JVC DR-MH300 review

JVC has attempted to overcome this last problem using its Guide Plus+ system. This is basically a seven-day electronic programme guide for analogue broadcasts -- although you can also receive digital programme schedules by connecting to a set-top box using the supplied IR Blaster. The system does make recordings easier through simply highlighting a programme from the guide, but it's a chore to set up and programme listings can be erratic. Alternatively, you can use one-touch, timer and VideoPlus+ recording options.

That aside, it's difficult to fault the recorder's features. You get the versatility of making recordings using either the 160GB hard drive or software discs including DVD-RAM and –R/RW formats, although +R/RW disc recordings are ignored (they can be played, however). The hard drive and DVD-RAM discs also allow for time-slip functions such as pausing live TV and simultaneous recording and playback.

There are five recording quality modes with the recommended SP mode giving you 34 hours of footage from the hard drive, rising to around 300 hours using the lowest quality mode. The FR mode allocates you the best quality mode according to how much space you have left on your disc or hard drive.

The sizeable disk space means it makes sense to record and edit using the hard drive and then dub to disc if you want to archive or transport copies. A bit-rate optimiser ensures the best possible quality while dubbing by varying the bit rate between simple and complex scenes -- and high-speed dubbing means you can copy an hour's programme in less than a minute.

On-screen menus are blandly presented using dull colours, but they present an extensive array of recording, editing and playback options. It's easy to locate recordings using animated thumbnails from the library database, which also memorises DVD recording details so you know which disc to load. There are also plenty of post-editing and playlist features to tinker with.

In terms of recording, editing and dubbing functions, there isn't much the DR-MH300 can't do, which is great if you use them all, but the abundance of features can occasionally cloud basic operation.

Performance
The DR-MH300's integrated analogue TV tuner sets the template on which recordings are based. Unfortunately, analogue image quality doesn't equal that of digital broadcasts, with spongy detail and widespread instability giving pictures a consistently grainy tone -- especially if you have a flat-panel display. We suggest connecting the recorder to a set-top box, which improves the image quality of programmes and subsequent recordings.

Using the highest quality XP and SP modes produces recordings that are, for all intents and purposes, indistinguishable from the original. We suggest sticking with the standard SP mode, as performance is fine and 64 hours of hard drive space should be enough for most people. Detail softens as you move down the recording modes and, as with most recorders, the lowest quality EP mode is subject to distracting background noise and stifled movement.

DVD playback is reasonably impressive too, especially using progressive-scan component or HDMI connections. These higher quality outputs produce cleaner images with greater depth and detail while movement appears more cohesive. There is still the occasional flicker in complex scenes, however, and colours are not as distinct and natural as class-leading models such as Panasonic's DMR-EX75.

Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Nick Hide