I'm very happy with the RDR-HXD710 - it's a very neat machine. However, I have now noticed a major flaw that MAY be down to my machine being faulty.

Recordings made directly to the Hard Disk look superb and I couldn't be happier with the quality. However, I have noticed that there seems to be a problem with DVD recordings.

When I record straight to DVD in HQ/HSP/SP - haven't tried any other modes yet (I have used both DVD+RW and DVD+R discs) - the recorded programmes look excellent when I play them back on the RDR-HXD710.

However, when I put the same disc in another DVD player (I have tried three different players) and play back the recording, it looks awful. The picture looks all washed out and somewhat noisy. The same happens when I dub a recorded programme from the Hard Disc to a DVD - using the high quality recording modes.

I bought my player last week from 121 in the UK. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Before the RDR-HXD710 I used a Philips DVD Recorder and any discs played back on my normal players would look just fine.

The DVD+R I record on is a TDK disc - 1–4X speed

The DVD+RW is a Philips one - 1–4X speed

When I record straight to DVD I use the highest quality setting.

When I dub from HDD to DVD it's a single title recorded in HQ mode and dubbed to DVD in HQ mode - not a combination of titles!

I use Verbatim discs which in all formats +/- I have found to work very well with this machine.

Firstly try some different disks. If its the same then I suspect its duff as even in SP mode my recordings to +RW discs are good quality on any machine.

Another idea to satisfy your curiosity is to go to a Sony centre or Comet where they have a machine set up and ask for a demo

Same problem. The quality is really bad when played back on another player.

I have just recored from video to DVD on my sony HXD910 useing HP DVD+RW X4 and recordings are as good as the originl so it sounds like there maybe a problem with your box or your leads

Damn it Is the HXD910 pretty much the same as the HXD710?

Yes + its got the MDMI upgrader which im not useing as i havent a HDTV yet

A friend of mine also bought the RDR-HXD710 so I went round to his with the discs to see if they played fine on his recorder. As expected, when played on his 710, the quality is perfect.

I then took a blank DVD+R disc, recorded straight onto it in HQ mode, played it back on another player and the same thing happened...the quality of the recording played on another DVD player is awful. Surely, two machines can't be faulty? There must be another reason for this problem.

Any ideas?

alan.w - When you recorded straight onto disc, did you play the disc in another DVD player or the 910? I only have this problem when I play the disc in another player. When played in the 710 it looks just fine.

One more thing, I bought the multi region version of this recorder. I wonder if this may have something to do with the problem. Maybe they did something to the recorder when they converted it. My mate also has the multi region version....

mine is multi-region and its fine.(see my post above)

I played it back on the PC and was ok mine is also a the multi region version, it would be worth trying to record something on your freinds box and see if playback is same when played on yours, It could still be your connections

Yeah, just tried that. When I play the recorded disc in my 710 it looks perfect - just like it did on his 710. However, played in my standard Sony player and on my Mac it looks terrible.

No idea how I can solve this. I mean, I could understand it if I had dubbed something from a linked player to my 710 - it could be my connection, but even programmes recorded onto the hard disc from the built in freeview tuner, dubbed to a DVD+R and then played on another player just look awful.
Last edited by happyland : 07-12-2005 at 20:45

If you have tryed difront leads on ruled out interfenence, I would start thinking about returning it as defective

I've duded stuff to dvd-rw and dvd+rw they play fine in my standalone dvd player picture is great i'm using a really crappy scart cable with the player so can't see why your having so much trouble.

Thanks for your help. Looks like the recorder is faulty. I thought it had to be something else since my mate's recorder was having exactly the same problem. So, it seems they are both faulty.

We both got them from the same supplier 121electrics in the UK. The recorders are less than two weeks old but according to 121's returns policy they will only repair them and we will have to pay to return the recorders back to them. Ah, the drawbacks of ordering online.

Thanks again!

If you bought them on a credit card speak with the card company on that one

could you tell me how you connected your vcr in to your set up, my vcr has no svideo. thanks!

Recordings are working ok when viewed on another player.

I have scart from videos 2nd connection (1st goes to Tv) the scart from the 2nd scart on video connects to the the line 3 scart on sony box, then select L3 input under flap to record