Sony RDR-GX7

[Macdon22shipp]

Does anyone have this recorder and what do you think of it. I'm thinking of taking back my Pioneer 310 and getting the Sony.

[zorankarapancev]

The prestigious European Imaging and Sound Association - EISA voted Sony RDR-GX7 the best DVD Recorder 2003/2004.

For more info on this recorder go here: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=181157&start=0

[tommyoz]

I just picked one up this weekend. I made one recording and noticed a big quality difference from the other 3 I had bought and returned.
Sansui, Cyberhome and Philips.

[zorankarapancev]

The best tests are the ones done with several products from different manufacturers ( and if it's possible - at the same time). Only then it is possible to have a fair side-by-side test under the same conditions.

A lot of people will be surprised to find that printed manufactures specifications do not show the real performance and quality of their products.

[tommyoz]

Well I guess this one is going back as well. It's true what they say about the quality though.

This recorder could be good for anyone and i'm sure many have had good luck. In my case, it doesn't like any DVD-R that I have thrown in. I've tried Taiyo Yuden, SONY, Tdk, Panasonic and prodisc. Some started recording and stopped (yes, all my connections were tight and tested and my source was not Macrovision protected). Some wouldn't even get that far. It would say dirty disc. All these discs would not eject from the tray either. I've had to unplug the cord and reconnect it. Wait for 5 minutes for the power off screen to disappear. Then press the eject button for it to come out. It's true also about the response time on some of the functions.

When I recorded to DVD+RW and DVD-RW it had no problems. The picture quality was very good. Now when I play those same discs back on the Sony it will not play. This obviously is a defective unit. I will not try another one because it is expensive and I don't want to risk this happening again. Also, Sony was rather cheap in what came in the box. Only one A/V composite cable. No component cable or S-video and no DVD media.

[tommyoz]

And it looks like it will be going back with a disc in it.

[tommyoz]

I got the disc out 20 minutes after pressing the eject button. It's boxed and in the car ready for return.

Should I even try the Panasonic?

[zorankarapancev]

Maybe you would like it. As you know, I have model E60 and I would recomend it, as a best buy, to everyone.

[tommyoz]

Maybe you would like it. As you know, I have model E60 and I would recomend it, as a best buy, to everyone.

The only problem is the DVD-Ram. I don't support it and I'm not so sure if I want to buy another drive.

[zorankarapancev]

Then, ask for the exchange, or wait for the new Sony models.

[tommyoz]

Then, ask for the exchange, or wait for the new Sony models.

Yep. Actually, at this point I'm starting to think that it's not all that bad capturing to the PC, encoding, author & burn.

[oldfart13]

But unless you have bleeding edge hardware it's tooo s-l-o-w! I went that route for 5 years. No more. My next comp will have no cap devices in it methinks. Enough already...

PS My Panny E80 is great. My productivity has gone up by a factor of 10 when making DVDs. The DVD-RAM format is just fine with me. The LG 4040b burner bought at Christmas handles the RAM discs perfectly and I've come to rely on that format. I'm looking at other recorders for a possible spring purchase. In that case, it will be the one that suits me most, not any particular brand. If the Sony's are still going to have great hardware but picky drives, then they won't be on the list. The GRX10 sounds like a fine machine though so long as it's price isn't prohibitive...

[donpedro]

But unless you have bleeding edge hardware it's tooo s-l-o-w!

Not if you use MPEG2 hardware encoder.

[tommyoz]

But unless you have bleeding edge hardware it's tooo s-l-o-w!

There's no doubt that a stand alone is faster. That is why I tried them out.
Although some have had great success with them, I think i'll wait till they improve. I did try 4 of them out. It's not like I tried 1 and said the heck with this.

I have a pretty fast PC (P4 2.5 ghz, 1.5ghz Ram). It takes more time to encode (if you don't have the Mpeg2 hardware encoder like donpedro stated) but at least you can prepare some nice professional looking menus through PC authoring. I think it will be a while before you can do that with a standalone if at all.