Sony RDR-HX725 review

Since Sony was one of the first manufacturers to equip its recorders with an integrated digital TV tuner it's a surprise that the HX725 is conspicuous by the absence of one. Perhaps the Japanese giants presumed most people already own a set-top box -- but its exclusion causes usability and performance problems.

You can connect a separate set-top box and use the supplied STB controller to improve usability via a linking EPG -- but it involves unnecessary cables and subsequent recordings are not RGB quality.

Nonetheless, the HX725 offers the versatility of disc and hard drive recording, a full range of easy-to-use functions and superior style and build quality. Recordings are also impressively accurate to the original. Without spending much more, however, you can get a recorder like Panasonic's DMR-EX75 that offers better performance and a specification which includes a digital tuner and HDMI connectivity.

Design
Sony has an unerring knack for making even the simplest designs seem more attractive than its competitors. The clean, understated styling is discreetly alluring and surprisingly slim for a hybrid design that houses both disc and hard drive features -- and build quality is exceptional.

A panel at the front flips down to expose several easy-access AV inputs that include a DV (i-Link) input, which allows you to transfer high-quality footage from a digital camcorder. A one-touch dubbing function means you can copy the entire contents of a DV tape without fuss.

The remaining connections are arranged across the rear panel. The standard set up includes a pair of Scart input and output terminals that allow you to both transmit and record signals. This is especially important as, without an integrated digital tuner, you'll probably want to connect a separate set-top receiver. But although both Scarts are supposedly RGB enabled, you can't actually record RGB signals from your set-top box -- leaving external recordings suffering from compromised image quality.

In an attempt to overcome the absence of an integrated digital tuner Sony has supplied a set-top receiver control. This cable links the recorder to your set-top box and allows you to control programme positions for timer recordings and change channels using the recorder's remote. It's an elaborate system that complicates connections and, although it can be useful with cable and satellite receivers, we'd definitely prefer an integrated Freeview tuner.

Alternative connections include the usual low-quality AV inputs but there are also component inputs that support high-quality progressive scan video, especially if you have a flat screen or projector. And the inclusion of a coaxial digital audio output means you can connect to a home cinema receiver for surround sound options.

What is missing though is a digital HDMI output, which means you can't play upscaled high-definition quality video using the latest HD ready displays. Its exclusion may leave you wanting in the near future though, and HDMI hasn't been ignored in some similarly priced models.

Remotes take on more responsibility with recording devices and Sony's is intelligently arranged, easy to use and as stylistically impressive as the device itself.

Features
The RDR-HX725 is a hybrid recorder that offers the versatility of having both a large 160GB hard drive and software disc recording functions. It makes most sense to use the high-capacity hard drive to conveniently store recordings and then copy them onto disc if you want to archive or transport copies.

Typically, there's a range of recording quality modes that sacrifice image quality for increased time length as you move down the hierarchy of modes. In total there are eight modes, considerably more than most recorders offer.