Editorial Review:

Item Description:
Sony DVD Recorder RDR-GX315 -Supplied Accessories: Instruction Manual / Audio/Video Cord (1) / 75 ohm Coaxial Cable / Remote Commander(R) Remote Control / 2 AA BatteriesRecord to DVD from your television and see the difference digital technology makes. The RDR-GX300 features DVD+RW/-RW/-R/+R DVD Format Recording Compatibility, Precision Cinema Progressive 480P for Playback, and a User Friendly Graphic User Interface. This model is also compatible for use with DVD+R/DL discs. These are dual-layer discs that store up to 8.5GB capacity, nearly twice that of standard DVD discs. The Timer Recording feature and Adjustable Recording Times (60-360 Minutes) enable simple TV to DVD recording. Additional features include a Variable Bit Rate for Linear and Non-Linear Editing, a 192 kHz 24 Bit Digital to Analog Converter, a Dolby Digital and dts Optical/Coaxial Output, and TV Virtual Surround with 4 Surround Modes. Non-Linear Editing (DVD-RW VR Mode) Built-In NTSC Television Tuner Advanced SmoothScan(TM) and SmoothSlow Modes 480p Progressive-Scan compatible Sony USA 1 Year Parts 90 Days Labor Warranty

Amazon.com Item Description:
Record your favorite TV programming from the built-in TV tuner or quickly and easily dub your camcorder's video footage to DVD with the Sony RDRGX315 progressive scan DVD player/recorder. This single-disc unit can record to both DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW disc formats as well as dual-layer DVD+R discs (for 8.5 GB of storage), and it can play CD-R/RW discs with MP3 audio files and JPEG image files. It provides front AV, S-Video, and i.Link (Firewire) connections, which enables you to quickly patch in a camcorder (either DV or Digital8 format). It features a new slim-line chassis and quick-response graphic user interface (GUI) for easy operation and access to advanced functions. It features the following recording modes:

• HQ (High Quality): 60 minutes
• HSP: 90 minutes
• SP (Standard): 120 minutes
• LSP: 150 minutes
• LP: 180 minutes
• EP: 240 minutes
• SLP: 360 minutes
• SEP (Long Duration): 480 minutes

The RDRGX315 offers both Dolby Digital and DTS decoding and provides the following connections:

• Composite AV In (RCA): 2 (1 front)
• Composite AV Out (RCA): 2
• S-Video In: 2 (1 front)
• S-Video Out: 1
• Optical Audio Out: 1
• Coaxial Audio Digital Out: 1
• Firewire: 1

What's in the Box
DVD player/recorder, remote control, 2 batteries, antenna cable, AV cord, printed instructions



Accessories:
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Accessories:

• 3-Year Extended Service Plan - Covers Electronic Items $0-$200 - Repair
• Monster Cable ULT I600-4 THX Ultra 600 Audio Interconnect
• Monster Cable MP HTS 1000 PowerCenter with Clean Power Stage 2 (v.2.0)
• Monster Cable ILS100-1M Interlink LightSpeed 100 High-Performance Digital Fiber-Optic Cable, Toslink-to-Toslink (1 Meter)
• Monster Cable ULT V1000 CV-8 THX Ultra 1000 Component Video Cable

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Rating: - * almost perfect ... I am something of a connoisseur of DVD recorders. I own four Sonys and four Panasonics. I was interested in the GX315 primarily because of the small size and multiple recording speeds. It did not disappoint: recordings are flawless, as are all the Sony machines I own. The design is sleek and elegant and, as it stands only about 2 1/2 inches high, it has a streamlined look and feel. But the 315 does have several negatives. It takes a lot of time to do anything: format the disc, write a title to the disc, and finalize. Much longer than any other Sony machine I own. The remote does not have a Record Pause button, as do the others, which mean it is difficult to get into the beginning of a film cleanly. On all the other machines, pressing Rec/Pause puts the machine into standby, and then goes immediately into recording when pressed again, making timing easy. There is very little room on the title list for titles. Not more than two or three words. The other machines have a full line. There are thumbnails, but are chosen by the machine and can't be changed. But I like the machine very much anyway. It handles all recording formats, and up to 16X discs, which is a good reason to buy. It is becoming increasingly difficult to buy DVDs less than 16X. Rating: - * OK, but it doesn't work now ... This DVR was OK for what we used it for, but now (for the last year almost) it only intermittently records DVDs. it seems to be a heat related problem, and I've done the best I can to separate it from other equipment. It often works in the AM on one or two programs and then quits. This is the second SONY DVR i've had that is heat sensitive to recording and the 3rd overall that just seems to quit after a year or so of service. It's out of warranty and I'm not sure what to buy anymore. Rating: - * Will not buy again ... I have had nothing but trouble with this unit and I just bought it last year. We purchased a sony b/c it was compatible with our sony camcorder and now we cannot even burn our information on to a CD. I will preset the recorder for programs and it will not even record at all. It will only record when you press the record button for immediate recording. Even then it will sometimes only record a portion of the program. I guess it has something to do with the copyright protection I keep reading about. I have a Samsung recorder and it hasn't given me any trouble. I will not buy this Sony product again. Rating: - * Exceptionally Unreliable ... I have many Sony Products -- a television, a minidisc player, an AV receiver, a VCR, etc., and I have to say given my past experience that I still it find it hard to believe that this piece of junk says Sony on it. This recorder is very good at making coasters. Of course, you may not even get to make a coaster because there are times when I have difficulty getting the tray to even come out. I've been in the demeaning position of sitting there and hitting the eject button 10-15 times before getting a response. The motor is working but the door is stuck or unresponsive from day one. The DVDs it does make "successfully" can't be played on any other piece of equipement under any circumstances and the thing sometimes won't even play the DVDs it burns itself. While it used to finalize DVDs in the past, the DVD recorder has essentially decided it no longer wishes to perform that work. The Remote Control is the most awful and ill conceived remote I have ever had the misfortunate to hold in my hand. Key functions are essentially hidden away in a strange compartment. I made the huge mistake of buying the recorder without doing any research only because I have purchased so many Sony products over the years. In any event, this DVD recorder is good if you are looking to burn $200 for no reason and I am utterly over my brand loyalty to Sony and will look to another manufacturer when I finally do replace this garbage. Run fast and far away from this one. Rating: - * The best DVD recorder is ... I am so happy with the Sony DVD Recorder RDRGX315. Originally I had purchased the Sony RDRGX330 and was not satisfied because I could not edit out the commercials. After I purchased the RDRGX315 recorder and started using it I was in heaven. Sony needs to bring back the RDRGX315 because it is better than the other one.