Toshiba SD-H400 (80-hour TiVo)

• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 43 reviews
• See all user reviews

Product summary

CNET editors' take

• Reviewed by: John P. Falcone
• Reviewed on: 06/10/2004

Toshiba's SD-H400 combines an 80GB TiVo digital video recorder and a standard DVD player in one space-saving box. It can save up to 80 hours of TV programming on its internal hard disk, as well as play--but not record--DVDs. The device is listed at $550, but you can find it online for as little as $400.

Upside: Unlike a standalone TiVo, which requires a monthly or lifetime fee, the SD-H400 comes with free TiVo Basic service. You get limited programming guides and recording functions, including cable and satellite control, right out of the box. And since its progressive-scan component outputs work with both DVDs and TiVo-recorded programming, the combo unit offers improved video quality unavailable on a regular TiVo.

Downside: The full panoply of TiVo conveniences, such as 14-day programming guides, Season Pass recording options, and the cool Home Media Option is available only if you upgrade to TiVo Plus service, which costs either $13 per month or $300 for the lifetime of the unit.

Outlook: A DVD player and a TiVo DVR in one console is a great idea, but you might want to hold out for the a model that combines TiVo technology with a DVD recorder. Unlike the SD-H400, Pioneer's DVR-810H and Toshiba's own RS-TX20 can archive your hard-drive recordings on DVD.

See more CNET content tagged:

TiVo Inc.,

Toshiba,

DVR,

programming,

DVD

User reviews

• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 43 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 5 of 43 user reviewsSee all 43 user reviews

• 4.5 stars

  "great VCR replacement"

  by bustertoad on March 9, 2007

  read more

• 4.5 stars

  "i love tivo"

  by ik3908 on December 14, 2005

  read more

• 4.5 stars

  "Had for one year. Never had problem. Would recommend"

  by aces1202 on July 1, 2005

  read more

• 1.0 stars

  "Not good at all"

  by aarongobo on June 30, 2005

  read more

• 2.0 stars

  "Great unit that breaks fast"

  read more

• See all 43 user reviews Write review

Similar products

• Pioneer DVR-810H (80-hour TiVo)
  • Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
  • Users' rating: 2.5 out of 5
• Toshiba RS-TX20 (140-hour TiVo)
  • Users' rating: 3.5 out of 5
• Pioneer DVR-57H (120-hour TiVo)
  • Users' rating: 3.0 out of 5
• TiVo Series2 DVR (40 hours)
  • Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
  • Users' rating: 3.5 out of 5
  • Price: $199.99
• Humax DRT800 (80-hour TiVo)
  • Editors' rating: 3.5 out of 5
  • Users' rating: 3.0 out of 5

Where to buy Toshiba SD-H400 (80-hour TiVo)

This product is currently not in stock at any of our online merchants.

Find from our auction partner, eBay

Email me when this product is available