Ok, but they missed a few basics
Written: Mar 07 '01 (Updated Mar 07 '01)
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Pros: Decent VCR for the price
Cons: Slow rewind compared to other vcrs, questionable ability on edit point
The Bottom Line: If you do not need a SVHS VCR, buy an hitachi VHS 6510
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| fourrealtruth's Full Review: JVC HR-S4600 VCR |
I prefer JVC televisions to their VCRS(see review on av27d800 television elsewhere)
However, my hitachi unit was out on repair and I couldnt afford to wait for it to come back, so I bought this unit
a HR-SR4800U(basically the same as HR-SR4600U but a few more abilities and a little more pricey)
These units have some nice features but they messed up on some of the basics I've come to expect from my Hitachi units.
For one thing, it seems to take forever and a day for the thing to rewind a tape. My hitachi's have speed rewind and then slow down just near the beginning of the tape. This unit goes pretty slow the entire time.
The unit also has a heck of a lot of trouble hitting a decent "in-point" when you try to watch a tape and then shuttle it to a place where you might want to start recording. It can't do it at all, being a second(or two!) from the correct place. It usually is behind the point, so if you are trying to do this on a blank tape you get a big nasty static or blue screen before the new recording started.
maybe I'm asking too much from a $400 machine or maybe I'm just spoiled from my hitachi. But, my $200 Hitachi VHS VCR can do this simple operation without the problem- Why can't the $400 JVC??
As far as the S-Video input on the JVC versus the normal RCA jack on the Hitachi, I can tell little or no difference in the recorded picture quality between the two using normal VHS mode(using s-vhs on the JVC would be an unfair comparison).
The JVC has plenty of the features you have come to expect from modern vcrs plus the ability to record SVHS mode(400 scan lines compared to like VHS's 260). It can also record higher Quasi resolution onto VHS tape(but not full SVHS quality!)
Just remember that if you use the SVHS recording mode on a real SVHS tape or use the quasi-mode on a VHS tape, it will not play on every machine out there. The playback machine will either have to be a SVHS VCR or a VHS machine with quasi playback.
The options on the VCR can be a little much for a novice, they are spread out over many menu pages. I'm used to working with vcrs but this thing had me stumped for a few minutes a time or two.
I havent had any breakdown problems from it but I have owned it less than a year, not enough time to evaluate quality.
Other than that, I guess this unit is alright. It's about what I've come to expect from JVC products, one step forward and two steps back. (outside of their televisions).
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 399
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Epinions.com ID:
fourrealtruth
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Location: Louisville, KY
Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
electronics hobbyist, I'm basically someone who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty.
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