The onscreen display is consistent and logical in assisting you in this and you can always adjust material in real-time (not high speed) if you need to make it fit.Real-time dubbing to disc or finalising DVDs are the only times when you can't carry out other tasks with the hard drive, so it's very adaptable overall.

Recording quality is consistent with its Pioneer stablemates.The machine uses a revised MPEG encoder that crams an astonishing 13hr onto a normal DVD or 24hr on Dual Layer DVD-R.This is in the lowest quality mode,however,but there are good results throughout the range of modes borne out by an impressive set of lab test results.The XP setting is for high-quality harddrive- only storage,while XP and SP are better suited for everyday DVD creation.The manual 'MN'mode has 32 user-definable steps for tailoring more precise running times.This is essential for recordings that total between 2 and 4hr,because the image degrades more noticeably in the LP or EP preset modes (4hr and 8hr on standard DVDs respectively).

Several video settings are available for changing picture quality,which are helpful if the source is too light,dark or saturated with colour.We'd advise turning off video noise reduction options,as they can make background details or skin tones smear when the image moves.General colour reproduction and detail are very good,especially via component video.

The same goes for pre-recorded DVD. If the movie is a clean all-digital production such as Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, then there are no problems,but some blockbusters,including Spielberg's War of the Worlds, reveal more grainy break-up than they should.Pricier HDMI-equipped devices may have a slightly more spectacular quality, so there's something of a compromise here, but you can't find this convenient combination of features and user friendliness elsewhere.

Digital audio is full-bodied and immersive,whether you're using standard stereo or the whole range of Dolby Digital and DTS surround. Sadly the VHS recording quality is below average.Colours are fine but there's a high level of dot crawl where strong hues clash,and Long Play recordings are extremely jittery. If you want to simply watch VHS, rather than use the dub functions, there's no apparent way of doing so with component video or a Scart set to RGB or S-video, so the best option is to use component for HDD/DVD viewing and keep a composite-video Scart hooked up for VHS.

The DVR-RT601H records to fewer formats than Panasonic or JVC's equivalents but that's less relevant when you've got the option of Dual Layer DVD and more efficient use of disc space,as Pioneer has here.

The GuidePlus programme guide also boosts to its generally excellent ease of use.This VHS-digital combi falls down with its relatively small hard disk,lack of Freeview tuner and limited connections to the outside world,but,overall, its bountiful benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Ian Calcutt