Good recording modes.(EP/SP) Does it job for a bare bones machine.

Feels very cheap; Chassis seems very very thin; Front display; Remote doesn't have glow in the dark buttons.

Reliable VCR for $160 Can. Bare bones model. Does everything I need it to do. Timer recording is easy. Front display is very simple. Doesn't tell you how long your recording for, it just says 'REC'

Similar Products Used:

Sony SLV-N71; Sony SLV-700HF

Very good picture in EP record and playback (SP even better, of course); good initial build quality; good user manual; quiet on record and playback; reasonably priced for the performance received.

Overshoots by about 5 minutes recording time on fast-forward and playback; indexing doesn’t always work. No other obvious weaknesses. Unknown: Long-term durability is a question mark. Sonys have not had a sterling reputation for reliability like Panasonic, but Panasonic has made so many changes in the past two years in its VCRs that earlier high reliability ratings could be meaningless. I’m hoping the fact that both Toshiba and Sony seem to have chosen the same source for the basic mechanicals--heads and tape handling mechanism--for these models bodes well for reliability. Time will tell.

WHAT I USE MY VCR FOR I use a six-year-old Panasonic 4062 with “dynamorphous” metal heads to tape programs off the air for playback at more convenient times. I nearly always use the EP (SLV) mode to record, and the Panasonic’s given excellent results, though tracking is a little wobbly after all these years. Ideally, I would have simply replaced my Panasonic with a new one with dynamorphic heads, but, alas, the company’s no longer selling them in the U.S. (Panasonic Canada, though, has a dynamorphous model, but it’s no longer made in Japan, and, I’m told, Panasonic America will not provide warranty service for it.) SEARCHING FOR A NEW VCR Using a recent issue of Consumer Reports as a starting place, I looked at models that had reasonably good EP recording ratings. This included the Toshiba W-727 and the Sony SLV-N55, as well as related models. I compared these to a Panasonic offering (PV-V4212). I also included an S-VHS JVC HR-S2901U (and checked out the similar HR-S3911). The JVC 2901, a low-end but remarkably priced S-VHS VCR that appears to have the same basic components as several of JVC’s more expensive machines, has 19 micron heads. These improve standard VHS EP recording and playback. The JVC also provides a desirable S-video output in the event you have to switch between a DVD player and a VCR; the S-video gives a slightly better picture than the standard RCA video output. RESULTS When I eyeballed the innards of several machines, I found the Toshiba W-727 and Sony SLV-N55, SLV-N77, and SLV-N88 had nearly identical 19 micron heads and tape handling mechanisms—same configuration and parts (even the user manual is the same for all three Sonys). The Sonys differ in form-factor, color, and user features, but are otherwise so similar that I think some of my comments on the SLV-N77 are applicable the other Sonys (but not to the SLV-N99 which is more expensive, has a different tape handling mechanism from those I auditioned, and, coincidentally, has a lower rating from CR). In addition to auditioning these machines at my local Circuit City, I purchased and then compared the Sony SLV-N77 and JVC machine on the same TV set (a superflat Panasonic) in my home. I found that picture recording and playback quality in EP mode was similar—very good—for both machines. Indeed, it was slightly better than my venerable Panasonic’s (though, to be fair, the Panasonic has thousands of hours of use on it compared to only a few hours on the Sony and JVC machines). The Sony and JVC VCRs were noticeably better than the new Panasonic 4612 in EP mode. I liked the automatic tracking on both the Sony and JVC models—and they produced comparable results. The JVC also has a head sensor said to maintain picture quality as the heads deteriorate, a feature that can’t be evaluated in an initial audition. Panasonic VCRs are well-known for their ease-of-use, and the Sony wasn’t up to that standard. On the other hand, it wasn’t too bad. The JVC, though, was just plain irritating. The JVC user manual (if it can be called that) was on a single folded sheet of paper, and nearly incomprehensible to boot. Sony’s was clear and complete. Indexed searching worked better and was more user-friendly with the JVC machine than the Sony. Indeed, with the JVC, it was a joy to use. I thought build quality was better with the Sony than the JVC. The JVC had an all-plastic case, and its tape transport mechanism was not as smooth as the Sony’s. The JVC also made more noise than the Sony during recording and playback—this was noticeable over quiet passages in playback. The Sony was almost tomb-like except in fast-forward and rewind mode, when it really revs up. Initial judgments of build quality may not translate into long-term durability, of course. By the way, the Sony machines are built in China; the JVC in Indonesia (I couldn’t find any consumer-oriented machines still built in Japan). After weighing the pros and cons of each machine, I returned the JVC and kept the Sony (and even bought another for a spare).

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic, JVC, Toshiba

Looks, quality and ease of operation, makes incredibly good vhs tapes .

The remote design is a bit odd .

Product Review..Sony slv/n77 vcr. Most highline Sony video & audio electronics have a good reputation for quality and reliability, this mid-priced Sony vcr belongs with that above mentioned group and it can hold it's own in any company . This Sony features absolutely wonderful features, like super lightning fast rewind, easy plug in auto clock & auto set up , and it has very precise auto tracking..but you can adjust it manually also..if you have vhs tapes that are almost old as the hills, but be ready to be surprised, because your old tape will look and sound as good as if it was just made yesterday . The remote seems a bit strange to get used to, but once you give it a chance it works very nicely thank you . This Sony vcr has lots of little hidden extras, like fantastic modern styling, smooth as silk operation, easy on eyes easy to see front display numbers, and on top of everything it does what it's supposto to do..it makes amazingly good quality tapes, compared to other major brands this Sony vcr rocks !

Similar Products Used:

JVC, Sharp , Hitachi .

Quality, ease of use. Flash rewind.

None.

Really good playback, and really good recording. Great Hi-Fi vcr, the buttons on the front feel kind of cheap, but eveything else is really really high quality. I've used a bunch of vcrs and this one is by far the best. Easy to program, easy to work with, great all in all.

Similar Products Used:

About 5 other vcrs, (Sony, Sharp, Phillips, JVC, Panasonic)

ease of operation, power saver features, clear playback and record, price

not very much depth on unit, hard to component stack.

This is a nice VCR for the price that records and plays back well. I bought this from Fry's and had to return it because the tracking was off. The 2nd one tracks ok. Purchasing a VCR has been a hassle and this is the 3rd brand I tried. Previously I purchased a Panasonic, and a Top End Mitsubishi. Both vcrs had the same problem: noisey recording in the slp (ep) mode. Both were made in Malaysia. I purchased this vcr only because it was not made in Malaysia, but in China. This seems to have made the difference. The playback is clear with good contrast and little distortion in all speeds. The recording is equally good

Similar Products Used:

Mitsubishi (made in Singapore), Panasonic, Quasar, (made in Japan), Zenith (made in Korea) VCR