Sony RDR-GX120 Dual Format / Dual Layer DVD Recorder |
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By
Sony
Average Customer Rating:   
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Binding: Electronics
Brand: Sony
EAN: 4905524332179
Label: Sony
Manufacturer: Sony
Model: RDRGX120S.CEK
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony
Release Date: 2006-03-24
Studio: Sony |
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Product Description
DVD Recorder with Auto Programme Title Labelling.
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It's hard to review an item that you cannot get to fully work, 2008-10-27
And the problem is the manual. It's written by a english speaking japanese instead of a japanese speaking englishman. I'm a retired Communications engineer. I read complex manuals and diagrams for nearly forty years. Yet I've had this recorder for two years and I still dont know how half of it works. I can play a DVD but that's all. The rest like recording/auto recording are still a mystery. The next time I buy anything japanese I'll ask to see the manual first.
No problems so far, 2007-09-03
I ordered this product with much trepidation bearing in mind some of the negative earlier reviews. However, I wanted a cheap DVD recorder to archive material from my Sky+ hard disk, and this model was recommended to me elsewhere (and does have some good reviews elsewhere on the web). I'm pleased that so far the machine does exactly what I want.
It's easy to set up (I just connected SCARTs to my TV and Sky+ box; I didn't bother with the aerial), the manual is OK, and I was surprised by how easy it is to use - as soon as I figured out that:
(i) the correct set-up for the outputs is video/video-RGB/video (thanks for another review on Amazon for this), and
(ii) you have to select the input (as Line 3 - otherwise if you switch the TV off the recording will stop!
The quality of the recording is fine, even on the lower standards, and the discs play back just fine on my Mac. The sound recording level is a bit on the low side, though.
The recorder looks OK, too, although the remote feels a bit cheap. I haven't noticed any particular noise, and formatting is acceptably fast to me. As I say, my needs are rather specific, and if I wanted to do more I might find some of the problems others report. Also I've only had it a week, so there's still time for the other problems to manifest themselves!
Disgusting waste of money, 2007-08-20
For starters we nearly didn't get this dvd recorder because the 3rd party company that amazon jipped us into buying from didn't leave a second 'failed delivery' slip so they nearly got away with our money and no product. As for the recorder? Well its aweful. I own a panasonic 5.1 surround sound with dvd recorder. Its awesome, quick recording and so many brilliant functions. My parents used it and decided to get one instead of sky plus. I looked on here and recommended this one as it had great reviews and it sony. You'd think that would be enough? Turns out this recorder is one of the worst i've ever come across. When you turn it on it takes forever to load the disks. The remote is aweful and navigating the menus becomes a drawn out affair. It takes about 2 mins to write to disk if you record for more than half an hour and decided it doesn't like recording on the timer and sometimes skips record times. It doesn't even support JPEGS!!! It doesn't support all disks so i really can't see why you would pay £119.99 for it. Its quite horrific so just stay clear.
Cheap but flawed product, 2007-12-03
Similar story here as others who have been disappointed by this unit.
Bought a Sony Bravia (from John Lewis) and it came bundled with this DVD recorder.
The lack of in-built digital tuner is infuriating as, even when you do figure out how to record digital signals from the TV, you can't record a digital channel and watch another. The only time you can record one channel and watch another is when recording using the in-built analogue tuner (so just the old 5 analogue channels) and watch another channel on the TV's digital tuner.
For those confused about recording digital shows from the Sony Bravia TV to the RDR-GX120, you connect from AV2 on the Bravia to AV1 (I think it's that one) on the RDR-GX120. Then when recording, tell the RDR-GX120 to use L1 as the source. To select the digital channel simply use the normal TV guide via the Bravia remote (can initiate timer recordings this way) or the prog up/down buttons on the DVDR remote and select the show to tape. It squirts the signal out via AV2 to the RDR-GX120. It's not intuitive but once you've done it a few times you'll remember.
It's potentially a great system but falls down flat by preventing you from changing channel. You have to record what you watch, when usually you'll want to record a show and watch something else. Oh, and when timer recording a digital channel the TV must be switched ON. That means either leaving the TV on all night when recording things late night / when you're away from home or else delving into the manual to suss out the TV's on/off timer options.
Unless you have an additional Freeview box you can hook up somehow, you'll soon be pretty fed up with the limitations and flaws of this DVD recorder.
As others have mentioned, it can be infuriatingly slow to access discs. Browsing and renaming recorded titles on a DVDRW disc is woefully slow. I fail to understand why it takes so long to translate my button presses to action on-screen. The Bravia's on-screen menus are really nippy and responsive, the juxtaposition damning the RDR-GX120 all the more.
In its favour, I was able to make the unit multi-region with a remote hack. This didn't go particularly smoothly but was eventually successful and I can now throw in any Region disc without thought and it'll play fine.
It's not enough to justify purchasing this product though. £150 or so can get you a DVD recorder from another manufacturer that features a Freeview tuner, DVD-RAM support, plus DVD upscaling to 1080p and HDMI output for those wanting to benefit from their HDTVs.
Don't even consider this product.
You get what you pay for..., 2007-12-08
I was looking for a decent quality DVD recorder to back up my sky + box.
This is it.
It was with fear and trepidation I went to the back of the TV, but set up was a breeze.
It does exactly what I want.
I don't need a freeview tuner
I don't need multi format recording
I don't need instant start up
I don't mind it taking time to turn on
I don't want all the bells and whistles
So, I have not paid for them.
What I have got is an easy to use system to back up my Sky +.
Result.
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