Sony RDR-HX900 DVD Recorder

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Sony RDR-HX900

Write
~~CDR~~
~~CDRW~~
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DVD-RW
~~DVD-R DL~~
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DVD+RW
~~DVD+RDL~~
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DVD-RW
~~DVD-R DL~~
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~~DVD-RAM~~

*based on user reports.

Desktop, Firewire, 160GB HDD

$800

7.9/10
15 votes
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DVD Player features:
Video formats:
~~DivX~~ ~~JPG~~ ~~DVD-JPG~~
Audio formats:
MP3 ~~WMA~~
Other features:
Progressive Scanning

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Region code free hack

DVD Media comments for this DVD Recorder (click on the link to read the comments):
1 Sony 4xDVD+RW (SONY....S11) comments, 1 good, 0 mixed, 0 poor.
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Comments

17 comments, Showing 1 to 17 comments

sklib@mo.net from United States reported September 25, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	14 days	6 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
I bought this unit for $399 (not a mail order). My purpose is to record small clips (a minute or two long) on HD, then transfer them to DVD and to PC for image processing (their 1394 is one-way only, you know). Image quality as recorded in HQ mode is good to view. DVD plays fine on PC. However, renaming vob file to .avi (that simple trick works with other DVD recorders such as liteon5001) does not work - file is unplayable by media player etc. Standard processing software (ulead or mgi) also cannot read the files ("unsupported"). Sony phone support is there but not helpful (long time on hold, then at times not very polite). Their response - we cannot recommend any software that will open this file, we are not a software company (they asked if I was using sony PC and suggested I call Dell :-). I guess sony puts something in that file that makes it not too useful for further processing (please correct if I am wrong). I am reluctant to de/re-compress the file because image quality is usually degraded in such procedures - am I correct? Is there a way to uncompress vob and make uncompressed avi (could then work with that - my file size should be <1GB uncompressed)? I am thinking about returning this unit - any suggestions?

Phil Bishop from Australia reported July 03, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	180 days	8 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
I am trying to record NTSC-VHS via my multi-region VHS recorder through to the DVD Recorder but having little luck. I am not sure if this is because the DVD recorder needs a region hack (found the one listed under DVD Players for the Sony RDR-HX900 but did not follow it - I'm stupid and it is complex - bad combo) or what the problem is. The image comes up momentarily and can be seen when using the fast forward, but the screen is blank when on play. Can I record NTSC tapes on my DVD Recorder???

Jim K from New Zealand reported June 28, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	180 days	7 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Hi, There's something about the vob files that this machine creates, that my Philips DVD player doesn't like. I get eratic jumpy playback. If I import these vob files into TMPGEnc DVD Author and re-author these files, they play fine in my Philips. This solution also solves the editing woes that others have talked about. Remember that TMPGEnc DVD Author does NOT re-encode these vob (Mpeg2) files. It just re-arranges the data, so quality remains exactly the same as before. Cheers JimK

thorrman from United States reported May 12, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	3 days	No rating
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Update:- Trawled numerous websites until I found someone with the same problem. I reset the DVR to Factory Settings and it all worked fine after that. No idea why my DVR shipped in the state it did. I can now write to all formats without problem

thorrman from United States reported May 11, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	2 days	No rating
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Recording to HDD straight forward. However, I have tried dubbing to -R +R DVDs and none of my other 4 DVD players could play any of the discs (even after finalization). The Sony can play all of the DVDs I created. I have a 15 min clip that I am now dubbing to a -RW DVD and the DVR said to expect 26mins of finalization. Dubbing (fast dubbing) is already complete. I have no idea why finalization would be so long. I also had the dirty disc error (brand new DVDs I am using) an earlier person mentioned. So far, I am not impressed with this DVR. If anyone has any ideas/comments pls email me patrick@usa.net. It may all be operator error ;-)

Gary L from United States reported April 19, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R DVD-RW ~~DVD-R DL~~	DVD+R DVD+RW ~~DVD+R DL~~	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	210 days	8 of 10
~~DVD-RAM~~
Comments:
I've waited for a long time for Sony to release a DVD recorder with a big Hardrive, also one that records & plays 4 formats(-r,+r,-rw,+rw). I purchased it Nov-2004,& due to time restraints,I have been slowly using it. I love the machine,BUT i will have to send it back for a problem thats been there since i noticed it (Jan-05), & that is it won't burn my DVD's on Fast burn. I can burn the HQ-SLP, but when i try & burn fast burn, i get an error saying dirty disc c-1300,& the disc is NOT dirty. I can take these same disc & record on any of the other speeds & it works fine(seems like a software issue?) Yes I've tried All sorts of different GOOD media(Taiyo Yuden,Maxel,Memorex,etc) with the same problem , in that it won't burn on fast burn. When i get that problem corrected, I'll LOVE the machine. This Fast burn is important to me, I want to be able to burn a lenghty movie fast & not have to take an hour to burn a one hour movie. Fast burn is very important.

Bas from Netherlands reported April 10, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	60 days	7 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
a very good quality with one major drawback: YOU CANNOT SPLIT A RECORDED TITLE!!! this means that when you have recorded say 4 hours tv in good quality: maybe a documentary, a sports program and a classical music program on the Harddisk in one go, and you would like to divide this onto 3 different DVD´s, this will be IMPOSSIBLE! You cannot split this recording into separate smaller chunks....... VERY BAD FEATURE!!!

tos from Canada reported March 28, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 ~~WMA~~ CVD?	90 days	9 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
its a great machine works great,,,would buy another one,,the only draw back and can anyone else tell me if theres does this to is after i turn it off 15 20 mins later the harddrive turns on and stays on,,with the rear fan,,sony is telling me that they all do this,,,i dont buy this but i have it in writing form sony so if this breaks later on down the road,,i have this paper,,other then that i love it!!!!!

ironwind from United States reported March 23, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	21 days	9 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Bought this unit a few weeks ago for two main purposes: 1) Copying old video tapes to DVD (Using an old JVC HR-S7500U S-VHS machine fed directly into the Sony via S-VHS cable. No time base corrector seems to be needed in between the JVC and Sony as the JVC has a built in one.) 2) Copying stuff from TV In both these cases I take the DVD to my computer and edit with DVD Lab Pro to create menus, etc and a finished DVD. PROS: In both respects this unit is simply fantastic. The image quality for both purposes in outstanding. In fact, even with the video noise reduction filter turned off (it has four positions - off 1, 2 & 3), the DVDs made from video tapes actually look slightly better than the original videos. Using the noise reduction improves them even more but at the cost of a bit of picture sharpness (i.e. "softening" the image quality but eliminating more noise). The user menus are simple and follow a logical path, so even without reading the manual you'll be able to use the machine immediately. When watching a recorded off TV program made in SP speed, the program looks just like you were watching it from the original broadcast. Even the slower speeds are excellent. The 160 gig HDD is a great size as I tend to record 10 - 15 movies to it before I start making them into DVDs. CONS: The unit lacks the kind of precise editing features one finds in PC video editing software. However, this is the way all DVD recorders with HDD are, to my knowledge. The TV Guide feature doesn't work with my digital cable box from Time/Warner cable in New York City. Not a biggie as I prefer to manually turn on and off the recording anyway. But this feature may be important to others who may need to record a program when they aren't home. The lack of a VBR option limits you to two hours in SP mode. This is only a problem if you record programs that go on a little longer. It would have been nice to be able to have a few more minutes open to me via VBR. Overall I would say this is a fantastic machine for the two main purposes I needed it for. If your purposes are the same as mine, this is a, or even THE, machine for you. I particularly like being able to record to +RW media to bring my DVDs to the PC and not having to throw them away like with Panasonic, Pioneer and some other brands that only support -R and -RAM (a totally useless format).

Pete from United States reported March 20, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	21 days	8 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
This SONY RDR-HX-900 does not work with Satellite TV, like DirecTV, since the TVGuide function is incompatible with Satellite service, attested to on page 34 of the US user's manual. Becasue of this the unit is continuously looking to download the DirecTV signal and never turns off (as detailed in the US manual, p.100). So there is a continuous fan noise quite audible, even more so in quiet setting. Sony lists a number of tricks to get around this problem, unfortunately none of them works. It seems that this unit is condemned to an always-on operation. Otherwise a great little machine, records like a champ in fantastic picture quality not below SP. The A-B erase function could be better used if it wasn't burried inside the "Tools" menu, so that you could erase commercials while actually watching the recording, instead of having to go back to the beggining of the program and re-watch it again in fasf-forward.

magic75 from Sweden reported March 13, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	3 days	7 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
An excellent recorder in every way but one, the fan noise. It was just too much for me so I returned it. If you can accept a bit of fan noise however, it is the best on the market.

jar jar binks from Portugal reported February 22, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 CVD?	7 days	8 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
Even after some negative comments i've seen, I must say it is a great buy. Nice construction and functionalities. Stable and very usable. Superb video and audio playback and record quality - much due to a bunch of filters. The HDD and DVD recording capabilities are very nice and the chase playback a great nice to have. The impossibility of splitting HDD titles it is in fact a minus point, but there is no perfect gadget. It is just a matter of choosing the right recorder for your intended use. For the impossibility to dub DVD titles not recorded by the player, there is a quick workaround: 1- record a dvd+rw with just 1 title. 2- copy the files to a pc (you have just created what I call a "SONY DVD Template"). 3- overwrite all the vts_01. files with the ones from the title you want to send to your hdd sony recorder. 4- make a dvd video with all the files (don't forget the VIDEO_RM folder) and the label SONY_DVD_RECORDER_VOLUME. 5- the hx900 will accept the dvd (even if the title name it is not correct in the title list) and you can dub it to the hdd ! Note: this works for just one title (movie) per DVD, and does not accept subtitles nor multiple audio tracks. Note: It does not work with Nero due to the long label name. Note: For putting more than 1 title per dvd, if sohuld joinned them in 1 track (vob file).

VANBESIEN from France reported January 05, 2005:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW ~~DVD+R DL~~	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	7 days	8 of 10
~~DVD-RAM~~
Comments:
It's certainly a very good product but I think there are two lacks. There is no DVout like on the Pioneer equivalent products. Its impossible to copy my old recordings made from my camcorder due to the fact that this device doesn't accept to record DVDs made on other recorders: the only solutions are using a computer or read the dvd on an other dvd reader... That, naturally, with some loss of quality.

AGomes from Portugal reported December 28, 2004:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW?	DVD-R DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	7 days	7 of 10
~~DVD-RAM~~
Comments:
Recording to HDD in HQ+ image quality excellent Dubb HHD to DVD in HQ same about image quality Dubb HDD to DVD in SP (auto mode, slow speed from HQ+) image seems quite good. Drawbaks You can not dubb (HDD to DVD) HQ+ to HQ if the title is more than 1 hour, as you can not divide the title or record parts of it. When you record to DVD-RW you can make play lists, that will allow reproduction of your selections, but HDD doesn't offer this facility. Will Sony be in a mood to produce a firmware that makes this available? That would move the drive score upwards. DVD-R produced from HDD recordings (finalized discs) play ok in the Sony but could not make it with 2 other DVD players (a Denver that accepts everything - in theory - and a Philips 750 that doesn't is not supposed to play it). Computer software players play the discs, by the way. DVD+R is a different story and even the Philips can play them. The drive must do something in terms of bitsetting for the players to see them as DVD Video discs.

niels hsen from Sweden reported December 12, 2004:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
~~CDR~~ ~~CDRW~~	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW ~~DVD+R DL~~	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	21 days	8 of 10
~~DVD-RAM~~
Comments:
A well constructed, high quality black beauty. Easy to use with an excellent output. The last two point had been added if the 'JPG Images' option wasn't missing on the Sony. Maybe there is a solution to this minor problem. JPG Images? JPG/JPEG images burned

Tayfun Oner from Turkey reported December 11, 2004:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR CDRW	DVD-R DVD-RW DVD-R DL?	DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R DL?	VCD XVCD XSVCD	SVCD SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3 ~~WMA~~ CVD?	14 days	10 of 10
~~DVD-RAM~~
Comments:
Menu system very simple to use, you would not need the manual for most tasks. Very good image quality, very much better than any capture card I have used until now.

Karim Benbraham from France reported October 06, 2004:
Read features:						Time used:	Rating:
CDR? CDRW?	DVD-R? DVD-RW? DVD-R DL?	DVD+R? DVD+RW? DVD+R DL?	VCD? XVCD? XSVCD?	SVCD? SVCDSubs? SVCDTracks?	MP3? CVD?	N/A	8 of 10
DVD-RAM?
Comments:
First I have to explain my decision buying this unit. My JVC Svhs just died last month and I was looking for another unit. For sure I wanted to go with well known brand, just because it may need support and guarantee, remember VHS at the beggining :) Also because I pay a lot of attention on the video treatment that only big names provides. I had no preference over Pioneer, JVC or Sony. I took the Sony because it was avalaible last saturday in a Paris store near the Concorde place. The HX 900s is brand new on the market, very first models here in Europe. Don't forget I'm a newcomer to this DVD/HDD technology. So my very first digital recorder is the Sony HX 900s. s means Secam our very own french airing standard. -- My other devices -- - Sony TV 4/3 old style - Pioneer DVD 470 (I play DVD only on this device) - Satellite decoder for canal satellite (french provider that deliver at max 5 Mb/s any MPEG2 per chanel) -- Price -- 750 euros from a street store in Paris -- Installation -- - Package is very well set, all guides in different langage available. Quite heavy near 6 kg ! - The tuner detection is very very poor in secam (I don't care I use satellite only) - Installation completed in 90 minutes with few times the need of user guide -- Recording quality -- Very impressive from HQ+ to SP. If I want to back-up the video they are the one to go with. - Using any other quality will deliver noticiable compression troubles. Stay away. -- Quality / lenght chart -- HQ : 22h50 HSP : 53h23 SP : 70h39 LP : 107h35 EP : 142h 44 SLP : 210h42 -- General user interface -- - On very good point for this unit, they spent time and brains to achieve that. Within a day the "philosophy" of any menu is understood, very very easy to use. - The only thing that I don't like is the OSD even set to minimum displays too long in my taste. Particularly the "pause" function. -- Editing video -- Well done again, simple to use. I don't think you can get something more productive. Set a point A then a point B then delete. Precise to the frame. -- From HDD to DVD -- I use DVD-r (MPEG2 for backup) + DVD+rw (DIVX/XVID editing on PC). I never record directly on DVD. If the record on HDD is copied direclty (same quality) it's fairly fast. if you change the quality, found something else to do. 3 hours HQ on HDD translated into 3 hours SP quality then stored on a DVD+RW takes more than 2 hours, aheemmm. * during HDD=>DVD transfer don't expect doing anything else with the HDD except watching TV, no menu no HDD reading* -- DVD tested -- Datawrite DVD-R 8x Verbatim DVD-R 4x Verbatim DVD+RW 4x All using VR mode. -- Sony = noiSy ? -- 4 meters away from the unit I can ear some noises that come from the unit, don't know what exaclty. With every other deviced muted and making forward/rewind from the HDD, it clearly produces noises from HDD drive. -- My rating -- 8 because I was mainly looking for recording quality and ease of use which I got plenty from the Sony RDR-HX900. Also because I'm glad having 160Gb storage capacity, I was thinking : I will never that much disk, but it's obvious that will more than 80Gb after less than one week. I can't control myself when it comes to record (I have more than 1200 channels). Where the 2 missing points ? 1 with the noise, not that it bothers me too much but I understaind that other people will not appreciate at all this point. 1 else with the HDD=>DVD speed transfer when downgrading compression quality, too long. That also mean too much ask to the hardware. Sorry for my poor english, but since I wanted to make the review here because I learned a lot from other members experiences in forum and reviews. Feel free to ask me informations if you are interested. Regards all.

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