Customer Reviews

Sony RDR-VX521 DVD Recorder Vcr Combo

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Simple, easy, nice unit by Sony. Having many video tapes that needed to be transferred, I tried my computer but it was cumbersome to do the transfers. This allows easy transfer to DVD using any format including DVD-RW for recording tv shows. My only complaint is the unit does not allow you to name your DVD so when you pop in into your computer, it comes up with the stock Sony name. Minor complaint because you can still edit and name the video via the unit on screen so when it sees a DVD player, you know what is on the DVD. Let's hope the prices keep coming down!

I purchased this VCR/DVD recorder for it's ability to dub family videos to DVD and to allow my children to watch old movies we have on tape. It began sporadically eating VHS tapes after 6 months of light use. When calling for warranty service (it has a decently long warranty, I will admit-1 year and 180 days P&L-much better than many electronics which offer 90 days), it took over an hour on hold just to get the address of a repair center and a work order number. Seems like they may be sorry for offering that warranty now. Of course you will need to pay to ship your unit in for repair out of your own pocket, not to mention the inconvenience of the shipping and being without a unit you paid good money for. If you purchase it, I highly recommend you keep your receipt and original packaging handy!

Sony isn't the Sony of old. My recent experience has been that their products just don't hold up like they used to. Caveat Emptor.

We've owned this machine for a few years. (I'm guessing 5 years). Only one time did we try to use the VCR section of the combo machine, and it wouldn't play a VCR tape of Gone With the Wind. We've played DVD's and did just fine. Today we had a tape we had recorded on an older machine, and I wanted to see a movie again. Anyhow it just wouldn't go in and it would shut the power off. It locked the machine up and power went off and other entertainment equipment we had routed through it wouldn't work. I couldn't get the tape out of it either. As old as the machine is, even though the VCR had not been used, only on the one try before, there wasn't any guarantee on it. I got Sony on chat online and the tech sent directions on how to eject the tape. No luck either. My husband then took the cover off the machine. He took the stuck tape out. Underneath where the tape was, was a plastic part with a roller on it, that had never been installed to the VCR. The part was not broken, just laying in the bottom of the VCR section. No tape was ever going to work on this machine. I guess Quality Control with Sony didn't do it's job. So all the dubbing and recording etc. are useless, too. DVDs play okay. DON'T BUY THIS MACHINE, UNLESS YOU WANT TO GAMBLE ON IT WORKING RIGHT.

I've had this unit for several years, and it just keeps on ticking. Plays DVD's and VHS tapes well, and I can easily transfer VHS to DVD. Copywrite protected tapes will NOT record, however, I the ones I had mostly transferred over as they were before the days of Copywrite protection encoding. Love this unit! I use component cables to my tube TV and the picture is crystal clear.

Recieved the unit and it does not live up to expectations. The Audio will quit after an extended use and the only way to get it back is to power down the unit and turn back on. It causes the TV to have waves that goes from dark to light. I am not happy with the unit.

Next time I buy ANYTHING from Sam's Club I will pay for the warranty.
Used to be you could expect reasonable service from a new product--not
anymore. Very light use, just getting to learn how to work the machine
and it started eating VHS tapes, some old and priceless to me. Stupidly,
I thought it was the age of the cassettes. Then it got to eating every single VHS I put in it, even new ones. Tried the "eaten" tapes in several
older VHS machines and they worked just fine, even worked with the crinkled
sections that I rewound. Wonder if this was produced in China for Sony?

One star only because it is not possible to rate the product lower.

I purchased this model DVD recorder/VCR combo locally on 11/17/2007. I attempted to install the product, but the machine would not display a menu or respond to commands from the remote. It also would not respond to some commands from the command buttons on the face of the recorder. I spent about an hour on the phone with Sony tech support, resulting in an offer to replace the item at no cost if I'd pay shipping to them. I opted to exchange it at the store at no cost to myself.

The second unit also would not display a menu. It responded to more commands at both the remote and on the machine itself, but refused to acknowledge the existence of channel 3. I skipped the middle man, went to a different store location on 11/18/2007, repeated the exchange.

The third unit had the same failure to display a menu and refused to acknowledge the existence of any channel but 127.

At this point, I accept my defeat at the hands of bad tech and will seek another product with the features I want.

Caveat emptor.