Is The RDR-GX257 One of the Best Sony DVD Recorders?Most Sony DVD Recorders work well and are popular with consumers for their high picture quality. Sony DVD Recorders: Offering High Picture Quality and Great Sound The Sony RDR-GX257 DVD Recorder’s easy setup and simple yet excellent features make this machine a good buy. The model’s Line Input Recording feature allows you to record your digital high definition shows from your cable or satellite set top box at varying speeds. The recorder’s one touch dubbing function allows the users to copy their photos or home videos from a compatible USB or ILINK®- based camcorders. Like other Sonys, this model offers excellent picture quality and dynamic sound. Most DVD recorders today include built-in HD digital tuners and HDMI connectivity that allows upscaling at varied video qualities. However this model is tunerless and you should know that like all DVD recorders this machine cannot record copyright protected material. The Positives and Negatives of the Sony RDR-GX257 Sony DVD recorders come in several configurations: standalone, DVD Recorder/VCR Combo or DVD Recorder/HDD. All Sony DVD recorders including the Sony RDR-GX257 DVD recorder have the capability to upscale your DVDs to the full high definition 1080 standard through HDMI. As a result all your current DVDs will be viewed better than the original. The recorder also allows the users an opportunity to enjoy playback in variety of formats like MP3, JPEG and DivX. Some of the models also have options for timer recording by controlling the channel functions of most set top boxes. The model has the capability to record onto DVD-R/W and DVD+ R/W discs at five different recording speeds. This is Sony’s latest low cost tunerless model that comes with an additional power save feature that allows you to save power by keeping the recorder in a standby mode. Well maybe that's not really a big deal since it's not exactly a plasma TV. The model’s 10-bit/54MHz video processing circuit reduces the chances of video imperfections. The recorder has multi format playback capabilities (it can play DVD-Video, DVD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, and JPEG images), and connects to any A/V source, set top box controller. The Sony RDR-GX257 DVD Recorder is user friendly and easy to connect. Although the HDMI connectivity and Line input recording features make the Sony RDR-GX-257 an excellent product one drawback is that it lacks the recording support for dual layer recordable discs making it less flexible compared to some models offered by rivals Toshiba and Panasonic. It also lacks S-video inputs and outputs. This means it is not possible for you to record high resolution analog formats like S-VHS or Hi-8 to their fullest potential. What is strange here is that Sony’s earlier models like the RDR-GX255 had these features. Also since this model is without a tuner, you can just transfer VHS tapes onto a DVD and will need some sort of an external tuner to record TV programs directly. This external tuner can be a digital TV tuner from a cable or dish box. The recording will not be high def because no commercial DVD recorder comes with component or HDMI inputs. Conclusion: The Sony RDR-GX257 DVD recorder offers excellent picture/sound quality and also improves the viewing experience of your old recordings. The product is not appropriate for those who wish to record high resolution analog formats. It is also not useful if you wish to record copy protected material. Back to the Sony DVD Recorder Page
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