To date, home DVD recorders have only recorded two-channel soundtracks - usually in Dolby Digital 2.0. This is fine for terrestrial TV programmes (analogue or digital) but does a disservice to multichannel movies.
Sky Digital's movie channels harness 5.1, but the only way to enjoy them with compatible equipment is with Sky - the only Sky box with a digital audio output. The Sky is also a PVR, and was the only way of recording 5.1 broadcasts. Until now, that is.
A look around the rear of the DVDR7250 HDD reveals a coaxial digital input. It's the first we've seen on any consumer DVD recorder, and Philips earns congratulations here. It also handles Dolby Digital and DTS.
Suitably configured, the 7250 will accept (RGB) video via Scart with 5.1 bitstreams from the digital audio input, and combine them to make 5.1 recordings. Great for archiving Sky movie playouts when its hard drive is filling up. Sadly, 5.1 recording, (enabled from the cumbersome setup menus) can only be made in the XP and SP modes. Also, the coaxial input isn't compatible with the Sky 's optical output. Gadgets are available to convert between the two (I used a USB-powered Terratec device called the Vice Versa), but why should we have to? Philips, do your homework!
Philips could not confirm whether the 7250 will be ready for Dolby Digital 5.1 DTT broadcasts, if they appear.
But what about the rest of the kit? Finished in the distinctive Philips DVD style - curved fascias, bright blue-green fluorescents and control discs that glow red during recording - there's little to physically distinguish this innovative recorder from the past. Internally, too, there are some old traits, some welcome, others less so. There may not be HDMI (a tall order for the price) but you do get an RGB Scart, plus a component output to switch between interlaced and progressive. Happily, analogue and (non-upgradable) Freeview tuners are specified for recording TV, onto DVDs ( RW/-RW, -R/ R or dual-layer R) or the hard drive.
