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TiVo HD XL: Review

Posted to Video Components 2009-06-18

The TiVo HD XL is an HD cable DVR with extra-long recording time. It includes 1TB (yes, that's 1 Terabyte) of video storage, enough for 150 hours of HD programming or 1350 hours of regular density programming. The HD XL is THX certified for the best in video and sound quality, can record two shows at the same time, and features the ability to pause, fast forward and rewind live TV.

The HD XL can replace your HD cable box using CableCARD decoders from your cable company, and can let you watch 1 channel while recording up to two more channels. The HD XL works with cable and antenna but does not support satellite. The unit includes TiVo's excellent backlit, programmable remote control. Video output modes include 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i.

Rating:

4.8 out of 5

Value

The HD XL costs $300 more than the HD, and the only differences are the amount of storage, THX certification and the backlit remote. So unless you plan to record a lot of HD programming, or have a high-end audio and video system, you might find it hard to justify the price difference over the HD. And don't forget you've got the cost of the TiVo service, which starts at $12.95 monthly.

Performance

TiVo owners are quick to rave about the glitch free performance of TiVo products. This makes sense, as they've been in the DVR business longer than anyone and have developed a well though out and easy to use product. The menu system and remote are very user friendly, and once setup, the unit should provide years of trouble free performance. If you plan to use the HD XL to replace your cable box, be sure and check with your cable company first before buying the HD XL - they're required by law to support the device but in the real world this support varies considerably.

Summary

If you need the storage space for HD programming, or you record an awful lot of regular programming and like to keep it on hand, then you can probably justify the price of the HD XL. It's got more storage space out of the box than any other available DVR. But if you just use a DVR occasionally, and want an HD compatible DVR, you're probably better off with the HD model.

Pros

150 hours of HD video storage
1 TB of storage space
True HD 1080i output
Backlit, programmable remote control
CableCARD support replaces digital cable box

Cons

There are no cons for this product