Lite-On 5115GHC 100 (approx) 2401 www.liteonit.eu
Lite-On gets its fright on
The price may be alluring but Rik Henderson wonders how the Lite-Ons picture performance will compare to its bargain status

COMPATIBILITY

DVD-V DVD-A SACD CD MP3 WMA JPEG MPEG4 CD-R CD-RW Video CD SVCD DualDisc (CD) DualDisc (DVD) DiVX DVD+R DVD-R DVD+RW DVD-RW (Video) DVD-RW (VR) DVD-RAM
performance and features. With Lite-Ons latest budget model, an unadorned front fascia doesnt give much away, from its row of six rectangular controls to the spidery, green characters on the display. Connectivity is promising, though, with a pair of Scarts joined by audio outputs in both electrical digital and analogue stereo forms. While no HDMI output is par for the course here, nding a DV input for
hen a 100 DVD recorder pops onto the test bench, I tend to expect a mixed bag in terms of
Its other features include a free-rate recording mode, named Just Fit, that automatically sets the highest possible recording quality for the room available on the disc. Theres also slideshow, parental lock, and one-touch recording functions, plus an Easy Guider onscreen system that is admirably straightforward in its logic and workings. The LVW 5115GHC can play DivX VODs, MP3s and JPEGs.
Highs: Picture quality on playback Lows: Absence of editing functions; quality of econmic recording modes

RATINGS

Picture Sound Features OVERALL
Notes: Wouldnt play our WMA disc, but stated in specs. Fussy about scratched DVD-R disc

Excellent

Average

Performance

The problem with some budget DVD recorders is that in cutting corners to keep the price tag down, the manufacturers sometimes lose features that most people would consider essential. So the absence of a digital tuner and RGB inputs
mean that we already know its performance will be limited before we have even powered up. That said, recordings of regular TV programmes look reasonably good scoring highly on picture sharpness and offering respectable levels of detail. But when I moved down the recording levels
digital camcorder dubbing behind a frontpanel ap is a pleasant surprise. The TV output Scart is RGB, but the aux input is not - a shame. The tuner is analogue. Editing features are predictably nonexistent, and comparable with those found in analogue-era recorders. Disc contents can be erased or recorded over, and you can nd your way about more easily by naming your discs and adding chapter marks, either manually or automatically at intervals. Recordings are made on either DVD+/-R or DVD+/-RW discs, and offer
PLAYBACK Video jitter (5ns) Signal-to-noise ratio: Composite (73.3dB) S-video (73.4dB) Component (77.6dB) Chroma AM/PM AM (-73.7dB) PM (-70.6dB) Chroma crosstalk (-71.8dB) Freq response @5.8 MHz Composite (-1.9dB) S-video (-1.7dB) Component Y (-1.7dB) Audio jitter (2205.7ps) RECORDING Chroma (SP) AM (-54.9dB) PM (-54.9dB) Freq response @4MHz HQ (0.2dB) SP (0.2dB) Freq response @2MHz LP (-2.7dB) EP (-2.6dB) SLP (-3.4dB)

SPECIFICATIONS

ITEM SUPPORT Integrated HDD Video upscaling Progressive scan Multiregion Composite video Phono stereo audio S-video HDMI/DVI Scart Component DV (i.Link) input Digital Audio
up to six hours of recording time from the longest of the ve modes. Unlike its similarly-specced stablemate, the 5115GDL, it cant record onto duallayered +R discs. Unsurprisingly, the feature list is relatively limited. Using Zoom you can magnify the picture up to 4x while slow motion slows things down to a quarter of the regular speed.
DETAILS It costs 100 quid, you optimist Likewise Supports 480p and 576p Region 2 out of the box 1 input/output 1 input/output Not present Not present 2 RGB out sockets 1 output Front-panel input 1 x coaxial
Dimensions: 430(w) x 52(h) x 268(d)mm; Weight: 2.5kg Also featuring Just Fit recording, slideshow, auto chapter marking, parental lock, Easy Guider system, one-touch recording DECEMBER 2006

64 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

HCC136.lite 64

4/10/06 14:43:12

Tried&Tested. DVDR
Serious about bass, passionate about quality and with a commitment to value for money Monolith 399.95 Forward Firing
An amazing sub that ticks all the boxes for the ultimate sub bass experience. High SPLs with low distortion. Power with a depth and timing only associated with more expensive subwoofers.
Comes with 5M phono to Phono lead, 5M Speakon high level lead, spikes and mains l e a d c o m p l e t e l y F R E E C a r r i a g e 2 3

B.K. Electronics Subwoofers Direct British Built
Monolith-DF 406.95 Downward Firing

Weight 47kg !!!!!

Dims.in mm 560D x 540H x 420H Dims.in mm 420D x 604H x 540H
300 Watts RMS 12 Heavy Duty Long Throw Driver Easy To Set-Up
High & Low Level Inputs Balanced Input Light Oak, Cherry and Black Ash real wood veneers
XLS200 MKII Forward Firing
Both versions are 289.00 ea
An extremely compact sub that boasts an onboard amplifier easily capable of 275W RMS coupled to a high end drive unit that gives this sub power and control with depth and precision
XLS200-DF MK II Downward Firing
the quality dropped signicantly each time. Rock bottom was reached with the six hour mode, which records in the ancient MPEG1 format and it looks like it too. This effectively puts it at the level of an LP recording on your old VCR, i.e. more suitable for the odd episode of EastEnders than your favourite ne art programme. It
various limitations mentioned thus far and offered bright, detailed pictures with decent levels of contrast via the RGB Scart output.
Comes with 5M phono to Phono lead, 5M Speakon high level lead, spikes and mains lead completely FREE C a r r i a g e 9

Conclusion

The absence of a reasonable clutch of editing features and the lack of a
275 Watts RMS Extremely Compact 10 Heavy Duty Long Throw Driver Weight 17.5kg
High & Low Level Inputs with independent volume controls Four Superb Finishes available Black and Silver also Light Oak and Cherry veneers
Recordings of regular TV score highly on picture sharpness and levels of detail
certainly made me reminisce to see the picture stability disappear as the subjects unintentionally trampolined about the screen, but not in a happy, nostalgic way. Similarly, digibox recordings are somewhat lacklustre, and retained good pictures only by using the top modes. Another weakness is the 5155GHCs inability to record logos and text with any prociency. Contrast is poor and denition somewhat blurred. It was something of a surprise then to nd that DVD playback lacked the digital tuner and RGB input form a double whammy which makes the LVW 5115GHC less the value-for-money star than rst thought. When you factor in some of those recording caveats, too, then the decision to keep your hands in your pocket is even easier to make. Of course, if you think that 100 is going to bring all the glories of state-of-the-art digital recording ooding in Technicolor into your front room, then youre bound to be disappointed

Compact and powerful with all the features required to integrate seamlessly with both a Hi-Fi and AV system simultaneously. The features list below says it all

Gemini 1 199.95

Twin filters and displays one for music and one for films 150 Watts RMS Extremely Compact 8 Heavy Duty Long Throw Driver Easy To Set-Up High & Low Level Inputs Four Superb Finishes available Black and Silver also Light Oak and Cherry Veneer Comes with 5M phono to Phono lead, Dims. in mm 292D x 324H x 280W 5M Speakon high level lead, spikes and mains lead completely FREE Weight 12.4kg

C a r r i a g e 9

Minotaur 149.95
The Minotaur is an ideal sub for small rooms or for systems with small speakers that need a little bit of help in the bass region such as the Yamaha YSP800 and YSP1. This sub may be small but it will perform far better than its size belies. 50W RMS 8 Long Throw Drive Unit Extremely Compact Easy To Set-Up High & Low Level Inputs Ideal companion for the YSP800 and YSP1 Four Superb Finishes available Black and Silver also Light Oak and Cherry Veneer Dims. in mm 278D x 332H x 278W Weight 8.4kg
Comes with 5M phono to Phono lead, spikes and mains lead completely FREE C a r r i a g e 9
See them all at www.bkelec.com/subwoofers
B.K. Electronics have designed and manufactured in Order online, or if you wish to talk to a excess of 100,000 award winning subwoofers, 5 star human then telephone our sales line on product of the year and best buys. We are the largest 01702-527572 independently owned subwoofer manufacturer in the UK, employing over twenty dedicated staff in electronic engineering, cabinet making, wood finishing and spraying. All our subwoofers are designed and hand built in the UK and come with a 2 year warranty BK Electronics, Unit 1, Comet Way, Southend-On-Sea, Essex. SS2 6TR Tel :- 01702-527572 Fax :- 01702-420243 email :- sales@bkelec.com
AV inputs are bolstered by a Firewire input for camcorder dubbing DECEMBER 2006
The plain-styled remote is simple and easy to use

HOME CINEMA CHOICE 65

HCC136.lite 65

4/10/06 14:43:14

LVW-5115GHC+

Recording media

DVD+R / DVD+RW disc DVD-R / DVD-RW disc
DVD Recorder Specification

Rear connections

Video out Audio L/R out SCART out SCART in Component video out Digital audio out RF in RF out Cinch ( yellow ) Cinch ( white/red ) CVBS/S-Video/RGB out CVBS/RGB in, Decoder Cinch ( green/blue/red ) ( Y/Pb/Pr , 576p out ) Coaxial Coaxial Coaxial

(European model)

DivX / MPEG4 video playback
Next / Previous Fast forward / Reverse Repeat Subtitle support (English)

Playable media

DVD+R/DVD+RW disc DVD-R/DVD-RW disc CD-R/CD-RW disc DVD-Video disc SVCD/VCD disc DivX / MPEG4 video disc Audio CD disc MP3/WMA music disc JPEG photo disc

Audio CD playback

Pause Next / Previous Fast forward / Reverse Repeat (repeat one / repeat all / shuffle mode / repeat off) Search ( track / time ) A-B repeat

Recording features

One touch record (OTR) (30-minute interval, 30-360 mins)* *Variable by recording mode Just fit (auto adjust recording quality to fit disc space)
MP3 / WMA playback Recording mode
Media DVD (4.7GB) Mode HQ SP LP EP SLP Just Fit Rec. time 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours 6 hours Variable PAL 720x576 720x576 352x576 352x576 352x288 -----

Timer recording features

Number of programs Record control Timer programming 16 programs PDC / VPS Manual / ShowView (VIDEO Plus+)
Pause Next / Previous Fast forward / Reverse Repeat (repeat one / repeat all / shuffle mode / repeat off) Search ( file / time ) A-B repeat
JPEG playback Video editing features
Title editing ( rename, erase, protect ) Automatic chapter mark insertion Pause Next / Previous Slide show Repeat (repeat all / shuffle mode / repeat off) Search (file) Picture control (rotate / zoom)

TV system

Playback / recording Internal tuner TV sound PAL PAL-B/G, PAL-I/I , or SECAM-L NICAM

Functionality

Easy GuiderTM on-screen menu Channel editing (move up/down, insert, swap, rename, channel turn on/off) DVD title browsing with thumbnails DV control

User interface

Standard : English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch. Optional : Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Danish, Polish, Swedish, Finnish.

Video recording format

MPEG 2 : MPEG 1 : HQ/SP/LP/EP mode SLP mode
DVD playback Video performance
DA Converter 10-bit / 27MHZ Pause / Step forward Next / Previous ( chapter / track ) Fast forward / Reverse Repeat (repeat one / off) A-B repeat Zoom Slow motion Search (chapter or title / time) Subtitle / Audio / Angle

General

Power Supply Power Consumption Operating Temperature Operating Humidity Dimensions (W/H/D): Net Weight: AC 100-240V 50/60Hz Approx. 36W (operation) Approx. 3W (standby) +5C to +40C (+36F to +104F) 5% to 80% RH 430 x 52 x 268 mm Approx. 2.8 kg

Audio recording format

Dolby Digital 2-channel

Audio performance

DA Converter 24-bit / 96KHZ

VCD / SVCD playback

Pause / Step forward Next / Previous Fast forward / Reverse Repeat (repeat all / off) A-B repeat Zoom Slow motion Search ( track / time )

Notes:

1.The specifications and design of this product are subject to change(s) without notice. 2. It is not possible to copy a tape or disc with copy-protected signal. 3.ShowView and VIDEO Plus+ are registered trademarks of Gemstar Development Corporation. 4. Easy Guider is a registered trademark of Lite-On IT Corp. 5. Dolby Digital and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing, Inc. 6. DTS is a trademark of Digital Theater Systems, Inc. 7. DivX is a registered trademark of DivX, Inc.

Audio playback format

MP3 WMA LPCM Dolby Digital 2-channel Dolby Digital 5.1 channel (digital out only) DTS (digital out only)
VOB / MPG / DAT playback Front connections
Video in Audio L/R in DV in Cinch (yellow) Cinch (white/ red) IEEE -1394 4-pin Pause / Step forward Fast forward / Reverse Repeat ( repeat one / repeat all / repeat off ) A-B repeat Zoom Slow motion Search ( file / time )

L-87690950620-01A