Nice aesthetics – matches other A/V components. Decent menus and set up functions. Never let me down despite being a “dinosaur” from day one. Great deal.

Remote is a little fluky. Would like more mass to resist vibrations and the like. Back panel connections not gold plated.

I purchased this unit with the intent of it being my "last" VCR. At the time, my VHS tape collection was dwindling and I usually rented DVDs. Therefore, I needed something that would reliably record TV shows and play the occasional movie. The JVC was a good choice because it had a lot of features that used to cost extra and was a great deal at the time. Overall, I have been very pleased with this VCR. Picture and sound quality are very good (for a VCR at lest) and I have not had any problems. The unit has even survived three moves in the last 6 months without any issues. No one should buy a VCR and expect audiophile performance, unless they want to spend too much money. With the advent of DVD recorders, the VCR is destined for extinction anyway. Therefore, this review was written from the perspective that a good VCR is one that can perform the basic blocking and tackling required to record and playback VHS recording. Regardless, the JVC VCR has fulfilled its mission for me. It records TV shows, is reasonably easy to program, plays back reliably, and matches that rest of my home theater set up. I cannot ask for more from a VCR – and I have not had any of the issues identified by other users.

Similar Products Used:

A generic Sanyo (actually pretty nice) and a very old Panasonic 4 head.

Just a message to anybody who thinks that this VCR doesnt have an eject button on the remote just press the "timer" button and it will eject any tape that ha the recording tab broken off then press "timer" again to stop the display from blinking.

And for anybody that doesnt have this product i would recomend it to you it is a great quality VCR with good picture and sound.

See previous review for the model JVC HR-S5900 below

Correction of previous review for the model JVC HR-S5900 below

RF modulator interference was due to a defective modulator in the previous unit. The new unit has absolutely no RF modulator interference.

Correction of previous review for the model JVC HR-S5900 below

The previous unit had a defective RF modulator which caused the interference. The unit may have been damaged from shipping and handling.

The unit was defective out of the box which doesn't characterize it reliability since a number of poor handling issues could have caused this minor defect.

Being that a new, exchanged unit has all of the positives and NOT the negative of the interference issue, this VCR is even greater than I original thought.

For the money, I simply can't see any other maker putting out a VCR that has this type of high performance, excellent search options, and the excellent editing options including a flying erase head.

This reciever NOW could be consider just about perfect for the money. Long term reliability is the only question.

Similar Products Used:

See previous review for the model JVC HR-S5900 below

Super-VHS, S-Video INs & OUTs, infrared repeater, remote's ability to control two separate VCRs of this model.

Possibly just due to a weak antenna signal, but the "Auto Clock Set" feature hasn't worked for me.

I am not attempting to flame anyone, but would just like to correct some points made previously by my fellow reviewers.

Ron from Missouri (the review just below mine) said:

"if you pause the recording you have to hit stop and then record again to start recording."

Not so. Perhaps he's discovered this by now, but after PAUSEing the unit, you simply press PLAY to make it continue, not PAUSE, which is actually more logical; "Pause" implies the tape is stopping, so why should that make it start?

And later in the review:

"4) [this unit doesn't have an] EJECT button on the remote (HELLO?!?!?)"

I use a Home Theater Master SL-9000 universal remote, and the odd thing is, when I entered the pre-programmed code for a JVC VCR, my remote will eject the tape from this unit.

I also believe it is very normal to have to press RECORD & PLAY simultaneously on the remote to start recording, and a good idea, since it is so easy to bump a button by mistake on a remote just picking it up. And once again, if you just get a universal remote with learning capability (SL-9000), you can have a one-button record.

Nick from Milbrae:

"When ejecting or loading cassettes, the vcr sometimes moves from its position."

I have had no problem with my unit skidding. I can press the tape in without touching the player, and although it is harder to insert than most modern VCRs, it stays put. Perhaps Nick has it on a slippery surface. Maybe try a thin rubber mat below the unit to prevent this.

I am eager to test the S-Video output on this play as soon as I get a TV with S-Video. My Yamaha DVD player and Yamaha receiver are both equpped with S-Video, so it should be good. I am also looking at another DVD player I've found that has the MacroVision feature disabled (which means you can record from it). Of course, I would never dream of recording any copyrighted materials. :)

I like these reviews because they are generally straight from the heart as nobody is writing them trying to appease any advertisers. Keep it up, folks!

Similar Products Used:

Mitsubishi, Sony, Toshiba, Marantz.

EDIT VIDEO, FRONT INPUTS, LIGHT WEIGHT, GOOD PRICE FOR ALL THE FEATURES.

REMOTE CONTROL NEEDS EJECT BUTTON AND BUTTONS SHOULD ILLUMINATE IN THE DARK.

THIS VCR I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO SOMEONE WHO CAN GET A VCR UNDER $200. IN ABOUT TWO YEARS ALL VCRS WILL BE GONE. JUST LOOK AT BLOCKBUSTERS. THE INCREASE IN DVDS WILL BE MORE THAN LIKELY THAT THE VCR WILL BE USE FOR HOME RECORDING TV SHOWS AND DUBBING VHS TAPES TO DVD RECORDABLE PLAYERS. THIS VCR MAY NOT BE TOP OF THE LINE BUT WITH THE PRICE UNDER $200 IT IS REASONABLE UNTIL UPGRADING TO RECORDABLE DVD PLAYERS (LIKE THE NEW PANASONIC).

Similar Products Used:

EMERSON, TOSHIBA, MITSUBISHI

Picture and Sound Quality, especially SVHS and SVHS-ET modes.

Cheap/Poor tape transport, slow to respond to tape loading, overall cheap mechanical design.

FIRST THE REALLY BAD NEWS...after 14 months, I had my first tape jam while LOADING a BRAND NEW JVC VHS tape. This jam essentially ruined the VCR, as the "fingers" that wrap the tape path around the tape heads were damaged. Being 2 months out of warranty, I opened up the unit and saw exactly how cheap and fragile this thing is. I am highly disappointed that a 14-month old unit would die from attempting to LOAD a tape. I did not take Circuit City up on the "extended warranty" plan, because I put such light use on my equipment. I never expected failure so quickly after the warranty expiration. Also, the remote is a bit awkward, especially programming timer recording. Other VCRS are FAR more user-friendly.

NEXT THE GOOD NEWS... I have to agree with most posts about the great picture quality and sound in SVHS mode, and even SVHS-ET mode. While the VCR lasts, you will enjoy it.

I RECENTLY found out that Circuit City offers a Replacement Product Plan for new purchases. They say they don't even bother to fix them anymore, they just refund your money within 2 years, and you buy a replacement (probably for less than the original).

I liked my JVC VCR, but I strongly recommend buying some kind of replacement plan or extended warranty if you choose any JVC VCR. They have an entire line of similar cheaply made units.

Similar Products Used:

Other JVC 4HD and SVHS VCRS, SONY 4HD HIFI, JVC DVD and Receiver.

NONE!

POOR Playback Picture Quality!

Had lots of Noise in picture in playback using SVHS Tapes in SVHS Mode & using Extra High Grade VHS Tapes in S-ET Mode. My NON HI-FI Regular 4-HEAD "DAEWOO" Blows this JVC 4800 right out of the water in Picture Quality!!! I tried everything in troubleshooting (ie. different cables, different tapes, different video sources, etc.) I got my JVC 4800 Today & am sending it back TODAY! Do not purchase this piece of Crap!!!

review for the model JVC HR-S5900

Excellent video quality in standard, ET, and S-VHS modes. Very low noise, Video calibration is very effective. Excellent search speeds comparable to the search functions of a DVD player. Very easy and fast setup of the programmed timer. And on and on...

review for the model JVC HR-S5900

Some problems with perhaps an over sensitive RF modulator output. When using the tuner with my JVC Dish Network 4700 receiver, I get scrolling interference lines when the VCR and the 4700 'both' have the modulator switches to the same channel(ex. channel 3 on the 4700 and channel 3 on the 5900). Once I switch where the modulators are on differing channels the interference goes away. This is annoying because tv channels must be switched when the vcr is turned on or off.

review for the model JVC HR-S5900

The 5900 is the best performing VCR I've ever seen and used. It's simply the best. I thought my previous Panasonic PV-S9670 was the best VCR but this 5900 has much lower noise, which creates a picture closer to that of the Dish Networks 400 line resolution PPV movies. Did I say, simply the best!

I tried the ET mode just for curiousity, I don't plan on ever using it since it's not a standard format that would be compatible with all S-VHS VCRs. It's much better than I thought. It truly is much better than standard VHS. I was using only standard quality Maxell tapes that have been repeatedly recorded over, and the higher quality of ET mode was great! ET mode offers higher resolution than VHS but still has more grain and noise than standard S-VHS mode.

As I said, the S-VHS mode is just awesome. Very, very low noise, no waving in the picture, very stable, very smooth and detailed picture. I simply think this is about the best that could be obtained at this price and above from competeing makers.

The editing modes for audio and video with the flying erase head makes this a VCR that could be used to make high quality dubs with editing.

The search capabilities with the jog dial and the shuttle plus on the remote are simply amazing. I have just as much search options as I do with my Panasonic DVD player, but the reverse playback is smooth!!

The only down fall is the somewhat wierd RF interference I get out of the RF output. The remedy while a bit inconvenient, is simply to set the satellite dish's RF modulator output to channel 3 and the VCR's RF modulator output to channel 4 and the interference is completely gone. This only occurs while using the VCR's tuner with the Dish Network receiver. I've read of the problem. It often said that when the modulator output is high(4700), a sensitive input(5900)could get this type of interference.

That leads to another positive. The 5900's tuner is very sensitive and boosts the raw signal quite a bit. I confirmed this using weak over the air signals. By comparison, my Panasonic VCRs don't have this much gain/sensitivity with the raw over the air signals!!

BTW, when I sub another VCR in for the Dish Network 4700 receiver, I have no problems with interference when both devices have the modulators set to the same channel. This leads me to believe the output and sensitivity compatability dilema.

As I can say, simply the best I've seen and definitely deserves the highest rating available, especially for it's cheap price. The lower performing S-VHS Panasonic was $300, with no editing and searching features!!

Simply don't understand why others claim noise. This definitely has the lowest noise output I have ever seen from a VCR, PERIOD!!

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic PV-S9670, Panasonic PV-9451, Broksonic, Maganavox/Philips, and Sony

This is a cool VCR.Once you get to know the features(unique functions),you might think of purchasing this product.

It is light in weight.When ejecting or loading cassettes, the vcr sometimes moves from its position.This is not a problem for me because the majority vcr's that come out today are not heavy as in the olden days.

With a JVC AV receiver, this vcr is so cool to use.It has S-VIDEO in and out so that it is easier to be connected to a Projection TV.To get the full use of it's S-VHS ET technology,I used extra high grade tapes such as TDK EHG and DSP.The best sources to record from are digital sources such as satellite dish.

Picture, Sound and Features

Cheap build, Light weight, No one touch record

I decided to purchase this S-VHS after 10 faithfull years from my Sony SLV-676 HiFi VHS was about to give out. I was looking at the SVO-2000 but the $1,000 price tag was a bit much right now. (Maybe in the future!). After weeks of thinking about it I decided to purchase this unit and give it a try. After removing this unit from the box and spending about an hour running new cables and integrating this into my current A/V system I plugged the unit in and NO POWER! I had bought a defective unit so off I went back to Circuit City to exchange it. The second unit worked however I was a little shy about keeping this unit now. After I applied power to the unit I used the remote to access the setup menus which I found to be fairly easy to navigate. Within minutes I had the unit setup and ready to go. The first thing I noticed was that the unit is too light! When ejecting a tape the vcr will move. I also recorded a 5 minute selection from an HBO sat feed and used a High Grade TDK S-VHS tape. Compared to E-E from the unit itself the video was slightly degraded as would be expected. The video was easily 2 fold that of a VHS recording. Sound quality was very good also. Next I selected a S-VHS ET recording and used a High Grade TDK VHS tape and recorded a 5 minute selection from the HBO sat feed. This was to my suprise very close to the S-VHS recording and one would have to really look to notice the difference between the two recordings. I then tested a Standard VHS recording on High Grade TDK VHS tape and it too was good, (what can be expected from VHS quality that is!) Next I tried an old recorded VHS tape that had know vertical problems to test the "Video Stabilizer" feature that is built in. This worked very well for the video but did nothing for the audio tracking drop outs from the HiFi tracks.

I feel that the unit for its price, is a good quality S-VHS but for a true audiophile/videophile it just would not make the grade. I feel the units transport and case design are cheaply built and I would not expect this unit to perform well for more than 3 or 4 years. I feel that any moderate use would only lessen the life of the unit.

This unit is a nice starter S-VHS for a person on a budget but if you are looking for serious quality and performance and have the budget to support it, something like the Sony SVO-2000 or better would meet the audiophile/videophile specifications.

Similar Products Used:

Sony SVO-2000, Panasonic