Sony RDR-HDC500 HDD/DVD recorder

A 500GB Sony DVD recorder

Chris Jager

Good Gear Guide

14/05/10

Expert Rating

3.25 / 5
User Rating

2.00 / 5 (of 7 Reviews)
Price
$ 529.00 (AUD)

User Reviews:

TrevorFri 27/04/2012 - 17:00

Pros
Great Picture Quality
Cons
High Speed Dubbing absent

When my wife decided to get a new Aquas Tv I thought I'd get this recorder as the previous model HXD 890 I use in another room was superb. Super Fast high speed dubbing, excellent choice of menu backgrounds, fantastic thumbnail capability, razor sharp editing. Quite simply THE BEST Sony machine I have ever owned.
I assumed (never assume!) that this new version (for 2010) would be evern more advanced - WRONG!
As a player it is great NTSC PAL any region no problem. Blu Ray doesn't bother me as I don't intend getting any Blu Ray discs. As a recorder it really sucks. Real time dubbing, no thumbnail capability, no fancy menu backgrounds, no way to adjust you titles. Just terrible.
I was lucky it was on special at the time. Why couldn't they have just upgraded from the far superior HXD 890 incorporating all of those fantatsic functions in this unit.
Sorry Sony this one is a real disappointment.

Rated this product:

2.5

EddieTue 03/04/2012 - 20:15

Pros
clear pics
Cons
keeps loosing digital tuning

Every couple of weeks i loose the digital signal and need to retune it ,pain in the ass

Rated this product:

3.5

SteveTue 27/09/2011 - 14:14

Pros
???
Cons
???

Same problem as smamzoid mine wont turn off has to be turned off at the power outlet. Goes into update mode all the time when that feature is turned off. I'm on my second one took the first back and still the same, also I've an earlier model which is much easier to use. I wont be buying sony products again.

Rated this product:

0.0

SpamazoidSun 10/07/2011 - 11:00

Pros
when it works. good quality recording, all local hd channels were easy to programme in and work
Cons
too basic

mine failed after only 3 weeks, wouldn't turn on, RMA'd and it took 3 months to get it back, they replaced the main board, but it still has issues

constantly goes into update mode when it has been shutdown despite having them all turned off and it takes too long to turn off (like a few mins).

the compatibility with codecs is bismal, have to convert everything to square box mode

Rated this product:

2.5

CaroleMon 04/07/2011 - 13:13

Pros
???
Cons
???

26 May 2011 we purchased a Sony DVD Recorder RDR-HDC500. We naturally assumed this would be an enhanced Model of previous recorders.

I have found that this Model is not as intuitive as the earlier model and the old model is more user friendly.

I am a teacher/librarian and as part of my duties I record educational programs on TV, edit them and dub them on to DVDs. To do this I need to use A-B Erase to remove the advertisements, or other unwanted chapters. On the RDR-HDC500 in the A-B Erase feature the chapters are not shown. This makes editing extremely more difficult & time consuming.

On the RDR-HDC100/300/500 the “previous/next” section of the remote, the instant replay/instant advance feature 5 seconds>15 seconds>30 seconds>1 minute> advancing in 10 minute intervals is not available.-

The absence of these features makes A-B Erase editing extremely difficult.

I am extremely disappointed that important features like this would be eliminated in a new product. I assumed that purchasing another SONY DVD recorder would include previous features and other improvements. I believe the NEW RDR-HDC500 is inferior to the RDR-HXD870: the only improvement is that it has an HD tuner and more disc space.

Rated this product:

1.0

TerrySat 18/06/2011 - 02:13

Pros
EPG
Cons
Only 1 tuner

Go to the sony site or ring them.You need to get a download of your PC in some areas.I had the same problem.

Rated this product:

3.0

LindsayMon 25/04/2011 - 09:01

Pros
the picture clarity
Cons
the EPG Recording process

I have just purchased a Sony DVD Recorder HDC500.
When using the One Button Recording - Using the EPG, as per the manual, the DVD recorder starts OK, but then turns off whilst recording after approx. 6 minutes every time, and not at the end of the EPG program time ??
Can you help please ???

Rated this product:

2.5

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