Not all Sony DVD recorders are really made by Sony...

[waltchan]

Sony is beginning to outsource some of its DVD recorders for the first time ever. This is a secret DVD recorder production info not revealed by Sony:

The new 2005 Sony DVD recorder models (RDR-GX315, RDR-VX515, and RDR-HX715) are not all made by Sony. The Sony RDR-GX315 and RDR-VX515 are being made and assembled by Samsung for Sony. Only the RDR-HX715 is made by Sony.

Thanks for reading.



Walter Chan

[jimmalenko]

I don't know one way or another (nor am I all that interested TBH), but is there any proof (read: link) that this is legitimate / accurate / correct, or is it just unsubstantiated hearsay / gossip ?

[waltchan]

It's easy to tell. Look at the Sony RDR-GX315 DVD tray drive. It's the gray color type found in all Samsung DVD recorders. Look at the back of the Sony RDR-GX315 and compare it with the Samsung DVD-R120. You will see that they both use the same exact screws, same look at the back (input location), same weight, and same dimension (W x D x H). The last year Sony RDR-GX300 is made by Sony and it looks totally different from the RDR-GX315 at the outside. If you look at the Sony RDR-HX715 or RDR-HX900, it does not look similar to the RDR-GX315 at all at the front, back, top, under and even the DVD tray drive. They each work differently to me. I already tested them out at the store.

[edDV]

Lite-ON has been making some Sony branded computer DVD writers for years (e.g. DRU-710A)

[jimmalenko]

So it is just unsubstantiated hearsay / gossip and your opinion then ?


Let me qualify this by re-iterating that it's not really aggravating me or anything, and that you're probably right by the sounds of it. It's not the end of the world for me if you can post a link to prove that there is some weight of evidence behind your claims, but what does aggravate me is "opinion dressed up as fact".

Is it possible that the screws and drive trays were purchased from the same 3rd party supplier ?


And then there's the old chestnut:

Who really cares ?


EDIT:
Great call, edDV. I was just about to mention that there's been rebadges on DVD Writers and settop DVD Players happening for a while now anyway.

[waltchan]

It may not matter to you, but it may matter to some people. To me, if I purchase a Sony RDR-GX315, I feel that I'm buying a fake Sony product.

But otherwise, it's just more of an info I posted that buyers may find this info useful. Nothing special here. You do not have to believe me that the Sony RDR-GX315 and RDR-GX515 are being made and assembled by Samsung for Sony, although they are. I have six years of experience knowing who makes what on electronics out there in the market.

[canadateck]

I quess that's why Samsung has Got record Profits this year?

[slacker]

This whole "made in Japan" is better than everyone else thing is ridiculous also. Japan quality is slowly going downhill because they can't make any money building quality anymore. And products from other Asian countries are getting better because they are "hungrier" than everyone else. They are getting better and better at what they do every day. They guys that run Samsung and LG are out to conquer the world. Read their bios. The guys that run Sony are morons. Look at their numbers! What is so inherently wrong with KOREA?

[lordsmurf]

As far as I'm concerned, this is just hearsay. Until you open up the unit, rip off the heat sinks, and analyze the chipsets, this is just a rumor. Not to mention the DVD drive/burner and even the facia assembly can easily be one of several kits made these days. The guts of the unit are not necessarily like that.

If anything, in the past, Samsung tends to use Sony as a source. Especially display technology, like monitors and TV sets.

Samsung units right now are LSI chipped units, and the Sony machines are equipped with Cirrus (and are on a contract, if I recall correctly, Cirrus was quite proud and boastful in press releases). Sony is not carrying an LSI Logic chipset. And the truth is, even if Samsung was doing the assembly of Sony units, it's still a Sony unit. Assembly and parts are different concepts entirely. As long as it contains Sony tech and not Samsung, it's a Sony.

[RabidDog]

As lordsmuf says assembly and design are two different things .. quality control and input components are also big factors in final quality... Why pay a japanese worker $1000 a week to assemble when a korean/Chinese worker will do it for $500/$50 ? thats why electro goods are cheaP

[edDV]

As lordsmuf says assembly and design are two different things .. quality control and input components are also big factors in final quality... Why pay a japanese worker $1000 a week to assemble when a korean/Chinese worker will do it for $500/$50 ? thats why electro goods are cheaP

The answer is ISO-9000. This was the standard of defined manufacturing quality practice (output) and it set the same standard worldwide. A given manufacturing plant and its employees (independent of country, union or non-union) meet ISO-9000 quality standards or they don't at a given cost. Wages don't matter. Quality and productivity count. Capital investment and labor education-experience can allow high wage-benefit nations to compete with or outpace low wage-benefit suppliers. The race was on.

[bgclarke]

Give it up Walt.

You've been running an anti-outsourcing crusade against Toshiba/Orion over at AVS, and now you've moved on to target Sony.

Who will it be next week?

[waltchan]

This is new info nobody knows yet, and I will not say anything at all after this.

[canadateck]

This is new info nobody knows yet, and I will not say anything at all after this.

So why say anything at all?

[dphirschler]

Walt, even if the units are identical, it proves nothing. Samsung could be rebranding a Sony unit for all you know.


Darryl

[RabidDog]

iso-9000 is Pure BS. once only inspection. Robots and such like can be cheaper than even chinese workers (and better).
the race WAS on. implies that it has finished, who won?

[Richard_G]

Is this supposed to be new news? It's been going on for years. About 15 years ago I bought a Hotpoint washing machine, my neighbour, who worked for Hotpoint, took one look at it and told me it was a Zanussi. It appeared that all manufaturers had a range of 7 or 8 different models, but to keep costs down, only actually manufactured one of them themselves. The others were all made by another manufacturer and badged as Hotpoint. So Hotpoint sold machines made by themselves, Zanussi, Bosch and a few others. But Zanussi also sold a full range of models but only made one, the others being made by Hotpoint, Bosch, etc.

What's the difference?

[BogieV]

The difference is Zanussi is great company for white elctric stuff while Samsung is crap in the AV area!

[Richard_G]

Yes, but the point is that you never know what you are buying. Just because it has one manufacturers name on the front doesn't mean they made it. You consider Zanussi to be a good make, but only one item in there range is actually made by them so whether you get a genuine one or not will depend on the exact model you buy.

As for the Sony topic that started this off, I seem to remember seeing somewhere that Sony VCRs used cheap, bought in decks about 2 years ago. I must admit, I've got a Sony DVD/VCR combo unit and the VCR section isn't as good as an old Sony VCR only.

[samijubal]

Sony combos use a Toshiba VCR last I knew, that's why the VCR isn't as good.

[lenti_75]

SONY SUCKS..........too much money for nothing.


you get other stuff, cheaper and better, just have to read and search, so do your homework to get the best for your money.


samsung it crap or not, but probably your cell phone is samsung.....

[samijubal]

It should be easy to tell if they are Samtrash if anyone has one, Samsung recorders do RAM, a format Sony has never supported. They still could be made by Samsung to Sony specs though, even if they don't do RAM, which wouldn't include RAM compatibility.

[hech54]

Not all Chevrolet cars are made by Chevrolet either but there are still die-hard Chevy fanatics driving in a Chevrolet Tracker....when the year before it was a Geo Tracker that many Chevy Fans said were garbage imported junk.
Same with Ford, same with Chrysler.
Why should Sony be any different. Do your homework before you buy anything and stop blaming everyone else for your lack of knowledge.

[Marx]

i agree. Chevrolet are the best made cars in the world. however, if they are made by another company say for example FORD has helped out GM in the manufacture of the chevy blazer.

so, back to our dvd example. Sony uses a Korean company call SAMPO. SAMPO in turn has factories in Singapore under the name of HI- FAT.

Now, Ergo, one is to consume this appliance. be aware of the dangers.

Hope this helps,

JJ Mclure

[hech54]

i agree. Chevrolet are the best made cars in the world. however, if they are made by another company say for example FORD has helped out GM in the manufacture of the chevy blazer.

Wow...that is two of the silly-est things I've heard in a LONG time.

Seeing that the Chevy Blazer has been around for a LONG LONG LONG time....I'd love to see a link proving that Ford and GM got together at any time to design the Blazer....big or small Blazer.

[waltchan]

Sony combos use a Toshiba VCR last I knew, that's why the VCR isn't as good.

Sony DVD/VCR combos have always been made and assembled by Samsung since day one in 2002.

[samijubal]

Then Samsung uses a Toshiba VCR in them. I've been working on VCRs for over 15 years, I know a Samsung from a Toshiba. The last one I worked on had a Toshiba VCR in it. They don't look anything like a Samsung.

[waltchan]

Then Samsung uses a Toshiba VCR in them. I've been working on VCRs for over 15 years, I know a Samsung from a Toshiba. The last one I worked on had a Toshiba VCR in it. They don't look anything like a Samsung.

No, Sony DVD/VCR combos use Samsung VCR chassis. I have never heard of a Samsung VCR using Toshiba chassis, but some Toshiba VCRs use Samsung chassis. You made a mistake here. You can view all the Samsung VCR models yourself:

http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com/samsung.htm

They all use Samsung-made chassis. Look at the pictures.

[MJA]

I heard their LCD TV is made by samsung

[waltchan]

I heard their LCD TV is made by samsung

No. Sony buys the LCD panels from Samsung. Then Sony makes the electronic components.