PV-9451 : Older and and inexpensive quality VCR w/brand comm
Written: Oct 07 '00
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Price, index system special bonus, LP RECORDING SPEED, auto clock set, dual AV jacks
Cons: Quirky programing, no auto-head cleaning, remote requires effort to get used to, no cablebox control, newer vcrs available but probably not as cheaply
|
|
|
| caffeine68's Full Review: Panasonic PV-9451 VHS VCR |
I purchased this vcr aproximately six and a half months ago, and it has taken quite a heavy beating in that amount of time.
So, I feel confident in making this statement about this particular model as well as some comments about different brands of VCR/video equipment in general.
A little background first as to HOW I use my VCR so that you can note that my specific opinion might not be perfect for you. Or perhaps my torture testing use of such equipment might in turn make you feel all that much more comfortable about your purchase.
I work as a consultant, and am constantly on call to run from place to place. Sometimes quite often being away from my televison/vcr for a few days a time.
This means that since I also happen to be a television, and movie junkie that my video equipment gets to 'play hard' just like I do sometimes.
Its duty cycle per day probably exceeds the normal testing at the factory for new models.
It is nothing at all for me to have two or three vcr's running during different parts of a day to help do massive time shifting and archiving.
Bottom line, I USE VCRs HARD/TO DEATH
That said, lets get to the meat of my opinion.
Having worn out a high-end Mitsubishi, and having it occur at a bad time of the month for cash on hand for such entertainment items. I was in search of a vcr that met the MINIMUM requirements as follows
1. HIFI stereo, I'm not ever going back to a standard mono VCR, not even kicking and screaming. MTS stereo tv is virtually assured almost with every tv station and/or entertainment program.
2. VHS or Super-VHS, quite easily met as it is THE predominate standard at present this side of pure digital.
3. No unpronouncable brand names. If I can't spell it, if I haven't seen lots of them on the shelf for years. Let someone else take the arrow in the back and complain about it. This also accounts for national/international sized companies with effective web sites to help research what I want out of a new vcr when I go shopping. what features do I NEED, vs what features are gee-whiz and get used twice when your playing with the new toy. Never to be used again. (video titling/genlock on the mitsubishi is an example)
4. Two sets of audio/video inputs. Selectable from the remote. One set should be on the front, but on the back is acceptable.
The PV-9451 has front and rear plugs.
5. 8 event programming (older Mitsubishi and JVC models have tended to have 4 or 6 event programming, recent models have come up to standards of 8)
6. METAL CASE - This is quite important for several reasons. First off, plastic makes for a lousy RF (radio frequency) shield. Both for interference in your picture from external sources of radio interference (your brand new high frequency monitor, your microwave oven, your energy saving lightbulbs, your brand new ultra fast computer, etc) as well as to a lesser degree interference that the vcr can induce in other video equipment or radios
I've had HORRIBLE (to the point of I wouldn't accept one free) experience with Magnavox vcrs, which are heavily feature ladden, and VERY attractively priced. Because you so much as ONCE put a heavy book down on top of a plastic case vcr. It can bend the very thin metal frame of the vcr, pushing it out of alignment and creating a tape eating monster.
7. As stated it was a bad time for excess cash, and even when I have enough money in hand to buy anything I want, I still as we all want the best for the least money.
8. Most damning for any vcr purchase is how friendly the on screen menus and programming is. Fewer and fewer stores which sell vcrs have them plugged into monitors where you can 'play/test drive' the vcr and its menus. You may get a perfect vcr, last for years and hate it every time you have to numb your thumb/fingers to program it.
With these items in mind, I knew that I was going to be looking for a name brand.
I knew I was looking for something sub $200, and I knew that I wanted a vcr that was going to slip into my daily use without a learning curve.
Magnavox lost out due to bad previous experience and overall cheapness of the case. Mitsubish, JVS, and Sony were all over priced for my budget at the time. Their stripped down 'entry level' vcrs were indeed very stripped of the latest features.
Panasonic, for which I've owned before had several models to choose from.
I wanted a jog shuttle on the front and/or on the remote. I didn't get it.
I wanted auto-head cleaning, a very important feature. I didn't get that either.
Nearly every model has auto-tracking, this is no exception. (despite the review of the 9450 that claims not to have it)
The remote was somewhat attractive if not a little large. But the larger the better for finding lost remotes is my thought.
Certain buttons (such as index search) should have been larger, but you learn to adapt to a remote.
Also common among almost every vcr is a center loading mechanism, which is supposed to improve the stablity of the mechanism. Personally, I've had some very high quality (older) off center loaders, but I won't dispute that current comodity priced vcr's with center loading do tend to have better quality. (I think its more because of better video heads than years ago though)
What I found ultimately was this.
A low cost vcr from a national brand company which had almost all of the features that I was going to actually use.
HiFi Stereo, front and rear AV jacks, with reasonable 8 event programming
VCRs are getting very standard these days, its down to how well do they hold up under heavy use, lack of maintaining, and usable and fun features for the price.
This vcr holds its own very well in all of these.
The programming can be a tad quirky when you first start using it.
It has a numeric keypad, yet forces you to use up and down presses to program time, day, and channel. (work around, put vcr on channel you want to record, it'll be there by default. Program vcr NEAR the hour, or half hour that programs start or end. Minimizes remote punches to program, etc) Nothing too horrible, and is very readable and understandable what you've programmed the unit to do.
The vcr supports vcrplus number input, but does NOT have a cable box control capablity of VCRPLUS Gold This was NOT an issue for me.
Perhaps the most interesting GEM of this particular vcr, and most likely its sibling models, and those which have come after it is this.
Its Index system is THE VERY BEST on any vcr in recent time.
Any program recorded on it will have a time and date stamp on the tape. Which when played back (in compatible or at least The same vcr) will show as a transparent/opaque overlay. Time, Channel, Date, and if it was programmed as opposed to just hitting the record button, the start AND stop times for the program your about to watch.
MAJOR MAJOR PLUS.
As long as the same tape is in the vcr, and no MANUAL recording has been done. The index system will present a very nice menu of what its recorded (reminds me of tivo in a way.. Just more primative)that you can pick from (scroll up or down.. play THAT..)
I time shift soap operas (and other programs) for my mother. Do you have ANY idea how hard it is to tell a monday from a thursday episode of a tv show just by popping the tape in? (hint, look for commercials for 'on tonight' and scour a tv listing to see if it was on such and such night)
The Time/Date stamping is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I wish EVERY vcr had it, and they were cross compatible for the time stamps.
To my knowledge, it is not as universal as the Index system marks are at present.
I can program my vcr to record one program from satellite (one of the big monster ones, not the 18..24inch ones) from one set of AV inputs, dub a tape with the other set of inputs, use tv out from my video card (see review of Hercules Prophet DDR-DVI) through the vcr. Its wonderful how flexible it allows me to be.
The other MAJOR plus that I've come across with THIS unit is that it supports recording in ALL THREE VHS speeds.
You DID know there are three speeds didn't you?
With a standard T-120 tape, you get six hours at the lowest quality speed. This is commonly refered to EP, or SLP
At the most common speed for pre-recorded programs, and for highest quality home recording you'll be using SP which gives you two hours.
This is where the 120 comes from in T-120 for the record. Tape is sold as a function of how long it is at the highest speed of recording.
T-120 is two hours, T-180 is three hours, etc.
The long forgot, the long under appreciated LP speed is IN THERE!
It gives you four hours of very good quality on a T-120 tape.
The catch is, and why so many manufactures have DROPPED it as a recording speed is this.
Four (video) head vcrs have FOUR heads because TWO are for SP, and two are for SLP/EP speeds. The gaping is different because of the speed difference of the tape.
When you fast forward (scan) a tape playing at SP on a good four head vcr. You see very little 'noise bars' while doing so Ditto for SLP/EP programs.
LP has no 'optomised' set of heads on the video drum/video head.
So just like some of you might remember from fast scanning of SP tapes on an older TWO (video) head vcr. You get what looks like video 'tearing'.
Its ugly!
Rather than hear people complain for no reason (consumer ignorance for not reading the manual at all) 'my vcr picture looks horrible when I fast scan my tape), its been the general rule that most vcrs will NOT record in LP.
People can't figure out the trade offs, so ruin it for everyone that they can't do it.
Recording at LP speed gives you very close to the same quality of SP recording, is wonderful for 3 hour movies that won't fit on a T-120 (and I hate T-180 tapes. (They are longer because they are thinner tape. The older the vcr or higher torque the vcr has. the more likely that it will eventually get stretched, or eaten))
In exchange for this high quality picture at the LP speed. I understand and accept that fast scanning forward or back is going to look lousy. Fair trade!!
This VCR for the record, has great forward and reverse scanning picture thanks to its four video heads.
My sharp and mitsubishi vcr has more than a single fast scan (forward/back) speed. This unit has a SINGLE fast scan speed (forward and back). Minor trade for a cheaper vcr unit.
Not that I think anyone these days should really have to deal with 'the blinking 12:00' syndrome anymore, but the auto-clock setting of this vcr works quite well. Particularly if you have cable which includes PBS with a good strength signal. I did not test it with broadcast signals.
Ok, so you want to know whats WRONG, the nit picking? Before you think I work for Panasonic. Because I don't.
No automatic head cleaning (go buy a $6 cleaner and use it once in awhile. )
Remote can be confusing compared to other brands. Index system is more on screen than I like sometimes. I know I want four programs forward, I'd like to sometimes just hit a button four times. Not with this vcr.
Index button, On screen.. four on the keypad, and forward on the remote.
Certain buttons are too small compared to others, the numeric keypad should be active during programming to make things FASTER. (panic programming, tape change between programs and you want to get it done NOW, etc)
Back lighting is kinda a joke. By the time your comfortable enough to have the lights out. The remote probably isn't in your hand, and/or you'll have the remote memorized enough to feel around anyway for the major functions.
One thing I truely DO NOT LIKE about this vcr. Its a major oversight, but then again only annoying if you don't let it bother you TOO much.
You can NOT get a counter value on the front of the vcr AT ALL.
Only time, or its current mode (Record, stop, play, etc)
This is ANNOYING for those working with multiple vcrs. When you CAN'T for whatever reason see/use the on screen information.
Confirmed, but not all that bad. Panasonic vcrs can be noisy. Motor sounds, rewind and fast forward. etc.
Personally, mine is setting next to the tv, and its not an issue. But if you listen to very soft programs. Or for whatever reason choose to sleep next to the vcr. You might want to look for a sony, or mitsubishi. They are very quiet.
'But Why should I pay $200 for this, when I saw joe-bob's brand vcr at a grocery store for $70??'
The grocery store isn't going to have a clue what to do with you if you have a problem, they might be kind and give you a refund since they are so clueless though. Your not likely to have any chance to see more than just the BOX, etc.
This is a national brand vcr that *I* have tortured. 6-7 months later its still in perfect condition.
As heavily as I use vcrs, and not to offend or sound like a snob. because I'm certainly NOT rich, nor a snob in any way.
Buy a high priced, high quality vcr if you can afford it. It'll have all the features you want, you'll be able to 'impress' your friends with your ability to spend, etc. You'll probably get some of next years best features NOW, you might get a great warranty, and you'll definately get every feature that they can cram into the unit. High end units are all about maximum features (reminds me of car comercials that claim 500 features and one of them happens to be the car having a steering wheel)
If your on a budget, or don't have large holes in your wallet to just spend money like crazy. And if you also happen to view vcrs as 'relatively' disposable.
A sub $200 vcr with most of the latest features if not all of the best features from 'last years models' will be perfect for most people.
Find features your actualy going to USE.
My mitsubishi (the TANK.. its huge, its heavy, and it lasted for 6 years of back breaking torture before failing me) had video titling. Great for say putting titles on edited videos of the baby's first steps to send off to your friends/family.
Great fun feature, etc. Used it four times in six years.
Meat and potatos features. Indexing, Timestamp, Good remote, good picture are what your looking for.
My average comodity priced vcr lasts 3-4 years under heavy use.
At which point, it gets passed to a friend for lite use for probably another 3 years. If not given away, sold for $40, a noticable percentage of its replacement cost.
(I don't want a cheap vcr eating my $20 pre recorded video tapes, or one shot recordings being lost forever because I'm cheap and don't buy a new vcr once in awhile)
Without abuse (hammers, peanut butter sandwhiches inserted, etc. If this vcr can handle 7 months with me. It'll last for you.
This is an OLDER model, but I HAVE still seen them on the shelf in the $120 range.
Even if you chose to buy something OTHER than than this model, or this brand. Keep in mind how I reviewed it. Do the same questions for yourself when you look.
Salepeople tend to want to push what their manager tells them to get rid of, or what they get the biggest mark-up, or commision for.
They can make the most worthless feature seem like gold.
Find this model and look at what else is available in the same price range. Chances are, this model or a very close similar model from this product year will be the best.
Panasonic has never done me wrong. And I've owned ALOT of vcrs
A quirk here and there is to be expected. There IS no perfect vcr.
For those of you that might plan on having more than ONE vcr in the same room.
DO take note that you should have DIFFERENT brands for the two vcrs, unless (like Sony and Mitsubishi high end units used to) they have an A/B setting on the remote for which remote is going to effect which vcr.
It stinks to press play on one remote, and get two vcrs reacting now wouldn't it?
I'd love to buy a second (newer) panasonic vcr right now. I can't and won't till this one dies, or is sold/given away.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
caffeine68
|
|
Member: William Austin
Location: Mansfield, OH
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 1 member
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.