Our take on the Toshiba RD-XS52
We've all had the experience of frantically searching for a blank tape or disc when an episode of our favorite show comes on. That's not a problem anymore with the Toshiba RD-XS52. You can record over 250 hours of your favorite shows to its built-in 160GB hard drive. Store your programs on the hard drive for easy access, or dub them to DVD to free up space. You can record shows directly to DVD as well — the choice is yours.
Improved DVD picture quality for HDTVs
The RD-XS52 is no slouch in the playback department either. Hook it up to your compatible high-definition TV via a digital HDMI connection, and it gives you a higher-resolution picture with the prerecorded DVDs you buy or rent. And since the HDMI output carries both picture and sound information, it gives you a quick and easy single-cable connection.
Easy recording
The 'XS52 can also control cable and satellite boxes. This allows it to select the right channel at the right time for the show you want to record. VCR Plus+ makes timer recording even easier — just enter in the Plus Code found in your local programming guide for the show you want to record.
Edit your recordings and burn them to DVD
Basic editing features allow you to split your recordings into chapters and create playlists for collecting desired scenes. You can also delete scenes, which is great for getting rid of commercials. Once everything is to your liking, you can dub the recording to a blank DVD for a permanent copy.
Flexible connections for easy dubbing
Front panel audio/video inputs allow you to record from external sources such as a VCR. If you have a digital camcorder, the 'XS52's dedicated front-panel input makes it a snap to back up your home movies. Scenes are transferred digitally to the recorder, for a clean, noise-free picture. And an on-screen interface allows you to control both the camcorder and the dubbing process using the 'XS52's remote.
Highlights:
- digital video upconversion
- selectable 480i/480p/720p/1080i output via HDMI digital interface (separate adapter available for TVs with DVI input)
- built-in 160GB hard drive for recording/playback (holds 36 hours at best quality, 284 hours at lowest)
- VCR Plus+ timer recording
- IR (infrared) blaster for controlling most brands of cable and satellite boxes
- one-touch recording
- timer and manual recording options
- simultaneous recording and playback
- auto date/channel stamp with thumbnail image
- playlist editing and auto chapter creation
- high-speed dubbing from DVR to DVD-R (24X max.) and DVD-RAM (12X max.)
- auto clock and channel set
- selectable progressive-scan mode for smoother video with HD-compatible TVs via the component video output (progressive-scan mode is playback only)
- optical digital output for Dolby® Digital/DTS®/PCM
- front-panel digital camcorder input (IEEE 1394) with on-screen camcorder dubbing controls
- 3 sets of audio/video inputs (composite and S-video) including 1 front-panel
- 1 set of audio/video outputs (composite, S-video, and 480i/480p component video)
- RF input/output (tuner pass through only)
- TV tuner
- records to the following types of discs:
- write-once DVD-Rs, for making permanent recordings
- rewritable DVD-RAM discs, for making recordings you can watch and then erase
- plays DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, and Video CD
- plays CD, CD-R & CD-RW, MP3 and WMA CDs
- plays digital picture CDs (JPEG)
- remote control (multibrand for TVs)
- 16-15/16"W x 3-1/16"H x 15-1/16"D
- warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor
- Our 60-day money-back guarantee
- internal dubbing of copy-protected DVDs is not possible
- designed for use with "Region 1" coded DVDs
Shipping Note: Sorry, we can only ship Toshiba products to the 49 continental United States and Washington D.C.; we can't ship them to Hawaii or U.S. Territories. (Solamente es posible enviar productos de la Toshiba dentro los 49 estados unidos continentales y Washington D.C.)
Consumer Alert: This component has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation's transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission's digital television website at: www.dtv.gov
