Sony RDR-GX300 DVD Recorder/DVD Player

• Reviewed by: kcrane22

  Strengths: Easy to use, better title tool than most

  Weaknesses: Creates disks that cannot be copied, will not play on some players!

  Overall: I loved this recorder when I first started using it for our archive project, and our other users quickly fell in love with it as well. However, we discovered that the disks this unit creates CANNOT be copied by standard DVD copy programs, such as Nero, PrimoDVD and others. This is not a problem for one-offs, but it is very much a problem for those shows that we need to make multiple DVDs of; why should I have to run the tape each time I want to make a copy? It's completely unsuitable for our archive project, because we wind up with that one digital copy of tapes that will no longer play. Sony's response: "We did not design that product with copying DVDs in mind." Sounds like it was part of the plan all along. I wish I'd known that before I bought this and the RDR-HX900, which has the same problem.

• Reviewed by: Cajun101

  Strengths: Can record on both + and - R/RW disks.

  Weaknesses: Poor user manual.

  Overall: This is my second DVD recorder and it is not quite as user friendly as the other. The other took roughly an hour to learn and feel comfortable using were as this one took about two days of reading the manual and learning the controls. The manual is not very well written. I really like the fact that you can record too and watch a DVD at the same time. The VCR+ feature is nice as is the cover on the remote that prevents you from accidentally hitting the record button. Overall I am very pleased with this unit.

• Reviewed by: cingraha

  Strengths: Ease of setup, picture quality

  Weaknesses: Complicated remote

  Overall: This is by far the best DVD player I have owned even in terms of picture quality. Watching any of the Pixar movies is superb, just remember to set the output to DTS for sound and to click the progressive button (assuming you have a DTS compatible receiver and an HDTV of course). Also, make sure to use component video cables to go to the TV, and either a coax or optical cable to go to your receiver. Its kind of confusing which type of recordable DVD to use, but I found some good information on line with a simple search. The remove is about 2 inches longer than any of my other remotes, and the buttons seem to keep getting smaller. Sony was wise though when they placed all 'record' buttons beneath a sliding panel on the remote to avoid accidents. I found the progressive output button here as well.

• Reviewed by: tst009

  Strengths: ease of use, excellent sony quality, reliable results, will take + or - R, RW discs

  Weaknesses: lack of thumbnail option, lack of dv firewire link, option of chapter markers only for -RW discs, pricier than other models that will do the same

  Overall: reliable, great true color results are the reasons why i chose this over other brands. i bought the liteon LVW 5005 first and was very impressed and pleased with everything except the picture quality has a slightly bluish tint and not the true color. i don't know whether that is only my particular unit defect but it made me decide to go with the Sony brand.

• Reviewed by: Kulbir

  Strengths: Multiformat;Very strong DAC 12bit/108mhz

  Weaknesses: No DVI or firewire I/O;Pricier

  Overall: The only thing I like is very solid PQ.Wish it had atleast had firewire to burn disks from my mini DV. Even the least expensive models have it.