According to Sony, the new RDR-GXD500 is the first DVD recorder to come with an integrated digital terrestrial tuner and an electronic programme guide (EPG). For those who can't yet receive FreeView it also comes with an additional analogue tuner that in addition enables viewers to watch one channel while recording another.
Although the days of analogue terrestrial reception in the UK are numbered, most DVD recorders still come with an analogue tuner only. That's especially deplorable because more and more viewers switch to FreeView to receive up to 28 free TV channels (another ten channels are available on Top-Up TV for a monthly subscription of £8; CAM - Conditional Access Module - slot required). Plus, digital recording in particular benefits from digital broadcasts without having digital/analogue and analogue/digital conversion in the encoding process.
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| The Sony RDR-GXD500 comes with FreeView tuner for digital to digital recording
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The RDR-GXD500's easy-to-use graphical user interface and on-screen EPG featuring eight-day programming data help to make recording easier. It's done with just one click on the programme with the EPG timer recording controls. However, at the moment only people living in some parts of the country (London and parts of Wales in November 2004) benefit from FreeView's EPG. All other users will have to use VideoPlus+ for timed recordings.
The RDR-GXD500 also features simultaneous record/playback and the chasing play feature, enabling you to watch your DVDs while recording and skip scenes to catch up with real time. Being part of the company's IQ recording range, the recorder features high technologies both in pre- and post-encoding processes to create rich, balanced images and to minimize picture interference. To further improve picture quality, the product also makes use of a 12-bit/108MHz D/A Converter.
The device records on both DVD formats (+ and -) as well as on recordable and rewritable discs. However, it doesn't play or record on DVD-RAM discs. There's no hard disc drive yet, and a CAM slot to enable Top-Up TV would be nice, but it's likely that Sony is working on such a device for the near future. The RDR-GXD500 is on sale now for around £500.
Specifications
- Recording and playback of DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW
- Record in real-time using MPEGII compression: up to 6 hours per disc
- Built-in FreeView decoder and analogue tuner
- VideoPlus+ easy programming system
- Easy EPG recording control
- Simultaneous record and playback
- Chasing play feature (skip scenes during playback)
- Pre-Encoding enhancements: Time Base Correction, Pre Frame Noise Reduction, Pre Video Equalizer
- Post-Encoding enhancements: Frame Noise Reduction, Block Noise Reduction, Video Equalizer
- 12bit/108MHz D/A Converter
- 2 Scarts (full RGB) in and out
- Coaxial digital out
- Component video out
- Size(WxHxD): 43x9x38cm
- Weight: 5.1kg
- Price: £500
For more info on Sony visit
www.sony.co.uk.
For more info on FreeView and to find out whether your area is covered go to www.freeview.co.uk.
Do you think the Sony is a bargain at £500? Any comments on the features? Have your say in our forum. Or do you already own one of the recorders and fancy sharing your experience? Help other members to decide which gear to buy and write a member review today.
Nathan
