Pioneer DVR-LX61D

We report as we find. This recorder didn't perform to the standard we would expect at this price level.

One year on, and you're still banging the drum, john550. Just face up to the fact you like this product - in fact almost any Pioneer product - and we don't rate it. Live with it.

Your point being?

i cant really agree with your view on this recorder, did you have a dodgy sample? i find the tuner very clean, with hardly any noise, and i only paid £320 ! its a great versatile machine.

I just compared a CD in the bdp-320 and the dvr-lx61,the bluray is a very musical player,almost identical to the '51fd.Now to say the DVR had no weight or musicality was not true.I had the sony DVR-890 previously & the pioneer definately had the edge.Wether playing or ripping a CD to store on the HDD (with no loss in musical quality)on this DVR,its fairly musical.But to pay the extra 100stg approx. is well worth it for the build quality alone.Also its a tweakers dream,with 100s of different options for picture,sound & set ups.Its sad that possibly the last great pioneer LX DVD/HDD got a terrible review,when according to myself & others it was not merited.

I wouldnt agree either,i traded a sony dvr890 for this pio,and the pic on both tuners is every bit as clean,decent musicality.with simular interface,more features and better build quality.You can pick these up for approx �350.So review imo was a bit harsh.But �450 would be a bit steep for a dvd-hdd nowadays!

just to say also your review is totally the opposite of a competitive online reviewer.

My point being can you not answer wether WHF can get something wrong even once.No matter what is said post review ie:Some folks disagreeing with your assessment of any particular kit,in this case WHF not even prepared to consider they might have had a dodgy unit as per statements from myself & others.Regards.

You say "at this price level",well i bought it for a little over 300 and there is absolutely no i repeat no picture noise like the review said & sound is more punchy & detailed not to mention more musical than the sony890 i had.The picture & build exceeds the sony also.So is there no chance WHF got a defective model?Is it possible WHF is mistaken just this once?

The claims made by What HI-FI are rubbish! the Pioneer DVR-LX61D performs well on all fronts with picture/sound quality far better than most of the mainstream Hard Disk Recorders around the £300-£500 price tag.

Perhaps the What HIFI reviewers should be reminded that some of the BIG names in HIFI use Pioneer Designs and Pioneer manufactured electronics.