Excellent for getting the best picture out of your tapes
Written: Apr 29 '03
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Pros: Digital image processor is very good
Cons: My unit occasionally handles the tape poorly
The Bottom Line: Excellent VCR for getting the best picture out of your VHS tapes. But it is expensive, so you have to decide if the extra money is worth the better picture
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| djdjohnson's Full Review: JVC HR-S9900 S-VHS VCR |
If you have a lot of VHS tapes lying around and want the best picture from a VCR, this is probably the unit for you.
The digital image processor in this VCR is very good... It eliminates the 'jumpiness' of the picture typical of all other VCRs... the picture becomes rock solid. And the noise reduction feature seems to work quite well too. There will be significantly less noise in your picture, making solid colors much more smooth, and increasing the level of detail in all of your pictures.
This VCR is also an excellent recorder: it produces the best recorded tapes of any VCR I have ever owned (which is many!). Like many other JVC units, it will analyze the tape before you start recording and make adjustments to provide the highest level of picture quality. And the system does work... I would put the recordings made on this VCR on the same level as the tapes you buy at the store, if not better.
One more very cool feature: S-VHS ET. This allows you to record an S-VHS signal on a regular VHS tape, which increases the picture detail without having to purchase expensive S-VHS tapes. The picture is definitely a lot better than you would normally get on a regular VHS tape, at the expense of compatibility with non-S-VHS VCRs. If you make recordings to be shown only on this or other S-VHS VCRs, this feature is wonderful. But don't use it if you share your tapes with others.
I have never been a big fan of JVC's menu system, and this VCR is no exception. The menus are harder to use than most other brands: their selection of which button does what doesn't seem very intuitive. But the system can be learned, and if you follow the on-screen instructions you'll be okay.
My unit does have one defect: occasionally when I fast forward (and on this unit, fast does mean fast!) and hit Stop, it doesn't seem to stop the movement of the tape very well, and the tape spools up inside the unit. I have to hit FF again to take up the slack before playing. I suspect this is only a problem with my unit, but it may be something to watch out for.
My experience with JVC VCRs is that they are built okay; they will last several years, but not as long as a Panasonic for example.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 450
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Epinions.com ID: djdjohnson
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Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 2 members
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