worked for a few weeks.

skips a lot. tracking problems.

the machine has stopped working altogether. I couldn't be less pleased. I bought this unit to match my philips/magnavox TV. They use the same remote. Too bad the VCR doesn't play tapes anymore. useless piece of junk. These units should be recalled.

Similar Products Used:

older vcrs.

I bought this product to replace my 1990 Magnavox hi-fi VCR that was malfuncioning.I have to say that other than the fact that the newer model has VCR+ and has more programs it is NOT up to the standards of reliability or build quality of the older model.Less than three months after I bought it the hevideo heads went belly up.The technician that repaired it said they were gummed up and couldn't be cleaned.This seemed odd as this model has "Self-cleaning" heads and my older model has played hundreds of rented tapes with no such problems.Also,this model has a tendency for the picture to "jump" on even the least perfect tapes,as well as mistrack.I once bought four JVC tapes for recording that were unplayable due to picture jumping and video mistracking.The cheap Broksonic VCR in the bedroom played them just fine.Another gripe:My older VCR had speed control on the slow motion- this model doesn't.
To sum up,Philips/Magnavox has really let the quality of their VCRs deteriorate in recent years.Unless I hear that the quality (and reliability) has improved I won't be buying another VCR made by them.I give this product 1 star for poor quality and overall design.

This is a follow-up to my original review.I have owned this unit for 16 months and have had more problems with it.Two days ago it started kinking up the beginning of some of my tapes;this unit is hard on tapes- to the point that I must replace them every 6 months or so,and I do rotate the tapes every day.After giving the unit a good head and tape path cleaning a couple of days ago- something that I have done dozens of times before with several other vcrs- the unit developed a terminally snowy picture on the LP and SLP speeds making them unwatchable.It also began "eating" tapes on occasion;three of my recording tapes were ruined.It still works on the SP speed,and for that reason only,I have decided to retire it to the bedroom instead of trashing it.I've already spent $100 on repairs and another $20 on replacement recording tapes so I can't justify shelling out any more money to fix this $160 piece of junk.Today I purchased a Panasonic PV-9450 HiFi model;a brand that Consumer Reports rates at the top for reliability and a model that other posters on this website have had good luck with.I will put my two cents' worth after I have used the unit for awhile.But as far as Philips Magnavox is concerned,unless their vcrs DRASTICALLY improve I will never buy another one.Judging from the lack of reviews of their vcrs on this website most consumers already know to steer clear of Philips/Magnavox vcrs.Guess the word got around about how unreliable they are.I still give my unit one star- but only because I can't give it none at all.