Sony RDR GX7 Review

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Sony RDR GX7
2.3 stars
Average rating for this product is: 2.3 out of 5

From 5 ratings and 4 reviews

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ackees's Review of Sony RDR GX7 DVD Recorder

17th Jul 2004

Overall Rating

0.5 stars
  • Value for money
    0.5 stars
  • Image Quality
    5 stars
  • Features
    0.5 stars
  • Time DVD Recorder Owned
    1 - 6 Months
  • Sound Quality
    5 stars
  • Ease of Use
    0.5 stars
Good Points

Buy the RDR-GX7 at your peril.
When you can get it to work the quality is V.Good


Bad Points

Most of the time it does not work, since I bought one it has spent more time being repaired than being used.


General Comments

There are some terrible design faults with the RDR-GX7 that make it almost unusable.
1, It is very picky about which DVD disks it can use.
2, It damages DVD disks irreparably.
Sometimes a disk that once worked with it then stops working, and the unit gives the dreaded error 'dirty disk'.
3, If you get a bad disk error you often cannot get it out because there is no emergency disk eject, so the unit 'locks up'.
4, There is no off switch or reset, the only option is to pull the plug or flip the switch on the wall. This was sony's advice:
"Pull the plug and leave it out for 3 hours (yes 3 hours), then the machine may reset itself and you can get the disk out". It did not reset and had to go for repair.
4, When you do this the machine breaks and has to go for repair.
Most of the time it has disk errors and locks up. I have spent more time going back and forth to the repair shop than using it.
If you do buy one do not buy it from the internet because you will probably need to take it back, internet companies are impossible bad when it comes to after sales support.

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Members' Comments onackees's Review

  • vroom Rank: Lance Corporal on 7th Jan 2005

    Hey, Yes I fully agree with you and your review, I bought a new GX7 5 months ago. GX7 is great. I know disc DVD-/+RW "Sony" very well. Careful what depends different name brand disc (not Sony), I had lots test with any disc. Same happened GX7 was freeze while I tried any press but still freeze, so have to disconnected the power then re-connected like reset. I found disc is no good because cheaper like Laser better with use Disc Sony. I tested different few brand disc are ok, name TDK and SKC. If any brand disc DVD-R or cheaper so fine but only write once then finalized after recorded and/or erase. A few months later my GX7 has a problem, it hardly play and record with DVD+RW but still Sony! Of course had never problem freeze before. I already dropped to my service a week ago but have under warranty. I have heard that sound should Len Laser not designed as sometime problem like weak! I hope it is upgrading better, I'll find out from my service answer me soon, then I'll let you know on Comment. Many thanks, Great to hear from your review.

  • Jazznme on 24th Jul 2005

    In reading this review....I felt like I was reading my own experience with this DVD recorder. I purchased it 2/04 and am equally, if not more, disappointed.
    If I had been diligent, it would have been replaced by my maintenance warranty already. However, I did not always rush it back to repair--which always took over a month, because it had to sent back to Sony. Sony!!! And I trusted the Sony name!
    Now on it's 3rd repair cycle--the dealer is offering to trade it in....for a model that costs...less than $300. I paid $499 and this model has advanced features, so we have not resolved the trade yet.
    I wish I had read this review prior to buying this unit. "Disk dirty" is such a dirty, dreaded phrase. And now I have ALL this disks that I can't finalize and will lose hours and hours of editing work. I am mad!!!

  • tdr on 7th Aug 2005

    Yes, I agree absolutely with the previous comments. Reads a disc OK for a few times, then locks up while 'Loading disc data'. Those who have bought this model and not yet had this problem can count themselves very lucky.

  • John Fernandez on 21st Jun 2006

    The Sony's failure to recognise a new Version 2 DVD -RW discs is a major disadvantage with the RDR- GX7 unit.