you to extend the start and end of a timer

/ Sony SVRS500

Offers 80GB for the same price as the Humax. Not yet reviewed

Ease of use

The initial set up procedure is frustration free, thanks to a quick and efcient auto tuning mode. The
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Want more hard disk action? See the the Buyers Guide p110

Fact le

/ 160GB hard disk / Twin Freeview tuners / 7-day programme guide / Chasing playback / Auto padding
/ Time in Lab: 10 days / Serial No: mm
onscreen graphics and menus are straightforward and nicely presented the icons, bold primary colours and large text give the user interface a reassuringly friendly feel. The same goes for the wonderfully straightforward EPG. It uses the grid structure that makes the Sky EPG such a success, and the
The current channel plays in a small box while you navigate so you dont miss a thing
large, legible programme blocks within it make it simple to set the timer. You can even search the EPG by name or genre, but best of all, the current channel plays in a small box while you navigate so you dont miss a thing. Accessing recordings is very simple the Playlist button calls up a list of recorded programmes for you to choose from its just a shame this important button is hidden under a sliding ap on the remote, along with some other important keys. Otherwise, the handset is excellent; attractive, perfectly sized and boasts the userfriendliness of a Fisher Price toy. Another thing that makes the Humax easy to use is the speedy channel changing and the lack of annoying pauses when you call up the EPG or digital text.
version does nothing to change our minds. Its images possess a pleasing solidity when using the RGB Scart, bursting with strong, vivid colours and packed with a high amount of detail. From gorgeous BBC period dramas to cruddy reality shows, the Humax delivers consistently lively and hugely enjoyable pictures that wont leave you feeling short-changed. It copes with fast action as well as any other Freeview PVR rapid movement is often accompanied by pixel /// and block noise, but thats often down to the quality of the broadcast more than anything else and is just part and parcel of the Freeview experience.

/ Making the upgrade

The PVR-9200T improves on its well-received predecessor by adding chasing playback (the ability to watch a programmes start while you are still recording its end) and the ability to extend the start and end of timer settings to accommodate any programme over-runs. If you have the old model, however, you can download these new abilities from the companys website, www.humaxdital.com

Spec check

Hard disk capacity: 160GB Recording modes: 1 Max recording time: 100 hours Non-linear editing: Partial erase/divide TV tuner: 2 digital terrestrial Dimensions: 380(w) x 78(h) x 281(d)mm Weight: 3.7kg / Other features: 7-day Freeview EPG; digital text; favourite channels; chasing playback; auto padding; pause live TV (up to 2 hours); simultaneous play & record; record two channels & watch a third (in same multiplex); Picture-in-Picture; built-in games; resume playback; Media eLinker (transfer MP3 & JPEG les to PVR; transfer MPEG-2 to PC) / Sockets: Rear: 2 Scart outputs (1 RGB, composite and S-video; 1 composite and S-video); composite video output; stereo audio output; optical digital audio output; RF in/out (modulated); RS232 serial port. Front: USB port; CAM slot / Contact: www.humaxdigital.com

Sound

There are absolutely no problems with the Humaxs audio quality, whether you employ the analogue stereo or optical digital output. The quality of your sound system is obviously a crucial factor, but our test rig made movies on Film4 sound sharp and powerful with crystal clear dialogue.

Value

With the added features, the PVR9200T has become even more of an unstoppable force in the PVR world. The hard-disk capacity is extremely generous for the money and its also easy to use, and affords a level of exibility that most rivals cannot match. The cherry on the cake is the excellent performance, both in terms of picture quality and operating speed Z
Useful new features and excellent performance prolong this decks reign as the king of Freeview PVRs

Picture

We were mightily impressed by the PVR-9200Ts picture quality on our rst encounter and the updated
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