f o c u s

HDD/DVD RECORDERS

LG RH1999H

Everything but the kitchen sink
can think of a time sometime in the future when our children or grand children will look back at our then state-of-the-art recording formats and wonder why we couldnt just pick the best of the bunch and stick with it. They hopefully will have learnt from the format wars Beta/VHS, Bluray/HD DVD, DVD+/-RAM, etc.), in which no one really wins, and will have chosen the single best format. Until this time arrives and knowing Human Nature Im not sure it will we consumers thankfully have products such as LGs latest hard disk/DVD recorder, the RH1999H. What makes this recorder a little special is the simple fact that, according to its manufacturers, it is the worlds first to record to all recordable DVD formats. Its manual states that it will record to DVD+ and DVD- discs (both R and RW) as well as to DVD-RAM discs and DVD+R DL (Dual Layer) discs. What this means to you and I is that we no longer have to wait for our favourite store to stock the specific disc that our older DVD recorder needed. If you need to record or copy something to disc, buy one any one and it will work on the LG. Apart from being a true multi-DVD recorder, the RH1999H is also equipped with a rather large by current standards 250 GB hard disk drive, which depending on the recording mode selected, can store between around 66 to 345 hours of recording time. Ill go into the benefit of this a little later. By the way you can, also depending on recording mode, record between one and six hours on a single-sided DVD and between three hours and ten and a half hours on a dual layer DVD. Naturally, being a recorder, the RH1999H sported RF in and out jacks, a DV, S-Video, composite video and stereo audio in (all behind a flip down panel), and an audio and video input on its rear panel. Now before you start to think that LG

p e a k s

VERDICT LGs latest hard disk/DVD recorder has practically every feature known packed into its sleek chassis. Its also easy to use, but the hard drive can be a little noisy. PRICE.. RSUPPLIED BY LG Electronics 011-571-6700
has only thought about the recording prowess of this unit, I must add that it is a fully-fledged DVD player too. Apart from sporting the usual array of composite, component, and S-Video video outputs, and analogue and digital audio outputs, and being able to play almost anything on a disc from DIVX to windows media, it was also equipped with two memory card slots that between them could accept up to 14 different types of memory cards. If all this werent enough, the RH1999H also sported an up-scaling HDMI output. Video resolution from the HDMI out could be selected between 576i all the way up to 1080p. It was in fact this up-scaling part of the recorders performance that was looked at before its recording capabilities were looked at. The RH1999H was used with a number of high definition monitors, and I could clearly see improvements in image movement as I moved from standard resolution interlaced video up through to 1080i. At higher resolutions image edges

were smoother and depending on the monitor, there was also slightly less flicker to onscreen images. Interestingly, I could see no real differences in colour depth and saturation between HDMI and component video outputs (Both were tested using similar quality and length HDMI and component video cables). From looking purely at the video performance of the LG which proved to be really good I took the recorder home and connected it to my TV. At this point, my wife decided that she wanted to find out how easy, or difficult, the LG was to use, and apart from my help running some cables, she took over. She found that it was an exceptionally easy device to use. Setting it up to record to either DVD or hard disk was as easy as pressing the Time Rec button and simply entering date and time of the recording. Once a recording had been made (to the hard drive), all she needed was a quick look at the manual to find out how to edit the recording.Within a space of a few minutes she had edited out adverts and was copying the movie from hard drive to DVD. She commented that this was the kind of recording device that she would like to own, as it was easy to use, looked good and did what it said it would on the box. I appreciated the overall image quality of recorded images (mostly in SP mode) here LGs DVFX video processing technology seems to do its job well too. Overall we both enjoyed using the RH1999H, and LG certainly seems to have covered all the bases with its latest recorder.

Joel Kopping

A U D I O

V I D E O

A U G U S T

c o n t e n t s

Cover Feature
26 Plasmaview P-Vision Range
Plasmaview Technologies new P-Vision line-up includes both LCD and plasma screens, in price ranges and sizes to suit most applications, and most pockets. If you thought that plasma or LCD screens were outside your budget, think again. 48 Optoma ThemeScene HD72i Projector A projector that advances the art of affordability for video projectors. Solid performer. 50 Paradigm Ultra Cube 10 Subwoofer A sub capable of pounding out insane sound levels, yet remains equally adept at delivering quality sound. 52 Proline Mega Media Centre and Microsoft Media Centre This Media Centre comes very close to delivering a one-box solution for PC and A/V applications 54 Samsung LA 40R71 Television A style and performance winner. Price for size ratio is good too. 56 Sennheiser HD 201 Headphones As usual, Sennheiser deliver up great headphones at great prices. 58 Sota Belari Turntable/Phonostage The Sota Moonbeam turntable and Bellari phono stage are good entry points into the vinyl arena. 60 Vincent Audio SA-93 Plus Pre-Amplifier The Vincent's beautifully built outside matches the quality of the sound it allows through. 62 Waterfall Iguascu Loudspeakers Heres something different loudspeakers made from glass 64 Yamaha RX-V659 AV Receiver Packed with great features, including an iPod dock for even more versatility!

Music

74 Reviewed this month.

Contemporary

Paul Simon Surprise Matisyahu Youth Chris Isaak Wicked Game:The Best Of Bruce Springsteen We Shall Overcome Massive Attack Collected The GooGoo Dolls Let Love In

Classical

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones - The Hidden Land

Jazz & Blues

12 Girls Band 12 Girls Band David Russell - Renaissance Favourites For Guitar Rolando Villazon - Gounod And Massinet Arias LAGQ - Spin

Focus

30 Avid Diva Turntable This beautifully engineered British turntable delights with its confident delivery and outright finesse. 32 Class CDP-100 CD Player Luscious, smooth and always engaging, this beautifully presented CD player makes the music real. 34 Dared MP5 Amplifier The combo of the Dared MP5 amplifier and HD 515 Sennheiser headphones works great. 36 dCS P8i CD Player This high-ender does wonders with digital playback, but this sort of excellence doesnt come cheaply. 38 Denon AVR-4306 AV Receiver The AVR-4306 builds on the capabilities of its smaller siblings by adding IP, iPod and USB interfaces. 40 Jamo R 909 Loudspeakers One of the more interesting looking loudspeakers weve seen. Stunning sound! 42 LG RH1999H HDD/DVD Recorder Easy to use, and packed with just about every feature you can think of. 44 Mirage UNI-Theater Loudspeaker Good-looking loudspeaker that in the right room can work wonders, all on its own. 46 MIT AVt bw3 Cable A cable that delivers an almost unique and spacious sound.

COMPETITIONS

68 Win the fantastic RH1999H Hard Disk Drive/DVD Recorder compliments of LG Electronics.

Features

66 Understanding: Analogue and Digital Recording & Digital Video Recorders
70 Ster Kinekor releases 71 Nu Metro releases 72 DVD music reviewed David Gray Live In Slow Motion Iron Maiden Death On The Road Placido Domingo Great Scenes Marc Almond Sin Songs:Torch And Romance
77 Win the debut album of Missy Higgins from Gallo!

Regulars

Editorial comment News Letters Classads 78 Vinyl Corner 80 Jazz by Rod Archie Shepp Live In Tel Aviv

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