Aspire Digital's AD-8091 component DVD player/recorder is both affordable and versatile. The unit records to blank DVD+R or DVD+RW discs--both of which are compatible with most DVD players sold today--and it plays a range of optical media and produces pristine, progressive-scan video playback images for viewing on a high-definition or HD-ready TV or monitor (525p/NTSC, 625p/PAL, which may be incompatible with some displays).

Five recording modes (HQ, SP, LP, EP, and EP+) let you scale your disc space to maximize either recording time (up to 6 hours) or recording quality. DVD+RW discs require no finalizing--you can record, eject, and play them with minimal fuss, thanks to "background formatting." This feature, which lowers total burning time, is an advantage over the "dash" formats. Other DVD+RW advantages include on-disc content editing and multisession writing.

The recorder is ideal for time shifting your TV viewing or for archiving footage from your library of camcorder and/or VHS tapes. Recording features include pause record, auto-insert chapter, index screen navigator, and multi record modes, while editing features include erase disc, show chapter, and edit title name. Program the recorder to capture television shows (up to 8 programmed timer events simultaneously) or use its real-time recording function on the fly.

Inputs include front- and rear-panel jacks for hookup convenience, with one set of composite- and S-video inputs and 1 stereo analog (left/right) RCA audio inputs in each locale.

The unit delivers high-quality playback from virtually all audio or video disc formats, including DVD, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, CD+G, JPEG image CD, Kodak Picture CD, and MP3 music CD.

The AD-8091 performs 4:3/16:9 display conversion and offers parental lock settings. A choice of NTSC and PAL output formatting provides worldwide compatibility. When selected for interlaced output (480i), the rear-panel component-video outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts on compatible televisions, while composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television.

Optical and coaxial outputs provide direct-digital connections with an audio/video surround receiver for enveloping Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround. The unit also decodes Dolby Digital 5.1 for use with non-decoding multichannel receivers. Online firmware updates are available from www.aspiredigital.com.

What's in the Box
DVD player, remote control, remote batteries, user's manual, stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, a user's manual, a quick-start guide, and a warranty card.

Note: The AD-8091 will not record Macrovision-protected material such as the signals found on most commercial DVDs.