Sony RDR-GX7 DVD Recorder
DVD Recordingis Getting Better, but There are Still.....
some issues.  I've had my Sony RDR-GX7 for several months now, and for the most part it is a good product, but it does have one issue that might make you want to look at a different DVD recorder (DVDR).  This is noted on page 88 of the manual where it says in the footnotes, &quot;Do not connect the output jack (s) of this recorder to another equipment's input jack with the other equipment's output jack connected the input jack of this recorder.  Noise (feedback) may result.&quot;  &quot;MAY&quot;  is not the word I would have used.  &quot;WILL&quot; is a better one.  What does this mean?  It means you cannot hook this DVD recorder up to a receiver/amp like you would a VCR.  If you do, you cannot record without getting feedback on top of no picture.  To prevent this, you have to have the picture source come directly to the DVDR, then output to the receiver/amp, instead of having your picture source come to your receiver/amp and you record using that picture source.  However, you can use one of those 4-in, one/two-out junction boxes to solve this problem, but having had VCR's since 1977 and a different DVDR (Phillips) for two years, none of which had this problem, there should have been some way Sony could have prevented this problem.<br />Another reviewer pointed-out that if you use the SVHS video inputs, you need to use the instructions near the end of the instruction booklet.  This is an important issue if you want to have a quality picture.  These instructions are found on pages 88-89 of the manual.<br />Overall, both the Phillips and the Sony DVDR I have had give you a terrific picture.  Both are easy to use.  The Sony is a little more intuitive, and it is easier to enter the titles, but the titles don't show on the screen as they do on the Phillips.  If I had to choose, I would chose the Sony, even with the above limitation.  The Sony uses the DVD-R blank disc versus the DVD+R of the Phillips.  I haven't had problems with either after finalizing them.<br />I hope this information helps those out there who are thinking of purchasing a DVDR.ope this information helps those out there who are thinking of purchasing a DVDR.