Looking for new VCR. Any suggestions?

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M

MWink

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,642
1
76
I've decided that I want to get a new VCR. I currently have a 6 year old (my god, it's been 6 years! :Q ) Panasonic and it just doesn't have enough features. Other than that I'm very happy with it. I was thinking of getting another Panasonic as they used to have a good reputation and I like them but the reviews I have seen of their new VCR's has me scared. It seems like a lot of people are having trouble with their new VCR's. Don't tell me to just get a cheap one, etc. I want a pretty good quality one that will last. I intend to use it quite a bit (for recording in SLP/EP).

The features I'm looking for are:
HIFI stereo
4 head (I think all of them have that now)
Auto head cleaner (would be nice but not required)
hi speed rewind/fast forward
tape position detection (a MUST)
front AV inputs (would really be nice)
good picture quality in EP/SLP
good warranty
at least 5 even recording (though more would be nice)

So what do you think? I'm planning to spend up to $150 max. I would like a Panasonic but I guess I could settle for something else. I don't want Sony, Phillips, JVC, or Go Video. I would also like to hear personal experience with CURRENT VCR's.
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
For a dirt cheap name brand with decent features the JVC HR-A57U can be purchased at Sears, Walmart, Kmart... everywhere for $79.00.

IMO, for most bang for the buck, last year's model of the JVC HR-S4800 can't be beat. Current price is $169.95. Feature for feature, this one kicks ass up and down:
  • Super VHS record/play
  • Super VHS ET
  • HiFi stereo playback for Dolby Pro Logic surround sound in your home theater system
  • MTS stereo reception
  • Active Video Calibration
  • 4 video heads
  • crystal-clear still frame and slow motion
  • flying erase head
  • insert editing
  • audio dubbing
  • VCR Plus+
  • cable box/DBS timer control
  • glow-in-the-dark multibrand remote control (operates most TVs, cable boxes and DBS)
  • shuttle control on unit
  • front-panel A/V inputs (including S-video)
  • Auto SP/EP recording
I'm surprised it's still available, so grab it while you can!

Edit: Panasonic does make top notch commercial or Prosumer grade stuff, but that will cost a hell of a lot more than $150.00. In the price range you're looking at, they all use the same components slapped together in different mixes. I purchased the HR-S4800 and can vouch for the usability and picture quality. How long it can hold up is anybody's guess. Just a crap shoot no matter what brand you buy.
 
S

StandardCell

Senior member
Sep 2, 2001
312
0
0
I can say from my experience that Panasonic is the best. They have very solid products that are underrated IMO. Knowing people in the electronic service industry personally, they will tell you that you will not find a better overall brand for the dollar. And as for JVC, I know they are NOT the fastest in getting replacement parts out to their service dealers, nor the best in customer service.
 
Z

Zwingle

Golden Member
Jan 1, 2001
1,925
0
0
Check this weekend at Best Buy....lots of open box items.....I picked up 2 fairly decet Toshibas with the most of the specs you mentioned for $30 each....had to take one back though....wouldn't accept my tape....but they had lots to choose from up to $150
 
T

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
9,773
0
71
While I agree that there isn't an better overall electronics brand than Panasonic for the money, I have to say that I'm super happy with my Mitsubishi HS-U576. I don't know if it's still available anywhere. It was $130-140 (don't remember exactly) at Audio King.

Unfortunately, I saw the newer model that Mits was rolling out at the same price point and they seemed more impressive on paper but cheaper in person, mainly because the vacuum-fluorescent front display had been replaced with an LED display that showed a lot less information. The newer Mits wasn?t as heavy when I picked them both up. Just a caution.
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Honestly, the stuff you find at Sears and Circuit City is just junk, no matter which brand you get. None of it is worth repairing... ever!

I've got a Sony SL-HF900 SuperBeta purchased for $1,250.00 back in 1985. It still works great. I had to make one repair to it about 5 years ago and the $10.00 part was purchased locally. I also have a JVC HR-S5000U S-VHS purchased in 1988 for $850.00. These units are built like tanks. No comparison to what is being put out now in this low price range. Yeah, Panasonic still makes a quality deck like these:
  • AG-1980 S-VHS/VHS Hi-Fi Editing VCR
    U.S. List Price: $1,599.00

    • Full-field TBC

      Independent linear audio in/out

      Digital noise reduction

      3-D Y/C separation

      S-VHS with amorphous video heads

      Built-in digital time base corrector

      Hi-Fi stereo sound with Hi-Fi recording control

      Headphone monitor terminal with level volume control

      Frame-by-frame slow motion

      Mic input

      5-pin editing terminal for use with our AG-A96 editing controller

      Insert/assemble editing with flying erase head

      Jog/shuttle dial

      Auto head cleaning/quick response mechanism

      Digital tracking

      2-speed (SP/SLP) recording and 3-speed (SP/LP/SLP) playback

      Built-in MTS and SAP compatible

      181-channel TV tuner tape index/sound search system
Otherwise, these low priced VCRs are pretty much disposable. Find the features you want, at the price you want, from a name brand company and cross your fingers!
 
Gunbuster

Gunbuster

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
6,852
23
81
If you dont have a Tivo or ReplayTV get one, blows a VCR out of the water unless you are some kind of tape archiver otaku
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
VCRs are used for a lot more than time shifting. For less than $2.00 you can record 2 hrs of hi-fi sound with video to share home movies, accident scenes, insurance proof of property ownership, other VHS copies and how-to videos that can be shared and played by virtually everyone. And for only one or two hundred dollars! BFD!

Even DV images have to be transferred to something else to send to friends and relatives. There is no cheaper, compatible and available video media yet...
 
M

MWink

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,642
1
76
Well, I went shopping today and got the next to best Panasonic. I would have gotten the best one but I've heard some bad things about it, it was ugly, and the people at CC were total...(need I say more?). I have not had much time to play with it but so far I'm not at all impressed. The tuner seems to put out a less than good quality picture. When I opened it up (hey I'm a nerd) there was almost nothing inside it. It's a lot bigger than my old one and weighs about half as much. The design is also far worse than my old one. My biggest gripe is that everyone was right, the motor when rewinding/fast forwarding is loud as H3LL! This thing would easily silence even the best Delta. I wish they would have at least made it possible to slow it down so it is not as loud. My old one was virtually silent when rewinding/fast forwarding and was only slightly slower.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do. This thing has not at all impressed me. I'm not sure if I'll even try another new VCR if I don't keep this one. My old one may not have many features but it does work well.

BTW, I don't want a DVD as I already have a DVD-ROM in each computer. And, I don't want a PVR because I want to be able to use cheap video tapes.
 
T

tm37

Lifer
Jan 24, 2001
12,436
1
0
I would aviod BetaMAX!

I think that format is going to die for the home user!
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Return that one to Circuit City. Buy the JVC HR-S3900U at Best Buy and play with it for a week. If you like it, return it and buy the JVC HR-S4800 at Crutchfield for the same price. It gives you all the features of the newer S3900 plus the flying erase head and S-VHS input on the front panel. There are more differences, but you'll have to sort through them here:I was impressed with the way it handles the tape on rewind. It shows a progress bar onscreen and when it gets near the end, it slows down. I've been VERY happy with the features and performance, but I just don't know how long it's going to hold up. If it breaks after the warranty is over, I'll try and fix it myself. If I can't, I consider it disposable and it won't go to a repair shop.

Edit: Oh and tm37, don't get me started on Beta VS VHS. The Beta format was and is the superior format in every way. One inch beta is still used professionally today. It laid down the hi-fi sound in alternating stripes on the tape instead of layering it as VHS does. The resolution is higher, the tapes were smaller yet able to record 3 hours in the standard play mode VS VHS 2 hours. All I can say is, the same consumers that chose Japanese clone econobox cars over nice big Detroit cruisers also chose 6 hour VHS over 4.5 hour Beta. Never mind how uncomfortable and unsafe the cars were, or how grainy and poor sounding their tape copies are! :frown:
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
81


<< All I can say is, the same consumers that chose Japanese clone econobox cars over nice big Detroit cruisers also chose 6 hour VHS over 4.5 hour Beta >>


A little bias there, eh?
 
T

Tominator

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,559
1
0
Ornery

I also am a big BETA fan and have a working Beta Hi Fi...

I've had very good luck with every JVC product I've ever purchased and my VHS is a HS-3600U.
 
O

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
"A little bias there, eh?"

Heh, the consumer has spoken. My opinion is in the minority, but I WILL NOT waver! ;)

Yeah Tom, I was enjoying Hi-Fi stereo before JVC's VHS format even imagined it. VHS has come a LONG way since those first units. If I had it to do all over, I'd still pick Beta over VHS. I've still got plenty of tapes to record on here and this machine shows no signs of giving up the ghost. It's TV tuner has better stereo separation than most new TVs. It's got a single frame forward and reverse jog dial that can't be beat and the damn thing is 17 years old! SL-HF900 Front, Front Top, Left Front Controls, Editing Controls

Beta Gallery including SL-HF900 Geocities shots
 
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