dvd recorders sony

Overall Rating: ( 23 reviews )

1. Posted: Aug 29 2008

   I just received this unit and am learning how to use it. So far, it appears to work decently. However, I am spoiled by another machine I have - a Panasonic which allows use of DVD-RAM discs. This Toshiba model doesn't allow RAM discs. It does, however, allow marking chapters and then "hiding" those chapters - effectively allowing editing of unwanted bits (commercials) from recorded programs, etc. That is a plus, although apparently only while using +RW or -RW discs. Still, a decent machine for the decent price.

2. Posted: Aug 29 2008

   This is easy to hook up, easy to navigate as the other reviewers will say and no need for me to repeat. However, for my use it is missing one essential, to my thinking, feature. That is, you cannot watch one program while recording another. I guess I am spoiled with the old DVR that finally gave up on me.

3. Posted: Aug 28 2008

   Finally decided to upgrade from VCR recording to DVD and I couldn't be happier. An added plus, it has inputs on the front so I can record my old home videos on Video8 tapes on DVD. Fantastic.

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Overall Rating: ( 10 reviews )

1. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: May 25 2008

   Was hoping this to be the best of DVD recorders but forget it because remote buttons are so small some require a pen to hit them & the unit doesn't respond especially during title list and sent unit back from frustration so maybe you won't have this trouble but Sony usually produce higher quality or maybe somebody else made this one & they put there name on it - I bought from Crutchfield and great customer service to return unit!!

2. Posted: Mar 31 2008

   I intended to replace my VCR's with DVD recorders to be able to record HD programs. So I ran some experiments with the intent of finding what DVD speed matched the VCR at low and high speeds. But this Sony recorder was so bad that I never got that far. First I tuned both units and also the television to the same analog channel (from antenna). Before I even got as far as recording, I compared the images from (1) the TV tuner, (2) the Sony DVD recorder, and (3) the JVC VCR. The VCR was very close to the TV direct, but the image from the DVD recorder was definitely not as crisp as either of the others. With such a poor source it was difficult to evaluate the recorded images. Thinking the problem was with the DVD's inferior tuner, I then repeated the test using a recording from a digital camcorder. This time the deficiency with the Sony DVD recorder was even worse. The whole purpose of changing from tape to DVD is quality, and with this unit it's definitely not there.

3. ( 6 of 7 found this review helpful ) Posted: Feb 17 2008

   At first I was hesitant to purchase this DVD recorder because of all the bad reviews on AMAZON. In the end I decided to trust the name brand instead of the reviewers and I'm glad I did! This is a superior product. I haven't had any problems so far and I find this unit easy to use in spite of the time it takes to set it up. I have used this unit to record both analog and digital TV as well as old home videos and gotten great results. The digital tuner performs better than the one in my HP LCD HDTV. I have not encountered any copyright protection problems or experienced any of the other issues that previous reviewers have complained about. This unit was purchased to replace my SONY RDR-GX315 which cost about $350. For just over $200, the RDR-GXD455 is an excellent choice. The ability to record HD broadcasts coupled with SONY reliabilty cannot be beat!

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Overall Rating: ( 16 reviews )

1. Posted: Aug 3 2008

   I've had this DVD player/recorder for 7 months now and I haven't encountered any of the problems that others here have. The one I ordered was new, not refurbished, so that may have helped. It's easy to set up and easy to use, a big improvement over the Panasonic DVD player/recorder I brought this to replace. I use mine mainly to play DVDs and to transfer old VCR tapes to DVD so the built-in copy protection hasn't been an issue for me. If you want to record programs off broadcast or cable that have an anti-copy signal or download similarly protected shows off a Tivo be warned: this recorder won't work for you. But if, like me, you're looking for a solid, good quality DVD player that will help you get rid of alot of old VCR tapes you have laying around, this is a decently priced option.

2. Posted: Jul 21 2008

   I was pretty happy with it - while it worked. After 4 months it stopped reading disks. Spits them all out and says disk error.

3. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Apr 26 2008

   Unfortunatly this is a giant step backwards for Sony. I could care less about copy protection, I just want a recorder that will actually record to then create a dual layer DVD that can then be finalized and played. Every disc I used was rendered unreadable once the recording was finished. I will look to the competition for something actually useable.

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Overall Rating: ( 19 reviews )

1. Posted: Aug 31 2008

   I bought this recorder to record programs while I'm not home. Isn't that why everyone buys them? It won't let me record cable programs to a dvd. I get a message saying that I am not allowed to record copyrighted material, but it lets me record the same program to the built in VHS recorder, which is NOT in high definition. So I spent all this money on high-def cable and the best SONY tv, and I have to watch grainy video for anything I can't be home to see at broadcast time. Buy some other brand folks. Now I see on-line that not all brands do this.

2. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 26 2008

   I bought this Sony mainly for dubbing VHS archival material onto bullet-proof DVD's. For the most part, I am pleased. Hook-up and set-up are about as time-consuming as any other electronics toy, but it sure helps if you are reasonably familiar with back-side TV connections and cable paraphenalia. The sketches in the instruction manual did not match my unit. Channel-seeking was speedy and trouble-free, less than twenty seconds. As for the main reason I got this unit: it helps to use SONY blank DVD's; generic blanks frequently hung the recorder. My computer had no problem with such generics; they recorded just fine. I do have one complaint, due to my advancing age and declining visual acuity. The remote is silk-screened white on black, in very tiny letters. Getting familiar with control functions took a while. Back-lighting of strategically-placed button functions and better ergonomics would really help in getting fumble fingers properly oriented. There are limited special effects capabilities with this Sony, as it is primarily a basic recorder and playback unit. Fortunately, I use the burned DVD's in another dedicated playback-only unit with full special effects. I am satisfied with this SONY. I am a bit concerned with SONY's manual; if you are a neophyte, an electronics klutz with no previous knowledge of toys, SONY's instructions will frustrate you.

3. Posted: Aug 26 2008

   Unit works well. The upconvert to 1080I does make the picture look brighter and better than 480I or 480P, even on old VHS tapes and DVDs made from VHS tapes. Upconvert to 1080I only works through HDMI cable though. You can only convert to 480P if you use the red/blue/green component cables. The only thing is that when watching DVDs or VHS tapes through the 1080I connection, you have to turn down the color level on your TV or the colors are too saturated and grainy looking. I like my color level very high on my Sony 34" HD set and I have it set to level 55 for video I'm watching through my cable box or TV tuner. When watching DVDs or VHS tapes through the HDMI upconvert, I have to turn the color level down to 35 or even 30 but the picture is very clear and bright and the colors are very good even at that level. So don't be afraid to play with and adjust your TV set's color level and brightness controls to get the best possible picture on the 1080I HDMI connection from the unit. The eject mechanism on the VCR is great. It is the smoothest, gentlest and quietest ejection of VHS tapes that I've ever seen on any VCR.

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