Sony RDR-VX500 DVD Recorder / VCR Combo

Pros: Made to accept multiple DVD formats; accepts CDs
Cons: Poor quality; poor VHS pictures

I received the Sony RDR-VX500 Video Cassette Recorder/DVD Recorder as a Christmas gift in December 2004. When I was given the gift, I was very impressed with the Sony name and all of the features that came along with it. Little did I know that I ...

Pros: Easy to use, quality product
Cons: Don't forget to finish DVDs to play elsewhere

I received the Sony RDR-VX500 VCR and DVD recorder as a Christmas gift back in 2005. Since then, I have recorded dozens of DVDs both from VHS tapes and from live programming with DirecTV. This combo is very easy to set up, and the remote very ...

Pros: Easy to use, very good transfers from VHS, easy to transfer VHS to DVD
Cons: Unable to remove irritating "Checking Disc/Disc Loading" from TV display when loading any DVD

I bought this recorder because I would like to archive my old VHS home video tapes, some dating as far back as 1987. I don't dare play these tapes anymore for fear of deteriorating them any further. And that's the main reason we don't play our wedding ...

Pros: Well designed high quality product. Works great with DirectTV with TIVO.
Cons: None

Sony's RDR-VX500 is an example of a well made and well designed product that does exactly what you want it to and does it in a way that doesn't require a technology geek to operate. I am an electronics enthusiast and this rates as one the best products I ...

Pros: For many in the mainstream, the rock solid performance will be just right.
Cons: A little pricey, and it doesn't seem to like copied DVD movies.

After purchasing and returning an iLo DVD recorder (it didn't like the new copy protection scheme on movies like The Forgotten - nor my Miami Vice Season One DVD set), I read the small amount of reviews available on the Sony RDR-VX500, decided not to ...

Pros: Superb quality digital recording and playing. Easy usage. 2 machines in one.
Cons: Pricey, and recording digital audio is disappointing.

I have had a different experience with my Sony RDR-VX500 Recorder than previous reviews and thought this may be helpful: So, I make a lot of iMovies using my Mac and a Sony Camcorder. I also own a Tivo (which I am madly in love with), and use a Sony ...

Pros: dv input, vcr to dvd, dvd to vcr. dvd+r/rw and dvd-r.
Cons: none of the functions work properly. Slow functions. Very unprofessional quality.

The Sony RDR-VX500 dvd recorder with built-in vcr is absolute crapola! For the amount of money I spent on this garbage, I should have had a great unit, but as Sony lives up to its worthless quality, I now have yet another paper weight in my closet that ...

Pros: Sony name/build quality; convenient VHS and DV to DVD dubbing; versatile media support.
Cons: Worrisome green flashes on some DVD recordings; disappointing PQ thru S-video input; shortage of inputs.

I am a long-time Sony buyer, and rarely disappointed in Sony products. I've had this DVD/VCR for a few weeks now and overall I judge it as not bad, but there are a few glaring deficiencies I've found so far. 1) No rear-panel S-video input (there is ...

Pros: Sony name
Cons: Doesn't transfer correct 16:9 format from DV recorder if you use port(iLink).

The packaging box of this DVD recorder indicate easy transfer from your DV recorder through iLink....
but if you have recordings in 16:9 (widescreen) format, the iLink transfer 16:9 format to 4:3 (full screen) format.
You will find out about this in the manual as a mini "Note".
Also....all of my cheap DVD players play my backup copy of my DVD without a problem. This Sony stop playing my copies after 2 minutes..(super macrovision recognition).
I have returned this product back to store.
Sorry Sony.........

Pros: Good feature set, fair ease of use.
Cons: Terrible firmware design, terrible product reliability.

I purchased a brand new Sony RDR-GX300 five weeks ago and it started getting C-1300 errors when I tried to record a disk after around 10 recordings. When I called Sony Repair, they told me to reboot the machine by unplugging it for an hour and trying again, which did nothing except erase all the settings I'd spent the better part of an hour entering in the first place.

I was then told that the units would sometimes get stuck on an error reading and that it had to be reset in this same way each and every time.

This seems like incredibly bad software design to me, not to mention hardware which goes south in infancy. Reading about this problem on the Web, I notice that it's a common complaint for Sony DVD recorders, with many frustrated stories by users just like me.

Consider this one of many.

Pros: Supports 4 DVD and CD disks, MP3 and JPEG. Very Versatile.
Cons: Only two speed tape drive. Disk and title naming is arduous.

Well-spent time on the net reading these reviews last spring at time of purchase. I got the exact features I was looking for, well suited for archiving VHS tapes. Some copyrighted tapes don't copy - but that's a given. Has been working fine with no concerns to date. I learned that you need to stop pre-programmed events by pressing the stop button twice. If you press stop then eject the disk will eject but the recording does not stop. I thought it had locked up some how, stuck recording a disk that wasn't there. Two options: let the time remaining run out, or insert disk and when recording to the disk continues - press stop twice. Oops! he he.

Pros: It plays tape and DVD
Cons: Only Geeks can figure this thing out. Too frustrating and may not work at all.

Figured that my 10 VHS tapes and 15 analogue Hi8mm tapes needed archiving to DVD. Thought this was simplest method.
I've only been able to transfer one VHS tape to DVD. Using DVD-R. Everything else shows recording, but nothing to show on the DVD. Tried to do the Finishing Step as outlined, still no luck. In fact can't even get the Finishing to activated (greyed out)
Used the Line in from the Digital Hi8 Camera and got the same problem. I think my only option is to transfer Hi8's to VHS then VHS dub to DVD. 2X in time and aggravation.
Emailed Sony help, waste of time as they kept thinking I was trying to record thru camera without making a tape. Knuckleheads. Tried 3 times to explain transfer with iLink cable. Gave up.
At this point I'll just take the tapes to a transfer professional. 20 bucks for 25 tapes is the same price as this Sony box.
Tried the
I've always bought Sony. No longer.

Pros: Well built sharp in appearance. Simple and direct recording functions. Easy of operation.
Cons: Recording quality in VCR and DVD was disappointing. No better than standard VCR.

I bought this machine with high hopes...the "Sony" name, great sounding features,a bit high, but seemingly reasonable price...what a disappointment!

The quality of DVD-R recordings made directly from satellite digital TV signal were no better than a second or third generation copy of a VCR. Recording quality in both the VCR and DVD modes were unacceptable. When I tried playing a DVD-R copy I made on a different DVD player the result was poor. The picture froze occasionally and frames appeared randomly with pixels scattered through the picture.

I tried everything every and tested every variation of wiring hook-up variation with no luck. In disbelief that a unit of this cost could perform so badly, I reinstalled my 3 year old cheapie Toshiba VCR and the results beat the Sony hands down. The VX500 is going back today.

Pros: Great features, fairly simple to operate, works with all 4 major types of disc media
Cons: Reliability is suspect as mine is in the Sony service center for repair right now.

My 7 month old Sony is a masterful blend of recording and viewing simultaneously. It seems there is almost nothing I can't do with it to suit my purposes. Being able to use the 4 major DVD media types (DVD+-R, DVD+-RW) is such a pleasure since you don't have to worry about which type you buy, record or play. The variety of recording/viewing possibilities is phenomenal when used with additional stand-alone DVD/VCR players attached to the so convenient front panel of input ports on the Sony. I need to mention the 1-touch record button from DVD to VCR or VCR to DVD which makes dubbing so easy and convenient. Way too many great features to mention here, so I'll just say I really love using this machine.

Pros: Very easy to transfer home videos to DVD+RW
Cons: Expensive-but so far, worth the expense.

I must preface this review by saying that I am a novice- not at all experienced with home theater or hooking up pieces of equipment. I therefore was very pleased when I brought this recorder home (after a wait for the product to become available) and hooked it up myself!

I bought it so that I could record home videos to DVD. After some trial and error I found that recording onto the DVD+RWs was easy- truly a one button operation. I had tried other formats (DVD-RW) but was then unable to watch the DVD on another DVD player.

I am very pleased with this recorder. I plan to copy my mini DVD's from the video camera to regular size DVD's using this recorder although I have not yet learned how to do that.

I have used the manual and have taken it slow- but, each day I learn more and am very pleased so far with this purchase.