Toshiba RS-TX60 Recorder Review

A digital entertainment device for both movie buffs and technophiles, The Toshiba RS-TX60 digital media server features DVD recording abilities alongside TiVo Series2 technology with free TiVo Basic service included with purchase. The Toshiba RS-TX60 high-capacity, 160 GB hard-disk drive (HDD) stores up to 200 hours of audio/video storage (depending on the quality level you select), while DVD recording gives you the option for archiving your VHS and camcorder footage and for easy recording of your favorite TV programs. A convenient, front-panel DV input (IEEE 1394) is perfect for quick transfers of camcorder material onto the hard-disk drive and then to DVD. The unit also comes with a 45-day free trial of the TiVo Plus service so you can try features unique to the TiVo Plus service, including the ability to search for programs by title, set up Season Pass recordings for your favorite shows, and create actor, director, and keyword WishLists searches.

With TiVo Basic Service included and without paying a subscription fee, you can record your favorite TV shows onto the Toshiba RS-TX60 HDD and watch them on your schedule. You can also record content from the hard disk drive to a DVD media (DVD-R or DVD-RW) quickly and easily. The easy-to-use TiVo interface can automatically create a DVD menu for easy navigation. DVDs can be named according to your program selections, or you may manually enter a title.

The Toshiba RS-TX60 is a great DVD player, too. Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the Toshiba RS-TX60 will deliver the full potential of your commercial DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, gives you higher resolution and sharper images than standard 480i signals while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Toshiba's Digital Cinema Progressive feature (3:2 pulldown detection and reversal) digitally corrects frame distortion in film-based material to display a film-frame-accurate picture.

The Toshiba RS-TX60 ColorStream Pro component-video output (selectable for 480p/480i) works for both DVD and TiVo content. There are 2 composite-video-based AV inputs, 1 S-video input, and 1 RF coaxial input (for an antenna signal or a feed from an older VCR or cable box). A set of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions, while both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's Toslink optical digital-audio output for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.

The DVD drive is fully compatible with your MP3 and WMA music CDs and will even play discs full of your favorite JPEG digital photos for ready-made slide shows right in your living room.

A supplied IR blaster cable for cable-box and satellite receiver control (C3 Control) connects to the back of the recorder and transmits an infrared (IR) signal to change channels on your cable or satellite box, as needed, for advance recording--freeing you from having to pretune the correct channel ahead of time.

The included, no-fee TiVo Basic service features a 3-day rolling program guide, TV "Trick Play" features (such as the ability to pause and rewind live TV), instant replay/instant skip, and manual recording capability with repeat function. The unit is fully upgradeable to the TiVo Plus Service (subscription required: $12.95 per month or a "product lifetime" fee of $299 that's good for as long as your RS-TX60 remains operational), which includes TiVo's Home Media Option for remote (online) scheduling, access to MP3/JPEG digital media files from your PC, and multi-room viewing with no additional TiVo receivers.

What's in the Box?

What Features Does the Toshiba RS-TX60 Have?

• Color: 2-tone black and silver
• Disc capacity: 1
• Region playback: Compatible only with non-region-coded (code-free) discs and with discs coded for Region 1
• Progressive scan: Yes
• Switchable 480p/480i: Yes
• 3:2 pulldown detection: Yes (Digital Cinema Progressive)
• Memory card slot: No
• Includes HDD recorder: Yes (TiVo Basic Service, Series2)
• HDD capacity: Up to 200 hours of A/V content (160 GB drive)
• TiVo features: Pause, rewind, instant replay of live programming, and HDD recording
• Monthly fees: None (but unit is upgradeable to fee-based, Home Media Feature-capable TiVo Plus Service)
• Playback formats: DVD-Video (NTSC), VCD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, red book CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 CD, WMA CD, JPEG image CD
• Recording formats: Video-mode DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM
• Recording/editing features: Auto title/chapter/thumbnail creation
• Time-slip recording/playback: Yes
• Front-panel TiVo controls: Yes
• IR blaster: Yes (IR blaster for cable and DBS box control--C3 Control)
• Picture enhancements: Time Base Correction
• MP3/JPEG combination playback:
• Firmware upgradeable: No
• Display: Yes
• Onscreen camcorder download controls: Yes
• Disc content viewer: Yes
• Comb filter: 3D Y/C
• Noise reduction: Video DNR (playback only)
• Aspect ratio control: Yes
• Dialog enhancer: No
• Integrated receiver: No
• Front-panel operation: No (remote required for use)
• Quick play: No
• Multi-angle viewing: Yes (with applicable discs)
• Video DAC: Information not available
• Audio DAC: 24-bit, 192 kHz
• HDCD decoding: No
• Custom bookmarks: No
• Frame advance: Yes
• Still/freeze frame: Yes
• Jog/shuttle dial on unit: No
• Forward/reverse play: Yes
• Karaoke: No
• Remote control: Yes
• Recording capability: No
• Advance recording: Yes
• Auto clock set: Yes (with Daylight Savings Time and Time Zone adjust)
• Electronic program guide: Yes (with 3-day rolling schedule)
• One-touch recording: Yes
• Reverse-frame step: Yes
• Slow motion: Yes
• Instant replay: Yes (and instant skip; both features HDD only)
• VCR capability: No
• Audio outputs: 1 stereo analog (left/right), 1 digital (optical)
• Headphone jack: No
• Audio inputs: 2 stereo analog (left/right)
• Video outputs: 1 RF (NTSC tuner passthrough only), 1 composite-video, 1 ColorStream Pro component-video, and 2 S-video
• Video inputs: 1 S-video, 2 composite-video, 1 RF coaxial, 1 IEEE1394/DV
• Surround-sound output: Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel passthrough
• THX-certified: No
• Front-panel inputs: Yes (including DV and S-video)
• Item width: 16.5 inches
• Item height: 3.25 inches
• Item depth: 13 inches
• Item weight: 12.1 pounds
• Warranty: 1 year parts and labor

Conclusion

Toshiba RS-TX60 changes the way you experience home entertainment by incorporating a DVD CD Player, a DVD recorder, a 160GB Hard Drive recorder and TiVo service in one compact unit. By bringing together all of these amazing conveniences in a single machine, Toshiba delivers everything you need to take total control of your TV viewing.

TiVo Basic Service Included - Easy recording from up to 3 day on-screen program guide and TiVo channel banner with program description. The unit also offers manual recording capability including scheduling, repeating, recording of specific time and channel slot via the on-screen user interface.

Enjoy on-screen display of content with program name, rating, station identifier, and time and date. Auto Title/Chapter Disc Content Viewer IR Blaster C3 IR Control for DBS and Cable boxes Disc Play DVD-Video/CD/CD-R/CD-RW*/VCD/DVD-R/DVD-RW Disc Record DVD-RAM, DVD-R Hard Disc Drive 160 Gigabytes for up to 200 hours of video recording Video D/A 10-Bit/54MHz Component Video Output ColorStream Pro Progressive-Scan 3 - 2 Pulldown Digital Cinema Progressive Resolution 500+ Lines 3-D Y/C Comb Filter Outputs (rear panel) - Y/Pr/Pb 1 set / S-Video 1 / RCA-Video 1 / L-R Audio (pair) 1 / Optical Out 1 / RF 1 (tuner pass through only) Inputs - S-Video 1 front & 1 rear / RCA-Video 1 front & 1 rear / L-R Audio (pair) 1 front & 1 rear / IEEE1394 DV 1 front / RF 1 rear TV Trick Play Features (Pause Live TV, Rewind, Instant Replay) - This feature allows the user to begin watching a recording that is already in progress.

Toshiba USA 1 Year Limited Parts and Labor Warranty Internal dubbing of copy-protected DVD video media is not possible Unit Size - 17W x 3-1/4H x 14-1/2D TiVo service is not available in Puerto Rico or Canada Includes Remote Control.