Sony RDR-HX715 is available now

[gshelley61]

Vann's has them in stock now:
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/484700869

So does Electronics Expo:
http://www.electronics-expo.com/product.jsp?x=RDRHX715&zipz=11001

It has a very similar feature set compared to the Pioneer DVR-633H, but with the addition of an upscaling HDMI (digital video/audio) output. The Pioneer still has more input picture adjustments, however.

As usual with Sony, pricey for what you get.

Anybody planning on checking this one out?

[satwar]

I noticed a couple of guys over at AVS Forums are getting them today. Should have some early first look reviews by tomorrow.

[electronicsrep]

I noticed a couple of guys over at AVS Forums are getting them today. Should have some early first look reviews by tomorrow.

Its an unmoderated and childish place. Better help here. The 715 is an ok machine but it's very basic and the DVD writer doesn't write any chapter marks. I wouldn't get it.

[gshelley61]

The 715 is probably just an updated version of the RDR-HX900, with a smaller profile, dual layer disc burning capability, and the addition of an HDMI (digital video/audio) upscaling output. Unless they've really improved their MPEG2 encoding chipset since last year, the video quality is very good... but not worth the premium Sony charges for their machines. LSI chip based recorders are still very hard to beat.

Have a look at my recent test captures using a RDR-HX900 in this thread:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1380882#1380882

[trhouse]

"... and the DVD writer doesn't write any chapter marks"

Not sure if this is really a drawback. Some recorders will record chapter marks every 10 minutes going from the hard drive to dvd in real time which causes another encode with some attendant loss in quality. I prefer to add the chapter marks on the computer and not accept the quality loss.

[donpedro]

"... and the DVD writer doesn't write any chapter marks"

Not sure if this is really a drawback. Some recorders will record chapter marks every 10 minutes going from the hard drive to dvd in real time which causes another encode with some attendant loss in quality. I prefer to add the chapter marks on the computer and not accept the quality loss.

You do not need to loose quality on recorders. Usualy when you do high-speed dubbing it preserves chapter marks that you were able to create manualy befforehand..

[trhouse]

You are correct. I timed it several times to see how long it takes to enter manual chapter marks. For me it averages 15-25 minutes per disk. Sometimes it is not worth the effort so I let the computer do it automatically every 10 minutes.

It would be interesting to know if the Sony cannot write chapter marks under any circumstances or just the automatic ones. I checked your manuals post in the recorders forum but this model must be too new.

[edit] The best price I found online is about $520.

[donpedro]

Not sure why it does not download but this should be page where is link to manual.
http://esupport.sony.com/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=RDRHX715#

[Seeker47]

It has a very similar feature set compared to the Pioneer DVR-633H, but with the addition of an upscaling HDMI (digital video/audio) output.

How important or valuable is this feature ?

[gshelley61]

Upscaling DVD players with DVI or HDMI outputs are great for large, fixed pixel digital HDTV displays like DLP's, plasmas and LCD's. You wouldn't notice any difference on a smaller CRT (tube) type TV, however.

[trhouse]

Thanks for the link. I was able to download part of the manual. For some reason in the dubbing section it skipped from page 79 to 81. Here is what it said on page 79 about chapters.



It has "High Speed Dubbing" and "Rec Mode Conversion Dubbing" which sounds like re-encode. I cannot tell if the automatic chapters appear in only in one of these modes. Probably the info is on that missing page 80.

[donpedro]

It has "High Speed Dubbing" and "Rec Mode Conversion Dubbing" which sounds like re-encode. I cannot tell if the automatic chapters appear in only in one of these modes. Probably the info is on that missing page 80.

Well... I have all the pages now but it is not realy clear, or it just does not retain manualy created chapter marek at all. Interesting.

[DVWannaB]

Question for HX900 & HX715 users:

Can either of these machines record in 16:9 as well as 4:3?

Rumor..........not sure idf true.........Can you edit from the hard drive, like cut commercials and cut a long record in lets say 4 sections and burn each on to disc?

Thanks.

[spa]

Question for HX900 & HX715 users:

Can either of these machines record in 16:9 as well as 4:3?

Rumor..........not sure idf true.........Can you edit from the hard drive, like cut commercials and cut a long record in lets say 4 sections and burn each on to disc?

Thanks.

They both can record 16:9 content over component (I believe Sony has the only players that have component in). The 16:9 flag is set for burns to -R disks, but not to +R disks.

You can edit out commercials on the hard drive on both players, but only the new HX715 has the ability to split a title.

Significant HX715 features over the HX900 include title split, HDMI with upscaling and a 2.5 hour record mode that maintains full resolution.

Both retain chapter marks on VR mode disks, but not any other format.

[DVWannaB]

spa,

thanks for the quick come-back. Much appreciated. Its between the HX715 and Pioneer 633. Looks like maybe the HX715 may be under my X-mas tree..........................for my wife, of course