Full size VCR with a nice, big, bright display. Smartfile features are great with no more trying to find which tape has last weeks episode of your favorite show. For a non SVHS, this thing has great visual quality and will play back SVHS tapes.

Some say that the audio is a little muffled. The only thing I've noticed is that with a satellite system and DVD, both with digital outs, the sound from the SLV-M20HF doesn't sound as good as what I'm use to.

This is an awesome product. Granted it is not a SVHS, but until Smartfile is added to the SVHS systems, this is the one to get. It's convenient, it's quick, it has commercial skip as well as many other bells and whistles. If you like Sony products and don't need to have SVHS, but want about every other option Sony has to offer, this is the VHS VCR to get. Did I mention you can pick this up at Fry's for $199.00 (not on sale)?

Similar Products Used:

Older model 2 and 4 head standard VHS's.

Features (Smartfile!, vcr plus gold, index search, cue search), remote

Little bit hazy display on prerecorded tapes, but it could just be my cables I'm using. Waiting for top of the line monster's to come in. Otherwise, love it!

Can't complain too much about it. Use the remote almost exclusively now over others (other than when running DVD). Smartfile is truly awesome. Got mine at supremevideo.com for $199, but they had limited stock since this model, I believe, is discontinued.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic 4-head ('94 model)

Awesome machine!!!. Excellent bang for your buck. Feature loaded piece....my favorites are:1. The "smartfile" system. If you're not familiar with that, check it out on Sony's website.
2. The "guide+" feature is really cool. No more filpping through the pages of the tv guide. And the best part is......you can sort by category, such as sports, action, comedy, etc.
3. Very nice design on the front panel. Nice large LCD display, jog wheel, and the silver buttons add a nice contrast.
4. the remote is a bit bulky, but its really cool......with the joystick and jog wheel and the panel that flips open....like a cell phone held inverted.
5. Believe it or not, my main reason for buying this VCR(besides the price), is the fact that its full sized, and so it matches the width of every other component in my system.....which gives a very organised look.
6. 2 "line-in" set of jacks, one in the front and one in the back.

I'm all for quality, but I also pay keen attention to details, such as physical design and layout......and this product has everything I was looking for. Great picture quality, great sound, and looks pretty cool.

I picked up this VCR couple days ago at 6th Ave. Electronics at an unheard of price....$169.

guide+, guide+, guide+

no PREVIOUS CHANNEL button... i hate VCRs without this function...

gotta say, i'm spoiled by the guide+. besides the weakness mentioned above, this is a great VCR.

picked this up as an open box for $230 cause i seen it up around $300 or so.

this place sells it for $199:

http://www.supremevideo.com/vcr/sonyvcr/slvm20hf.htm

Nice looking, smart file, s-link, jog/shuttle on remote, etc

When using timer record, it sometimes chooses a random channel to tune to, instead of the one programmed (ex program ch 9 at 7:00, will tune to channel 7 and then sit there, turned on but doing nothing)

It is a very nice, quality, attractive VCR and has gotten a lot of use from recording from TV, and SAT through the S-link. Very nice when using Sony SAT beucase S-link takes care of everything (don't have to set VCR and SAT to get it to record). Smartfile works great so you always know what is on the tape and where and it will FF/REW the tape to just the right spot with a click of the joystick button.