Sony Dvd Recorder

okidoki987 · 12-01-2005 11:12am #1

Thinking about buying a Sony DVD Recorder (GX300 model) so went looking in town yesterday and found some interesting results.
Sony Shop in the Jervis Centre Euro 449
Dixons in the Jervis Centre (right in front of Sony shop) Euro 399!
Xtravision (Stillorgan) Euro 369!
The online price works out about 343 Euro but not sure about delivery.

Anybody have any comments, good or bad on this model
or recomend a better one?

heggie · 12-01-2005 11:14am

I got a Yamada in Dunnes in cornelscourt for 200 euro. I'd recommend that.

lifebook · 12-01-2005 12:07pm

I have the GX300

Its an excellent piece of kit

Love it

Will have all of Fraiser for ever now

fcukme · 12-01-2005 1:52pm

This is one of the best dvd recorders in that price range. The cheaper dvd recorders are cheaper because of the fact they use cheaper parts. (horrible tuners). I will admit some of the time you do pay a premium for the sony name but if you record from the source on both a sony and some 200 or less recorder you'll see the difference straight away.

Just in case people start to think I am a sony fanboy (i'm not) the panasonic e55 for approx €379 is another cracker. The only thing I don't like abut it is the fact it uses dvd-RAM as the re-writable disk type. This is one of the reasons dvd-RAM is still around.

One point that you might want to check out, the xtra vision sony dvd recoreder is the gx3, well thats the one in their mag advertised at that price. It's basically the same as the gx300, last years model, looks slightly different and comes with a different style remote. With €100 vouchers from xtra vision its a really good deal.

okidoki987 · 12-01-2005 2:17pm

Funny that because the Panasonic 55 was the other one I had in mind
(I liked the idea of REC and Playback at the same time).
Kinda(ish) gone off it because of the DVD-Ram issue but having read a
couple of mixed reviews of the Sony this morning, I'm not sure now!

savemejebus · 12-01-2005 2:44pm

isn't there a liteon in Argos that is supposed to be the dogs dangly bits for only €200?

bk · 12-01-2005 4:19pm

okidoki987 wrote:

Funny that because the Panasonic 55 was the other one I had in mind
(I liked the idea of REC and Playback at the same time).
Kinda(ish) gone off it because of the DVD-Ram issue but having read a
couple of mixed reviews of the Sony this morning, I'm not sure now!

The Pioneer DVD Recorders are also supposed to be excellent, they use DVD-R/RW VR (Video) mode, which means like the Panasonic, you can REC and Playback at the same time (chase mode), skip ads, edit out ads, etc. But on DVD-R/RW instead of RAM.

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/product_detail.jsp?product_id=8531&taxonomy_id=62-125

lifebook · 12-01-2005 6:59pm

I had this pioneer.

The chase function is pretty cool.

The quality of the recordings from the Sony though are far superior it like there is an extra quality setting on the Sony that the Pioneer just doesn't have.

Still nice machine though

heggie · 12-01-2005 8:43pm

tbh i usually dont like cheaper brands for electronics, but this yamada records great quality. I usually buy mainly sony stuff for others, but this really is a bargain, a wee bit noisy fan tho

dec2000 · 12-01-2005 9:34pm

I have the GX300 and have to admit its brilliant - havent any experience with any other brands of dvd recorder but i can certainly say the quality, ease of use/setup is great with Sony.

And also the Sony Gx300 also supports chasing playback and its quite good aswell.

fcukme · 13-01-2005 11:03am

What will be the soruce for the recordings. Will it be mainly sky digital stuff through rgb scart or from the tuner? I think pioneer have this sorted but they had no rgb in on last years models. You might say that makes no difference but after a while you will be looking for the best souce as unlike vhs you will see the difference in the recordings.

The lite-on above has a very good tuner but recordings from the scart leave a lot to be desired. The panny recorder has no such faults and as you say has chase playback but so does the sony. I think it only works in the dvd-rw vr mode. The problem i have with the panny is the RAM disks in that they will play in very few stand alone players or pc's. Would you like to make watch what you reorded in the bedroom or kitchen? Then you will need to find a RAM compatable player (only really panasonic models).

My advice is buy the sony, less problems with disk compatability and the record quality is excellent.

Just to let you know I have the pioneer 5100H (really expensive model with 80gig harddrive) and sony gx300 and if I could only choose one it would def be the sony.

okidoki987 · 13-01-2005 11:13am

Was in DID last night looking at the differences between the Panasonic and the Sony when I saw this JVC multi format model.

http://www.jvc.co.uk/product.php?id=DR-M10SEK&catid=18&lid=

Looks very good and has -RW AND RAM.
Anybody have any good or bad experiences of this one?

The bloke said they were out of stock but they were getting them in
next Thursday at 299 Euro which is 80 Euro cheaper then the Panasonic!
Black only but at that price...

The Sony GX3 in Xtravision is NOW 330 Euro in the sale with 5 FREE recordable discs and 100 Euro worth of rental vouchers
(50x2 Euro but you can only use 1 each time!).

Pacifico · 13-01-2005 5:58pm

okidoki987 wrote:

Was in DID last night looking at the differences between the Panasonic and the Sony when I saw this JVC multi format model.

http://www.jvc.co.uk/product.php?id=DR-M10SEK&catid=18&lid=

Looks very good and has -RW AND RAM.
Anybody have any good or bad experiences of this one?

The bloke said they were out of stock but they were getting them in
next Thursday at 299 Euro which is 80 Euro cheaper then the Panasonic!
Black only but at that price...

The Sony GX3 in Xtravision is NOW 330 Euro in the sale with 5 FREE recordable discs and 100 Euro worth of rental vouchers
(50x2 Euro but you can only use 1 each time!).

Isnt the GX3 the earlier version of the GX300?

GX3:

Gx300:

rubadub · 13-01-2005 8:24pm

savemejebus wrote:

isn't there a liteon in Argos that is supposed to be the dogs dangly bits for only €200?

It was 220 before christmas so could be less now.
Lite-on make the sonys dvd players too, so I hear

Guy:Incognito · 14-01-2005 1:40am

fcukme wrote:

One point that you might want to check out, the xtra vision sony dvd recoreder is the gx3, well thats the one in their mag advertised at that price. It's basically the same as the gx300, last years model, looks slightly different and comes with a different style remote. With €100 vouchers from xtra vision its a really good deal.

The GX 3 didnt support one of the R formats, think it was -R. Plus the GX 300 has chasing playback, other than those two things the recorders are the same. Was price checking today and everywhere is €399 on the gx 300. Sony centre, dixons and did. All in tallaght.

okidoki987 · 14-01-2005 8:41am

It's 343 Euro in the UK (236 GBP on Pricerunner.co.uk) not sure about shipping costs.
I'm going to the UK next month and seriously thinking about getting one over there (Tottenham Court Road?).
Couple of Q's
(a) Will it work the same as one bought over here taking into account the different freq uhf, vhf etc?
(b) Any duty or Vat due on it (if I get stopped!)?
(c) Any other potential problems I should be thinking about.

The_Conductor · 14-01-2005 8:49am

okidoki987 wrote:

It's 343 Euro in the UK (236 GBP on Pricerunner.co.uk) not sure about shipping costs.
I'm going to the UK next month and seriously thinking about getting one over there (Tottenham Court Road?).
Couple of Q's
(a) Will it work the same as one bought over here taking into account the different freq uhf, vhf etc?
(b) Any duty or Vat due on it (if I get stopped!)?
(c) Any other potential problems I should be thinking about.

a) We use the same frequencies
b) You will already have paid UK VAT and Duty- so you do not have to worry.
c) Nothing to worry about- its about the same as buying it a shop down the road. If a problem does arise, your manufacturer's warranty is valid throughout Europe (sellers warranty may be slightly more problematic- but worst case scenario is if the unit developes a defect through a manufacturing fault, you are entitled to a replacement unit.)

lomb · 14-01-2005 9:06am

afraid it might not work here unless the machine has a uhf tuner. the pana hs 55 hard drive recorder we have does not have uhf so cant tune in many channels. need to run it through a vcr or other tuner.

ageary2003 · 14-01-2005 1:58pm

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=2501&productId=113957&clickfrom=name

Would this be the dvd recorder than is similier to male canine gentilia ? looks pretty nice for the price, might be a good way to get tv shows on to my laptop, i have had crappy luck with tv tuners so far.

okidoki987 · 14-01-2005 4:01pm

a) We use the same frequencies

afraid it might not work here unless the machine has a uhf tuner. the pana hs 55 hard drive recorder we have does not have uhf so cant tune in many channels. need to run it through a vcr or other tuner.

savemejebus · 14-01-2005 4:13pm

ageary2003 wrote:

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=2501&productId=113957&clickfrom=name

Would this be the dvd recorder than is similier to male canine gentilia ? looks pretty nice for the price, might be a good way to get tv shows on to my laptop, i have had crappy luck with tv tuners so far.

thats the one, as far as i know it's €230 in currys and €200 in argos (this was before xmas so could have changed by now).

AntiRip · 15-01-2005 5:05pm

What about dvd recorders with hard drives? Is there any out there or are there too expensive at the moment.

Also if you have a dvd recorder, can you connect a video to it and record your old VHS (home movies, etc) to DVD R/RW ??

eirebhoy · 26-01-2005 6:43pm

Is that Argos DVD player gone?

cdebru · 26-01-2005 7:31pm

eirebhoy wrote:

Is that Argos DVD player gone?

no it's in the new catalogue page 173

199 for the 5001 +r/rw
229 for the 5005 +r/rw -r/rw

chump · 05-02-2005 10:53pm

Got the gx300 there today ... bit disappointed didn't come with scart to connect the sky but only the aerial connect...

Anyway just wondering how people found it at recording off sky?

I presume sky dig just gets set as a particular programme number and whatever channel you have it on gets recorded...?

Pacifico · 06-02-2005 9:55am

chump wrote:

Got the gx300 there today ... bit disappointed didn't come with scart to connect the sky but only the aerial connect...

Anyway just wondering how people found it at recording off sky?

I presume sky dig just gets set as a particular programme number and whatever channel you have it on gets recorded...?

Yep you can only record what you watch from sky.....

If you turn on "Syncro Record", any program you personal planner and set to auto view will be recorded, which is pritty cool

It will also name the program if text is available.....

chump · 06-02-2005 10:18am

And you pick up any RW dvds?

Only ones I've come across are on komplett... 8off euro for 5, but then 10euro delivery... know any shops arounds dublin that offer a half reasonable price?

eirebhoy · 06-02-2005 1:59pm

Got a brand new Philips DVDR610 off Ebay for £114. Haven't received it yet but I doubt I'll be buying much stuff from shops again considering the savings you make on Ebay.

byte · 06-02-2005 3:28pm

okidoki987 wrote:

a) We use the same frequencies

afraid it might not work here unless the machine has a uhf tuner. the pana hs 55 hard drive recorder we have does not have uhf so cant tune in many channels. need to run it through a vcr or other tuner.

I think you mean VHF, not UHF.

UK uses UHF as do we, but we also use VHF in many areas. So you'll need to make sure the machine has VHF as well as UHF (look out for Hyperband tuner).

amby666 · 06-02-2005 3:35pm

I just bought the Lite-on 5006 from SVP http://svp.co.uk/acatalog/Hardware_Section__.html after they confirmed it would work here. They show the price as £150/€215 + about £11 for shipping (next cheapest I found was Amazon at £165+13). And then you can ship yr disks for free..
It's the model after those in Argos and has RGB.
Burns +/- DVD & DVD RW and also VCD/SVCD

I looked at RAM disks, but the problem is if you want to share or copy afterwards - most other players or PC's won't recognise.

Sony Dvd Recorder

Comments