JVC DR-DX5S 250 GB HD DVD Recorder

Playable Formats: MiniDV, HDD, DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD, SVCD, VCD, CD-R/RW, WMA/MP3/JPEG Digital Still (CD-R/RW)
Recordable Formats: MiniDV, HDD, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW (VR and Video Formats), DVD-R
250GB HDD (Up to 473 Hrs. Recording)
Progressive Scan Output
i.LINK Connection (DV Input for HDD/DVD/MiniDV, DV Output for MiniDV)
VCR Plus+ (HDD/DVD)
Dolby Digital/DTS/MPEG Digital Output (HDD/DVD)
Component Video Output
High-Quality Picture
DV-Format Recording (MiniDV)
Bit-Rate Optimizer (Intelligent Dual-Pass Encode Dubbing System) (HDD—>DVD)
Motion Active Progressive Scan Output (for Video Source)
Digital Direct Progressive Scan Output (for Film Source)
Super MPEG Encode Pre-Processor: Time Base Corrector, Frame Synchronizer and Motion Active Noise Reduction
Super MPEG Post-Processor: Block Noise Reduction Circuit, Color DigiPure and Hadamard Noise Reduction System
Recording/Viewing
16-Hour DVD Recording (on Double-Sided Disc)
Live Memory (HDD/DVD-RAM)
Simultaneous Recording and Playback (HDD/DVD-RAM)
Relief Recording (HDD)
Linear PCM Audio Recording (XP Mode Only)
1.5x Quick Playback with Sound (HDD)
Editing/Dubbing
6-Way Dubbing
Freezeless Editing for DVD Disc (HDD—>DVD)
High-Speed Dubbing, Max. 64x (HDD—>DVD)
Playlist-Based Editing (HDD/DVD)
Just Dubbing (HDD—>DVD)
Easy Program Dubbing (HDD/DVD)
User-Friendly
Library Database DVD Navigation
Animated Thumbnail on HDD/DVD Navigation (DVD-RAM/DVD-RW VR Format)
High-Resolution GUI (English/French/Spanish)
DVD-R Menu Screen with Thumbnail (18 Designs)

Pro's: Nice design; MiniDV deck; well-designed remote; intuitive menus; dubs audio and inserts scenes in MiniDV recordings; burns dual-layer DVD-R discs; HDD pauses and rewinds live TV; flexible recording speeds; six-way dubbing; above-average recording quality.

Con's: No electronic programming guide; DV editing tools are relatively crude; no IR blaster; no component-video input; incompatible with +R/+RW discs; limited high-speed dubbing options; high price tag.