A New Meaning For High Tech
Written: Feb 22 '02
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Pros: Great picture quality, easy to program, excellent tracking,lots of cool features.
Cons: Setup for combination of satellite receiver and outside antenna difficult
The Bottom Line: Easy to setup and use, this VCR has features I've never seen on any VCR. And the price is right. Buy it!
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| katzy's Full Review: Mitsubishi HS-U577 VCR |
My first choice for a VCR was the Panasonic PV-V4621, even though the salesman at Tweeter recommended a Mitsubishi. If you've read my review of that Panasonic, you know how disappointed I was in the picture quality, so the next day I brought home the Mitsubishi HS-U577. The 19 micron heads provide excellent record and playback capability, the tracking is great and there are all sorts of pleasant surprises. Rewind speed is specified at 43 seconds for a T-120 tape. Contrary to the data sheet appearing on this website, the VCR does have front panel inputs for audio and video and it does have VCR+ programming.
Setup:
The manual has very clear instructions and diagrams to aid you in hooking up your VCR. I have a satellite dish, but my local channels come in via antenna. Connections to the satellite receiver are straightforward. Once hooked up, the manual cautions you that you must turn on the VCR in order to watch the video or hear the audio from the satellite receiver. The VCR includes a separate IR emitter that must be positioned in front of your satellite receiver in order to control it with the VCR remote.
I had a little difficulty setting up the VCR to accommodate both the satellite channels and the external antenna channels. If I auto-programmed for the DirecTV channels, I could not enter any of the VHF/UHF channel numbers and have the remote respond. Thus I auto-programmed the VCR for an indoor/outdoor antenna. I was then able to select satellite receiver in the setup menu. The result was that pressing channel buttons on the remote takes me through the sequence of local channels, (the VHF/UHF channels) and then the satellite channels starting with channel 100. This is somewhat inconvenient, but I can reach any channel by directly punching in the number. You can also manually add or delete channels. As with most universal remotes, you cannot access any of the satellite's menu features with the VCR remote, you can only change channels.
You can also control cable or digital cable input, but not simultaneously with satellite input.
Tracking:
When playing a tape in this VCR that was recorded on another VCR, there is a period of several seconds as the VCR searches for the proper tracking settings. But then the picture settles down and tracks well, even those tapes that I can't track with my other (Sony) VCR. The VCR also has a manual tracking feature, although you must use the channel buttons on the VCR front panel to access this feature.
If you like living your life at double speed, this VCR will also playback a tape in a double speed playback mode (no sound is available in this mode).
Programming:
Programming the VCR to record is trivial with the menu provided. You can only select from the channels that the VCR finds when you set up the VCR, since channel selection for recording is via an arrow key on the remote. This has not been a handicap in any way. The timer is programmable for up to 8 programs for up to one month ahead.
After programming you must turn the VCR off in order to actually set the timer. It would be nice if the VCR reminded you to do this when you exit the programming menu, but it does not.
You can use the VCR+ system when programming the VCR, although I have yet to do so.
The record speed can be set to standard play (2 hrs on a T-120 tape), extended play (6 hours recording) or automatic. In the auto mode, recording begins in the standard play mode. However, if the VCR senses that there is not enough time left on the tape to complete the programmed recording, it will automatically switch to EP mode.
The VCR has a "one touch programming" feature, that is standard on many other VCRs.
PerfecTape Record and Playback
When you put a blank tape into the VCR, the PerfecTape feature tests the tape quality and then optimizes the record settings for optimum record. Although the PerfecTape menu comes on the screen, I have no way of verifying that the record settings actually are optimized, but record/playback quality is generally excellent.
On playback, the PerfecTape Select feature selects the optimum setting for playback. You can also manually select settings such as "Soft" to soften the picture, "Sharp" to sharpen the picture or "Normal". I have not used this feature yet.
Other features:
This VCR also has index search. It places an index mark on the tape when you begin recording and you can then search for this mark when playing the tape back. You can even insert index marks while the tape is recording a program, a feature that should be useful for marking the end of commercials for later commercial skipping.
When performing an index search or in fast forward or rewind mode, a time gauge appears on the screen showing you how much time remains on the tape.
The VCR has a repeat playback feature, allowing you to replay a section of the tape again and again, automatically. This could be useful if you are displaying a recording at a trade show and want the tape to automatically rewind and begin playing your sales pitch.
Some final words:
As you can probably tell, I really like this VCR, but haven't owned it long enough to fully exploit all the features. It has been easy to use the features I have tried so far. The picture quality is good enough on extended play, that I've never tried to record a program at standard play speed; it just doesn't seem necessary.
One thing I do not like is that when you first turn on the VCR, it comes up in "TV" mode, meaning that it does not interfere with your TV. You must press the TV/VCR button on the remote to have the VCR begin showing a picture on your TV. There is no TV/VCR button on the front of the VCR, so if you misplace the remote, you can't even watch a program or a tape through your VCR. Other than that minor disadvantage, I think this is a terrific VCR and recommend it highly.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 119
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Epinions.com ID:
katzy
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Member: Sheldon Katz
Location: Southampton, PA, USA
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 0 members
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