CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
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Excellent
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 03/08/2001
By integrating a state-of-the-art TiVo digital video recorder (DVR) with a DirecTV receiver, the Philips DSR6000 digital satellite receiver/recorder gives us the best of both worlds: the full spectrum of DirecTV programming, with enough channels to put most cable systems to shame, and the ability to watch those programs whenever you want with the original, near-broadcast-quality picture and sound of a live DirecTV broadcast. This DVR, which, aside from its cosmetics and the layout of its remote control, is virtually identical in features and quality to the Sony SAT-T60 integrated DirecTV/TiVo DVR, is an absolute joy to use--with one significant caveat. (Updated 11/01/01)
By integrating a state-of-the-art TiVo digital video recorder (DVR) with a DirecTV receiver, the Philips DSR6000 digital satellite receiver/recorder gives us the best of both worlds: the full spectrum of DirecTV programming, with enough channels to put most cable systems to shame, and the ability to watch those programs whenever you want with the original, near-broadcast-quality picture and sound of a live DirecTV broadcast. This DVR, which, aside from its cosmetics and the layout of its remote control, is virtually identical in features and quality to the Sony SAT-T60 integrated DirecTV/TiVo DVR, is an absolute joy to use--with one significant caveat.
We're converted
Standalone TiVo recorders have a built-in MPEG II encoding device, which converts regular analog TV into compressed digital video. But because DirecTV uses the same MPEG II compression for its digital video satellite transmission, Philips (and Sony) left out the internal MPEG II encoder. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage.
On the plus side, the digital DirecTV bit stream gets recorded directly off the satellite instead of being first converted to analog, then recompressed into digital form. As result, you get the full 35 hours' worth of recording time with the picture and sound coming out just as good as it does on a live broadcast. This machine even records the 5.1-channel Dolby Digital surround sound found on many pay-per-view channels and one of the Starz premium movie channels. We found the picture and sound quality, whether live or recorded, to be on a par with the standard-definition picture from our high-end reference DirecTV receiver, an RCA DTC-100. Because the DSR6000 supports Dolby Digital surround sound while the standalone TiVo does not, we rate the picture and sound to be as good or better than the best-quality recording level of a TiVo box on its own.
On the downside, with no built-in MPEG II encoder, you can't record programs off cable or antenna with the DSR6000, though you can still view them. Since DirecTV offers local stations in many cities, which in most cases consist of the local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC affiliates, plus the national PBS feed, this may not be an issue for you. But if, for example, you just gotta have your regular Star Trek fix and DirecTV doesn't offer the local UPN affiliate, you might be better off using a standalone TiVo recorder instead of the integrated version. Continue reading
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