Hitachi has some new "Wooo" series hybrid recorders, and they can also record HD content to the hard drive. Or as we say in hip-hop, "HD* to the HD." Other than that, well, they're hybrid recorders.

*Note: In Japan, "High Definition" content is referred to as "Hi-Vision" content, so I am in fact full of crap anyway.

Hitachi Mfg. Corporation will release the 160GB "DV-DH160T" as a new model in the "High Roku Wooo" HD/DVD recorder line, which features capabilites to record terrestrial, BS, and 110 CS Digital broadcasts, in early November. It is listed as Open Price, but the estimated retail price is around 130,000 yen.

The recorder contains terrestrial, BS, and 110 CS digital tuners, as well as a terrestrial analog tuner. It can also record digital High Definition broadcasts to the hard drive. The hard drive is made by Hitachi Global Storage (HGST), and has a 160GB capacity.

Specifications other than this hard drive capacity are basically the same as the 250GB "DV-DH250T," but parts of the design have changed, and the i.Link port has been omitted. The DVD drive is multi-drive made by Hitachi LG Data Storage. It supports recording and dubbing to DVD-RAM/RW/R, as well as reading DVD+R/RW. It does not support DVD-RAM discs with cartridges.

Recording modes include the TS HS/TS SD digital-only modes, XP/SP/LP/EP modes that also support analog, TS data, TSX HD, and TSX SD to be used with DVD-RAM/RW (VR mode) "move" recording.

Copy-once broadcasts can be moved/directly recorded to DVD-RAM/RW, and when recording digital broadcast programs to the HD using TSX mode, they can then be moved at 5x speed to a DVD-RAM/RW using VR mode. The video quality suitable for moving is XP mode.

Recording schedules for digital broadcasts are done by EPG. The recorder does not feature an EPG for analog broadcasts - instead the G codes are used. The maximum record scheduling is 42 programs per month. Also, the "I Think I Might Watch It Scheduling" feature allows for scheduling recording by choosing o­nly a channel and time. Another feature of the recorder is that it will display 6 consecutive hours of a week's worth of scheduled recordings o­n the same screen as the recorded program information from the past week - this allows for scheduling recording of the same program for the coming week by simply aligning the cursor and pressing a channel button o­n the remote control. As programs scheduled to be recorded o­ne week will automatically be scheduled for recording in the following weeks, this can be used quite practically for weekly dramas or other programs with a specific schedule.

Inside is a 10bit/74.25MHz video DAC which supports progressive output of DVD-Video. The audio DAC is 24bit/192kHz. The outputs o­n the recorder are 1x D4, 2x S-Video, 2x Composite, 2x Analog Audio, and 1x Optical Digital. Input ports furnished are 3x S-Video, 3x Composite, and 3x Analog Audio.

The power consumption is 47W (1.8W when idle). The external dimensions are 430 x 330 x 68mm (W x D x H), and it has a weight of about 5.4kg. A remote controller supporting G-Code programming is included.



Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20041022/hitachi.htm

Press Release:
http://www.hitachi.co.jp/New/cnews/month/2004/10/1022.html