TrustedReviews has reviewed Pioneer DVR-560HX DVD/HDD combo recorder. The Pioneer DVR-560HX has a 160GB hard drive and supports DVD-RAM/+RW/-RW and DVD-R and DVD+R dual layer media.

TrustedReviews’ comments:
The DVR-560HX is a mightily impressive DVD/HDD combi, offering a stupendous amount of features at a much lower price than you may have expected for a Pioneer product. Freeview and DVD picture quality is of the highest order, it plays a wide array of formats and build quality is exceptional. The only negative thing we can think of is that it doesn’t quite mask its inherent complexity quite as well as the Panasonic DMR-EX88, which boasts a more user-friendly interface. But if you do opt for the Pioneer, you won’t be disappointed.

TrustedReviews has done a review on the Philips DVDR5520H DVD/HDD hybrid recorder. The DVDR5520H has a 250GB internal hard drive and it can also record videos on DVD-RW/-R, DVD+RW/+R and DVD+R(DL). DVD-RAM or DVD-R (DL) are not supported. The device is DivX Ultra certified and supports Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks.

Verdict from TrustedReviews:
The DVDR5520H can’t quite match the high standards set by the latest recorders from the Panasonic camp, but it comes mighty close. And in some areas, it’s actually better - in particular its live TV flexibility boosted by the terrific Time Shift Buffer, and the clever Commercial Block feature. Plus, unlike the Panasonics you can play DivX straight from the hard disk.

On the downside, the operating system isn’t as slick, it lacks Freeview Playback and a series of minor niggles prevent us from falling completely in love with it - but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.