Sony DVD Recorder GX300 can't record to 4x DVD-RW media!

[joeg04]

I bought the Sony DVD +/- recorder RDR-GX300. According to it's manual, it can't recognize 4x DVD-RW media, which I read too late . The 4x DVD-RW media are not backward compatible to the older 2x DVD-RW media. See (on pages 8 and 9):
http://www.docs.sony.com/release/RDRGX300revision.pdf
I prefer DVD-RW VR because with DVD+RW the Sony recorder can't record the 16:9 wide screen flag from digital settop boxes and does not allow to set manual chapter markers. What to do, if in future 2x DVD-RW media are discontinued and will be no longer available?
Does anyone know, if the internal DVD drive of the GX300 can be exchanged against a newer model or if the firmware can be updated?

[robguy]

Good luck getting Sony to update your firmware. It isn't posted on their Web site, nor has firmware ever been. Perhaps you could call a Sony repair facility and ask your questons.

Also, you could void your warranty if you rip out the old hard drive, and have operational problems if you're a novice.

[lordsmurf]

I if in future 2x DVD-RW

Why does everybody assume this?

You know... you can find 4x CD-RW media still

You can buy 1x DVD-RW still

[joeg04]

Why does everybody assume this?

I assume that 2x DVD-RW media will be discontinued, because demand for it will be too low to be interesting for producers of DVD media. All future PC burners and DVD recorders will support 4x DVD-RW media and only a few old DVD recorders that can't be updated are in the market.

you can find 4x CD-RW media still

There is a difference to DVD-RW media: Writing to high speed CD-RW media is not possible below 4x speed. So standalone CD audio recorders need 1-4x CD-RW media because they record in real time and that means at 1x speed. So there will be forever a demand for low speed media.

A standalone DVD recorder without HDD records at 1x speed or even slower, dependent on the recording mode. Recording at 1x speed or slower is possible with 4x DVD-RW media, if this media is supported by firmware. So future DVD recorders don't need slow DVD-RW media while future CD audio recorders do need slow CD media.

You can buy 1x DVD-RW still

I think not forever.

[joeg04]

As I wrote above, the DVD recorder Sony GX300 can't record to 4x DVD-RW media.

I read, that the Sony RDR-VX500 contains a NEC ND-2500A burner:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=136514
So I guess, the similar GX300 contains the same burner. The media list of NEC shows, that the ND-2500A with actual firmware can burn 4xDVD-RW media:
http://www.de.nec.de/software/1579_Media_List_for_8x_DVD_Writer_(1.07).pdf

So my idea is to take the NEC burner out of the GX300, plug it into a PC, update firmware and then plug it back into the GX300. Goal is to enable the GX300 to burn to 4xDVD-RW media.

Does anyone know, if the GX300 will work if it contains a burner with updated firmware? Or if it has a burner with non-standard firmware?

Thanks.

[piano632]

Here's an idea:
Stock up on Pioneer 2x media now as low as $0.51 each in 100-pack:
http://www.meritline.com/pioneer-2x-dvd-rw-media.html

I read, that the Sony RDR-VX500 contains a NEC ND-2500A burner. So I guess, the similar GX300 contains the same burner.

I wouldn't assume that till I actually took the lid off.

[obsolete]

I've had the Sony RDR-GX300 since last November, and I have recorded well over 200 DVD's onto 4x discs or higher with no problems.
It can't hurt to try one....
On Edit: Most have been DVD-R's, but I have recorded a dozen or so DVD-RW 4x with no problems...