SVHS VCR $90

[mikeford]

DVD has kind of made the VCR obsolete, but I want to buy one last pretty good quality VCR for all my existing tapes etc. So far what looks best/cheapest are the JVC HR-S29U that Fleabay and a couple discounters are clearancing for $90.

Key features on the HR-S29U are; svhs-et (records svhs on regular tape, auto clock setting, and key for my use SVHS ins and outs. I am edging towards one of the Fleabay dealers with new in box units that happen to be local to me (Orange county CA), any opinions?

 

[Ionizer]

What's a VCR?






Btw: the movie on ur town was C+ at best, hehe

 

[WageSlave]

hmmmm...... vhs.... I think my grandpa has a vcr

 

[jaykay]

mikeford

The VCR Model you'd listed (JVC HR-S29U) doesn't support S-VHS.

 

[Vette73]

I think you are right, the 29 does not record in SVHS, it just plays SVHS tapes(just not in the same quality)

If you want a good VCR then either get a TRUE JVC SVHS, or a toshiba 6-head VCR.
Both of these record and play back very well

 

[Fritzo]

I know the model you're talking about. It has an SVideo output, but it doesn't really output true SVideo quality (I read the specs and it's like a built in RCA to SVideo adapter). I just got a Toshiba VCR from Fleabay (was a new return from Costco..he had like 100 of them) for $99 that's a 6 head, jog shuttle, and has an SVideo input + output (VERY handy for hooking up the DVD player...only need one video cable and one receiver input for both devices!) Anyway, HQ VHS is actually higher res than DVD, but DVD has better audio and is more compact, so it's a tradeoff.

VCR's are still very useful....don't knock them too much

 

[John P]

I actually bought a JVC SVHS VCR to record tapes to send my parents recorded with my Canon ZR30MC. However, after comparing the tapes to tapes recorded on a Panasonic VHS VCR I could not tell that big a difference so I brought it back. If I could find a SVHS VCR for less than $100 I might reconsider. Also remember that if you are sending a SVHS tape to someone they need to have a SVHS VCR or have a VCR that supports Super VHS Quasi playback.

If anyone is wondering VHS supports 240 lines of resolution, SVHS 400, and DVD 500. I think my ZR30MC records at 520 lines of resolution.
GetPlugged.com


Also, for all you rocket scientists who are knocking VCR's. How do you record and send home videos to your relatives? Do you all have DVD burners and all your relatives own DVD players that support recorded DVD's?? I have been messing around and have succesfully produced a couple of SVCD's using Pinnacle Express, but I still need to work on the bitrate and all that stuff (still haven't quite figured out how to use TMPGEnc yet) to fit an hour on one CDR.

 

[IgorTs]

What 6 heads? since when we start to count audio heads separately?
Any hi-fi stereo VCR with four heads has additional 2 audio(stereo) heads., also erase head and another for apply hi freq. current for recording.
SO it's 8 head VCR? yes. it is, but we count video heads!

 

[ortega]

Fritzo,

What model toshiba did you pick up with the s-video out?

Regards,
Ort

 

[mikeford]

The only VCR my local Costco still carries are the VCR/TV combo things. Shopped Fry's and nothing less than about $200 was SVHS and none of those had the SVHS-ET mode which does SVHS on plain VHS tape.

JVC HR-S29U manual in .pdf
It has both SVHS INs and OUTs, and records and plays both VHS and SVHS tapes, plus it will record SVHS-ET on plain VHS tape and VHS on SVHS tape if you want. SVHS-ET only works on compatible VCRs.

The only downside I see with this model is that its cheap, ala $130 retail, with a 90 day labor, 1 year parts warranty. Thats OK with me, I don't want to spend much. This unit may be the same as the HR-2900, but I don't know any details.
If I end up with one, maybe I will post back my opinion.

 

[mikeford]

This model DOES record in SVHS, in case my post didn't make that clear. What might be confusing the earlier poster is the ability to record SVHS quality* on plain VHS tapes.

 

[m0ssie]

I have a JVC 7600 model SVHS model and the difference in quality compared to VHS is real obvious. I can't hardly tell the difference between watching a recording and the original. 400 lines of resolution for SVHS, compared to 240 lines for VHS is not much of a comparision. I have replayTV that I use mostly for recording now, but if I have a recording I want to keep longterm the VCR has its place, especially with dvd recorders still costing $1000, and the media $8 a piece. Until DVD recorders get down to $300-$400 with media $1-$2, my VCR will occupy a shelf on my entertainment center.

 

[SpdRacer]

Was just at the local Costco and they have the JVC HR-S29U for $119.99. If anyone is interested I wiil try to get the Costco product number.

 

[XFreebie]

what is SVHS?
what is quasi-VHS?

why cant my Sharp VCR playback quasi-VHS when the box says it can?
why cant my vcr record any channels above channel 10?

 

[mikeford]

SVHS vs VHS is like SVGA vs VGA, more pixels of information, as a previous poster says "400 lines of resolution for SVHS, compared to 240 lines for VHS". The picture quality is about twice as good.

Quasi SVHS means it doesn't record SVHS, but can playback a SVHS tape (but only with VHS quality).

Why your Sharp doesn't playback in the Quasi svhs mode, is likely the same as why it won't record over channel 10. RTFM

 

[XFreebie]

darn, looks like i need a tivo or something

 

[Spyboy]

Guys, I hang out on Home Theater forums and the low end JVC machines get a lot of complaints. They are so light the machine moves when handling tape. Also seems to be too many quality control issues. Generally those threads end up saying something like, "skip the 3800 series but the 7800 series is ok. Good Luck.

 

[mikeford]

Life is tough for a bottom feeder, but sometimes cheap is a high priority. Below $150 there just isn't much available in SVHS, and with these JVC HR-S29U going with a warranty (not much of one), its a big step to the next model. I am kind of doubting the smarts of buying the bottom of the line. Best price I see on the 7800 is $199, which is more than I want to spend on dead technology.

Bad as it sounds I think I will take a chance with one of these open box $90 specials.

 

[SirDante]

Get the Philips VR1010BPH S-VHS VCR for $120 at onecall.com. ($14 S/H, came in a huge box, double boxed)

My POS JVC 9600 kept eating or spitting tapes so I bought this as a replacement and it's great. Nice and HEAVY.

Supposedly it's a JVC clone and it has many options. I think more then the vcr the OP is trying to sell. YMMV.

 

[VisionsUCI]

I'm glad that there is so much discussion and support for your thread. however, i really don't see the hot deal... you might want to post this in another forum, or provide links. ebay isn't exactly favorably viewed in the hot deals forum.

 

[drooth]

I am considering going for the Philips VR1010.

Can someone recommend a good website for reading VCR reviews of this (and other) models?

Thanks!

 

[mikeford]

After sitting on the fence for a month or so, I decided to buy one of the $90 open box JVC HR-S29U vcrs, and while it is very light weight, it seems to work just great. There must be better units, but it seems like the next step is double the money (no I don't consider the $135 to $175 stuff as a step up, just a different model in the same basic class). Anyway about $100 is all I am willing to spend on a VCR at the tail end of there use.