Sony RDR-GX7

Sony RDR-GX7 Recorder Review

Sony RDR-GX7 component DVD recorder is the world's first standalone, dual-RW (DVD-R/-RW and DVD+R/+RW) home DVD player/recorder. Its format versatility gives you nearly complete recording and viewing freedom--the flexibility to create or view optical media for or from most computer DVD recorders.

Further, the Sony RDR-GX7 can accommodate the recordable optical formats required by any of your friends and family, regardless of their DVD players (though some older players do not play recordable media). The Sony RDR-GX7's sophisticated camcorder control capabilities lets you manage a range of dubbing and editing functions when you connect a Digital Handycam or Digital8 camcorder through the i.LINK (IEEE 1394) interface.

One-touch dubbing fosters easy tape-to-disc conversion, and you can delete unwanted scenes or make a compilation of your favorite scenes with flexible editing functions such as program edit and advanced program edit.

Several picture-enhancing technologies are aimed at creating high-quality recordings, especially when transferring images from video sources such as VHS or 8 mm camcorders. The Sony RDR-GX7 can play back DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, CD, CD-R and CD-RW discs--offering a wealth of musical enjoyment alongside its extensive video capabilities.

The playback capability of the DVD recorder is said to be comparable to the high-end DVD players in Sony's acclaimed ES line. The player/recorder delivers stunning home-theater effects through a variety of high-performance features that optimize picture quality and effectively remove noise, such as a 12-bit, 108 MHz video digital-to-analog converter with Noise Shaped Video technology, motion-adaptive field noise reduction, pre-frame noise reduction, and pre-video equalizer technologies. Variable bit-rate MPEG encoding ensures maximum efficiency and recording time (60 to 360 minutes) for all applicable DVD media.

Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the Sony RDR-GX7 stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.

Using Sony's Precision Cinema Progressive technology, the recorder also encodes your DV (digital video) input sources in pristine 480p formatting. During playback, the Sony RDR-GX7 also performs 3:2 pulldown. DVD mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24-frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture. Top-of-the-line component-video outputs help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television.

Two sets of left/right analog-audio inputs and one set of outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (one each of RCA coaxial and Toslink optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver. Despite its advanced functionality, the RDR-GX7's intelligent onscreen graphical user interface (GUI) is entirely user-friendly, helping you create personal DVD titles with thumbnail pictures and operate the recorder through the sophisticated Remote Commander remote control.

There's no need to cue or rewind tape here, so accessing precise points in your programming is nearly effortless.

What's in the Box?

Sony RDR-GX7 DVD player/recorder, user's manual, audio/video cord, 75-ohm coaxial video cable, Remote Commander remote control, and two AA batteries.

From the Manufacturer

It is the component moment you have been waiting for. Sony's RDR-GX7 DVD Recorder lets you record to DVD from your television to see the difference digital technology makes. With the Sony RDR-GX7 you'll experience the benefits of DVD+RW/-RW/-R DVD format recording compatibility, Precision Cinema Progressive 480P for playback, one-touch dubbing for DV/D8 sources via the i.LINK (IEEE 1394) interface, and a user-friendly graphical user interface. The timer recording feature and adjustable recording times (60-360 minutes) enable simple TV to DVD recording. Additional features include a variable bit rate for linear and nonlinear editing, video DAC with 108 MHz processing with NSV, a 192 kHz/24-Bit digital to analog audio converter, Dolby Digital and DTS optical/coaxial digital-audio outputs, and TV Virtual Surround with four surround modes. Invite your family into the digital age with the new RDR-GX7. Sony RDR-GX7

� DVD+RW/-RW/-R DVD format recording compatibility

� Precision Cinema Progressive 480P for recording and playback

� One-touch dubbing for DV/D8 Via i.LINK interface

� User-friendly graphical user interface

� Timer recording feature

� Pre-frame/post frame noise reduction

� Variable bit rate for adjustable recording times (60-360 minutes)

� Linear and nonlinear editing

What Features Does the Sony RDR-GX7 Have?

� Color: Silver with black accents

� Disc capacity: 1

� Progressive scan: Yes (Precision Cinema Progressive system with 480p playback and recording)

� 3:2 pulldown: Yes

� Memory card slot: No

� Playback formats: DVD-Video (NTSC), VCD, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, red book CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 CD, WMA CD

� Recording formats: DVD+RW/-RW/-R

� Aspect ratio control: Yes

� Dialog enhancer: No

� Integrated receiver: No

� Front-panel operation: No

� Quick play: No

� Multi-angle viewing: Yes (with applicable discs)

� Black-level adjustment: No

� Horizontal resolution: Greater than 500 lines

� Precision Drive system: Yes (2-Laser Assembly)

� Noise reduction: Yes (block noise reduction, pre- and post-frame)

� Picture enhancements: Digital Video Enhancer, Digital Video EQ, Custom Picture Mode, Precision Cinema Progressive technology (480p playback and recording)

� Video DAC: 12 Bit Video DAC with 108 MHz processing w/NSV

� Audio DAC: 192 kHz 24 Bit Digital to Analog Converter

� Video signal-to-noise ratio: Information not available

� Audio signal-to-noise ratio: 115 dB (Line Out L/R analog audio jacks only)

� Dynamic range (video): Information not available

� Dynamic range (audio): 103 dB (DVD); 99 dB (CD)

� Total harmonic distortion: 0.003 percent

� Digital audio output (linear): 48 kHz/16-Bit

� Custom bookmarks: No

� Frame advance: Yes

� Still/freeze frame: Yes

� Jog/shuttle dial on unit: No

� Forward/reverse play: Yes

� Speeds: Advanced SmoothScan; and SmoothSlow modes

� Karaoke: No

� Multilingual support: Yes (English, Spanish, French)

� Remote control: Remote Commander remote control

� Parental controls: Yes

� Recording capability: Yes

� Advance recording: Yes

� Variable bit-rate recording: Yes (60 to 360 minutes)

� One-touch recording: Yes (using i.LINK/IEEE 1394 input)

� Nonlinear editing: Yes (DVD-RW VR mode; camcorder editing control through i.LINK interface)

� Instant replay: Yes

� Instant search: Yes

� Built-in NTSC tuner: Yes

� Reverse-frame step: Yes

� Slow motion: Yes

� Text display: Yes (DVD/CD text)

� VCR capability: No

� Audio outputs: 1 stereo analog (left/right), 1 coaxial digital-audio, 1 optical digital-audio

� Headphone jack: No

� Audio inputs: 2 stereo analog (left/right) RCA

� Video outputs: 2 composite-video, 1 component-video, 2 S-video, 1 RF

� Video inputs: 1 RF, 2 composite-video, 2 S-video, 1 i.LINK IEEE 1394 Video Input/Control Output (DV, 4-Pin Connector)

� Surround-sound output: Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel passthrough

� Simulated surround sound: Yes (TV Virtual Surround, 4 Surround Modes)

� THX-certified: No

� Front-panel inputs: No

� Power input: AC120V, 60 Hz

� Power consumption: 47 watts

� Item width: 17 inches

� Item height: 3.5 inches

� Item depth: 15 inches

� Item weight: 12.6 pounds (5.7 kg)

� Warranty: 1 years parts and labor

Conclusion

The Sony RDR-GX7 DVD recorder gives you the benefits of DVD+RW/-RW/-R DVD format recording compatibility, Precision Cinema Progressive 480P (recording and playback), one touch dubbing for DV/D8 via i.LINK, and user-friendly graphic user interface.

Best DVD Recorder Reviews Rating

10/10

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