DVD-recorders with digital tuners

Matthew Moskovciak, November 5, 2007

DVD recorders have never been as popular as VCRs (TiVo and other DVRs have seen to that), but this year they've been given a mandatory upgrade thanks to federally mandated ATSC (digital) tuners. ATSC tuners make it possible to pull in free over-the-air digital TV that looks a lot better than what you'd get with rabbit ears and an analog signal. But before you ditch your cable box for free HDTV, be aware that all of these DVD-recorders suffer from the same limitation--they can't output true HD resolution. They all downscale the original 720p or 1080i signal to 480i, then upscale it to a high resolution--losing the detail that makes HD look so good. Also, the only model with an electronic program guide (EPG) is the Samsung DVD-AR650--which is disappointing because ATSC signals include program guide information and almost every standalone tuner we've seen comes with an EPG.

Still, these models are worth considering for digital archivists. Even if you're an HDTV hound, you're still stuck backing up your favorite shows in standard-def and all of these recorders (except the LG) will accept an S-Video signal from your cable or satellite box. Also note that the Philips DVDR3575H includes a 160GB hard drive--it's one of the last DVD-recorders still available for anyone who wants to avoid the subscription fees associated with cable/satellite DVRs and TiVo.