Humax PVR-9300: HDMI, new design and a big hard drive
Tags: humax, recording, model, hd
We're pretty big fans of Humax PVRs here. They have proven to be reliable and feature-rich, if a little beastly looking. Happily, there's a new model in town and it's adds a bunch of new features and looks very pretty indeed.
The new model, the Humax PVR-9300, offers the same basic twin tuner system as the 9200. It's well worth noting that the Humax is one of very few PVRs that allows you to use two tuners to record two channels and watch a third, when that third is on the same multiplex as one of the other two. It sounds complicated, but the upshot is that if you're recording one programme on BBC One and one on ITV1, you can still watch BBC Two or even Channel 4, if you must.
Humax has also decided to jump on the HDMI bandwagon, too. It includes one of the HD outputs to cater to people with HD TVs who prefer to avoid nasty composite video signals. Humax says this output can go up to 720p, but we'll reserve judgement on how it will handle upscaling until we get one for a full review.
In terms of capacity, the new model comes with a generous 320GB of internal storage. Humax reckons you can store around 200 hours of TV with that sort of space, which is more than most people will ever use and plenty for recording Big Brother every night.
While the predecessor of this reciever was sold under the Freeview Playback banner, the Freeview consortium has now adopted the name 'Freeview+' -- clearly borrowed from Sky+. Obviously, the functionality remains the same and the recorders are able to adjust for delays due to overrunning programmes, schedule series recordings and even record a programme split by a breaks for news.
The PVR-9300 will arrive in shops on 1 August and will cost £200. A lower capacity, 150GB version, known as the PVR-9150 will also be available for £150. -Ian Morris
Update: Read our full Humax PVR-9300T review here.
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AnonymousTue 29 July, 2008 7:36pm
'Bout time they did the same for Freesat, or why not combine both Freesat and Freeview in one box??? Surely it can't be that hard?
strain911Sat 23 August, 2008 3:07pm
Very excited by all positive reviews of this and previous model. Bought yersterday. Nicely presented, easy set up BUT the noise! I have hearing loss and could hear the fan/HDD noise over the TV at normal listening levels. My wife said the noise was unacceptable. Luckily I bought it from John Lewis and I returned it today and got a full refund. They said they had not had complaints about noise with this machine. Either they are deaf or I had a bad sample. If there is a lot of sample variation the manufacturer should not be supported. Before you buy a PVR I would insist on hearing the actual box you are buying in operation in a quiet environment. I cannot stress how disappointed I am.
AnonymousTue 26 August, 2008 10:21am
My 9200 could be very noisy depending on placement, moving it slightly would mean everything else on the same shelf would resonate along with the fan and hdd. A rectangle of rubber matting worked miracles - carpet underlay does the same job.
AnonymousFri 5 September, 2008 12:19pm
I bought one of these through Martin Dawes, and have similar experience as other people. It's very noisy!! so it's going back. Great product, but I can't stand the constant drone. It comes from the fan - the air going through the grill holes makes the racket. If you put your hand over it and stop the air flow, it stops the noise, but of course the fan would overheat.
Shame - I'm online looking for an alternative product - anyone got any suggestions?
AnonymousTue 9 September, 2008 1:38pm
For those people who find it noisy, there are a number of things you can do... some people have reduced the noise by buying a replacement fan, or adjusting the fan screws to reduce vibration etc...
AnonymousSat 13 September, 2008 7:15pm
people used to complain about the 9200.... but i have a 92000 and there is hardly any noise??
its outstanding feature is for low signals areas... couldn't get a signal before with other boxes but get one loud and clear with the 9200
AnonymousSat 27 September, 2008 6:08pm
I agree - my 9200 makes no discernible noise, and has proved reliable for nearly 2 years (the time I've had it).
Unlike Inverto...
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8.5
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Mun YinFri 25 July, 2008 3:16pm
Very nice, a good cheaper alternative to a Topfield I'd say!