Product ReviewsSony RDR-GX300 DVD Recorder

A Upgrade from a VCR

Mine being used, did not record on DVD-+RW discs, no matter what speed they were. I read theses older units sometimes only work with slow recording disc.(X2, X4) speeds. The program menu to set up is easy and the record quality of things has shown to be better than what the original picture was. Broadcast Digital HD TV looks better played back after recording a show then it did live on TV. Over all, not bad, but it is very basic. I bought it replace my RDR GX700 which took a drive dump. I will still look to find another 700 but keep this 300 as a backup.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: lovemyducks6

BEWARE of USED electronic equip.

I received the unit as described, well packaged & undamaged. No power cord or remote control. I found a cord and
discovered when I tried to record my brothers wedding from the only existing copy that it not only didn't work, It
destroyed the original disc. So I " FIXED IT " with a 12 pound hammer. One huge swing & this machine will cause
no more problems for anyone. I suspect it may have been stolen.....Hmmm.?Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: distinct_flavours

good quality, easy to use, reliable DVR

very nice DVD recorder. Easy to use. makes good quality DVDs has TV tuner so can record TV shows. nice feature that you can still use it without remove since it has menu and other controls on unit itself. Reliable. Takes a few minutes to format a disk so might want to format some ahead so as not to cut into your recording time. Remote is laid out well but has a tendency to fail (can get another online easily) No problems taping from TV as others indicated in some units because of built in excessive copywrite protection. Had no problem taping shows to watch for entertainment value (used RW disks so could use again and tape over after watching) Very good product. Would recommend.Read full review...

RDR-GX330

I wanted a DVD recorder that could record the DVD+RDL disks like my Computer (for more time and quality). Also the SONY seems to have gotten the voice and the picture in sync. Where my computer burns a disk and it goes out picture first then the sound. Also use Lite-on LVW recorder and it also does the same thing. The disks formatted on the sony are recordable on the LITEON LVW-50?? series which is nice.
The lack of a record pause is something that I don't like and the fact that you cannot post edit a DVD+R is an inconvenience. Most of my recording will be from the Computer video output after the editing is done.
If you are just copying your VHS Tapes or BETA tapes this will give you a good copy that's it, you have to be watching it for the end and stop the recording. and start it again to get the tracks to change. If you don't you will just Fast forward through the disk juat like the VHS tape.
If I could do it over again I would only bid on machines with an original remote because the remote is $25-$35 and the machine is not much use without it.Read full review...

A Good Machine

If you want the basics-DVD record in R-, R+, RW and R, Playback, easy to setup timer and easy to use titler - the GX300 might be for you.

We had a GX-300 that was over 3 years old and we had put some serious hours on it in the past year transferring close to 750 2 hr VHS tapes to DVD, the optical pick up unit was getting weak and every once in a while it would turn out a "coaster" (a non playable DVD for the uninitiated). This machine will play everythimg but BluRay discs (which I personally think are not work the asking price).

Then it began to really act up so we looked and newer units and found not much was availabke due to the DVR rampage, and what was out there did not get good reviews for longevity or ease of operation.

So I checked eBay and found a GX300 that had been completely overhauled and a seller who stood behind his work and for $199 I got a replacement plus for an extra $100 he is overhauling my original machine.

We are set for the bext few years. Note: If youe DVD recorder or player sometimes "hangs" during playback of a very long disc, it is probably the pick up having a problem reading the dual layer disc used as the opriginal recording media. If its a Chinese made copy off the Master then count on problems due to crappy dual layer DVD stock.Read full review...

Great Machine ......... Except for Fatal "Disc Error"

I have a collection of five Sony RDR-GX300 units and they are great except for one major issue. If you have the machine programmed to record a daily show with the power on and a there is a sudden power outage, a fatal "disk error" occurs as it flashes on the display panel. The machine will not recognize any recordable DVDs or even regular movie DVDs. Even if you turn on/off the machine several times or unplug it, the "disk error" persists. I have found the only resolution is to unplug the unit for a time period greater than 12 months and then it recognizes recordable DVDs again.

I have read that there is a serious firmware issue with the RDR-GX300 that causes this problem. Also, it is known that the RDR-GX300 is very sensitive and has compatibility issues with certain recordable DVD brands. I have successfully used Memorex, Verbatim, and Sony DVD+R and DVD+RWs previously on my units. The "disk error" problem is very specific to power outages and is incredibly annoying.

I would rate the RDR-GX300 as excellent if it were not for this extremely aggravating and recurring "disk error" problem. Other than that, the RDR-GX300 is very easy to use. The 3 video/audio inputs are very convenient and the recorder can be directly connected to a cable box. The machine always produces an excellent picture as is compatible with LCD/HDTV units.

Only regret is that the RDR-GX300 cannot deal properly with power outages. Shame on Sony for this design flaw!!!!!!!!!!Read full review...

They don't make them like this anymore.

I bought my first RDR-GX300 for $400 about 2005 & made 1000-1500 recordings over 3 years before it lost sound in one channel & was told the problem was in the main circuit board. It wasn't repairable because the part was not available from the manufacturer or anyone else. When I tried to purchase a direct replacement, Sony or any other brand I found out that 1) tuners no longer exist in DVD recorders so you can't record off the TV 2) (more importantly) it's impossible to find a unit anymore with two outputs!! In my video setup this was a crucial defect because I absolutely didn't want to introduce a troublesome switch box into the single output circuit.
I learned the closest Sony equivalent was now $150 instead of $400, but this was hardly cause for cheers. The trouble is the newer units, at any price, and ANY BRAND have been simplified and cheapened in the 2 above ways. What to do next? I liked the simplicity of the RDR-GX300 menu and the remote of this unit (especially the record, titling & finalize functions, which I didn't care to relearn on another unit) so I ended up buying a total of 4 of these units on e-Bay, assuming if I didn't act promptly I'd never see this model again. The only problem was that only 50% of these e-Bay units worked properly-- one or two effectively came to me "dead on arrival." My conclusion: an excellent unit, but if you want to buy one on e-Bay you had better know in advance the in's & out's of operation of this unit and thoroughly test it to make sure you haven't received an orphan unit. Also be prepared to deal with sellers either unwilling or incapable of properly testing the unit. Also be prepared to deal with sellers who balk at taking back their partially or completely malfunctioning units. Be aware many of the units do not come with a working remote, a part also subject to failure. In summary, this model when it's working is outstanding, but expect eventually it will end up as junk parts.Read full review...

Sony DVD recorder/player Used

I bought 3 of these Sony RDR-GX300 DVD Recorder/Players in 2004 and they still work real well. I use them to record a DVD everyday since 2004. That should show how well they were made 14 years ago. I don't know when Sony quit making them, but it was many years ago. I just wanted another used one in case one of the original ones ever quits working. I found this one and a couple more on ebay, so I purchased this Sony and it works like new. I am very glad that I bought it.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: abringerofnewth...

Best DVD recorder on the market

This product is a great unit (used). Replaced my old one. Records everything you want with good quality. Even brand new worth every penny.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: yngbld1321

A Word of Caution re the RDR-GX300

I offer this input re my own personal experience w/ this machine.

I record almost exclusively in the DVD-RW mode then duping to +R and finalizing. Be advised the 300 will not record on all -RW discs. Those would be Dynex (Best Buy), Office Depot, and Memorex. It will record on Sony, Fuji, and Maxell w/o any problems...save one. I find w/ a Sony 10-pak there always seems to be 1-2 discs the machine will not record on w/ the msg "dirty disc." Therefore, I've stopped using Sony discs. I use Maxell +R discs.

Other than that, it's good recorder. The A-B erase is OK although I prefer the Pioneer which is much quicker and offers thumbnails over number, date, and time.Read full review...