Sony RDR-GX120

Author's product rating:   

Picture Playback	Good
Sound Level	Excellent
Ease of Use	Simple
Range of Features	Limited
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Slimline, Good Remote Control, Chasing Playback, Good Menu System
Disadvantages:	Lack of Hard Drive, Lacks Freeview Tuner, Little Pricey in it's Class

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Hi, before you start reading this review, remember that this is going to arm you with knowledge before you buy - and knowledge is power! My reviews are in depth and can take a while to get through, so, if you are serious about buying a DVD Recorder, go make yourself a cup of coffee, grab the biscuits and read on…

First - the technical specifications:

DVD Type: DVD Recorder
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video, VCD, SVCD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD (Audio), CD-R, CD-RW
Playable File Formats: MP3
TV Tuner
TV Resolutions: 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p
Video Output System: PAL
Video DAC: 12 bit / 108 MHz
Video Noise Reduction: Block Noise Reduction / Mosquito Noise Reduction
Picture Control: Contrast, Brightness, Hue, Sharpness
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital (Digital out only) / DTS (Digital out only)
Dialog Enhancer
Connections: SCART Connectors (Input / Output x 2)
Inputs: RF (TV) x 1, RGB (via SCART), Composite (via SCART), S-Video (via SCART)
Outputs: Composite x 1, S-Video x 1, Component x 1, RGB (via SCART), Analogue Audio x 1, Digital Audio Coaxial x 1, RF x 1, S-Video (via SCART)
Front Panel: Composite Input, S-Video Input, Audio Input
Remote Control
OSD
Display Dimmer
Parental Control
Instant Skip / Replay: Skip / Replay
Record and Play Features: Chasing Playback
Recordable Media: DVD+R, DVD+RW
Recording Speeds: SP, LP, EP, SLP, HSP, HQ
DVD Recording Time: 1 Hrs. Minimum / 8 Hrs. Maximum
Recording Formats: MPEG1 / MPEG2
Programmable Timer: VCR Plus+, 40 Events within 30 Days
Dimensions: Depth: 11.46 in. / Height: 2.28 in. / Width: 16.93 in.
Weight: 6.83 lb.
Exterior Colour: Silver

The RDR-GX120 is a budget machine designed to replace a conventional Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) with none of the frills of its more expensive brothers. The machine is geared toward a market who wishes to gently ease into the DVD Recorder domain, whilst keeping things simple and familiar with VCR style recording.

Firstly, the price, this can be anywhere from £114.99 upwards (as of 9 January 2006). For an entry level machine, this may seem a little bit pricey compared to some other brands; but let's remember that we are talking about a market leading brand - Sony. That means that you are getting a quality product, not only in the build, but also the user menu system. Whilst cheaper machines may have more facilities, they lack in other areas, such as not being as user friendly, or not being as compatible with other DVD players etc; believe me I have used many of them!

It is worth noting that whichever brand of DVD recorder you end up buying, it is the on-screen menu system that you will be using to control the recorder. Many of us make purchasing decisions based upon the technical specifications of a product that can be seen on paper; but in reality, it's important to know how it will function in real life. Sony's on screen menu is user friendly, and easy to understand. Some of the terminology will need to be 'learnt' if you are new to DVD recording, such as 'Finalising the Disc'; but for the most part Sony have made the system easy enough for the novice. Most of the menu is navigated by directional keys and an enter button. Descriptions of menu items are available for most settings, and once you have used it a few times becomes quite intuitive.

If you have done some research into DVD recording before coming to this review, you will probably already know that there are many formats of disc available for recording. They are as follows: DVD-R / DVD-RW / DVD+R / DVD+RW. As you can see there are two types of minus and two types of plus disc. It is very simple really, R means Recordable (these discs can only be recorded to once; whatever was recorded cannot be erased or changed). RW simply means ReWriteable. This kind of disc is similar to a video cassette; you can record to it, and then erase the disc and use it again.

There is a lot of worry about which format is the one to opt for. Much like when Beetamax and VHS were at war. The RDR-GX120 will record to the +R/RW (plus) type media, including Dual Layer (+R DL). This seems to be the most compatible format and is becoming widely accepted as the 'winner'. Whilst this unit will only record to one type of media, it will however playback all types of DVD disc. Personally I find that the + format is more likely to play on other DVD players, whilst I have had many problems making the - format compatible with other players (at friends houses etc).

The setting up of the recorder out of the box is very simple. If you are replacing a Video Recorder with it, then it's even easier! Simply unplug your old video, and replace with the DVD recorder, all the cables fit just the same as before! Although this is an entry level machine, it does have good connectivity. Two scart sockets, a component output, an S-Video output, and a Composite Video output as well as the usual RF (ariel cable) output

Once you open the box, you will need to decide how to connect it to your TV. Well, if you have the option to, you should connect it using the Component Video, this will give you the option of outputting signals up to 576p (Progressive) dependant on the content being played. Other video output signals are as follows: 480i (Interlaced), 480p, 576i and 576p. Component is ideal for use with LCD/ Plasma televisions. However the scart output is also capable of sending either Composite or RGB feeds. Should your television have a scart input that can handle RGB - use it!

Of course you can still connect the unit via scart, and since it has 2 scart sockets, you can also connect another device to it such as a decoder (for satellite or cable) allowing you to record from additional sources as well as the built in analogue tuner. I have my Sky box plugged into it via scart, and from there to the TV using Component.

As far as sound is concerned, it is just as capable as any regular DVD player. It can decode Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1. It can also record Dolby Digital too. If you have an existing surround sound amplifier, it can be connected to the RDR-GX120 via either left/ right analogue audio, or, for the proper digital experience the unit has a Digital Coaxial output.

The initial set up of the unit it easy too. Once it is connected and turned on, it will give you the option to self install. If you click 'OK' it will proceed to tune itself, including making sure that BBC 1 is on channel 1 etc. It will also set the time and date. Once this automatic install has been completed, all that is left to do is sit back and start using it and recording your programmes!

One of the easiest ways of programming a video recorder was to use the VideoPlus+ system. Well this unit is no different. It can be set to record either by manually pressing the record button, or by manually setting the timer using the onscreen menu system (up to 40 events per month can be pre-programmed); or the easiest way is to use the VideoPlus+ system. For those of you who don't know what that is - here's a quick heads up:

If you buy a TV listing magazine, you have probably seen a series of numbers after each program listing - this is a VideoPlus+ code. Quite simply, should you wish to record a program listed, instead of manually entering the time to start, time to stop, day, date etc, simply go to the VideoPlus+ section of the menu and enter the 4-6 digit code. That's it! All done! From that simple code you have told the unit all the information it needs to handle the recording for that program! Simple!

Again, in common with the video recorder system, the unit has different recording 'qualities', just like Long Play/ Slow Play. However, there are more than just a choice of two with the GX120; there are 6! They are SP, LP, EP, SLP, HSP, HQ. These different qualities affect the time that can be recorded to the DVD. In the highest recording mode only 1 hour can be recorded to the DVD, and in the lowest quality a very healthy 8 hours can be recorded (on a Dual Layer disc). I find that 'Extra Play' mode (EP) is good enough for TV recording and gives me about 4 - 6 hours per disc (depending on whether I am using a single layer or dual layer disc)

A Dual Layer disc is simply 2 DVD discs in one. Imagine that they are stacked on top of each other. This of course gives twice the recording size of a single layer disc, but these discs are only available in R (Recordable) not RW (ReWriteable).

Should you have a camcorder it is easy to connect it to the GX120 via the front AV inputs. There is a little flap on the front that when opened reveals a composite video input, an S-Video input and a stereo audio input. Of course this could be used for other equipment, not necessarily just camcorders.

This machine is potentially a replacement for two pieces of equipment that you may already have - your video recorder, and your DVD player! Whilst this is a DVD recorder, you can also use it as a regular DVD player. It has all of the regular features of a DVD player, including the facility to playback MP3 DVD's, Music CD's or MP3 CD's. If it connected to a surround sound amplifier via the Digital Coaxial connection then it is a very respectable CD player too!

Well, I think we have gone through most of the specifications of the unit. You should by now have a fair idea of what this machine can do for you in your life, however, before you leave this review, I want to tell you something about how I feel toward this machine as a user.

I find that it is one of the more expensive of the entry level machines, but as I said at the beginning of the review, you are getting a quality brand. You really do get what you pay for - some of the cheapy brands from Asda for example are cheap in money terms, but will aggravate you for as long as you own it with its non friendly menu systems, and its poor build quality, or lack of compatibility with other DVD players.

I would like to have seen a Freeview tuner and not an analogue tuner, especially since in a couple of years this type of tuner will be obsolete - I find it to be a fairly large oversight on Sony's behalf. Of course, even once the old analogue service is terminated, it wouldn't stop you from connecting a Freeview box or Sky/ Cable box to it!

It would have been nice too, to of have a hard drive built in (since there are some competitor models that do have a hard drive built in for similar cost). The benefit of which is that you don't need to use DVD discs unless you want to watch your recording on another machine. Your recordings are saved to a built in hard drive which can then be saved to be viewed later, or should you wish to keep the recording you can then decide to transfer it from the built in hard drive to a DVD disc. But it means that you don't waste DVD discs unless you really need to.

I do like the chasing playback facility. This means that you can pause live TV and then play again - in theory 'chasing' the live broadcast. It does this by recording the broadcast to a disc in the 'background' so that when you hit the play button it simply starts playing from the moment you hit pause, whilst at the same time still recording the program - in theory you would be recording and playing the same program! Confusing I know - but in reality you do not need to know the intricacies of the technology, you just need to know it's there for you to use!

I mentioned a few paragraphs ago about terminology, more specifically 'finalising the disc'. This is the process of making a DVD disc that you have recorded to, compatible in other regular DVD players. For example, should you record a program to a disc, and then immediately take that disc out of the recorder and place it into a DVD player to watch - you will find that it won't work. This is because the format in which it was recorded is not 'recognised' in the DVD player. In order to make it work, you need to finalise the disc. Now in most instances this is an irreversible process, and once completed means that you can no longer change the contents of that disc - even if it is a re-writeable disc. Of course, should you only ever wish to use your discs on your GX120 - then they never need to be finalised, and so your re-writeable (RW) discs can be used over and over.

There are many brands of DVD recorder, and I have looked at many of them and indeed used many of them. I can in confidence say that Sony are consistent in their build quality and attention to detail (the kind of detail that you will actually see in day to day operation) that other 'cheaper' brands fail to achieve.

So, in summary I would recommend this machine as either a direct replacement to a VCR and a good introduction to the world of DVD recorders. Should you want to make sure that your purchase is completely future proof, and maybe upgrade on the ability of a VCR then this may be a bit basic for you. If you want a machine that is easy to install, and easy to use - then this is it! It comes with a good instruction manual in many different languages, an RF lead to connect your antennae, a comprehensive remote control (including the batteries!) and 12 months manufacturers' warranty.

I think that's about it. I hope that this has in some small way not only given you a good idea of what the RDR-GX120 is capable of, but also gives you some idea of what DVD recorders are all about.

Thanks for reading!

Ben Keene.