Good, but with flaws
Written: May 27 '01 (Updated May 30 '01)
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Pros: Fantastic copies. Easy to use. Great remote.
Cons: Terrible stamina. Audio and video noise will occur after a few months of heavy use.
The Bottom Line: Plan on sending it in for service every six months. Prior to that, it will be the best VCR you've ever owned.
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| songlife's Full Review: Rio Go Video DDV9755 Dual Deck VCR |
I've owned three different models of the Go-Video dual-decks: the 9490, 9755, and 9750. The latter two are their top of the line models, although the 9750 is out of production. I've had the same problems with ALL of them. After each was used (heavily) for a few months, almost exclusively for making copies from one deck to the other, I noticed the following:
1) the picture quality degrades over time on copies. Slow process, but substantial loss of quality after a few months.
2) static noise and video garbage will eventually find it's way into one deck and/or the other turning future copies into instant garbage. Sometimes it's the recording head, sometimes the playback head, or as it is right now on the 9755, both. The deck is only 5 months old and is now useless for tape dubbing. This has happened on all three units. Obviously, Sensory Science's claims of lengthened performance of their "duraheads" is not true.
3) it rewinds noticably slower.
4) on the 9750, after 6 months, both heads gave out. Even after regular and professional cleaning, both decks added noise and unwanted artifacts to copies.
All the VCR's have worked well out of the box, but if you plan on doing a lot of dubbing (and why else would you get a Go Video, after all), plan on 6 months of use or less before the deck requires servicing. After 3 models, I feel qualified to say that these VCR's do NOT stand up to heavy usage, especially when dubbing.
However, (while they work), they are outstanding for making professional copies. Hooking up two standard VCR's together with a bunch of cords, as most people do for copying, usually makes for a far lesser quality copy than does a Go Video. The deck-to-deck copies are, for all intents and purposes, absolute duplicates of the originals. I would never use anything other than a Go-Video to make a vhs copy, this is why I continue to endure the crap I've had to deal with, than string up two standard VCR's and have lousy quality.
Other stuff to consider: lesser models like the 9490, costing $200 and up, have no S-Video inputs or outputs. This is ridiculous; for that much money, you should get at least an S-video out. And the higher-end models only have S-video in! No S-Video out to your TV or PC! Instead of an S-video out, they put a "Go port", which requires a scamware purchase of $100 to simply add onscreen VCR controls to your PC. Horrible decision and total scam.
The higher models also have "Q sound", which is okay, but is too phony an effect to make any audiophiles happy. It expands the sound from two speakers, but is already an outdated technology. However, Q sound is better than the standard, fake surround sound most VCR's offer. If you are just using TV speakers to listen, Q sound should be fine. You can't record with it though, nor would you want to.
The remote is excellent; all the features you want are there, including remote tape eject, which is VERY handy. Higher end models have a jog dial for small tape adjustments; I never used it. The 9755 also has a flying fifth head on the second deck; again, I never found a practical use for this feature. It just boosts the price, essentially. Video extremists may find a use for it.
One thing about the units, except for the 9750 which is out of production now, is that all of them have circuitry built in to prevent making copies of copyrighted tapes. Go-Video had to do this because of a law that went into effect last year, but they didn't do it right. Often, the recording deck will refuse to copy a tape that doesn't even have protection, like something you taped from TV. This is annoying as hell. Sometimes you can't even copy your own self-made tapes. A store bought tape of a movie - now that I can understand; it's protected. But a previously blank tape with TV stuff on it? You should be able to copy that. Two calls to Sensory Science's tech line ended up with the techs saying "um, uh" and having no explanation. This is a common problem with their tech support - they aren't very helpful on technical matters. (The 9750 has no copyright protection and will copy ANYTHING).
I decided to send the units in to Sensory for repair. I spoke with "Andre", who seemed very shady. First, he tried to talk me out of sending the units back for repair; he claimed Sensory "no longer did repairs", and that some local places near me would service it instead. I told him he was wrong - I already checked with those places (they won't touch Go-Video stuff, including Radio Shack.) I said "ARE YOU TELLING ME THE MANUFACTURER WON'T SERVICE THEIR OWN UNITS?!" Then he said he would "do me a favor" and accept the units for repair. He was in a MAJOR hurry to get my credit card number. He informed me it would be $99 PER UNIT just to look at them, plus shipping costs both ways (they're very heavy units). And I would have to pay for parts (which would be replacement heads). I might as well buy a new unit! I told him "no thanks" and took the units into a local electronics repair store, who aren't authorized for warranty repair, but I would rather do that than pay Sensory's outrageous repair price on faulty units. Folks, you can tell that I like the Go-Video units a lot, but I have to tell you, Sensory Science is running a scam, big time. The units are too expensive, have a short life, and they're getting rich on repairs. They will do anything to get your money - anything. I won't say the units are poorly made, but their tape heads are EXTREMELY sensitive, and wear down faster than any I've ever seen. I recommend it ONLY if you need the best quality copies.
In conclusion, here are some tips: Nothing makes a better copy than Go Video machines, BUT, the units have absolutely terrible stamina and endurance. Also, NEVER use a wet-type cleaner in the VCR's (despite what the techs tell you) or you'll immediately have audio noise if you put even one drop too much of cleaning fluid. And never, ever buy a used Go-Video VCR. I can only recommend buying one of these if it's new, and if you don't plan to do a LOT of copying like I do. In that case, the unit is great.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 400
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Epinions.com ID:
songlife
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 1 member
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