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| Sony DHG-HDD500 60-Hour High-Definition Digital Video Recorder (500 GB) | 
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| Brand: Sony
Category: CE
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  22 reviews
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 18
Dimensions (in): 24 x 20 x 8
MPN: DHGHDD500
Model: DHGHDD500
UPC: 027242646209
EAN: 0027242646209
ASIN: B00067TYFO
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| Features:
| • | High-definition-capable digital video recorder with 500 GB storage: 60 hours of HD programming or up to 400 hours of standard content | | • | Includes NTSC and ATSC tuners; a perfect match for bringing off-air HDTV reception to HD-ready televisions and monitors | | • | Pause, rewind, and record live high-definition TV; record one program while watching another; HDMI/component-video outputs | | • | CableCARD slot accommodates digital cable decoder cards; Memory Stick PRO media slot lets you enjoy digital photos and MP3 music | | • | Measures 16.9 x 3.3 x 14 inches (W x H x D) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
High Definition tuner and Digital video recorder with no recording subscription fees and no equipment rental Analog cable and over-the-air reception Memory Stick PRO media slot for playback of photos and music Flexible format outputs and Aspect Ratio settings Free TV Guide On Screen Interactive Programming Guide Real Time Control Functions - Several functions provide an easy and fun way to pause, rewind, and record live high-definition (HD) TV. Dolby Digital 5.1 channel audio decoding with Digital optical audio output Auto SAP Four device Universal remote control V Chip Parental Control Configurable Favorite Channels list Display window for Display of channel number / name, time, recorded program name and Memory Stick(R) file name Multiple Display formats for best quality video reproduction with diverse Display types and broadcast content Flexible Aspect Ratio settings for a variety of monitor types and broadcast content Simultaneous video output from high-definition and standard-definition jacks Easy scheduled recording to VCRs for convenient archiving Unencrypted Digital cable (Clear QAM) Digital over-the-air Analog over-the-air Analog cable Pause, rewind, fast forward and record live high-definition TV 12 fast forward, rewind and slow speed settings Available Speeds - Fast Forward - 3x, 9x, 30x, 90x Rewind - 3x, 9x, 30x, 90x Slow Motion Speeds - 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/8 Record at least 60 hours high-definition video Record up to 400 hours standard-definition video Up to 30, 60 or 90 minute live TV pause time Record live TV while watching another previously recorded show Adjustable Replay and Advance functions User selectable Chapter Marks with thumbnails 2 Composite Video Output 2 S-Video Output HDMI Output Cable Input Antenna Input HDMI or Component (YPBPR) Output USB Port Weight - 12.57 pounds (5.7 K
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
 Impressive technology and simple to use May 21, 2008
I am very happy with this Sony DVR. The HD recording is very easy and the playback is perfect. Capacity (at least with the 500) is not a problem either. I would definitely recommend this product.
Outstanding image quality and control, minor drawbacks August 19, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
After reviewing people's comments, it seems that those who read the manual (so they know how to set it up and use all its features) get a lot out of the unit. Those that don't know the unit's functions think it is so-so or lousy.
Here is the bottom line: I bought 2 of the 250 GB versions; one for my brother and one for a friend. Two weeks later both purchased 2 more themselves. They loved it. Their wives loved it. Their kids loved it.
I had already bought one myself of course, and although it has drawbacks, it is still the best high-definition unit recorder available. You need to live an area where your antenna can pick up HD signals (or some other really good High-Def signal), but if you do and set it up right, the image quality beats anything off cable or either satellite service.
For those comparing it to Tivo and others:
1) This isn't a Tivo. It has an over-the-air HD tuner that is just incredible, and pulls in channels my ATSC TV can't sort out. I can receive 32 analog stations, of which about 9 have marginal, snowy pictures. I get an astounding 41 digital channels, including all 32 analog duplicates, and the picture is better than DVD, and many include high-definition (1920x1080) channels with no compression artifacts.
2) Tivo owns, and has successfully defended, software patents on the features people want the Sony to have. Sorry. It is legally impossible to duplicate their functions. Do an internet search if you don't believe it.
I think the "TV guide" interface of this Sony (for shows and programming) is not slick; but it works fine. I can set it to record repeats of any show, M-F, one time only, daily, etc. This works better than a typical VCR programming, and includes a lot of show information. It DOES have search features (remember to read the manual before posting wild claims), and it does have some nifty features Tivo doesn't have; including some "hot-keys" on the remote for special shortcut functions.
It also has user selectable "skip commercial" (forward and backward) buttons, allowing you to skip anywhere from 5-60 seconds in one click. I have mine on 30 seconds ahead and 10 seconds back on the remote.
Best of all is the "intelligent rewind" when going fast-forward or fast-reverse. What is that?
Let's say you are fast-forwarding at 60x normal speed. When you see what you like and push the play button, the unit doesn't stop at your over-shoot point. Instead it stops the fast-forward, calculates where you saw the image, and rewinds based on how fast it is going and how fast an average person can press the button. This happens instantly, and instead of doing a lot of dancing with FF or RR to find the start of the show; this does it for you.
Really clever, really useful; and you can custom set the delay for each speed too, just in case you are faster or slower than average.
The unit isn't perfect. What is? I got my money's worth and whole lot more, but I can imagine people having problems if they don't read the darn manual!
I really wish the unit had signal inputs like a VCR or DVD-Recorder; so be aware that it can record cable and antenna signals, but not inputs from other components. However, all the outputs are "hot" at the same time, meaning I can output signals via the HDMI, and the SVHS and composite outs plus all audio outputs are sending a signal; allowing me to record to something like a DVD recorder if I want to off-line shows.
It also has a nice variety of recording quality options so I choose what uses the most space and how good it looks, not all at one setting; and I set a recording's priority so if I ever run short on disc space the least valuable stuff gets deleted first; and I can "lock" recordings so they are never deleted.
This was Sony's first foray into this area, so I can (sort of) understand the missing feature(s); but apparently they aren't making them anymore, and aren't making a version 2. A shame really. This unit blows away every other High-def recorder I've tried; and with some improvements could have taken a huge share of the market.
Get one while you still can. Digital TV isn't going away.
Great Unit if you do your homework July 17, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have used the Sony DHG-HDD500 for over a year now. I did have to read some internet forums when I first bought the device to figure out the EPG. In the Los Angeles area, the program guide is downloaded on analog channel 28. When I turned off all the analog channels, no EPG data would be downloaded. This PVR is easy to use and my wife who usually just says "Oh brother, another toy?" jumped right in and easily set it up to record her shows. I live 50 miles from the transmitting towers but pick up 46 digital stations with an outdoor UHF antenna, see this link:
[..]
There have only been a few times in the last year when programs just didn't record. Sometimes, a few days of the program guide is blank, sometimes we don't know why it happens, probably the station is messing it up, but TV just isn't that important, is it?
Overall I really like this product and would buy another if it failed tomorrow.
Do your homework.
 Long-term Experience December 28, 2006
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
Writing this mainly because of the complaints I have seen. After 14 mo. of useage, it is easily the best machine I have owned; in fact I was checking on buying another or more-advance version. It has all the quality of my JVC HD tape recorder (viewed on a 55" screen) plus the flexibility of rapid ff, slo-mo. still p,, etc.--not as good as a quality DVD player, but close.
I don't have Tivo, but have a RealTV DVR of standard definition, so do not understand the comparisons. This unit worked great with OTA HD, and. when I returned to cable (after the Adelphia disaster), it worked well with both, being able to program both inputs to work as one. Using a cable-card, it does not require a HD cable box. I use a SD box for other cable programs.
My only reservation is the TV Guide programming and the difficulty of arranging the guide to suit my preferences from among the 300, or so, available on Time=Warner. For a long time it was erratic, showing only 2 days and then skipping a day or 2. Other resources, however, allowed me to manually program with no problem, even tho is was stored as "unknown" by date, time and channel The recording start-stop timing is very flexible.
Lately, the TV Guide programming has been perfect, but , I guess, few things in life are guaranteed.
 SONY HD DVR vs. TIVO HD series 3 December 24, 2006
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
Well I had the SONY DVR but the software was pure junk. The TIVO user interface & capabilities are far superior, we would rather pay the monthly fee & get something highly usable than use the no fee SONY. I am a big SONY fan but this time I found out they cannot compete. On the SONY you cannot put in a keyword & have it record any show that contains that keyword, called WISH LIST in TIVO. If you record a repeating show week to week you cannot tell it to only save the last so many shows. TIVO has all of this & then some. The Internet connection makes upgrades easy for TIVO, no can do with SONY. So with TIVO it's either the old fashion fone line connection or an Internet connection.
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