Sharp rolls out latest Blu-ray recorders

Four new models to watch

By James Sherwood • Get more from this author

27th September 2007 11:47 GMT

If there’s one sure-fire way to push a next generation format, such as Blu-ray, then simultaneously releasing a whole host of recorders must be it. Sharp's done just that and announced a whopping four new models for every wallet size.

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Sharp's Aquos BD-HW20 (above) and BD-HW15

The Aquos BD-HDW20 and BD-HDW15 will ship in Japan with, respectively, a 1TB and a 500GB hard drive, and can also record onto a selection of Blu-ray discs and DVD media. Unsurprisingly, the range of discs both can play extends to the majority of formats it can write to, plus a few extras, such as CD-R/RW.

Each provides 1080p 'full HD' and can operate at cinema-style 24p 24 frames per second. The majority of input and output jacks are all gold plated, which has been claimed by some to be a way of reducing interference.

Sharp's also chucked in a universal remote that will operate both the Aquos Blu-ray player and an Aquos TV.

Two additional ranges of Aquos Blu-ray players, dubbed BD-AV10 and BD-AV1, have been released too, but neither offers an internal hard drive and instead record programmes directly to disc. A handy disc-o-meter on the front of each model, allows users to see how much capacity is left on a disc.

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Sharp's Aquos: BD-AV1 range (left) and the BD-AV10 range

Aside from the array of colour case options, dual-layer disc recording is the main difference between the AV10 and AV1 range, with only the AV10 able to support two-layer 50GB BD discs. However, both operate at 1080p and 24p.