Customer Reviews
Player freezes up 
2008-04-07
Player freezes up.
I purchased this player recorder for my wife at Best Buy.
She is very pleased with the recorder function and how easy it is to
convert VHS to DVD.
But, after about an hour or so of playing a DVD the player momentarily freezes up.
I tried different factory recorded DVDs.
I paid $50 for the best Buy warranty. I took it back to Best Buy for repair.
After They had it for 2 weeks they called us to inform us that they had to send it to Sony. 2 weeks after that we were informed that it was ready for us to pick up.
Best Buy said that Sony replaced the"Loader". We got it home, after being in repair for a month. The problem was still there! After playing a DVD for about an hour it intermittently locks up. I am very frustrated.
DVD in, VHS out 
2008-03-27
We have put our Sony RDR-VX555 Tunerless DVD Recorder/VHS Combo Player through its paces to make sure everything works... and it does! Finally a sleek, quiet and affordable unit will allow us to rid our home of boxes and boxes of VHS tapes. Now we can consolidate decades of clips and recorded programs into a DVD collection that will fit in a single 3-ring binder! We use the DVD-R for stuff we want to keep, and DVD+RW for recording programs to watch and then toss afterwards. No problems to report after this brief, initial period of use. Not sure if you can choose a significant image as a poster frame (the still image used as the icon in the play list) but that's something left to explore! We recommend this item!
Copy Overprotection! 2008-03-19
It seemed like a good idea. All I wanted was a quick way to make DVD's from my miniDV camera and transcribe a few VHS tapes. All is well if you don't edit any of the footage before trying to make a DVD. But if I import the footage to Vegas (a Sony product) on my PC, edit it and then try to feed to the RDR-VX555 I get a "can't copy-copyright protected material" message. It does not matter if I feed real time from the PC thru the camera port or record to the camera first and then try to make a DVD. A call to Sony support was a waste as I was told that as long as I edited the material, it would give me the error. When I complained that that was a lousy way to design a product they hung up on me. I guess it transcribes VHS tapes OK but I have lost my enthusiasm to try.
The one to buy! 2008-03-17
We wanted a quality machine to transfer tape to DVD, play tape and DVD via HDMI and didn't need to record from TV. We tried a Panasonic machine that didn't work and was confusing to operate and bought this one after sending the other one back. This fits the bill perfectly.
Interruptions Spoil Playback 2008-03-06
Sony is my favorite television, but this VCR has great trouble playing back DVDs, be they a brand new Planet Earth set or Netflix rentals. After three months, we are going to buy a new VCR.
TOO complicated for anyone but a pro 2008-07-06
I bought this to transfer VHS tapes to DVD. That function works well when it works HOWEVER it reads any interference or tracking issues on the original tape as copyright protection and won't record-- way too sensitive to that. The hook-up and set-up are a NIGHTMARE, and I have hooked up many VCRs, DVD player, stereo system,etc. This one is totally convoluted. The hookup to record from a TV broadcast is so complicated I won't even attempt it. Even the basic set up required help from phone tech support, which is also unsatisfactory; the first-tier personnel know NOTHING and when I had problems just told me the machine needed to be replaced when i fact, one setting needed to be changed. I had to get that info from a higher-level support person. Currently, I have to wait until their limited hours to speak to someone as somehow one setting is off and it wil not record at all-- I know and understand what needs to be changed but can't get that information frm the TERRIBLE manual nor from online support. Unless you are a video technology professional or really enjoy frustration, I recommend NOT buying this product. I have bought almost exclusively from SONY for at least 25 years, and ignored the negative comments from reviews like this one when I purchased the recorder. Hopefuly you won't repeat my mistake. I love my other SONY products but this one has been a major disappointment.
This is the biggest piece of garbage Sony has made ZERO STARS 2008-06-26
We purchased this product for about $200. All we wanted was something to convert our home videos to DVD's. We didn't want or need anything fancy, had no interest in recording TV to DVD - we don't watch much TV anyway, and all of our commercial VHS Tapes were converted to DVD a long time ago.
It was about a month old when the disc drawer wouldn't close. We sent it back for $12.00 and got it back about 2 weeks later. We tried it out and it seemed to work fine. Our project to convert our VHS library was put on hold due to other priorities.
Now, here we are - I've burned 5 - FIVE - DVD's and now it won't take another recordable DVD. I put a commercial DVD in, and it says disc error - DVD cannot be played nor recorded.
I'm in for a fight with Sony.
Great VHS to DVD Recorder 
2008-05-24
I am completely satisfied with the ease and function of this VCR/DVD Combo Recorder. I have already transfered most of my VHS recordings to DVD and it couldn't have been easier. The Sony RDR-VX555 automaticly senses the different recording segments and places an index on the DVD. It is so easy to find special recorded segments for quick and easy access to desired recordings. The quality of the picture to my HD Monitor allows me to watch great quality picture of older pre-recorded VHS movies and standard DVD's I can give my BluRay player a rest.
The only thing I wish I could do is a high speed dubbing capability. This would speed up the process of re-recording my VHS copies to DVD.
most channels are copy right protected 2008-05-23
Sony RDRVX555 is no longer a useful product because the broadcast industry is inserting the copy-right signal on most of there channels.
Do not place your vhs tapes in this machine 2008-05-03
I purchased the VX555 yesterday at Sams club. I recorded from one VHS tape to a DVD. The DVD turned out to record only a portion of the vhs tape, but more importantly, the machine erased a good portion of the tape that I have had for 15 years. It tried it with another tape that I didnt care about and the same thing happened. The tapes played with no problem before and now the memories I had are gone, thanks to this piece of crap machine. I am no stranger to electronics either. With all the other bad reviews that are listed here, I can only add that you are taking a chance sticking one of your vhs tapes in this machine. Do so at your own risk. I only wish I would have known about this problem. Ths machine is going back to Sams today. No more Sony for me.
