Sony RDR-VXD655 VHS DVD Recorder Combo with Built In HD Tuner by Sony
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Digital camera reviews of Sony RDR-VXD655 VHS DVD Recorder Combo with Built In HD Tuner
Digital camera Review: Nice product
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great recorder that eliminates the need for a DTV converter when the switch to digital occurs. Simple enough that my ole' world parents can use the basic functions, yet enough bells and whistles, that you can author a nice simple DVD w/ previews and a customized menu of contained episodes or shows.Digital camera Review: Nice unit
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Digital camera Review: Not Happy
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased this combo DVD/VCR player for my exercise tapes, which I use daily, since I have a wide collection of both VHS & DVD's. And I've always liked the user-friendly aspect of Sony products. However, after only 4 months, both DVD & VHS tapes started freezing in the middle of play. Not good when you're right in the middle of your morning work-out.
Because of security features Sony now installs in their devices to forestall piracy, only the Sony company can do repairs. So, even though it was still under warranty, I'm required to ship it back to them at my expense. After 3 months, they sent it back, saying it couldn't be repaired, only replaced. Yeah, like I want another one!
Instead, I purchased a Pioneer DVD player that doesn't install such security devices. All I want is a reliable, consumer-friendly player. Not one armored for warfare. No more Sony's for me.
Digital camera Review: Not for people with antenna's
Summary: 2 Stars
Decent system but has some problems for people who have to use antenna's. You have to turn your antenna to get your stations on tv but with this unit you can not just add the channels if they are digitial. You have to rescan for digitial and in the process you lose the ones that you already have on the unit from the previous scan. We are very dissappointed in this system for that reason.Digital camera Review: Not proper aspect ratio
Summary: 2 Stars
I have a sharp 32" lcd tv. When connecting this via the hdmi output, it will stretch anything that is in the old 4x3 square format. VHS and DVD's. It should have black bars on the sides. It does not stretch the using the other outputs, but you get no upconversion that way. The 2nd problem is that the tuner does not record hd signals broadcast in the old 4x3 format properly. It will put black all the way around. ( known as "windowboxed" or "postage stamped") My tv, cheap coverter box or other LG combo unit does not do this. I tried "every possible" adjustment on both the combo and tv and nothing worked for either problem. I'm almost sure it is the problem with the combo unit programing. The vhs to dvd is ok, but tape deck is not the greatest. None are these days. If you have a tape that has been edited, it stops and starts new titles when it should not. A proper machine should stop and start only when you tell it to. The only thing good about this machine is the varrious recording speeds 1hr.30min and 3hr. are the most usefull, and only sony has them for some odd reason. It does not have video adjustments "before" recording like the rdr-gx300 did either. A great feature. Simply speaking, Sony has gone to the dogs.