Very good picture on both SVHS and VHS tapes.

Cheaper build than previous models. SVHS-ET mode useless. Slow at rewinding.

The quality of the recordings is very good, much better than on my previous JVC. I tried using the ET mode to get better quality on standard VHS tapes. I found that the quality was no better, or even slightly worse, so I don't use this mode. Also ET recoded tapes can't be played on my older vcr in the bedroom. Recordings on VHS and SVHS are both excellent, using SVHS tapes gives more consistent results.
I have my VCR on a shelf at about head height. My 8 year old son sticks videos in and out above his head. This may have caused the plate which pulls the tape in to get bent. I had to have this part replaced after only 3 months. This didn't happen on any previous VCR in the same place so I can only conclude that the internal parts are poorer quality than they used to be. The remote is easy to use and I find programming easier than any previous vcr I've had. I've had a couple of tapes over the last year "eaten" by the machine ( when ejecting the tape drags out of the cassette and stays stuck in the machine ). I would recommend this vcr because of the picture quality and because all manufacturers are making their machines less well built these days.

Similar Products Used:

Older JVC VCR

price, picture quality

remote control

Bought based on reviews from this website, found it was exactly as expected. The main reason I'm posting this review is to note that the 7800 has been discontinued, buy them while you can! The newer model (7900) is even lighter weight, of unknown quality, and has a goony fake-wood-look front. (I pried off the gold colored strips that look like "feet" on my 7800.)

I miss the "quick timed record" of my ancient Panasonic, but find this one quicker to program recording events. The "scroll up or down" interface (instead of typing in numbers) is a bit odd, but once learned it's great. Picture quality is FAR better than the Panasonic I bought and returned.

This isn't the best on the market, but it may well be the best at this price. $220+shipping vs. $399 list,
the new 7900 is $350 list...

Well made, video calibration works fine, beautiful recording capabilities

Light construction, moves when you put in a tape, no backlight on the remote

A decent product. It has not failed in any aspect. Wish the same could be said of all my recent purchases. Cleans of bad video's of all stripes and records beautifully. I like the S-video out as well. Would recommend this product.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba, Sharp etc...

SVHS

REDUCED feature set from the previous model:
No Commercial Advance

Because I already own the JVC HR-S7600U I almost bought this unit with the thought that it would have some new and upgraded features. Then I noticed JVC actually ELIMINATED some key features that previously came with the VCR (like Commercial Advance) while keeping the price the same! I found this to be cheap and unacceptable behaviour by JVC and started searching for alternative SVHS VCR's with Commercial Advance capability. This search ultimately led me to buy Panasonic's PV-VS4820 and boy am I glad I did!

The PV-VS4820 has a better picture, more features, better searching, and a lower price than either the HR-S7600U or HR-S7800U. I posted a thorough comparison between JVC and the Pansonic under the PV-VS4820 user reviews, so please check it out there. I hope anyone even remotely considering the HR-S7800U will realize they have a much better option than this downgraded VCR.

Similar Products Used:

JVC HR-S7600U
Panasonic PV-VS4820

s-video output and s-video inputs both in front and rear.

Buying this VCR was the worst electronics purchase I have made in the last 20 years.
It pales when compared to my 5 year old Mitsubishi VHS VCR. The SVHS recording is grainy. The controls are overly complicated. It does not rewind back to the beginning of tape before recording or spaces forward too much. It does, however, rewind properly for playback.
Cable eye does not work with all cable boxes. In my case a digital cable box.
Program modifications are awkward if you wish to change the channel after using VCR Plus. You must review the program after you save it to modify the channel selection.
I now record on my Mitsubishi and playback on the JVC.
What a waste.