With the analogue switch-off approaching, it's surprising how few DVD recorders have digital TV tuners. While most of the bigger brands are slowly incorporating Freeview into their decks, the budget end is still saturated with machines containing legacy analogue tuners. Yamada, though, is bucking the trend with its DTR-1000HX - a bargain digital HDD/DVD recorder with a few surprises tacked on to boot.
Unsurprisingly, considering its price point, it' no looker. Fiddly buttons, custom-designed legends (implying a lack of licences) and a front panel that looks as if it's been lifted from an alarm clock from the 1980s are only part of its aesthetic troubles.
On the plus side, it is - unlike previous Yamadas - remarkably thin, so you could always hide it underneath some better- looking kit.
More commendable is its connectivity. A front flap hides a range of inputs containing composite video, analogue stereo, FireWire (for DV camcorders) and, usefully, a USB port to play content from compatible solid-state media. The rear is even more impressive, proffering a cornucopia of interesting socketry: further video inputs come in Scart (albeit non-RGB), composite and S-video flavours, while the same are offered for output purposes, alongside prog scan-enabled component jacks. Analogue stereo inputs are present, while audio feeds are catered for with outs for coaxial and optical digital, plus a set of 5.1 jacks that can also be used for stereo.
Two sets of antenna throughputs are supplied, as there are two tuners; one analogue and one digital. However, if you intend to loop your aerial through the system and into a separate STB or TV, remember that loop-through works when the machine is on, but not in standby mode. This is also true with audio. Looping video through the Scart sockets works well, but if you connect audio to a receiver in digital, 5.1 or stereo fashion you have to turn on the 1000HX if you want hassle-free sound from that set-up box through your audio system.
