SVHS at VHS prices...YES!
Written: Aug 27 '01
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Pros: Tons of features,good remote design,controls on unit front
Cons: Plastic feel to case
The Bottom Line: Buy it if you want above standard quality, at a good price. You won't sacrifice features or your wallet!
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| netcigar's Full Review: JVC HR-S3800 S-VHS VCR |
Trying to find a good VCR, you start by exploring your local mega-electronics outlet. Hmm...one shelf of VCRs and 20 shelves of DVDs. Don't these guys realize that only 25% of American households have DVDs?
This was my problem, how do I find a good VCR at a good price. Even Sony barely takes up any space at most stores with VCRs lately, and with DVD recorders a long way off, it seemed hopeless. My solution: thank God for the internet and for JVC.
(This review is not meant to bore you with my life story of buying VCRs, only to emphasize you will need to go to the internet to get what you want!)
This review should give you a good overview of this unit. There are plenty of reviews full of technical details, but hopefully I can help you decide if this unit is really worht buying.
The JVC HRS3800U S-VHS is a VCR that will really please you. Never thought of buying an SVHS unit? Start thinking about it. (SVHS stands for Super VHS). Adding a SVHS cable from this unit to your television will improve your picture dramatically for any products that you record in SVHS mode, or for watching satellite or digital cable. (Ok, maybe I'm just imagining things-- but it looks alot better to me!)
Seriously, if you record anything from your satellite dish or cable, you'll be astounded at the difference using SVHS tapes makes. Yes, SVHS tapes are more expensive, but you can also use standard tapes! This unit even has a special mode called "ET". This mode lets you record on standard tapes with a quality close to that of SVHS. You can also record to standard tapes using the standard mode -- readable by all VCRS. (Tapes recorded in ET or S-VHS mode cannot be read on standard VCRs.)
If your looking for features and the S-VHS seems like an added luxury, you won't have to look far. This unit has standard cable inputs and outputs, RGB video and audio inputs and outputs, and conveniently has inputs located on the front of the unit. (Great for copying your home videos as you can hook them up without reaching behind the unit!)
Finally, the remote is very well laid out. It is lighted for those dark movie nights, and is easy to use. Programming the VCR is also very easy, and the clock has an auto-set feature if you are hooked up to cable.
The only negative about this unit is that like most current "budget" VCRs, it feels a little "plastic" to me. (The front door is plastic, although the body is metal.)
This hasn't proved itself to be a problem, but its worth mentioning.
(My unit by the way is black, which goes better with most home entertainment products, unlike the pictured silver unit on epinions.)
Do your self a favor, spend the extra $50-$75 on this unit. You will love the quality you get, and won't sacrifice features or your wallet to it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 150
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Epinions.com ID:
netcigar
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Location: Florida
Reviews written: 32
Trusted by: 10 members
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