Sony RDR-HX900 DVD Recorder with 160 GB

The ultimate digital audio/video recording device, Sony's versatile RDR-HX900 lets you record to a choice of formats (DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW) and even stores audio/video programming--everything from television shows to camcorder footage--on its internal 160 GB hard drive. Now you can record your TV programs to the hard drive using an advanced onscreen program guide and archive your favorite shows or movies to long-lasting DVD, dubbing at up to 24x normal speed (depending on your recordable media and your recording mode). There's even an IR blaster for satellite and cable-box control.
The RDR-HX900's compatibility with DVD+RW/+R and DVD-RW/-R discs gives you the widest selection of recording and viewing choices available. The recorder also incorporates several picture-improvement technologies, which you'll benefit from whether you're viewing from the HDD or creating enhanced DVD recordings.
An easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) grants easy recording from broadcast programs via off-air antenna, cable, or satellite receivers. When recording to the built-in hard-disk drive (HDD), you'll be able to record and store up to 204 hours--that's more than 8 straight days, mind you--of your favorite TV shows and movies.
The RDR-HX900 can record at HQ+ mode in the hard disk drive, which offers approximately 1.5 times greater resolution than the highest possible bit-rate recording on DVD. The HQ+ mode, along with Dynamic Variable Bit Rate, provide outstanding picture quality. It's especially beneficial when recording quick and complex-motion images or playback from the HDD.

The RDR-HX900 also provides hassle-free connection with compatible camcorders through its front panel i.Link interface (for DV/D8 connection and easy tape-to-disc content transfers). In addition to granting simple camcorder hook-ups, the i.Link (DV/D8) interface gives you operational control over the connected camcorder via the supplied Remote Commander remote control. You can even copy the entire contents of your DV or D8 tape by selecting the convenient 1-touch dubbing feature.

The recorder offers advanced editing features for content originating on camcorder tapes. The 2 basic options consist of either downloading the entire contents to a DVD disc and then editing the content in non-linear fashion right on the disc, or more traditional linear editing directly from tape.

The RDR-HX900 also features Time Base Correction, pre-frame noise reduction, and pre-video equalizer technologies that rebalance and equalize video content before it's recorded onto a DVD, improving the original source content even before the encoding process begins. In the output phase, the RDR-HX900 recorder combines frame noise reduction, block noise reduction, and video equalizer technologies to produce a rich and textured visual with minimal picture interference from background artifacts or distortion.
Finally, the recorder offers proprietary DVD playback technology called Precision Cinema Progressive, which incorporates Pixel-by-Pixel I/P Conversion technology to augment and balance DVD-video elements. You'll need a high-definition or HD-ready television to appreciate this process. A 12-bit/108 MHz video D/A converter ensures exceptional picture quality for an unforgettable viewing experience, while audio decoding occurs at an amazing 192 kHz/24-bits.

What's in the Box
DVD recorder/player, remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, and an RF coaxial video cable.

From J&R Music and Computer World
Remember when you wanted to record the Babylon-5 Marathon and you weren't sure you had enough videotape? Sony RDR-HX900 DVD recorder is the perfect addition to your home-theatre as a combination DVD Recorder and Hard Drive for phenomenal flexibility for all your video recording needs. Featuring a 160 GB hard disk drive, you can record and store up to 200 hours of your favorite TV shows. The RDR-HX900 also features his DVD recorder features DVD+RW/+R, DVD-RW/-R DVD recording compatibility, and up to 24 times High Speed Dubbing from Hard Disk Drive to DVD. The timer recording feature takes the hassle out of recording your favorite TV programs through an easy on-screen program guide. This DVD recorder also provides seamless integration through its front panel i.LINK(R) interface for DV/Digital 8 Camcorders connection for easy tape to disc content transfer. Variable Bit Rate recording allows recording at different speeds for maximum quality or maximum length. Sony made this for you! Supplied Accessories - Audio/Video Cord (1); Power Cord (1); 75 ohm Coaxial Cable; Set Top Box Controller; Remote Commander(R) Remote Control; AA Batteries (2) for remote; Instruction Manual DVD+RW/+R, DVD-RW(Video Mode)/-R Recording and Playback; DVD-Video/Video CD/SVCD/CD-DA (CD-R/-RW) Playback; MP3 on CD-R/CD-RW Playback Variable Bit Rate Recording (at HSP/SP/LP/EP/SLP mode) Over 200 hours recording6 on 160 GB (at SLP mode) Dynamic VBR High Quality Dubbing from Hard Disk Drive to DVD HQ+, the Optimum Bit Rate Recording on Hard Disk Drive for Superior Picture Quality Sony iLINK Interface for DV/Digital8 and other IEEE1394 equipped Digital Camcorders On-screen TV Program Guide (EPG) Cable Box/Satellite Receiver Control
Amazon.com Product Description

Sony RDR-HX900 DVD Recorder with 160 GB

Test report

Good dubbing speed, Excellent picture quality, So-So editing, April 9, 2005 Reviewer: Frank L. Settipani "Gadgeteer par excellence" (Pueblo, CO) - I bought my HX900 2 months ago and have about 25 fully edited 3hour(LP mode)DVDs of network TV under my belt so far. I've read all the reviews to date and would like to add some observations not yet mentioned. Even though I am generally very happy with the unit, I'm focusing on some of the subtler negatives that may influence some prospective buyers and avoid some gnashing-of-teeth after purchase.

Picture quality is excellent. Network TV recorded at LP quality is nearly indistinguishable from the broadcast (and I have a very good antenna). The unit seems to clean up snow and other glitches. Dubbing at the maximum 8x speed is to DVD-R's only and is quick (15 min for 3 hour DVD) and almost completely flawless. The only transfer error I've found occurs if you alter the title name or any menu information on the DVD-R before you finalize it; Then it won't run on a standard DVD player, and mine is a SONY DVD player, so I doubt it's a compatibility problem.

The editing is good, but not great. The concerns in other reviews are overblown about the permanence of the the A-B editing. The marking of points A and B are simple and intuitive and can be adjusted to a specific frame. I've done several hundred commercial deletions at this point and not a single unwanted deletion yet, and I am now hitting remote keys quite quickly. The A-B editing leaves a 'tail' starting about a quarter to a half second before the 'B' mark, making precise edits tricky. There is a processing time of 10-15 seconds for each A-B delete, so it still takes 8-12 minutes to edit a one-hour network program even when you get good at it. The next version of the firmware should include multiple edits. Also, you can't split a title into chapters. What I've done, is duplicate the whole title to a DVD+RW working disk, then copy back to the hard disk (which occurs at 1x speed only) then do A-B editing on the two copies separately to create chapters: quite time consuming.

Finally, managing all your titles on the hard disk is tedious. I have 120 titles at LP quality and still have 50 gigabytes of space left. There are no subdirectories for the titles so collecting all my "West Wing" titles for dubbing takes 2-3 minutes when in full-display mode. You can speed it up by displaying only the title names, but then it's hard to tell what show it is without the thumbnails. Then after dubbing, it doesn't remember which shows you dubbed, and you have to reselect through the exact same process to delete the titles. It should offer a "delete after dubbing" option or leave the shows selected. You can creatively use the title sorting by date or alphabetically to jump up or down the list more quickly.

The final archived DVD-Rs are wonderful, including a menu selection that works on any DVD player I've tried.




Worth having, though not unflawed., March 7, 2005 Reviewer: Michael Ruskai (NJ, USA) - I've had my Sony RDR-HX900 for about two and a half months now.

This is the first DVR I've owned (previously only VCRs), and I was
primarily attracted to it for the ability to store a large number of
recordings. I'm the type of person who abhors "appointment TV" - I
watch when I want to watch. I also like having the ability to pause
for any number of reasons, and come back later.

First, my overall opinion is that I definitely recommend this unit. It
is not, however, a perfect design. There are pros and cons that should
be weighed, and compared with whatever else competes on the market. Much
of the information below can be read in the manual, which you can
download in PDF format.

There are 7 quality settings available - HQ+, HQ, HSP, SP, LP, EP,
and SLP. They are described in the manual by the approximate length of
video that one can store on a single DVD, and on the hard drive. Per
DVD, HQ allows 1 hour, HSP 1.5 hours, SP 2 hours, LP 3 hours, EP 4
hours, and SLP 6 hours. HQ+ is only available for hard drive
recording, and uses about 50% more space than HQ. It is a setup option
to use HQ+ instead of HQ, while other speeds are looped through in
succession with a button press.

The difference in quality between HQ and SLP is very obvious. The
difference between adjacent quality modes is difficult to detect. I
was able to see differences between HQ+, HQ, on down the line, but only
when trying to find them. I've come to settle into using whichever
recording mode will allow the program to fit on a DVD, in case I
decide to dub it later. For things which I've no intention of
dubbing (weekly recordings, for example), I use SP mode.

Dubbing allows copying between the hard drive and DVD. Normal DVD
Video titles cannot be dubbed onto the hard drive. As near as I can
tell, only titles created by this recorder (or perhaps other Sony DVD
recorders) can be dubbed from DVD to the hard drive.

There are two types of dubbing - fast dubbing, and slow dubbing. Fast
dubbing is only available when copying the video data directly from
the hard drive to DVD, which means no quality conversions. That means
that only recordings which fit on a single DVD without being re-encoded
can be dubbed in fast mode (e.g. a 1-hour program recorded at HQ, a
2-hour program recorded at SP, etc.). When a conversion is required
(or chosen), the recorder re-encodes at real-time speed. For some unknown
reason, dubbing from DVD to the hard drive always takes place at real-time
speed. It would be simple to do a direct read at maximum speed from
the DVD, but this device insists on actually recording to the hard
drive instead of copying.

Because the encoder can only work at real-time speed, non-fast dubs are
pretty inconvenient, especially considering the fact that while
dubbing, you can do basically nothing with the recorder. You cannot
record to the hard drive or play existing recordings. Programmed
recordings will not start while dubbing. This is probably the most
irritating limitation of this unit.

Another dubbing-related limitation is that you can't split a single
hard drive title among several DVD's (in case you want to preserve a
quality level, say, or the recorded title is actually two programs that
you want on separate discs). I don't have a killer need for this
feature, but it's an obvious omission that may be important to someone.

In most other respects, however, it's an able multi-tasker. You can
watch titles previously recorded while recording on the hard drive, and
can even watch a title still being recorded (wait 15 minutes after that
network show starts, then begin watching and skip all commercials).
You can watch a DVD as well, of course, and supposedly can watch a
title on a DVD-RW while another title is being recorded (untested by
me). However, during a recording, the only editing function available
is changing a title name. You can't erase a title, so you had better
make sure there's enough space before the recording starts.

None of the recorder functions behave any differently when the unit is
turned off, except of course for playing.

Media support is another important feature in a DVD recorder. This
unit supports both the DVD Forum standard media (DVD-R/RW), and the
DVD+R/RW media from the DVD+RW Alliance (which was created because of
the exhorbitant licensing fees charged by the DVD Forum). I've
recorded on DVD-R, DVD+R, and DVD+RW media - no DVD-RW media to test.
With -R/+R, the maximum write speed is 4x, and with +RW media, the
maximum write speed is 2.4x (which is 14 minutes and 24 minutes write
time for a full DVD, respectively). The maximum speed only applies when
fast dubbing.

One killer feature (for me) is the set top box controller, which is an
IR emitter that can change channels on a cable or satellite controller
box (but not turn the box on - you must leave it on). For me, that
means I can program the recording of non-broadcast channels of my
digital cable service. However, it's an all-or-nothing thing. You
configure the unit to either use the box controller, or its internal
tuner. You cannot use both. It's a shame, too, because it'd be useful
to have the recorder use the built-in tuner whenever possible, so
casual TV watching isn't interrupted when doing a programmed recording.

The TV Guide system is supposed to download program listing information
while the recorder is turned off. There's no data in my area, and it
says in the manual that no digital system (satellite or digital cable)
supports TV Guide listing data. For those that have it, it looks to be
a fairly simple way to program recordings (select the show in the
listing grid).

I must (and prefer to use) manual timer recording, which is still done
through the TV Guide system screens. The timer entry screen is
functional enough, but not especially good compared to some of the VCR
timer screens I've used. The one good thing is that there's room for
30 timer recording entries - more than other devices seem to have.

Beyond some playlist editing features that only work with DVD-RW media,
the three primary editing functions are changing the title name,
erasing the title completely, and erasing a section of the title (A-B
erase).

Title editing is done via a text-entry screen which is anything but
convenient to use, though it's not horrid once you get used to it. I
think making it look like a QWERTY keyboard would have been much more
efficient.

The A-B Erase function is very simple. All play controls are available
when selecting the start and end points. All erasing is confirmed, and
cannot be undone. I primarily get rid of junk at the beginning and end
of movies I record, which frees up some space until I watch them and
erase them completely. It can also be used to remove commercials from
a network program.

As a DVD player, this Sony is fairly modest in features. There are
three fast-forward/reverse speeds, FF1-FF3 (approximately 1.5x, 12x,
and 150x). There are two buttons called Instant Replay and Instant
Advance. The former skips back 10 seconds, with no display while it's
skipping. The latter fast-forwards at FF2 for 25 seconds. There's no
A-B repeat feature (if you want a scene to replay over and over), and
no zoom. You can toggle the angle and subtitles with a button press.

Despite its spartan playback options, it is very good at reading
damaged, defective, and marginal DVDs (something an old Sony DVD player
I have is horrible at). One defective DVD (since replaced) that
screeched to a halt on an old JVC player, and a newer Sony DVD/VCR
combo player, did nothing but imperceptibly skip with this unit (I only
know it skipped because the on screen play indicator flashed -
automatic status displays can be disabled, if such a thing would bother
you).

That concludes my review. It's a bit long, but I figure people might
appreciate some detailed information before plunking down $700 for a
piece of electronics.




Could have got 5 star, but..., November 30, 2004
Reviewer:
Krishna Polina (Potomac Falls, VA) - I've been waiting for a standalone DVD-Recorder for a long while as I find converting my MiniDV Tapes to DVDs on PC is too tedious process.

I've tried some high-end Panasonic and Toshiba models which I think are very good too but lack style and video quality found in this Sony model. So, I wouldn't complain about the price of this model as if you shop around you can get it for less than $700.00.

Many might complain about lack of features like breaking a long segment into multiple titles. For me that was never a problem as I can have them as different chapters. It basically has all the features we ever get to use.

It's still not the perfect DVD Recorder I dreamed to have as it's far from what we can do on a DVD Recorder using PC. But the bottomline is, the video and audio qaulity is the best I've seen from any high-end recorders from Panasonic or Toshiba and it has great style and finish. It might also easily end-up being your best DVD Player.



Sony RDR HX900, September 19, 2004 Reviewer: S. Farrell "bebenooch@aol.com" (UK) After weighing up the pro's and cons ...and PRICE!!,I am very tight fisted and very fussy!! I went for it. The guy at the Sony shop matched my best online price, so quite a saving from RRP.
The set up is a doddle,except if you live in the UK check that you have set country to ' I ' as this is correct for the UK.
Basic setting up is much like a VCR and playback and recording functions are very very straight forward. I was editing my Panasonic Digital Camcorder within 1/2 an hour of opening the box.
Recording onto hard disc from - Video tape or even a recorded DVD ( from another system ) did not pose any problems at all and infact the end product from a Video tape was better than the original source.
Lableing the HDD ( hard drive ) again is a simple process, it walks you through it.
When using this item, you get the feeling that everything has been already thought of and you fell like a well cared for child!!
The picture quality through my SONY KV32FX68 is magnificent, I couldn't ask for more.
It gives you the facility to record something to the HDD, watch something else you have recorded to the HDD and then watch what you have already started recording from the beginning while it is still recording...Cool!!!!
The only drawback I have found so far ( and this is still early for me as I only got the unit yesterday )is connecting to an Amp/ Reciever. I have been using a SONY DVP725s connected through an STR DB930 amp/reciever. I got superb 5.1 digital and DTS ( where applicable ) On connecting the HX900, I used an optical cable into the back of the STR DB930. NO 5.1!!! and DTS on US dics ( coz I got it chipped )NO DTS on UK discs (again where aplicable ) I have emailed Sony Support and am waitig to hear, proberbly something I havent set yet.
Over all, all I can say is BUY ONE!!!! you wont regret it



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