Pioneer DVR-540HX review

Pioneer has also incorporated the GUIDEPlus+ EPG, which offers a more comprehensive system than the standard digital version. It can take 24 hours to download but GUIDEPlus+ includes features such as moving thumbnails, one-button recording options, advanced searches, creating user profiles and an integrated overview of recorded programmes. You can use GUIDEPlus+ for any broadcasts, including analogue and satellite or cable channels, provided they carry the necessary information.

There are few more flexible recorders, especially with software disc compatibility. You can record using all disc formats including DVD-/+ R/RW, DVD-RAM and dual layer (DL) discs, which double the recording time on offer. Playback compatibility is equally inclusive and extends to various CD formats including discs encoded with MP3, WMA, JPEG and DivX files.

It makes sense to use the integrated 160GB hard drive for everyday recordings and then copy them to disc if you want to free up space, archive or transport your copies. There are a generous six recording quality modes available, which balance image quality with recording time length. The highest quality (XP) mode gives you 34 hours, SP provides 68 hours, LP gives you 136 hours, EP produces 204 hours, SLP provides 272 hours and SEP up to a whopping 340 hours. There's also a manual mode that lets you select the best quality setting according to remaining disc space, which ranges from 34 to 455 hours. It's unlikely you'll ever need to use the lower quality modes and we recommend sticking with the highest three modes if you can.

You can also use the hard drive to store music tracks and digital photo images stored on disc, which can then be edited and organised, or played as a slideshow accompanied by music.

Setting up the recorder is incredibly easy using the Set Up Navigator, which guides you through tuning and settings options without any fuss. There are several ways to make recordings, including one-touch and manual timer settings, but the simplest way is using either of the EPGs to select a programme and the rest is done automatically.

Menu systems are well presented and simple to navigate making it easy to find and organise recorded titles, apply a full range of post-editing functions or copy footage between discs and the hard drive when you need to.

Performance
The quality of recordings always depends largely on the quality of the incoming signal from the integrated TV tuner. It's best to ignore analogue channels as images are overwhelmed by graininess and poor detail, but digital TV broadcasts fare better.

Freeview images are sufficiently stable with decent detail and contrast, and colours appear more engaging. Shadow and colour gradations are susceptible to occasional blocking and challenging movement can cause problems, but the picture compares reasonably well with dedicated digital receivers.

Recordings using the highest two (XP and SP) quality modes are indistinguishable from the original and it takes a severely critical eye to notice any deterioration. With more quality modes than typical recorders however, it's no surprise that images depreciate more noticeably using the lower quality modes. As you move down the hierarchy detail and edge definition softens, digital artefacts invade more frequently and movement loses cohesion -- until you're left with an image that would put a VHS to shame. Still, if you ignore the three lowest quality modes, recording performance is excellent and allows enough time for most uses.

You also need to remember that this device is going to operate as your main DVD player too -- that's where the DVR-540HX falls short of its class leading competitors like Panasonic's DMR-EX75 or Toshiba's RD-85DT. Detail is not as solidly defined, especially around the edges and subtle nuances are left unexposed compared to the best models we've seen.

Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Kate Macefield