Page 1 of SONY RDRGX300

Can anyone advise if they have had any problems on the above DVD recorder. Since returning a Philips one (3rd time in 3 weeks) have been looking at this model. I`m a bit wary in view of recent experience/problems!

Any advice appreciated!

Wait for the new Panasonic.

You could wait for the new Panasonic but it won`t record to +RW.

I have just brought the SONY for my 61 year old Father in law and it`s very easy to use.

It`ll record to +R / -R / +RW / -RW (both modes). In -RW VR mode it`ll do the same Chasing Playback that RAM can do. It has got recent great reviews.

However the appears 2 problems with it that may or maynot worry you.

It can`t play PhotoCD`s (Jpegs on CD`s). Although I get round this by using my PC to put his photo`s on CD in VCD format which it does play fine.

The other problem is that it only has fixed recording time 60min / 90min / 120 min / 180min / 240min / 360min. Most of the Ram (and Pioneer) can do variable times. With the Sony it you recorded 130min Programme you would have to using the lower quality 180min setting just for the sake of those extra 10 mins.

However I still think the Sony was a good buy.

I have read many user reviews of the GX 300. Most reviews state that users were unable to timeslip even with Sony`s own brand -RW discs. As for not recording on +RW, that`s no great loss as it can record on -RW. The Panasonic DMR- ES10 is the only DVD recorder that can playback all current DVD formats as well as record on RAM, -RW, -R, +R.
I would advice anyone wishing to buy a new DVD recorder to wait till March when the new Panasonic ES10 & EH50 are launched. You get 4 hours of DVD quality from a standard Disc as against 2 hours from the Sony. You also get 1 second start for recording & playback.
I can guarantee you that it will win all the top awards from video mags.

Plus the price will be £199 (€299) for the ES10 and £399 (€549) for the EH10

Hi, GCXBoy.

I`m not knocking the Panasonic and to are looking forward to its arrival. Is it really going to be as soon as March?

It`ll be great if they can stretch the full resolution recording to 4 hours but I wonder if its just with Ram or all disc types?

I managed to do chasing playback on the Sony using a Maxcell -RW.

I bought a Sony GX300 recently and am very pleased with it.

The picture and sound quality is excellent (which to me is the most important thing!). It records on all formats (+R, +RW, -R and -RW) other than RAM, meaning you get the best in compatibility.

It has RGB in and out and progressive scan connections, along with both optical and coaxial digital outputs - so it is definitely well connected.

Have mine hooked up to video recorder and Sky+ - recording from these is excellent - actually the recordings made from the video recorder seem better than the origional!

Yes my farther in law is very please with his as its very simple to use.

I have used a DVD+RW and edited out the adverts using `A-B erase`. Mark point A when the adverts start fast forward to to end of Adverts (use can use frame by frame if need for more accuracy if need). The edits are pretty good and more importantly can still be played in most DVD Players / DVD-Roms (unlike DVD-RW VR Mode or Ram). Please also note that you can`t edit DVD-RW Video Mode (I don`t think the format allows it). As a matter of interest I managed to transfer the editted DVD+RW to DVD+R on the PC and it kept the edits skipping the adverts.

I have managed to do Chasing Playback using DVD-RW VR Mode. Also from want I understand as my PC`s read DVD-RW Video mode the only thing stopping them from reading VR Mode is the software.

I have suggested that in the short term he uses +RW for most of his programs although in the future he could switch to the more advanced features of -RW VR mode.

I know there is a lot of talk about the new Panasonic but I hope people understand that the only recorded disc that can be edited on that machine will be RAM (you can`t edit -RW (Video mode) or -R or +R. It only PLAYS +RW or -RW VR modes because these are its only other editable rivals!!

Quote:
You could wait for the new Panasonic but it won`t record to +RW.


Aaaaaaw no,you`re joking....

;)

I was just pointing out that the only disc that the new Panasonic would be able to edit on would be RAM.

This is no good for me with 3 Kids, several DVD Players, DVD-Rom`s and (in the future Playstations etc). None of which play Ram.

Although Ram offers better editing etc but I would only ever bother editing adverts out if I wanted to keep the film. Normally its not worth the effort if I`m just going to watch it once I will just fast forward.

With regards to the Improved Resolution of the Panasonic at 4 hours I agree it will produce a better picture. However with a house full of CRT`s the picture on Sony`s 3 & 4 Hours is fine. (It will be many years before I can afford a good 42inch Flat Screen by which time DVD Rec will have Twin Tuners, all formats, Networking etc).