JVC Super VHS VCR - Black Finish - HRS3902U

Comments about JVC Super VHS VCR - Black Finish:

This is the third JVC VCR I've purchased. The other two are both over eight years old. One was given away to a relative, and the other one is still in use. That settles the question of durability and reliability. The picture reproduction of this unit on EP speed is the best yet, and doesn't have the usual "over-colored" images you normally get with recordings on this speed. It is excellent when calibrating playback on tapes recorded with other manufacturer's machines. It also contains all the bells and whistles you could want, from multiple play-back speeds to timed, "commercial-skipping" fast forward intervals. The Super- VHS capability is impressive, and on the SP setting approaches original TV imagery. However, you need to record on Super-VHS tapes, and connect to your TV using an S-VHS cable to get the full effect. Buying any VCR solely for Super-VHS capability is questionable nowadays. Super-VHS blank tapes are normally two to three times as expensive as regular tapes, and are worth the money only if you plan on recording a movie from the TV to save for future playback. However, with DVD prices at an all time low, you're better off buying movies on that medium where you also get a bunch of extras, and don't have to go half crazy trying to edit out commercials. For simply recording TV shows that you will play back once, then discard, Super-VHS is hardly worth the cost. Still, if you already possess an HD-capable TV - and wish to record an HD broadcast, Super-VHS is the closest way to reproduce it. JVC DOES offer somewhat of a compromise. Super-VHS tapes are longer than normal cartridges because more tape needs to be used to digitize the more detailed images. If you use regular VHS tapes to record in Super-VHS mode, you will find yourself short if trying to stack two movies on SP speed, or three movies on EP. This unit, however, offers a third alternative - an "ET" speed, which spins at about the same rate as EP, allowing you to record in Super-VHS mode using normal tapes. Obviously, the visual quality of tapes made in this manner won't be as crisp as it would using Super-VHS tape. Turning to the remote, JVC is about the only manufacturer left that does not offer "1-touch" recording from the remote. You have to hold the "record" button down while pushing "play" at the same time. Many people consider this an inconvenience, but in my experience, it has saved me from mistakenly erasing footage in the past. The one feature - or lack of - that I consider inconvenient is the inability to provide the extended recording timer function from the remote. If you are currently recording a program, and you want the unit to stop automatically after the program is over, you must push the "record" button ON THE VCR PANEL. Each "push" adds 30 minutes of recording time before shut-off. Aside from that, I would say that this VCR is a fine addition to the entertainment center of any home.

Comments about JVC Super VHS VCR - Black Finish:

I love that it is so quite when it starts recording.

Comments about JVC Super VHS VCR - Black Finish:

Good picture quality in S-VHS format without the S-VHS tape!