Toshiba XS30

[bobbles]

If you are thinking of buying a HD DVD recorder I would recommend you think about this one

I have just upgraded from my Panasonic E30 and I am very impressed. It does take some getting used to after being used to the Panasonic but it is excellent

I've burnt a few -R now at around the 3hr mark and the pq is far superior to those burnt on the Panasonic.

Editing is a peice of .... much quicker then when I was editing ram on the panny. One slight gripe is that you can not split recordings into different titles, you can combine so this seems very odd.

The menu system of burnt -R is nice and the high speed dubbing is superb.

It has a bigger hard drive than the HS2 and is cheaper


However, the one negative point is that it does not allow RGB in (amazing I know). However, as I say the PQ is better IMO regardless. For XP recordings i would imagine the HS2 produces slightly better results.

Another problem is if you have not got Sky+ the standard box does not output s-video from the scart, you would need to buy an rgb to s-video converter lead. Not that pricey mind you

EDIT - following other thread It also allows you to assign the aspect ratio flag to a recording

[bobbles]

I think one of the main advantages it has over other HD DVD recorders is that you only need to encode the data once to get it onto the hard drive. The machine then burns a perfect copy of whatever you select from the HDD at high speed. (I've burn't two -R so far with around 3-4hrs of programmes which took around 40min)

Whereas with the HS2 for example, you encode the data (ok at a very high rate) onto the HD but then have re-encode it at whatever rate you desire to fit it onto -R.

The Tosh method means that you record onto the HDD at the correct rate to start off with meaning you can obviously fit a lot more programmes onto the HDD.

The quality of 1.4Mbs bit rate recordings means that you could leave some favourite programmes permanently on the HDD for easy access

With the right equipment you can record a NTSC (R1 disc) signal


I am very impressed with the machine.

I have compared the PQ with the new -R I have burnt with old ones I burnt on my E30, on my DVD player which is connected to my TV via component outputs. The PQ on the new ones is far superior.


One thing I would say about the recordings on the Panasonic is that they somehow use a variable bit rate. I have no idea how it would do this but I imagine it would use a higher rate when necessary compensating with lower rates on pictures where nothing is happening. The Tosh burns at a constant rate.

[JohnG]

Nice to see a comparison between this and the Panasonic. Does this mean that RGB in is not such a big thing to have ?

[bobones]

RGB is the better than s-video, but the main problem is that s-video is not available on most set top boxes. The reviews available from the link just below this forum in the main forums page suggest that even the JS RGB-svideo convertor doesn't produce great results, and they're less than impressed that the machine has no i-link and can't record to dvd-r directly. The older HS2 still beats the Tosh on a number of fronts.

[bobbles]

I can not agree with you there

I think if you list the pros and cons side by side the Tosh wins hands down

I must admit I would think twice without sky+


The RGB issue is overplayed unless you intend to archive everything at XP

(excuse me what is the point when sky already compresses the data stream)

then the Tosh produces better quality recordings regardless. I have produced -R on both machines (remember the E30 is an HS2 without the HDD) I can absolutely guarantee the Tosh produces much better quality recordings.

With my E30 I had sky+ connected to my TV via S-Video and RGB. I honestly do not think the RGB picture was any better despite how much I tried to convince myself. I could tell the difference as RGB was slightly more colourful but does this quantify a better picture.


Just to correct an earlier point I made the Tosh also somehow varies the bit rate on recordings.

[bobbles]

I will try to list some of the pros and cons of the Tosh over the HS2


Pros

Cheaper
Bigger HDD 60Gb rather than 40Gb
Only encode the data once, burnt -R are a perfect digital copy of what is on the HDD
Produces much better PQ on recordings over 2hrs
High Speed Dubbing (you can dub over 6hrs in under an hour)
Better/Easier editing faclilities
Create far better menus with Thumbnails, different colours etc
Better looking
It has a very useful sat mon button which switches from the Tosh to Sky allowing an RGB pass through when you want to watch sky (you can select this even if it recording terrestrial, burning a -R etc, the HS2 requires a second connection to do this)
You can put different bit rate recordings from the HDD onto -R still at high speed
You can assign the widescreen flag to burnt -R

Cons

No multiregion mod currently availble
No RGB in
Recordings of NTSC (R1) signals produce a quirky widescreen feature (the two black horizontal bars on a 2.35:1 image are replace with one horizontal bar at the bottom. The total height of the bars remains unaltered)
Bigger in physical size?

[BigRD]

This post has nearly convinced me to buy the Tosh DR1. I'm waiting for Sky+ to be installed in January (£99 ). But I still want a (Prog Scan) DVD recorder to go with it.

I agree with regards skys compression and don't think there'll ever be any film broadcast that's so good I'd want to record it. I'd just go out and rent/buy the DVD. I see the recorders use for me as a way to archive somethings of interest and possibly from DV but then I'd use the fierwire.

So why am I posting in here?

Just wondering if you know if the DR1 and the XS30 use the same engine etc? obviously appart from PS. I'm hoping that the PQ will be as good as you described.

[bobbles]

no idea, I think it is very likely that the DR1 is the same without the HDD.

However if you plan to archive TV. I recommend strongly you go for the HDD version, you almost certainly will later.

[BigRD]

Thanx for the reply bobbles,

Surely if I have Sky+ there's less need for a DVD recorder with HD! And I really want Prog Scan and I haven't found any other than the Tosh & the JVC

[bobbles]

the problem with sky+ is that it offers no editing facilities

so the only way you can edit out ads etc is to do it live, messy.

there is the pc route of course

[BigRD]

Forgot to say that I'll be using my PC to edit ads and add menus. Also it's for sale at ££289.94 at www.digitaldirectuk.com

[bobbles]

looks a good price to me is that multiregion

cheapest multiregion I could see was over £300

do a search for digitaldirect thread some people were having problems with them lately I am not sure if it has been resolved

[BigRD]

It's for R2 only I think, didn't see any mention of MR. It's not that important for me. Maybe see what the Jan sales bring

[BigRD]

Hi bobbles,

Have ordered my DR1 and was wondering what make of discs you've used in your XS30. I'm assuming that they'll be ok in both machines. I've noticed a few threads regarding problems with the Pannies and various makes of disc but none for the Toshes.

Merry Christmas

[bobbles]

i've tried datawrite yellows and ritek yellows both wok fine

i think very often it is the luck of the draw

if you know of on online place near to where you live buy 25 and see how you get on

I use bigpockets who are based in lye near to where i work