Typical price: £160
What is it: A FreeView receiver with dual-tuners and a 40GB hard drive recorder
What we think: Freeview just reached a whole new level. The Thomson DHD4000 has it all -- dual tuners so that you can record and watch different programmes, a stylish outer shell and digital audio connections
What you need to know
Reviewed on: 14 May 2005
Tags: Thomson, Thomson DHD4000, storage, EPG, broadcast
We like:
No image quality degradation on recordings; easy-to-use; well designed; nice remote; can record radio; dual tuners
We don't like:
40GB hard drive is relatively small
You might also need:
Optical/Coaxial Audio Cable, RF Loopthrough Cable, Aerial
CNET UK judgement:
FreeView's service might pale in comparison next to Sky's, but if you're plumping for the free-to-air service, you might as well invest in the Thomson DHD4000. Its only fault is the relatively small hard drive (which can be replaced if you wish), but the ease-of-use, advanced features and classic styling add up to the best device of its kind on the market
Full review:
Freeview might be a fairly limited service, with a mix of terrestrial channels, spin-offs that show repeats and imports and a gamut of shopping/music/minor interest offerings that fill the rest. But it's a free and easy way of getting digital TV, and for that we should be thankful, especially due to the high cost of Sky and cable TV. Continue Reading...
Thomson DHD4000 History
25 Jan 2006 in Reviews
When Freeview PVRs arrived, it was easy to see how the ability to pause live TV and record to a hard drive would revolutionise the way we watch TV. The first-generation devices only had one tuner though, and hence the ability to only record and watch one channel. When dual tuner devices arrived, the dream was finally realised -- you could record one channel to the hard drive while watching another
20 Sep 2005 in Reviews
It's playback time: Freeview hard-drive recorders
If you've not yet made the upgrade to Freeview, you should think about spending that little bit more and buying an integrated recorder. These devices don't just record, they also enable you to pause live TV, rewind through what you've been watching and cut out the ad breaks...
Latest user reviews
January 10, 2007
Posted by: Liam Moloney
"A great product with all the functions and connectivity you would need"
December 30, 2006
Posted by: chris rogers
"Good product - but power supply runs too hot"
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