Sony RDR-GX355 Tunerless DVD Recorder

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 17 x 2.8 inches ; 7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000NTK7ZG
• Item model number: RDR-GX355
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,371 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #52 in Electronics > Televisions & Video > DVD Players & Recorders > DVD Recorders

Product Description

Record or watch your favorite shows and movies with the picture quality you would expect from a Sony. HDMI¿ Output with 1080p upscaling of DVD Media --- Reads the data on a standard DVD at 480P and upscales the video resolution to 1080p resolution on your compatible TV. This allows for you to enjoy the best in video performance while delivering digital video and audio over one simple cable

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

138 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Copyright Protection Galore, May 28, 2007

By 

JOHN P. (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony RDR-GX355 Tunerless DVD Recorder (Electronics)

I purchased the Sony RDR-GX355 to completely replace my VCR. This DVD Recorder was to be used to record not only my personal home videos (which has thus far done perfectly) but to use to record show so that I can watch them later. However every show I have attempted to record has prompted the copyright protection message to be displayed (not allowing the show to be recorded). I don't understand what is the purpose of purchasing a recorder, if it will not allow you to record a show so that it can be watch when you have time. Sony advertises that with the RDR-GX355, you can record shows and even movies to watch later. This unit provides too much protection for copyrights and does not allow to be used for all that it is intended to be used. If you want a good quality DVD recorder to copy your home videos, this unit does an excellent job. Perfect sound and picture quality. However, if you want to use it to record shows or movies to watch at you own leisure time, the RDR-GX355 has TOO much copyright protection and will not allow you to do so.

TOO Bad Sony, this is a great unit, easy to use, great features, Excellent Picture and Sound, but way, way, way too much protection. The average user is not a Pirate. We don't record movies or shows to sell them. In fact the true Pirate will always find a way to make copies. Who you are really hurting here is the average user who wants to use this DVD recorder like VCR.

62 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but limitations, April 16, 2007

By 

M. Wingate - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony RDR-GX355 Tunerless DVD Recorder (Electronics)

This DVD recorder is a good choice if you want an upconvert DVD player with the ability to record. It provides a better playback image with an HDTV and you can record shows that you want to save. You should be aware that it has every copyright protection feature available. You will not be able to copy most DVD's and I have found it is unable to copy any movies from the movie channels (HBO, Cinemax, Starz, and Showtime). It will however let you know that the movies are boadcast with copy protection and shut down so you don't waste a blank DVD. Also be aware that it doesn't have it's own tuner so your cable or satelite box must be set to the channel you want to record (you can't watch one channel while recording another). You can set it up so the timer will change your set top box to the channel you want to record. All in all a decent product and if you're aware of the limitations and can live with them you won't be dissapointed.

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Copyright Protection Features Kill This Great Unit, July 22, 2007

By 

Bobby T. (Manhattan, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony RDR-GX355 Tunerless DVD Recorder (Electronics)

The Sony RDR-GX355 is a great DVD player/recorder! Store brought DVDs has near-HD image quality via HDMI upconvert on HDTVs. The unit is also incredibility easy to operate and the menu for creating your own menus and titles for DVDs you record yourself is one of the best I have encountered. Despite the high praise I have just given this unit, the copyright protection features kill the idea of owning this unit for my home.

Sony's copyright protection goes beyond "protecting" shows and movies on television as previous reviewers have noted. Sony has gone out of their way to even slap copyright protection on home movies you recorded starring your kids, dogs, cats, etc. Lets say you hooked up your camcorder to the RDR-GX355 to transfer the home movie you made onto a DVD. Now you show this DVD to grandma and she loves it and wants a copy for yourself. You think, sure, I'll just pop this DVD in to my computer and just burn a copy. Unfortunately, the RDR-GX355 will encode all DVDs it records with copyright protection that prevents your computer from making duplicates or transferring the video onto your hard drive. This means any DVD you record will be your ONLY copy. Why Sony did this is beyond me.