On test

HDD/DVD recorder Approx price: 450

Pioneer DVR-545HX

Pioneer adds to its ever-broadening line-up of digital recorders with this fully featured model. Ian Calcutt sees if it was worth the wait
ioneer has made some of the most versatile DVD recorders in recent years, but it was not the rst to offer state-of-the-art features such as a built-in Freeview tuner or HDMI digital video output. The longawaited DVR-545HX combines just about everything Pioneer has done into one recorder, and more.

looks & features

This chunky two-tone combi is a move away from Pioneers svelte 2005 range but, as with the recent DVR-540HX, it suggests there are superior components inside. This was evident in the 540HX with its impressive video and audio quality, even though it still lacked HDMI output and had fewer sockets than
compatible printer. It means you can store and view digital photos on your main TV and print them without a PC. Other sockets include a common interface slot (for subscription upgrades such as Top Up TV), RGB and S-video Scarts for input and output, as well as analogue component video outputs for progressive scan in case your TV lacks HDMI. Like its companions in the 2006/2007 range, it will record to all DVD formats, from DVD-RW and DVD+RW to DVD-RAM and DVD-R or DVD+R (in both single or duallayer versions). The hard-disk drive (HDD) is 160GB, which stores between 34 and 455 hours depending on the recording quality
The high-speed dubbing is genuinely fast and theres a disc back-up facility
previous models, such as a DV camcorder input. Thankfully, each of those drawbacks has been resolved in the step-up 545HX edition. The HDMI port connects to any HD Ready TV or projector and will deliver an upscaled, quasi hi-def picture from either the recorders Freeview tuner, the back-up analogue tuner, the hard drive or DVD playback. There is also a frontmounted USB port for connecting to most memory devices and card readers. With this you can load or copy MP3 audio les and JPEG photos, albeit rather slowly. The recorder also has a second USB port so you can link any PictBridge mode. On single layer DVD this translates to between one and 13hr, or up to 24hr on a dual-layered format. As before, we would not recommend going above 3.5hr on single layered DVD (equivalent to 119hr on HDD or 7hr on duallayered DVD) as the image quality dips signicantly beyond this.
external digital TV boxes if you have Sky or cable. This makes timer setting very simple, though one aw with this recorder is that you cant seem to add extra time to the ends of EPG recordings, so if the programme overruns, it cuts short. Another aw is that the DVR-545HX does not allow recordings from the SkyHD box to be transferred using the Sky+ bulk copy function (even free-to-air programmes), which is very odd and clearly a bug between these two particular pieces of hardware. It can be resolved with a Macrovision-buster but we hope a more practical x emerges. We have always raved about how edit-friendly Pioneers recorders are compared to their rivals, and the DVR-545HX is no exception.You can ne-tune recording quality to t specic running times in 32 increments and you can edit recordings and dub at speed from HDD to DVD while making new recordings, which is incredibly time saving. The high-speed dubbing is genuinely fast and theres a disc back-up facility for duplicating home-made DVDs (in case the original material is no longer on hard drive). In addition to the MP3 playback, you can rip and store CDs on the HDD under the Jukebox feature or play compressed DiVX video les.
Simple for basic functions but some keys are combined and hidden away

Looks Layout Labelling

Details

FEATURES

Recording modes: 6 presets & 32 manual steps
Max. recording time: 455hr (HDD), 13hr (DVD), 24hr(DVDRDL) Non-linear editing Yes TV tuner Analogue/ digital Timer 32-event/ one month GuidePlus/VideoPlus Yes/Yes Set-top box control Yes Dimensions 420(w) x 79(h) x 318(d)mm Weight 4.8kg OTHER FEATURES PictBridge compatible photo viewer; disc back-up including fast dubbing to/from disc; Play List editing on DVD-RW (VR mode); PAL/NTSC recording & progressive scan playback; MP3/WMA/CD audio storage on HDD

performance ease of use

The recorder has GuidePlus and an alternative Freeview electronic programme guide to give you onscreen listings for channels you receive and automatic naming of recordings so they are easy to nd afterwards. GuidePlus also controls We should not forget that the DVR545HX has an excellent analogue tuner as well as a digital one. This can be useful in fringe reception areas where sometimes channels drop out of Freeview range. The digital tuner picture has heaps of contrast and strong colours. The top

SOCKETS

Component video out
Analogue alternative for progressive scan playback

Common Interface

Accepts a Conditional Access Module (CAM) for pay TV
Digital AV output to carry upscaled images to HD Ready TVs
Front: i.Link DV in, 2 USB; composite & S-video in; stereo line in (phonos) Rear: HDMI out; 2 Scarts (composite, RGB, S-video in/out); component video output (phonos); composite & S-video in/out; RF aerial in/out; stereo line in/out (phonos); electrical digital audio out; control in; G-Link out (set-top box control); DVB common interface slot

CONTACT

www.pioneer.co.uk
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Also Consider >>

PANASONIC DMR-EX85 A superb all-rounder for recording Freeview and enjoying DVD. With a 250GB hard drive and upscaling via HDMI output, its great value. Reviewed: Issue 311
SONY RDR-HXD560 Easy-to-use, 80GB HDD DVD recorder with Freeview and ne picture quality, but lacks key features such as digital video output. Reviewed: Issue 313
160GB HDD (max 455 hr) Multiformat record/dubbing HDMI output with upscaling DiVX playback Built-in Freeview/GuidePlus quality (XP mode) recordings are virtually identical to the original broadcast, though the actual performance depends on how good that broadcast is of course (Freeview is often too compressed and blocky looking). SP mode (for 2hr on normal DVDs) is a decent second best preset mode, but LP jumps to 4hr on DVD, crossing the 3hr 30min point where the resolution drops noticeably.You can use the manual settings (up to MN12) to make the best trade-off between quality and running time. The LP EP SLP and , , SEP preset options suffer same issues as the recorders nearest relative, the DVR-540HX. They are okay for emergency use if youre short of disc space or for fairly static programmes such as panel games, however, for higher quality results its best to stick to the higher settings. The machines upscaling to 720p or 1080i HD resolutions is reasonably successful in generating more detail in the DVR-545HXs Freeview reception and recordings,

so its better looking than standard denition, but it depends again on the calibre of the source material. Therefore it cant work miracles, but its a good option to have. With DVD lm viewing the upscaling results are even stronger. The upscaled picture has vivid contrast, naturalistic colour, smooth motion and well contained sharp images. These benets come with hardly any side effects such as graininess, smearing or false looking outlines. Sadly, the outlines of
material from external sources routed via RGB Scart have a noticeable ringing effect, which is probably intensied onscreen by the ultra-sharp HDMI output. On a more positive note, the movie audio performance is rich, clearly detailed and engaging, with an open sound eld, good separation of surround channels and no obvious muddiness.
A chunky exterior is teamed with a can-do set of features

Ratings

WHATS GOOD
HDMI with upscaling to 1080i; GuidePlus, Freeview & Top Up TV compatible; multiformat DVD recording; exible editing & dubbing features; AV quality

WHATS BAD

JPEG viewer is slow; external input picture quality not the best; no padding for Freeview timer recordings; bug when copying from Sky+HD

conclusion

It may have taken a couple of years to fuse all the available digital TV, disc recording and video output technologies into one machine, but Pioneer has come up with a gem of a product with the DVR545HX. From Freeview reception, DiVX, JPEG and MP3 playback, multiformat recording and HDupscaling through its HDMI output, it packs an amazing array of features, but remains generally easy to use once you are completely familiar with its capabilities. In short, despite a few minor foibles, there is almost nothing it cant do

Test Data

TEST RATING READING
V good Average Average Good Good Excellent Average Excellent Good

RATING

READING
Good Good Excellent V Good Excellent Excellent Excellent 3W (stby) 30W
Video jitter: 3ns Audio jitter: 403.3ps Video S/N ratio: Composite 62.4dB Interlaced S-video: 70.6dB Interlaced component: 72.0dB Chroma AM: -73.0dB Chroma PM: -62.3dB Crosstalk: -63.6dB Response @ 5.8MHz: Composite: -1.2dB
S-video: -1.0dB Component, interlaced): -1.1dB RECORD TESTS (HDD) Chroma AM: -70.1dB Chroma PM: -58.0dB Response @ 4MHz XP: +0.3dB SP: +0.2dB LP: +0.1dB Power consumption DVD/HDD use:

Picture Sound Features Ease of use Value

VERDICT

A high quality digital recorder with Freeview tuner, multiformat support, exible editing and copying and an all-important HDMI output
For an explanation of test data, see page 98
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Technical

Information

Stenhammarsalen

General Information

GENERAL INFORMATION

Venue: Stenhammar Hall The opening ceremony was in October 1935 Architect: Nils Einar Eriksson Acoustician: Nils Einar Eriksson Capacity 390 Phone, Fax and E-mail: Reception: +46 (0)31-00 inga.wallen@gso.se Tickets: +46 (0)31-10, fax: +46 (0)31-90, biljett@gso.se Booking:+46 (0)31-31, fax: +46 (0)31-80 mia@gso.se Sound & Light Technician: +46 (0)31-91 peter.christensen@gso.se Address: Gteborgs Konserthus Gtaplatsen SE-Gothenburg www.gso.se Parking: Trafikkontoret Opening hrs 08.00am - 1.00 pm Phone: +46 (0)31-613700 tillstnd@tk.goteborg.se

SOUND INFORMATION

FOH 1 Midas Venice 32/4 Midas Venice 16/4 Yamaha DM1000 + Focusrite Octopre Mackie CR1604VLC lexicon MPX 550 Yamaha SPX-900 Dual compressor DBX166 Monitor Eq ART32EQ Monitor Eq DBX 3231 Main EqYamaha 2030 DVD Pioneer DV 585A DVD Pioneer DV 696AV DVD Recorder Pioneer DVR-545HX-S CD Denon DNC635 DAT Fostex D5 CD Recorder Fostex CR300
MULTI 16CH 8CH Returns FOH To Stage No Split 16CH 4CH Returns Whirlwind Multi MONITOR Yamaha DM1000+ Focusrite Octopre Monitors GAS115Beyma LAB 1600
WIRELESS MICROPHONES Shure U4D MA U1MA SM58MA Beta 87MA

Sound Information

MICROPHONES PA 2 L-acoustic MTD 115 (Mid/High) MTD 115LLCa Controller L-acoustic SB115 (Sub) LAB 2000C LAB 1000 AKG C391 AKG C451 AKG C535 AKG C568 AKG CK77 Miniature Beige DPA 4006 Miniature Beige DPA 4065 Headband Beige Neumann KMS 105 Schoeps MK4 Sennheiser 421 Beyerdynamic TGX-60 Shure sm57 Shure sm58 Shure Beta52 Shure Beta 58 Shure Beta98 Shure WL185 VT801 Headband Black Countryman DI85 Klark Teknik DN100 SVC MII LA Audio DBT
MAINS PA 63A 380V CEE Stage Right 32A 380V CEE Stage Right
MAINS TV & RADIO 1 16A 380V CEE on The Loading bay

LIGHT INFORMATION

EQUIPMENT 1 Light Consol ETC Smartfade 12/Jands Hog Profil Strand DMX DMX Line from FOH to Dimmer DMX Line from FOH to Stage Right

Light Information

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
AV-EQUIPMENT 2 Projector Sony VPL-FX51 5000Ansi Projector Sony VPL-PX30 2400Ansi Projector Acer PD725 Projection Screen Motorised 5 x 3,40 meter Projection Screen AVStumpfl Monoblox 32 4,88 x 3,66 meter Laptop With Remote Whiteboard Overhead Kodak Carousel Slide Projector with remote
BACKLINE Steinway & Sons Grand Piano Size D Steinway & Sons Grand Piano Size C Yamaha Grand Piano C5 Upright Piano Yamaha Yamaha Clavinova Yamaha Celesta Electric Piano Yamaha CP300 Electric Piano Yamaha P120 Trace Elliot Acoustic GK Basscombo Guitar Amp Ibanez GP60 Yamaha 20 Bass Drum Yamaha 15 Tom Yamaha 14 Tom Yamaha 13 Tom Yamaha 12 Tom Yamaha 10 Tom Ludwig Snare 14x5.5 Cymbals Cymbal Stands Guitar Stands
Miscellaneous Information
RISERS 6 Ilmonte2 x 1meter 20 cm, 40cm, 60 cm, 80 cm, 100 cm CHAIRS & DESKS 20 Black Armless Orchestra Chairs Black Armless Chairs Music Stands Music Stand Lights Tables 180 x 80 CM
CLOTH & CARPETS 1 Motorised Red Curtain Black Backdrop Pairs of Black Legs Black Carpet Drum Carpet