Humax PVR-9150T

The basics

The Humax PVR-9150T is an entry level system from Humax, featuring a Freeview decoder, 160GB hard drive for up to 100 hours of recording, functionality to pause, rewind and fast forward live TV and picture in picture viewing.

It is a simply designed box with a plastic outer shell and small LCD screen for information display on the front. Connections wise, you are limited to SCART only connection and no external audio ports. This is a simple system for simple needs.

The good

As this is an entry-level system we weren’t expecting much from it, but we were pleasantly surprised by the easy to use interface, simple setup and a decent sized hard drive for the price point.

Though the chassis isn’t carbon fiber or diamond cut glass, it serves the purpose that is required of it. The box design is sturdy and functional. It’s not going to win any awards, but when you want to record TV – this is a reliable machine.

The bad

As with many other entry level PVRs, you are really quite limited with what can be done on this box. Yes it records TV, but there are no HDMI connections, no audio connections, digital, analog or otherwise and no networking ports are present either making firmware and feature updates near impossible.

The bottom line

In our HD, 3D, hyper-connected world, the Humax PVR9150T really is only a few years from complete obsolescence. That said, not everyone is chomping at the bit when it comes to technology. For those still using a standard CRT television – who have no need for all the bells an whistles of a high end box, and simply want to record Corrie, this could be the PVR for them.