Sony RDR-GX355 Tunerless DVD Recorder

• Line Input Recording (No Tuner)
• HDMI¿ Output with 720p/1080i Upscaling
• Set Top Box Pass Through w/Control
• 1 Touch Dubbing from DV/D8 Camcorder through LINK® port
• Multi-Format DVD Disc Compatible

I purchased the Sony RDR-GX355 to completely replace my VCR. This DVD Recorder was to be used to record not only my personal home videos (which has thus far done perfectly) but to use to record show so that I can watch them later. However every show I have attempted to record has prompted the copyright protection message to be displayed (not allowing the show to be recorded). I don't understand what is the purpose of purchasing a recorder, if it will not allow you to record a show so that it can be watch when you have time. Sony advertises that with the RDR-GX355, you can record shows and even movies to watch later. This unit provides too much protection for copyrights and does not allow to be used for all that it is intended to be used. If you want a good quality DVD recorder to copy your home videos, this unit does an excellent job. Perfect sound and picture quality. However, if you want to use it to record shows or movies to watch at you own leisure time, the RDR-GX355 has TOO much copyright protection and will not allow you to do so.

TOO Bad Sony, this is a great unit, easy to use, great features, Excellent Picture and Sound, but way, way, way too much protection. The average user is not a Pirate. We don't record movies or shows to sell them. In fact the true Pirate will always find a way to make copies. Who you are really hurting here is the average user who wants to use this DVD recorder like VCR.

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This DVD recorder is a good choice if you want an upconvert DVD player with the ability to record. It provides a better playback image with an HDTV and you can record shows that you want to save. You should be aware that it has every copyright protection feature available. You will not be able to copy most DVD's and I have found it is unable to copy any movies from the movie channels (HBO, Cinemax, Starz, and Showtime). It will however let you know that the movies are boadcast with copy protection and shut down so you don't waste a blank DVD. Also be aware that it doesn't have it's own tuner so your cable or satelite box must be set to the channel you want to record (you can't watch one channel while recording another). You can set it up so the timer will change your set top box to the channel you want to record. All in all a decent product and if you're aware of the limitations and can live with them you won't be dissapointed.

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The Sony RDR-GX355 is a great DVD player/recorder! Store brought DVDs has near-HD image quality via HDMI upconvert on HDTVs. The unit is also incredibility easy to operate and the menu for creating your own menus and titles for DVDs you record yourself is one of the best I have encountered. Despite the high praise I have just given this unit, the copyright protection features kill the idea of owning this unit for my home.

Sony's copyright protection goes beyond "protecting" shows and movies on television as previous reviewers have noted. Sony has gone out of their way to even slap copyright protection on home movies you recorded starring your kids, dogs, cats, etc. Lets say you hooked up your camcorder to the RDR-GX355 to transfer the home movie you made onto a DVD. Now you show this DVD to grandma and she loves it and wants a copy for yourself. You think, sure, I'll just pop this DVD in to my computer and just burn a copy. Unfortunately, the RDR-GX355 will encode all DVDs it records with copyright protection that prevents your computer from making duplicates or transferring the video onto your hard drive. This means any DVD you record will be your ONLY copy. Why Sony did this is beyond me.

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I knew beforehand this unit didn't have a tuner so I assumed there would be great input jacks so I can plug in my satellite receiver. Man was I wrong! There is only 1 video input and its composite! Who uses composite inputs anymore? I was hoping for at least an S-Video input jack. I tried recording with the composite input and the picture quality was only average. The only way to record anything with this unit is through the singular composite input. Also, this unit WILL NOT record any premium cable channels whatsoever. It will only record basic cable channels. So this unit is totally useless to me. Sony was once a premier electronics company but now they are just cranking out low level inferior electronics. There is also no HDMI cable included. This thing is made in China, it figures..

I was looking for a simple DVD recorder to transfer old VHS movies (Turner Classic Movies, American Movie Classics) to DVD. The price of this Sony is right and I only used it to transfer movies. Began having intermittent problems with fresh discs being rejected for recording ("disc error" using Memorex DVD-R discs) and then it would go back to recording fine for a while. Then began stopping recording in the middle of a transfer for no apparent reason. The final straw was trying to record a movie after the Sony had not been used for about 24 hours. Rejected 4 fresh discs the last straw. Recorder is too temperamental and unreliable for even this simple operation. In all I recorded about 36 movies but am fed up with this recurring disc error problem and the unit stopping on its own before the recording is complete. Too bad as the quality of the picture is excellent and sound is good. Am returning the unit and will not consider getting a Sony replacement at this time. Giving 2 stars because of good picture and sound quality.