RDR-HXD870B or get a Denon1930???

[admin_exported]

Just got the fantastic Sony 40W2000 LCD and I'm very pleased with it! I also got a 'free' Sony RDR-HXD870B DVD / Hard Disk recorder with the TV - this upscales to 1080P and I am wondering whether to keep this as my main DVD player or go for the Denon 1930?

I have Sky + so don't really need the recorder funtionality...(I also want to use the DVD player as my main music source for CD's)

Has anyone been able to compare these two products or can advise me?

 

[Clare Newsome]

Much as we rate Sony DVD recorders, this is only a £250 model - which is never going to match the DVD replay functionality of a dedicated DVD player.

If it was me, i'd bung the Sony recorder on eBay/Amazon marketplace, and put the proceeds towards a new upscaling player. The Denon 1930 is on its way out - we're testing its replacementl, the 1940, in our October issue (out August 23rd). It's the same price, £250.

If the new player is as good as its predecessor, it'l be good - for a DVD player - with CDs, but you still may be unsatisfied with its music performance, which will be on-par with a @£100-£150 CD player. It's all about compromise...

 

[Anonymous]

Hope you don't mind if i butt in, i was thinking of getting a sony rdr-hxd870 but having just read what you have put i'm kind of wondering whether or not to.

Just how bad is the replay functionality on ANY dvd recorder. ? (particularly the rdr-hxd870)

I already have a sony dvd player( dvp-ns305) but this is a really old model now. Its being used with an old crt sony television, i was kind of hoping to use the hxd870 for recording and playback when i bought a new lcd tv.

Is this a mistake ?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for the advice - I look forward to the review of the 1940...any sneak preview of the features?!?

I had to get rid of my two channel separates because of a house move, but it was in the budget range that you mentioned for the CD player - so the Denon shouldn't be too much of a shock to my ears!

Great magazine by the way, I've been reading for a few years now and have bought some excellent equipment of the back of your reviews and advice.

Cheers