Toshiba RD-XS55 DVD Recorder Reviews

[Surfmaster]

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience with the Toshiba RD-XS55 DVD Recorder? What do you think of its picture quality and reliability? How about to convert VHS to DVD?

I am looking for a high-end DVD recorder with a large hard drive to record TV shows off analog cable without a cable box. I also want to do minor editing to keep TV shows that I want to archive on DVD. Thanks in advance for your comments.

[jeffshead]

I have the RD-XS54. Love it!

The RD-XS55 is virtually identical except it provides easy TV Guide style scheduling for recording satellite programs. The RD-XS54 provides that function for CATV only.

I would rather have the 55, but I got the 54 for almost half the price of the 55.

The PQ is tops. I have owned and tested the majority of the top models from most manufacturers before settling on the Toshiba.

Just take the time to read the posts in this forum. Try this one in particular:

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=295290&highlight=

[samijubal]

Toshiba PQ is the best out there. Plus they use a Seagate HD, not the Western Digital drives everyone else uses, at least that's what's in my KX-50, I haven't seen inside a RD-XS55. Toshiba's interface could definitely be more user friendly, but they are packed with options, basically everything you can imagine can be done. It'll take awhile before you get comfortable with everything it will do. Keep the manual handy. I love all the options myself, but even after using DVD recorders since 2001, it still took awhile and a few times reading the manual to get comfortable with the recorder.

[davideck]

The Toshiba manuals are complicated because their units do so much. Once you do become comfortable with the operations, the Toshiba HDD units prove themselves to be versatile video workstations IMO. Playlist editing is incredibly convenient. Do other units besides Toshiba provide this?

As already stated, the Toshiba PQ is excellent. For VHS transfers, their TBC performance is exceptional.