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"Beware - A recorder without inputs!" on by iSeriesGuru
Pros: Nice cabinet, nice display
Cons: No audio/video inputs - no, really! Doesn't tune all digital cable channels without a Cablecard
Summary: I would have considered this an elaborate joke or hoax if I hadn't just spent a thousand bucks on it - an audio/video recorder with no audio nor video inputs!
My $99 Tivo has audio/video inputs - including S-Video, so why not a box costing 10 times as much?! And my Tivo comes with an IR-blaster to control the cable box. Does the Sony? Nooooo. It does include an IR blaster (G-Link), but it's designed to control only VCR's, when dumping a hard-disk resident program to tape.
The only inputs are RF - from an antenna or from cable. So, if you've got satellite service, fuggeddaboutit. And even if you've got digital cable service, you need a CableCard to receive scrambled channels.
And guess what - not all cable companies are offering CableCards. Why should they? Devices such as this Sony are competition for the cable companies' own DVR's. (Pssst, cable companies - not too much competition here.)
And not only are the scrambled channels a problem without the Cablecard - I can't receive most of the free (broadcast) HD channels with this Sony. And the ones I do receive are found in some very odd places - channels such as "102.41" or "84.6".
And did I mention that when I set the unit to output in 1080i format (my Mitsubishi's native format and which has worked well with my Comcast/Motorola HD box), the Sony just gives me wavy lines - I have to set it to 480i or "Native" mode (which looks just like 480i.)
SONY - You've built an audio/video recorder without inputs for audio and video - what in the world were you thinking? Did you even look at the Tivo? You *did* build a Tivo once, you know?
Oh well, all in all, a beautiful, 500 gigabyte, $1000 doorstop.
- 10 replies to this review
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I think this user has to learn to do his home better. If you have a $1,000.00 to but out on a unit I would think you would do a better job of finding out what it's pros and con are before buying it. I read these to try to find out usefull info from people out there that use the products not from someone that can only complain about it cuz they expected it to do more than it said it does. Read the spec's before you buy. You might not have wasted your time like I did trying to find anything constructive in your review.
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This HD receiver is that, a receiver of HD signals and is then sent to a digital processor or receiver after decoding and sent to a monitor. How many inputs do you need on a HD reveiver? You only need 1 cable in, 1 ant. in, and the rest are outputs. Let the Pre-Pro do the rest.
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This recorder is to be used in conjunction with a duel tuner HDTV with HDMI inputs in order to appreciate its true value & the technology behind it in allowing people the ability to record in HI-DEF & SD with or without a cable card. MMMMM...if Guru is trying to hook this unit up to his 1978 Magnavox like so many others have then the Ferrari just turned into one big expensive pumpkin. That’s like buying a Ferrari & trying to plug in a Volkswagen engine how smart is that?
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(I realize that this topic is dead, but just in case someone interested in buying on of these should pass through ...).<br><br>iSeriesGuru said that some cable companies around the country are not supporting CableCARD and "why should they?"; well, it's against the law for them not to support it. Code of Federal Regulations Title 47, part 76.640(b)(3) states: "Cable operators shall ensure, as to all digital cable systems, an adequate supply of PODs that comply with the standards specified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section to ensure convenient access to such PODS by customers". (I'd link to this at the government site online, but the link is about 80 characters long).<br><br>This regulation is more than 2 years old; if your cable system is not compliant, complain to them, getting the names of all the people you deal with and if you don't get satisfaction, draft a letter of complaint to the FCC, sending a copy both to them and your cable provider's management.
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It would appear that some people commenting here do not understand the purpose of this recorder. Simply, it is an ATSC/QAM recorder.<br> <br>It is not designed to record the output of another tuner (DirecTV, Cable IRD, or other), nor was it designed to be a HD video recorder. It was designed to record either ATSC or QAM HD channels in a TiVo-like fashion, and it does this very well.<br> <br>As far as I know, in this price range, there are no standalone HD recorders that can take component (HD analog), DVI, or Firewire and record it. Sure, there are solutions to do this (expensive) but this box wasn't designed to do this.<br> <br>Those expecting to record baseband HD video should do a little research before making less than relevant commentary on a product, which wasn't designed to do what they're complaining about.
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Been all over the stinkin Internet looking for info on this device, including SONY's spec sheet, and didn't get the first inkling the device wouldn't do DirecTV or over the air until I saw this post.<br><br>This POC won't be in my rack. No way. Further, the fact that SONY.COM doesn't have images of the back of the cabinet with the spec sheet - which will usually allow someone to avoid incapatibility mistakes - furthers my suspicion that SONY has pretty much become an enemy of the consumer, rather than the trusted friend I've known for 30 years.<br><br>I am really disappointed.
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iSeriesGuru's opinion is well taken here. <br><br>Why shouldn't a top end DVD recorder have some flexibility by providing some additional inputs. It just makes the unit more versatile.<br><br>Kinda like building a car that could only be driven by one person, on sunny days and only on smooth roads.
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With My Sony HD Monitor and Sony Directv HD tuner this box is useless without component, DVI or IEEE 1394 input. I need a HD DVR that has digital inputs and selectable digital outputs. This product is not on my wish list.
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This is a recorder designed specifically to record HDTV over cable using a cablecard. If you don't have a cablecard it wasn't designed for you; if you don't want to record HDTV it wasn't designed for you; if you have satellite it wasn't designed for you. If you don't understand that then don't buy the product.
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You made a mistake and bought the wrong recorder, which does not meet your needs. Next time read the specifications before you buy. I suggest you sell it on Ebay to recover part of your cost.
