Thoughts on Humax Aura PVR?

Frozen_up_north

We have an older Humax Freeview recorder that is starting to be unreliable. The Humax Aura is a possible replacement, but I see several user reviews on both John Lewis and Amazon that say it is best avoided. As usual there are the "best thing since sliced bread" vs "don't touch one with a barge pole" reviews, anyone got one and are they OK?

Thanks

RumRat

I've had one since it launched some years ago.....Not sure about sliced bread, but it's never let us down
I don't record much these days. a) Everything is available to stream b) There is very little worth recording on Freeview. However the little that we do is as it should be, 
IMO recorders are reaching their end days, so get one while they still exist if you need it....

PHK

We didn't have any problems with ours but I know some people with a poor signal didn't like it. 

We only got rid of it as there's very little on worth watching on the traditional channels, so no need for a recorder. 

Frozen_up_north

Thanks for the feedback guys. My OH likes to skip adverts with a PVR, rather than have to put up with them on "catch up" via the internet, hence looking for the Humax. Incidentally, they seem to be the same price everywhere, maybe a little cheaper on black Friday...

daveyjp

My parents replaced their old box for an Aura and it does what they need.

As regards older Humax boxes, ours is at least 5 years old and now obsolete. Iplayer streaming will be withdrawn next year.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/help/questions/supported-devices/iplayer-remove-tv

outtatune

I have the Humax Aura. My mum has a Manhattan. I wouldn't spend extra on the Humax if the Manhattan has the features you need.

SpanishBlue

outtatune said:

I have the Humax Aura. My mum has a Manhattan. I wouldn't spend extra on the Humax if the Manhattan has the features you need.

I'm still using a 14 year old DigalStream PVR every day.

When it finally gives up the ghost, I intend to replace it with a Manhattan.

GDB2222

Frozen_up_north said:

Thanks for the feedback guys. My OH likes to skip adverts with a PVR, rather than have to put up with them on "catch up" via the internet, hence looking for the Humax. Incidentally, they seem to be the same price everywhere, maybe a little cheaper on black Friday...

I won’t watch anything live unless it’s on BBC. Does anyone really sit through adverts?!

Having said that, Brave browser is very good at filtering out adverts from YouTube. Will it do the same for some of the catch up channels? 

SiliconChip

Here's a What HiFi review that is relatively positive about the Aura.

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/humax-aura

Murmansk

I got an Aura having been a big fan of Humax over the years but I hated it and sent it back.

I got a Manhattan box and the latest version (3 I think) is absolutely great, like previous Humax machines but even better. 

SpanishBlue

GDB2222 said:

Frozen_up_north said:

Thanks for the feedback guys. My OH likes to skip adverts with a PVR, rather than have to put up with them on "catch up" via the internet, hence looking for the Humax. Incidentally, they seem to be the same price everywhere, maybe a little cheaper on black Friday...

I won’t watch anything live unless it’s on BBC. Does anyone really sit through adverts?!

Having said that, Brave browser is very good at filtering out adverts from YouTube. Will it do the same for some of the catch up channels? 

I sometimes watch catch up on ITV X on a laptop using Firefox & uBlock Origin. 

This cuts out all the adverts completely.

It's also relatively easily to connect a laptop up to your TV if you wish to do so.