0305WHC20 LITEON UPGRADE GT

24/1/05

3:53 pm

Page 69

Super Test # HDD/DVD Recorders
Connections including two Scart sockets Standard looking remote control Front-facing video/audio input connections

Lite-On

LVW-5045, 350
HDD/DVD recorders have so far been slow to catch on due to high prices. Thats now set to change, thanks to Lite-Ons budget model, the LVW-5045. After all, 350 normally buys a decent quality DVD player, so were understandably cautious about its performance as a DVD recorder, too. A 160GB HDD takes almost 200 hours of TV programmes at lowest quality, but still around 33 hours in high quality (HQ) mode. Disk compatibility is very good, taking DVD-R, -RW, +R and +R, as well as CD-R and CD-RW. VideoPlus makes things simple, but recordings can also be set manually, and the inclusion of chasing playback and pause live TV functions leave this budget model light years ahead of VCRs. The same goes for the menu system, which is accessed via the browser button on the remote. Recordings on the hard disk appear as either thumbnails or as text, while material is grouped as music, video or pictures. Editing functions are here, too. Deleting adverts is a little tricky, because titles can only be deleted, not altered, so youll need to split footage into titles before deleting any and merging them back together. The decks HDD can be defragmented when necessary, speeding up operation. The same goes for recordings made in HQ mode. On our test disc The Mummy, theres little to choose between the original and the LVW-5045s off-air recording of the fast-moving underground tomb fight sequences as Rick, Jonathon and Evelyn battle it out with Imhoteps resurrected guards at the films climax.

TEST SCENE

THE MUMMY

Quality and quantity

In SP mode, which can store about 66 hours on the HDD, there is some grain and smearing apparent on fast-moving action and in dark areas of the picture, but the picture is still plenty good enough for recording sporting events to watch once and then discard. Its a similar story for the 99-hour LP mode, whereas the 132-hour EP mode is stretching things too far in the quality stakes. SLP mode, the lowest setting, features significant strobe effects, but theres really little need to use it. Editing functions may be limited when compared with some of the higher-spec and far more expensive models on test here, but prove a small blot on our report of this excellent debut HDD/DVD recorder combi. An quality performance alone means this Lite-On is no lightweight. I
As our hero Rick OConnell battles Imhoteps henchmen, theres little to choose between the original and recording in HQ mode

RATINGS

Style Ease of use Features Recording Picture Sound Value Overall ####$ ##### ####$ ####$ ##### ####$ ##### #####

Dubbing down

Its dubbing from the hard-disk to blank DVD where the Lite-On shows its budget credentials. Theres no way to change the quality of the transfer, so footage from the hard disk can only be burnt to DVD in the quality it was copied in. A few gripes there, but overall the editing features are comparable to other decks in this test. Its the performance of the Lite-On that marks it out as a real bargain. DVD playback via RGB Scart gives balanced colours and a fine level of detail.

AT A GLANCE

I FEATURES
160GB HDD DVD-R/RW/+R/+RW Five recording modes VideoPlus Pause live TV Chasing playback

I CONNECTIONS

Composite video input Stereo audio input Component video output 2 x Scart (RGB in and out)
Composite video output Optical digital audio output Electrical digital audio output Stereo audio output RF in/out jacks

WHC VERDICT

The price will stick in your mind, but thats not all this debut deck from Lite-On has going for it

CONTACT INFO

www.liteonit.com 00

WHC March 2005 69