- 250GB Hard Disk Drive
- Integrated digital & analogue tuner
- On Screen Programme Guide with Silent Download
- BRAVIA Sync
- Photo TV HD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical Details
Product details
|
Related Items
- Most Popular
- Audio & Video Cables
- TVs
- Blank Media
Product Description
Manufacturer's Description
The Sony DC205 Freeview+ DVD Recorder revolutionises the way you enjoy home entertainment, giving you the convenience to watch what you want, when you want. With a 250GB Hard Disc Drive (HDD) you can record and store up to 425 hours of high quality video easily. A simple to use 8-day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) lets you plan your viewing and set recording times without fuss. The integrated Freeview+ DVB tuner gives you access to up to 50 free-to-air digital TV channels as well as 24 digital radio stations. Watching DVDs on the DC205 is equally rewarding, with Precision Cinema HD upscale technology from Sony for stunning picture quality. You can also playback your HD photos from your Sony HD camera, or play back music and home movies.
 Plan your week's viewing using the electronic programme guide and use the new Easy Recording function to record a whole series at the touch of a button. | Watch your favourite programmes whenever Today there are more TV stations than ever and not enough time to watch everything. Take control with HDD recording, a convenient way to enjoy your favourite home entertainment when you want to. Now you can plan your week’s viewing in advance, record the programmes you don’t want to miss directly to HDD and watch them at your leisure. Large capacity to record and store Integrated digital tuner Easy to use menu |
High quality direct recording
The DC205 boasts loss-less recording which means picture quality is maintained at the same level as that broadcast. This is made possible by recording the broadcasting stream directly to the hard disk, avoiding the MPEG decoding / encoding traditionally used by many DVD recorders. The result is a picture that always looks as good as the original broadcast.
Multi-format compatibility
The DC205 is compatible with an array of formats, giving you the ultimate in flexibility and choice. Playback compatibility includes DVD-R/RW/+R/RW and HDD. It also supports the DivX format so you can playback content from the internet on CD or DVD, plus HD photo playback. You can record straight to the internal HDD or on to DVD- R/RW/+R/RW.
| Get connected The DC205 offers a digital HDMI output socket for easy, high quality connection to your TV. Two SCART sockets allow you to connect with a variety of other devices, whilst the USB connection allows you to browse, transfer and play back music, photos or video content from a memory stick. With a single touch full contents from a Sony HDD CAM can also be downloaded to the hard drive – ready for viewing on a connected TV or for transferring to DVD. Bring out the best in your DVDs In addition, Precision Cinema HD Upscale technology generates each pixel correctly according to information received from the original source, whether film or broadcast and whether the pixel is in motion or still. |  An HDMI output means DVDs and HD photos will look stunning on your TV, plus you can use BRAVIA Sync to control the recorder and your BRAVIA TV with just one remote. |
One touch playback with BRAVIA Sync
Take the hassle out of settling down for an evening’s entertainment - simply do it all with one remote control. Hook up your Sony LCD TV via HDMI with BRAVIA Sync and you’ll find a variety of operations are possible using just one button. Just push the Playback button to turn on the TV and the recorder and it will automatically switch to the HDMI input and play content from the hard drive or from DVD. When the TV power is turned off with the remote, the recorder is turned off as well.
Low power consumption helps the environment
High performance doesn’t come at the expense of the environment with the DC205. Even though its start up speed is less than 5 seconds it has an eco-friendly standby power consumption of less than 1W.
Pause Live TV
Don’t want to miss a moment of the action? The DC205 lets you pause the action on your favourite TV shows, movies or live sports, then pick up where you left off. With Simultaneous Record and Playback, you can also watch one show and record another, making sure that you never miss you favourite shows when they clash.
Photo TV HD
PhotoTV HD allows you to connect PhotoTV HD-compatible devices from Sony and see your photos in HD resolution. It brings your images to life with amazingly detailed textures and colours.
Product Description
Product Features
250GB HDD
Freeview+ Tuner
DVD/-R/-RW/+R/+RW Play & Record
USB Playback
71.5mm x 430mm x 258mm
250GB Hard Disk Drive
Integrated digital & analogue tuner
On Screen Programme Guide with Silent Download
BRAVIA Sync
Photo TV HD
TECHNICAL DETAILS
General Data
Colour: Black
Region Code: 2
DVD-Recorder Type: Hard Disk Drive DVD Recorder
Tuner
Digital Terrestrial Tuner
Analogue Terrestrial Tuner
Recording Formats
- R (Video)
- R (VR)
+ R
- RW
+ RW
- R (Video) Dual Layer
- R (VR) Dual Layer
+ R Double Layer
Playback Formats
DVD-RAM
- R (Video)
- R (VR)
+ R
- RW
+ RW
- R (Video) Dual Layer
- R (VR) Dual Layer
+ R Double Layer
CD-R
CD-RW
CD-DA
VCD
Super VCD
JPEG
MP3: DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW. DVD-RAM. CD-R/-RW. USB. HDD
DIVX: DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW. DVD-RAM. CD-R/-RW. USB
Recording and Timing
Max. recording time: 425 hours
One touch timer
Live TV Pause
Series recording
Digital Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
Max. Recording Reservation Events: 32 per month
Playback and Convenience
Repeat
Fast Playback
Chasing Playback
Simultaneous Recording and Playback
Bravia Theatre Sync.
Editing and Content Hub
Automatic Chaptering from DV/D8 Camcorder
JPEG Viewing: DVD-R/-RW. CD-R/-RW / HDD / USB
JPEG storage on HDD
JPEG Slide Show
JPEG Slide Show (with Jukebox Music)
JPEG copy on DVD
MP3 Jukebox
Picture and Audio Quality
Video D/A Converter: 10bit/27MHz
Progressive Output
1080p Up Scaling
Inputs
Composite Video: 1 x front
S-Video: 1 x front
Audio Input (L/R): 1 x front
i.LINK(DV) Input
Outputs
Composite Video (CVBS): 1 x rear
250GB HDD
Freeview+ Tuner
DVD/-R/-RW/+R/+RW Play & Record
USB Playback
71.5mm x 430mm x 258mm
250GB Hard Disk Drive
Integrated digital & analogue tuner
On Screen Programme Guide with Silent Download
BRAVIA Sync
Photo TV HD
TECHNICAL DETAILS
General Data
Colour: Black
Region Code: 2
DVD-Recorder Type: Hard Disk Drive DVD Recorder
Tuner
Digital Terrestrial Tuner
Analogue Terrestrial Tuner
Recording Formats
- R (Video)
- R (VR)
+ R
- RW
+ RW
- R (Video) Dual Layer
- R (VR) Dual Layer
+ R Double Layer
Playback Formats
DVD-RAM
- R (Video)
- R (VR)
+ R
- RW
+ RW
- R (Video) Dual Layer
- R (VR) Dual Layer
+ R Double Layer
CD-R
CD-RW
CD-DA
VCD
Super VCD
JPEG
MP3: DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW. DVD-RAM. CD-R/-RW. USB. HDD
DIVX: DVD+R/+RW/-R/-RW. DVD-RAM. CD-R/-RW. USB
Recording and Timing
Max. recording time: 425 hours
One touch timer
Live TV Pause
Series recording
Digital Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
Max. Recording Reservation Events: 32 per month
Playback and Convenience
Repeat
Fast Playback
Chasing Playback
Simultaneous Recording and Playback
Bravia Theatre Sync.
Editing and Content Hub
Automatic Chaptering from DV/D8 Camcorder
JPEG Viewing: DVD-R/-RW. CD-R/-RW / HDD / USB
JPEG storage on HDD
JPEG Slide Show
JPEG Slide Show (with Jukebox Music)
JPEG copy on DVD
MP3 Jukebox
Picture and Audio Quality
Video D/A Converter: 10bit/27MHz
Progressive Output
1080p Up Scaling
Inputs
Composite Video: 1 x front
S-Video: 1 x front
Audio Input (L/R): 1 x front
i.LINK(DV) Input
Outputs
Composite Video (CVBS): 1 x rear
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 51 people found the following review helpful
This would be a superb product but for one simple fault! When replaying HDD recordings and time delayed recordings they freeze, skip and jump sometimes as much as 5 to 6 times an hour. Tried retuning, reset, the works live TV is a beautiful upscaled picture and so is playing back DVD's, but all the recordings we have are unwatchable. Returned the first device for a replacement, but that had the same problem from the outset, returning that for a refund. Contacted Sony support, only got an automated reply, no further response. The Sony website wants you to download new fimware to your PC, burn a CD and reflash the product. But the disclaimer agreement you have to agree to prior to doing this absolves them of any responsibility if an additional fault develops. In a product less than a week old this is simply not acceptable. We expected better of Sony.
203 of 206 people found the following review helpful
I bought this to replace a Sony RDR-HXD560 which had decided to stop playing DVDs. Whilst I wasn't too pleased that the RDR-HXD560 had failed within 3 years of purchase, I was generally pleased with it as a HDD recorder, and hoped that the newer model would share it's user-friendly interface and features, as well as maybe bringing some new ones along to make life easier.
How wrong could I be.
I wish the more recent reviews had been available prior to my purchase - I wouldn't have bought it if they had! I'll try and list all the things I'm not happy with on the machine...
1). Only possible to record direct to the HDD. If you want a copy on DVD you have to then transfer it from the HDD to a DVD afterwards. On the face of it, not too much of a problem as most people would want to edit out the adverts etc, but the real problem is that dubbing is done in real-time and, whilst it's being done, you can't use the recorder for anything else. So, realistically, it has to be set to do it as you leave for work in the morning, or overnight (provided you have nothing to record whilst it's doing so).
2). The electronic programme guide defaults to "guideplus" which is half taken up with adverts. You can choose "freeview+" in the setup, but those less familiar with such things would take an age to find it.
3). As most people are aware, the channel order on freeview is pretty random. I, like I imagine most others, choose to rearrange them into a more convenient order - and to block out the rubbish like QVC, shopping etc. With this unit, as soon as you turn it off, it re-arranges the channels back into their original order! How pointless!
4). When playing DVDs, if you stop part way through a film (to see to the baby, make a cup of tea or whatever) it doesn't remember the place and "resume". You have to start again from the beginning, trawl all the way through the trailers and copyright guff, and remember where you were to start again. Rubbish. Even the £14.99 dvd player I bought from the local supermarket has a "resume" feature!
5). I have had problems with the HDD recordings skipping and freezing. A 2 hour film was reduced to an unwatchable 1hr 50mins. The same problem occured when trying to dub onto a dvd - 1 hour of cartoons filled a dvd without finishing due to the freezing and skipping.
6). Fast-forward and rewind functions are hard to control - the rewind particularly, as it has no 1x function (at least it says 1x, but it jumps back 10 or more seconds at a time. This is particularly annoying when editing a recording prior to copying it to a dvd.
7). It's very slow to power up, and to turn itself off. This is particulary annoying if you turn it off in error - or the baby does - as it takes a lifetime to get going again. Particularly if you're watching a dvd and have to start again from the beginning.
8). When viewing the recorded titles in the title list it plays a clip of both video and sound of whatever title you have highlighted - what's wrong with that? I hear you say... Well, as each title has it's name written down in front of you to read, it seems a bit superfluous. Add to that, most recordings start with a handful of adverts or the tail end of the previous programme, so you just get a snatch of the "go compare" advert or whatever. Highly distracting and, after a while, probably the most annoying feature of the machine. It appears to be impossible to pause or mute this playback and it drove me to distraction.
9). The fan is much noisier than on my earlier sony model.
On the "Plus" side, it gave a good picture - noticeably better with the HDMI cable making use of the 1080p upscaling - but that's about all I can say that was good about it.
I hope this helps anyone considering purchasing one of these machines. I have now returned mine and will be buying an alternative manufacturer's product.
Glen.
How wrong could I be.
I wish the more recent reviews had been available prior to my purchase - I wouldn't have bought it if they had! I'll try and list all the things I'm not happy with on the machine...
1). Only possible to record direct to the HDD. If you want a copy on DVD you have to then transfer it from the HDD to a DVD afterwards. On the face of it, not too much of a problem as most people would want to edit out the adverts etc, but the real problem is that dubbing is done in real-time and, whilst it's being done, you can't use the recorder for anything else. So, realistically, it has to be set to do it as you leave for work in the morning, or overnight (provided you have nothing to record whilst it's doing so).
2). The electronic programme guide defaults to "guideplus" which is half taken up with adverts. You can choose "freeview+" in the setup, but those less familiar with such things would take an age to find it.
3). As most people are aware, the channel order on freeview is pretty random. I, like I imagine most others, choose to rearrange them into a more convenient order - and to block out the rubbish like QVC, shopping etc. With this unit, as soon as you turn it off, it re-arranges the channels back into their original order! How pointless!
4). When playing DVDs, if you stop part way through a film (to see to the baby, make a cup of tea or whatever) it doesn't remember the place and "resume". You have to start again from the beginning, trawl all the way through the trailers and copyright guff, and remember where you were to start again. Rubbish. Even the £14.99 dvd player I bought from the local supermarket has a "resume" feature!
5). I have had problems with the HDD recordings skipping and freezing. A 2 hour film was reduced to an unwatchable 1hr 50mins. The same problem occured when trying to dub onto a dvd - 1 hour of cartoons filled a dvd without finishing due to the freezing and skipping.
6). Fast-forward and rewind functions are hard to control - the rewind particularly, as it has no 1x function (at least it says 1x, but it jumps back 10 or more seconds at a time. This is particularly annoying when editing a recording prior to copying it to a dvd.
7). It's very slow to power up, and to turn itself off. This is particulary annoying if you turn it off in error - or the baby does - as it takes a lifetime to get going again. Particularly if you're watching a dvd and have to start again from the beginning.
8). When viewing the recorded titles in the title list it plays a clip of both video and sound of whatever title you have highlighted - what's wrong with that? I hear you say... Well, as each title has it's name written down in front of you to read, it seems a bit superfluous. Add to that, most recordings start with a handful of adverts or the tail end of the previous programme, so you just get a snatch of the "go compare" advert or whatever. Highly distracting and, after a while, probably the most annoying feature of the machine. It appears to be impossible to pause or mute this playback and it drove me to distraction.
9). The fan is much noisier than on my earlier sony model.
On the "Plus" side, it gave a good picture - noticeably better with the HDMI cable making use of the 1080p upscaling - but that's about all I can say that was good about it.
I hope this helps anyone considering purchasing one of these machines. I have now returned mine and will be buying an alternative manufacturer's product.
Glen.
63 of 66 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
As an HDD recorder:
Pros - Excellent quality copy even at standard level (unless you are after something really special, don't bother with HQ it just uses up disk space)
Cons - Recording using a satellite box or similar is very time consuming - Why? On most other machines, one can use the internal programme guide to set up the advanced recording requirements then simply review what has been set up and change the source to the satellite box or other source, leaving the programme name etc intact. Using this machine, that is not an option. If using the built in digital/analogue TV as the source, one can use the programme guide. However, if one is using a satellite box it is necessary to set everything up by hand, including naming the programme, day, time etc. which makes it very time consuming. (I live in an area where digital TV signals are poor, so recording is always via a FreeSat box meaning that I spend ages on a Saturday morning, setting up for recording for the week)
As a DVD recorder
Pros - Good quality recordings
Cons - 1. It is only possible to record directly to the HDD. If one wishes to record to a DVD, that has to be done afterwards by recopying (oh, why do they insist on calling it 'Dubbing'?): in other words, you have to record it twice!!! Copying to a DVD can only be done at standard speed (no high-speed copying) so it's very time consuming
2. All the re-write DVD's I had were useless. This machine only allows DVD's formatted itself (I don't know if that applies to DVD's formatted on other Sony products) - Even more stupidly, DVD's formatted elsewhere cannot be re-formatted as the machine simply will not recognise them.
3. Once a re-write DVD is formatted on this machine, other manufacture's systems can read them (great) but cannot delete the programmes (very poor) so recording for someone else becomes a chore rather than a pleasure
4. Even poorer than that, even YOU cannot delete the recording (on the re-write DVD) using this machine, you can only reformat the disk which, again, is time consuming but worse still, reduces the life of the disk.
5. The default setting is to finalise the disk whether it be a record once or a re-write DVD. I only found this out after loosing a handful of expensive DVD+RW's
I am highly disappointed in this machine. I previously had 2 Panasonic HDD/DVD recorders (and still have one in use) and NONE of the above cons apply to those machines. Sony, you need to do much better than this, because I certainly will not buy an HDD/DVD recorder from you again
Pros - Excellent quality copy even at standard level (unless you are after something really special, don't bother with HQ it just uses up disk space)
Cons - Recording using a satellite box or similar is very time consuming - Why? On most other machines, one can use the internal programme guide to set up the advanced recording requirements then simply review what has been set up and change the source to the satellite box or other source, leaving the programme name etc intact. Using this machine, that is not an option. If using the built in digital/analogue TV as the source, one can use the programme guide. However, if one is using a satellite box it is necessary to set everything up by hand, including naming the programme, day, time etc. which makes it very time consuming. (I live in an area where digital TV signals are poor, so recording is always via a FreeSat box meaning that I spend ages on a Saturday morning, setting up for recording for the week)
As a DVD recorder
Pros - Good quality recordings
Cons - 1. It is only possible to record directly to the HDD. If one wishes to record to a DVD, that has to be done afterwards by recopying (oh, why do they insist on calling it 'Dubbing'?): in other words, you have to record it twice!!! Copying to a DVD can only be done at standard speed (no high-speed copying) so it's very time consuming
2. All the re-write DVD's I had were useless. This machine only allows DVD's formatted itself (I don't know if that applies to DVD's formatted on other Sony products) - Even more stupidly, DVD's formatted elsewhere cannot be re-formatted as the machine simply will not recognise them.
3. Once a re-write DVD is formatted on this machine, other manufacture's systems can read them (great) but cannot delete the programmes (very poor) so recording for someone else becomes a chore rather than a pleasure
4. Even poorer than that, even YOU cannot delete the recording (on the re-write DVD) using this machine, you can only reformat the disk which, again, is time consuming but worse still, reduces the life of the disk.
5. The default setting is to finalise the disk whether it be a record once or a re-write DVD. I only found this out after loosing a handful of expensive DVD+RW's
I am highly disappointed in this machine. I previously had 2 Panasonic HDD/DVD recorders (and still have one in use) and NONE of the above cons apply to those machines. Sony, you need to do much better than this, because I certainly will not buy an HDD/DVD recorder from you again
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Functional
It's a Ronseal - does what it says on the tin. Can't complain, all good really, although, if you turn it off via the remote it sometimes seems to freeze or lock and you have to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Soniclean
Awful machine...so frustrating
Before buying this machine I read some of the reviews. It wasn't getting a good write up but I decided to take the gamble because I thought, ' it can't be that bad as Sony is a... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Claire
Utter rubbish
Have the misfortune to own this piece of junk for 18months, has rarely worked properly for more than two days in a row! Read more
Published 10 months ago by pw
I'm glad i didn't take any notice of other reviews
I must admit I was more than a little concerned when I purchased this item as the majority of customer reviews were not that good. Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. Pickering
Disappointing for Sony
Gave up on it after 12 months. Very unreliable, switching on is a hit or a miss, sometimes no signal and it needs a mains re-boot. EPG slow. Not Sony standard.
Published 11 months ago by StuartTaylor
A step backwards by Sony
A step backwards by Sony. Very slow, quirky and not as easy to use as earlier superior but discontinued models. (This model is also discontinued.) Avoid at any price.
Published 12 months ago by A E H
Awful -- do not buy
I bought this because Sony are supposed to be a good name. I was disappointed for several reasons, some of which have been commented on already by other reviewers, but I would like... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Gary Polhill
Sony RDRDC205B Digital HDD DVD Recorder
Very disappointed, no where near as good as the last Sony HDD player that I purchased!
I wouldn't recommend it at all. Read more
I wouldn't recommend it at all. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Maggie
Sony RDRDC205B 250GB
This is the second of these items that I have purchased through Amazon and I am very pleased both with the item and also the speed of delivery.
Many thanks
Many thanks
Published 13 months ago by Ken Hanna
Waste of money
I completely agree with all that is said on here by Glen, I regrettably bought this piece of .... and upon first receipt of it (it was given as a present) it was found to jump... Read more
Published 14 months ago by J Mountford
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
