500GB Hard Disk - 400Hour Recording - MPN: DHGHDD500 See Product Details
Description
Recording your favorite television program is easier than ever with Sony's DHG-HDD500 High-Definition Digital Video Recorder. With the DHG-HDD500, you can pause, re11wind and record live high-definition TV. The DHG-HDD500 can record and store at least 60 hours of high-definition video and up to 400 hours of standard-definition video. This digital video recorder features multiple standard-definition outputs, HDMI or Component high-definition outputs and real time control functions.
Quick Glance
Hard Drive Capacity: 500 GB
Summary
Product Title: Sony DHG-HDD500 High-Definition Digital Video Recorder
Manufacturer: Sony
Power Score: 3.1 | 12 Reviews
General
Hard Drive Capacity: 500 GB
Warranty Information: 1 Year Parts, 90 Day Labor Limited Warranty
Broadcast Format Supported: 1080i (HDTV), 480i (SDTV), 480p (EDTV), 720p (HDTV)
Slots: cableCARD, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO
Recording Time: 400 Hour
Input: HDMI Yes, Composite Video Yes, Component Video Yes, Network (RJ-45), Modem (RJ-11), USB Yes
Dimensions: 3.26" Height x 17" Width x 14" Depth - Approximate
Height: 3.26 in
Width: 17 in
Depth: 14 in
Weight: 12.57 lbs
URL: Manufacturer Link
Strengths: True high definition video recorder. Excellent picture.
Weakness: Program Guide does not work [at least for me].
I purchased this in November 2005. The unit had a bad hard drive and the dealer replaced it for me with no problem. Since December I have been working with a Sony Product Specialist in an effort to get the TV Program Guide to work. After much back and forth between Sony and Comcast it was determined that there is a known problem getting the TV Guide to work through the cablecard. It works fine...
First and foremost: QUALITY. Watching live TV on the Sony unit is *almost* as good as watching TV with my TV's built-in ATSC tuner. The colors are slightly less-vibrant and there are a few more compression artifacts, but this is to be expected, and not terribly noticeable. Recordings are first-rate, and infinitely better than any low-def DVR, VCR, or even DVD recorder. And with the HDMI output,...
Strengths: Record/Pause Live HD TV, free TV Guide On Screen Listings, Configurable playback controls, Hard Drive storage space, NTSC and ATSC combined tuner, Setting Chapter marks during playback.
Weakness: No single frame advance, or slow rewind, No previous channel feature, No option to name manual recordings, TV Guide On Screen scrolling is a little slow, and getting the listing requires patience.
I have a JVC Hybrid Recorder with Hard Drive and VCR. It let me pause live TV, but only has a 40 GB Hard Drive and will only record analog channels. I wanted to be able to pause/record Hi-Definition TV. I am not very familiar with TiVo, but knew I didn't want a pay service for the TV schedule. I also wanted the ability to record analog, and digital Cable channels. The Sony DHG-HDD500 does both...
Strengths: Stand alone, no monthly fees, no "viewer habits" marketing info (like Tivo collects), no requirement for phone line connection.
Weakness: Slow scrolling through TV Guide listings, can't watch a different channel while recording, relatively slow loading of TV Guide listings, complicated features.
Love it. Would buy it again. Excellent alternative to Tivo grasp. HDTV to our Sony 60" LCD projection set is great, and both remotes integrate well, although the DVR remote is not designed quite as well as the TV remote. I would recommend this DVR if you want stand alone recorded HDTV.
Strengths: No Monthly Fees, 500gb of Storage, Universal Remote, No Phone Line Needed, Complete Set of Video Cables, Includes HDMI to DVI Adapter, Receives All Availible Channels, Recording Quality Identical...
Weakness: No Audio Optical Cable Included, TV Guide is Slow
If you love TIVO and don't value money, don't get this product. If you hate subscription fees, but don't want to sacrafice quality, stop reading now and buy this product. I unpacked this product, easily set it up, and began watching HD TV very quickly. The TV Guide was updated in the morning and immediately I began to set up recordings. It is so nice to have a product that just works!
Strengths: Records HDTV! User-friendly, did not even have to read the guide for setup and basic recording/playback operation. The over-the-air / cable TV Guide is just like TiVo without a monthly fee.
Weakness: Scrolling through the TV Guide Listings from channel-channel or from hour-hour is a little slow - 2-second delay when scrolling between cable-air channel inputs. (minor complaint)
We (wife and I) had limited exposure to family/friends TiVo systems, but never took the plunge. We have a 50 in HDTV DLP television (no tuner), and were viewing regular digital cable. Cable company offered extra monthly charges to deliver HDTV programming, again couldn't bring ourselves to pay the extra expense. Recently decided to make the one-time investment to get both with the Sony DHGHDD500....
Strengths: Everything you read in the other reviews is true, I won't repeat how great recording HD on disk is with the built-in TV Guide; if you've gotten this far you probably already appreciate its strengths. I really like the one-button format selector once I
Weakness: W1. No editing of recordings. W2. Can't copy from DVDs/VCR. W3. Too few audio outputs. W4. The manual is hard to read, confusing and incorrect. W5. Menu navigation is slow. W6. Can't record back-to-back shows on different stations. W7. TV Guide is
W1. No editing of recordings. I only use broadcast, no cable and few DVDs. I would love it if my 4yo son could watch Nemo as many times as he wants Without memorizing all the commercials but there's no way to edit them out; that's what happens when the content providers work together with the content presenters. The best I can do is set chapter marks where each batch of commercials is over and...
Strengths: I don't know. Haven't been able to get it properly hooked up yet.
Weakness: Many
I purchased this by internet three weeks ago, and got it two weeks ago. I have Time-Warner cable and tried for several days to get it to work with their cable box. Had to schedule a service call, because they said it could be done. One week later, I found it can't. With their help (their expert who communicates directly with the top people at Sony and other manufacturers), I have been trying to...
Strengths: Works well. Easy to use TV guide
Weakness: None
This is a good unit that records well. There is some heat generation so be sure that the unit has some ventilation. Ocassionally one of the HD tv channels are lost due to weather or wind. Don't keep waiting for the HD TIVO, this works and lets you record High Def and watch it when you want.
The Sony DHG-HDD500 (along with the Sony DHG-HDD250) is the first HD DVR to feature CableCard support allowing it to work with any digital cable system in the United States. This also means that it can take the place of a cable box, but also has the added ability to receive any any local digital and high-def stations not made available by your cable provider thanks to a built in over-the-air HD...
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Sony DHGHDD500 HD Video Recorder
Strengths: Easy setup. No subscription needed. High definition receiver included. Above average on-screen programming. Can watch one recorded show while recording a new one. Sleek case design.
Weakness: Some occasional screen data garble introduced when recording while watching previously show. Reception of non-high def channels appears to be worse than what can get without using unit.
Overall I am satisfied with the unit. It took a while to get used to operating it. Differences in being able to send out setup/channel menu thru different video outputs caused confusion. High def channels come in great but regular channels appear darkened, over colored. If you never had HD recorder before it's good to know before hand that they introduce a tiny amount of operating noise to living...
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