0504wv24 JVC HR-XVS30

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JVC HR-XVS30

FEATURES Plays: DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW (Video mode), DVD+RW, DVD+R, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, VCD, SVCD, MP3, WMA, JPEG; multisession CD compatible; NTSC/PAL prog scan; Dolby Digital & DTS output; dynamic range control; simultaneous VHS recording & disc playback; S-VHS ET; Extended Play recording; express play start (VHS); VideoPlus; PDC; Nicam stereo; auto set-up; synchronised set-top box recording; TV-Link; four-speed forward/reverse search & slow-motion (DVD); audio during search (DVD x1.5); twospeed forward/reverse search (VHS); index search (VHS); screen saver; multi-brand TV remote control; SOCKETS Front: stereo audio line in; composite video in; S-video in Back: two Scarts (composite & S-video in/out); component video jacks; stereo line out; optical digital audio output; RF aerial in/out TEST DATA DVD PLAYBACK Video jitter: 2ns (excellent) Signal-to-noise ratio: -71.6dB (good) Chrominance AM/PM: -69.8dB/ -66.7dB (excellent/very good) Chroma crosstalk: -53.4dB (average) Frequency response at 5.8MHz: (S-video): -2.22dB (average) (composite): -2.06dB (average) Audio jitter: 636.6ps (below average) VCR (S-VHS ET) Jitter: 543ns (very good) Signal-to-noise ratio: -44.4dB (good) Chrominance AM/PM (SP): -49.7dB/-46.5dB (excellent/excellent) Frequency response at 2.5MHz: 3.6dB (excellent) CONTACT 5000 www.jvc.co.uk

DVD/VCR combi 230

The evolution of DVD hasnt stopped VHS tagging along for the ride. Ian Calcutt takes a look at the latest combi from JVC
DVD may have signed the death warrant of VHS but theres no reason why the two cant coexist for the time being. The DVD recorder market has yet to mature and there is still much to be said for having a good VHS recorder on hand, especially if you have a large cassette collection or share tapes with friends and family. DVD/VCR combis are not new but they are continuing to evolve and with this model, JVC aims to put the best of both formats under one hood, all for a very affordable amount of money.
handset will control the volume and channel changing of most brands of TV.

OPERATION

The VCR side of the onscreen menu has not been changed for years and its ZX Spectrum appearance is clunky and outdated, but its still functional. The DVD side has a more elegant set-up menu (you have to switch modes at the top of the remote) and is easy to navigate. The VCR half is a full S-VHS ET recorder, able to record in better quality on normal VHS cassettes. It also has EP recording to get 12 hours on a tape, along with usual VCR features like index searching, VideoPlus, PDC and an alternative manual timer which you can use for up to eight timer events. Conveniently, you can be recording a TV programme on VHS but playing a disc at the same time. Disc playback options are extensive, with support for all recorded formats (except DVD-RAM), plus CDs recorded with JPEG images and MP3 or WMA music formats. With DVD playback you can even speed up playback by 1.5x but keep the audio fairly intelligible in case lifes too short to see things at a normal pace.

DESCRIPTION

The space-saving HR-XVS30 is pretty sleek for a VCR, let alone a combi that contains a DVD drive. The front slopes outward a little, while the sides are bevelled at the bottom, making it seem less boxy. A smattering of controls run along the middle of the fascia, which are illuminated by blue ambient lights at each end. More are contained under the right-hand fold down flap. Under a flap opposite are front AV inputs including S-video. Rear sockets are fairly limited two Scarts capable of S-video in or out at best, even for DVD operation. It seems this deck is governed by the fact that its an S-VHS recorder. However, theres one bonus for DVD playback: PAL progressive scan. You will need a compatible display with component video inputs but as theres no RGB video from the Scart this is a sure-fire way of getting optimum picture quality. The remote control design attempts to keep buttons to a minimum but with so many dual functions, there is a huge amount of labelling to get used to. The main keys are easy to see, however, and the

PERFORMANCE

JVC has had a good run with its recent DVD players, so expectations were high for this combi. Sometimes cramming two devices into one like this can lead to compromises, but if there are any, they are not evident in the HR-XVS30s performance. DVD playback is excellent and even if you cant access progressive scan, you have nothing to fear. There is a great depth of contrast to glossy blockbusters like X-Men
2 and fine detail is beautifully handled. Motion looks smooth and there is little artificial edge enhancement to spoil things on a bigger screen. Colour is respectable, if a little warm, but by and large, this deck is more than adequate for most uses. Digital audio sources are delivered efficiently the superb surround effects of X-Men 2 or the atmospherics of the Alien Quadrilogy, come across vigorously. CD playback can be somewhat harsh on vocals but is otherwise wide ranging and involving.
Takes a while to get used to
No RGB Scart but component sockets output PAL prog scan
The HR-XVS30 is surprisingly sleek for a combi
Hook up your camcorder to these AV inputs
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VHS is another of JVCs strong points it invented the format so it isnt going to let it go in a hurry. Nor can it make a bad recorder, it seems. SP VHS recordings have a broad contrast range, with pure whites, deep blacks and very good colour reproduction even in the saturated red and blue of the Sky News logo. Theres a tiny amount of dot crawl around edges but you have to step up to S-VHS to reduce that.
Attractively styled this is one of the best combis you can get
Luckily, with this recorder you can and without paying the premium for special tapes. There is a difference between ET versions and bona fide S-VHS cassette recordings, mainly in sharpness but this is such a capable machine that its negligible. S-VHS recordings on proper S tapes do lift the overall quality, however, so if you want a higher resolution from tapes, pay more to get these.
If long cassette capacity is more important than quality, then theres good news here, too. Long Play recordings are extremely colourful and stable. Edge definition is astonishing, given the limitations of the format, with only a little more dot crawl than SP mode. Try and get eight hours onto a blank DVD and the quality would be nowhere near this good. Things do take a dive in EP mode (for up to 12hr on an E240), with wobbly vertical edges and grainy outlines but colour and contrast remain impressive. The recorders hi-fi stereo quality is uniformly good, boasting plenty of bass and higher frequencies with no hiss getting in the way.

WHATS GOOD

Fine DVD and VHS picture; good price

WHATS BAD

No RGB video output for DVD; tricky remote control
PICTURE (DVD) PICTURE VCR) SOUND (DVD) SOUND (VCR) FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE ALSO CONSIDER.
%%%%% %%%%% %%%%% %%%%% %%%%% %%%%% %%%%%
G PAL progressive scan DVD playback G JPEG viewer G S-VHS ET recording G WMA/MP3 playback G Video Plus with PDC EP recording

FACT FILE

PANASONIC NV-VP30 Good features, including RGB Scart and DVD-RAM playback, are the useful extras on top of a solid, easy to use combi Reviewed: Nov 03 TOSHIBA SD-33VB Superb connectivity, including RGB Scart and component for DVD, and brilliant pictures make this 250 deck great value Reviewed: Sep 03

CONCLUSION

Attractively styled although the blue front-panel lighting might get distracting this is one of best combis you can get. It joins the top (analogue) picture quality options available for both S-VHS and prog scan DVD. If you need to keep a VCR around for recording and playback but want to have a well-specified DVD player too, then the HR-XVS30 does a fine job of it all

OVERALL VERDICT

Excellent DVD playback with prog scan output and top-quality S-VHS videotape recording. A great combi
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