Sony RDR-VXD655 Review:

Enhance your TV and movie watching with Sony RDR-VXD655 DVD and VHS Recorder Combo Unit. Seven VHS Recording speeds let you record up to 8 hours per tape. The Sony RDR-VXD655’s DVD deck lets you experience high picture-quality playback from a wide variety of formats. Progressive scan playback, HDMI Output and 720p/1080i upscaling from DVD/VCR deliver optimal picture quality. You can even control your DV and Digital8 camcorder for Editing via the i.LINK(R) interface. Set-Top Pass Through lets you watch Video on your Sony RDR-VXD655 even when the TV is off. The intuitive graphical interface makes Programming easy. Watch and record your favorite shows and films with this versatile, convenient and easy-to-use player. VHS & S-VHS (SQPB) playback 2-Way One-Touch Dubbing HDMI output 720p to 1080i upscaling 32-bit, 96 KHz Audio Digital-to-Analog Converter CD Playback for CD-DA, CD-R and CD-RW On-screen display Child lock for the Disc tray & parental controls for safety Dolby Digital and DTS Decoding playback Includes Remote Commander(R) Multi-Brand Remote Control.

With the conversion from analog to digital TV signals to be completed by 2009, I wanted to extend the life of my 5-year old analog set. I had read that some of the newer digital recorders have tuners in them, enabling them to function as the converter box that will eventually be required when the signal switch is complete. Moreover, the recorder will still be useful when the analog TV is replaced with a HDTV. Since I did not have a digital recorder, that would be another benefit.

The Sony RDR-VXD655 turned up during my search. Since my TV is a Sony, I thought it would be a good match. This Sony RDR-VXD655 DVD/VCR recorder combo also would enable me to get rid of my old tape player and save space.

The Sony RDR-VXD655 has exceeded my expectations. I had been receiving a very good quality picture with a modest roof-top antenna, but going digital really kicked the quality up a notch or two it terms of more accurate colors and picture sharpness. I am fortunate in that all of the local over-the-air signals come from the same direction, the transmission towers all being clustered on a high spot about 15 miles from my home. I do have an antenna rotator but do not have to touch it. I am receiving all the local stations with great quality plus some secondary channels the stations operate. With the resulting high quality of my TV picture, there is no reason to hurry into getting a high def.

Sony RDR-VXD655’s DVD and VCR recording and playback are accomplished easily, and there are several recording quality or duration choices. The unit handles Rewrite DVDs and I am using them much as one would use a hard drive. The Sony RDR-VXD655 recorder also provides for easy dubbing back and forth between tapes and disks. Editing recorded media is a bit slow using the remote to select letters from an on screen keyboard. This is a function that can more easily be done on a computer.

Setup was painless. A quick start guide is included. I do recommend spending a few bucks extra for an s-video hookup cable if your TV provides an input socket. If there is a downside, it is the remote control. The buttons seem to require much more pressure to activate them than the two older Sony remotes that I have. Consequently, I find it frequently necessary to give the remote control a second squeeze.

In sum, the Sony RDR-VXD655 works great for my needs.

—– By Pig Pen

Sony RDR-VXD655 Features

• Built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM Tuner
• HDMI Output with 720p/1080i Upscaling
• One-touch Dubbing from DV/D* Camcorder via iLINK port.
• 4-Head Hi-Fi VHS Video Cassette Recorder
• Flash Rewind - Rewinds a T-120 tape in about 60 seconds

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