Philips DSR6000R DIRECTV Receiver with TiVo Service

• Receives DIRECTV's satellite signal to offer up to 225 channels of TV, film, sports, pay-per-view, and commercial-free music programming from DIRECTV
• TiVo 2.0 software delivers improved performance and expanded features including Overtime Scheduler, Season Pass recording, and more
• Up to 35-hour recording capacity grants tapeless recording, while 30-minute storage buffer lets you pause and replay live TV
• Robust "jack pack" connects VCR, DVD player, home theater system, audio-video receiver, and/or game system; S-video and optical digital-audio outputs foster state-of-the-art video and Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio
• Easy-to-use interfaces and parental lock allow you to manage recorded programming and schedule recordings up to 14 days in advance--great for working parents and frequent travelers

At their most basic, DVRs are glorified VCRs, but instead of storing audio and video on magnetic tape, they digitally record and store TV programs onto a hard disk drive, like a computer (but with much better resolution than those video clips that people sometimes send as e-mail attachments). The Philips DSR6000 DIRECTV Receiver with TiVo Service represents a new generation of DVR, combining AV recording services with duty as a DIRECTV satellite receiver, delivering up to 225 channels and special pay-per-view programs. It also uses TiVo proprietary software and services, which it downloads over an analog phone line.

The DSR6000 houses a massive, 40 GB hard drive that stores up to 35 hours of audio and video. You'll need a satellite dish to get started, in addition to your TV and the equipment supplied with the DSR6000. The DSR6000 is equipped with two satellite inputs, each compatible with DIRECTV. Only the first input is currently usable, but that's about to change.

If you don't already have a DIRECTV satellite dish (as you would if you were upgrading from an older DIRECTV receiver or buying the DSR6000 for use in another room), we strongly recommend you purchase a DIRECTV satellite dish with dual LNB capability. Dual LNB simply refers to the number of different signals a dish can send to your audio-video equipment. A dual LNB dish has two jacks or connectors inside the arm extending from the dish, while a single LNB, for example, has just one.

If you currently have a single LNB DIRECTV dish and want access to these changes as soon as they become available, an authorized installer can upgrade your dish (please call DIRECTV for more information at 1-800-347-3288 or visit them online at www.directv.com). If you don't know what LNB format you have, we recommend checking with an authorized installer, as you can't determine the LNB format by counting the number of arms pointing back to the dish.

You'll also need an analog phone jack to receive TiVo's services and to transfer data to the DSR6000. A 50-foot RJ-11 phone cord and telephone line splitter are included, so the receiver can share a single wall jack with a phone, if needed.

The DSR6000 automatically makes a daily call to TiVo at no cost to you. This call won't interrupt your phone calls or Internet connection, and the receiver is compatible with Call Waiting, Voice Messaging, and Caller ID. However, it's important to note that the DSR6000 must never be connected to a digital PBX phone system. Doing so may permanently damage the modem. It also voids your warranty.

Out of the box and in your hands, you'll immediately notice the substantial weight of the DSR6000; it's clearly built for performance. A robust "jack pack" lets you connect your TV and a range of audio-video components with this receiver, including a VCR, DVD player, and/or a game center.

Audio-video connections include an S-video output (cable supplied) and an optical digital-audio output (cable not included) for state-of-the-art video and audio. Two analog-audio stereo and composite-video outputs (cables supplied) offer extended connectivity with conventional equipment, while infrared (IR) and serial outputs are offered for future upgrades. An RF (CATV) output with channel switch (cable included) and a VHF/UHF input (for an antenna or an older VCR) complete the package.

Worried that the resolution of the TiVo storage will compromise the quality of your recordings? Don't be. Unlike a VCR, the DSR6000 gives you exactly what you put in. That's because the video signal from DIRECTV is digital, allowing the DSR6000 to write the satellite signal's ones and zeros directly to its hard drive. In addition, the DSR6000--like DIRECTV--is Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic compatible so you can enjoy your TV in surround sound when you route the audio output to your surround receiver.

The Philips DSR6000 also offers software programming and graphical user interfaces (GUIs). It's the first DVR to bring TiVo Version 2.0 software to the public, offering several improvements over previous releases, such as enhanced search features that can do keyword program searches, and an overtime scheduler that lets you add a buffer to the end of your recording--so you don't miss recording the play of the century just because it occurred in overtime.

Installation is a snap; the DSR6000's onscreen menus walk you through the process. Philips includes most of the accessories needed, along with a user-friendly suite of manuals. In addition, we tried out the customer support on three occasions during peak hours. Our wait never exceeded 60 seconds, and the Philips service solutions group on the other end of the phone was informed and helpful.

A DVR like the DSR6000 gives you unparalleled control over your viewing. First off, any time you're watching TV, a 30-minute recording buffer is always in action, letting you pause live TV--the image freezes when you hit pause, but the hard disk keeps recording. When you resume playback, the recording now stored on the hard disk picks up where you left off. So if the phone rings or the kids can't wait, you won't miss a moment of your show. You can pick up right where you left-off, skip the commercials that ran while you were with your family, and you may even end up finishing the program on schedule.

For sports fans, nothing rivals instant replay of live TV. Say you just watched an incredible triple play. With TiVo, you don't have to wait for the network's replay. Just replay it on the DSR6000. You can watch in slow motion or frame-by-frame and still catch up to the network's replay.

Both TiVo and DIRECTV offer several convenient features--status bars, channel banners, programming schedules, Wish Lists, recording archives, and more--that make TV watching easier than ever. And you can toggle between either system's features, using those you like best.

TiVo includes a search feature that lets you find programming based on theme, actor, time, date, etc. A programmable parental lock lets you guide your child's TV viewing. A clever thumbs-up/thumbs-down feature can track your viewing likes and dislikes. TiVo uses this data to search out and recommend new programs that you might enjoy.

You can record a lot of programs on the DSR6000's hard drive. TiVo manages these in a storage cache called Now Playing. You can select a recording from Now Playing and watch it, even if it's recording. You can also opt for the Season Pass feature and record an entire TV series. You can even set TiVo to record first-run shows only, ignoring the repeats. As the DSR6000's disk space fills, TiVo helps you manage it.

DIRECTV delivers a staggering range of program offerings into your home--up to 225 channels including music channels. Its video quality is equally outstanding. DIRECTV displays program schedules 14 days in advance, which is great for planning recording time or if you travel a lot. If an alternative audio track is available, DIRECTV also lets you listen to both TV programs and movies in other languages.

Among the best features of both DIRECTV and TiVo are their special programs. DIRECTV offers DIRECT TICKET, pay-per-view programming that you'll find nowhere else. TiVo offers its own television magazine called Tivolution, featuring one-of-a kind interviews, movie reviews, and special previews, as well as TiVo Takes with tips and programming updates for viewers.

Philips's DSR6000 DIRECTV Receiver with TiVo Service not only reshapes your TV viewing, it rethinks it, ultimately letting you create your own network. --Heidi Wartelle