Editorial Review:Product Description:Enhance your TV and movie watching with Sony's RDR-VXD655 DVD and VHS Recorder Combo Unit. Seven VHS Recording speeds let you record up to 8 hours per tape. The DVD deck lets you experience high picture-quality playback from a wide variety of formats. Progressive scan playback, HDMI Output and 720p/1080i upscaling from DVD/VCR deliver optimal picture quality. You can even control your DV and Digital8 camcorder for Editing via the i.LINK(R) interface. Set-Top Pass Through lets you watch Video on your RDR-VXD655 even when the TV is off. The intuitive graphical interface makes Programming easy. Watch and record your favorite shows and films with this versatile, convenient and easy-to-use player. VHS & S-VHS (SQPB) playback 2-Way One-Touch Dubbing HDMI output 720p to 1080i upscaling 32-bit, 96 KHz Audio Digital-to-Analog Converter CD Playback for CD-DA, CD-R and CD-RW On-screen display Child lock for the Disc tray & parental controls for safety Dolby Digital and DTS Decoding playback Includes Remote Commander(R) Multi-Brand Remote Control
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
-
Nice unit
Unit works well. The upconvert to 1080I does make the picture look brighter and better than 480I or 480P, even on old VHS tapes and DVDs made from VHS tapes. Upconvert to 1080I only works through HDMI cable though. You can only convert to 480P if you use the red/blue/green component cables. The only thing is that when watching DVDs or VHS tapes through the 1080I connection, you have to turn down the color level on your TV or the colors are too saturated and grainy looking. I like my color level very high on my Sony 34" HD set and I have it set to level 55 for video I'm watching through my cable box or TV tuner. When watching DVDs or VHS tapes through the HDMI upconvert, I have to turn the color level down to 35 or even 30 but the picture is very clear and bright and the colors are very good even at that level. So don't be afraid to play with and adjust your TV set's color level and brightness controls to get the best possible picture on the 1080I HDMI connection from the unit.
The eject mechanism on the VCR is great. It is the smoothest, gentlest and quietest ejection of VHS tapes that I've ever seen on any VCR.
Rating: 
-
DVD Recorder/player with VHS capabilities + Cable tuner works out OK
* I bought this Sony mainly for dubbing VHS archival material onto bullet-proof DVD's. For the most part, I am pleased.
Hook-up and set-up are about as time-consuming as any other electronics toy, but it sure helps if you are reasonably familiar with back-side TV connections and cable paraphenalia. The sketches in the instruction manual did not match my unit. Channel-seeking was speedy and trouble-free, less than twenty seconds.
As for the main reason I got this unit: it helps to use SONY blank DVD's; generic blanks frequently hung the recorder. My computer had no problem with such generics; they recorded just fine.
I do have one complaint, due to my advancing age and declining visual acuity. The remote is silk-screened white on black, in very tiny letters. Getting familiar with control functions took a while. Back-lighting of strategically-placed button functions would really help in getting fumble fingers properly oriented.
There is limited special effects capabilities with this Sony, as it is primarily a basic recorder and playback unit. Fortunately, I use the burned DVD's in another dedicated playback-only unit with full special effects.
I am satisfied with this SONY. I am a bit concerned with SONY's manual; if you are a neophyte, an electronics klutz with no previous knowledge of toys, SONY's instructions will frustrate you. ...
Rating: -
Reliable But Difficult To Use
This product is a solid and reliable DVD recorder. There is no instability as there is with some other DVD recorders;It's a great workhorse. If you want to record television to watch later, or to dub all your old vhs tapes onto DVD, this is a great choice. However, the editing totally, royally sucks. I have another DVD recorder from Toshiba that I can edit stuff on in 1/10 the time it takes on the Sony; However, it doesn't have Sony's stability. It doesn't always record what I ask it to record, it freezes up and so on, but the editing is a breeze. If you want to save one of those TV shows on that DVD, cutting out the commercials...be prepared to spend a long time editing with the Sony. I don't know what Sony is up to with their editing. Another family member has another Sony DVD recorder that is a couple of years older than the one I just bought, and the editing is much easier on the older model. It also doesn't limit the title length the way this unit does. I'm actually baffled that this unit is worse than the older model. I've always had wonderful experiences with Sony, and their models have always gotten better with time and development. I was tempted more than once today to cut my own head off just to have something to throw at the dvd recorder. The editing is really THAT BAD. I can't totally dismiss Sony, however, because it may be slow as a tortoise.....but it won't fail to finish the race.
Rating: -
Inconsistent Performer
* I researched DVD/VCR combos for weeks. My husband wanted a new DVD player for our new digital TV and I wanted something to record our TV shows that could be watched on our other TVs - hence, the VCR. The QAM/digital tuner is also important because we often record when watching another program. We first purchased a Magnavox but just watching a DVD was torture. This Sony was a great improvement in viewing but disappointing in one major aspect: the tuner preset. We have cable without a set top box of any kind so the hookup is simple. However, each time the lengthy auto preset was initiated, the Sony would only add about half of the digital channels available. You cannot manually add channels to the lineup, only delete. The auto preset takes at least 40 minutes for the digital channels (even though I only have 11 available) so it is pretty frustrating when you get a different batch of channels each time. Then, when I decided to record a digital channel (the only one that the unit consistently added during the setup), it only recorded in black and white, not color. It recorded analog channels fine. In addition, the unit did not like my DVD-RW discs, freezing the recorder each time so that I had to turn the unit off and then eject the disk. As far as DVD playback, it was beautiful and dubbing from our VHS tapes to DVD-R was simple to do and they look great. I was also able to record one program while watching another - a big concern. After finalizing the disks, they play on every DVD player we have. Finally, I bought a JVC combo for $150 less than the Sony. The JVC unit added every digital channel during the 10 minute auto setup and records digital and analog broadcasts flawlessly. I took the Sony back immediately. I don't know if my cable line is at fault or if it is a flaw in design but I would not buy this unit without a reasonable return policy. One last caveat: the Sony does not come with any cables other than an RF cable - if you wish to hook it up to your TV, you will need to have an HDMI, S-Video, or other audio/video cable. I give it 3 stars because of the dubbing and DVD playback but you'll be reorganizing your DVD collection while it looks for your channels. ...
Rating: -
Great Recorder
Sony RDR-VXD655 VHS DVD Recorder Combo with Built In HD Tuner
This is an excellent choice for near hi def quality picture and sound, especially for those who want to avoid the additional fees and constraits of TIVO, a cable company hi def recorder or a high cost stand alone hi def recorded if one can currently find one.
I have it linked to my SONY Bravia XBR 720 LCD Set. I can record my favorite shows and view them on my own schedule once again. My old standard VCR recordings when linked to the my Bravia did not even come close in quality. I could not watch the recordings they were so poor. I have recorded and watched on DVD so far, and I like the option to play my VHS tapes.
The set was relatively easy to connect, and it was helpful that I had already set up my Bravia with my home theater ("with a little help from my friends" at SONY).
