JVC HR-S3600U Super VHS VCR - Good Value, Not Perfect
Written: Nov 13 '00 (Updated Mar 27 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent value, great picture quality in S-VHS, jog/shuttle, S-Video in/outs
Cons: Too complicated to use, tracking problems in EP mode, ugly tape position indicator
The Bottom Line: The HR3600U is a bargain – the picture quality, S-VHS ability and features for $160 are excellent.
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| dkozin's Full Review: JVC HR-S3600 VCR |
If you read my reviews, you will see that I like Panasonic VCRs. I have had my PV-8661 for more than 3 years, but now I decided that I have to “upgrade” to Super-VHS – I expected better recordings from digital cable, DVD (some discs are fortunately not Macromedia-protected) and even from my camcorder.
I saw JVC HR-S3600U for $160 at Crutchfield.com and decided to buy it – it cost about $100 cheaper than S-VHS Panasonic model.I got it and like it very much.
S-Video in/out
Although it is not apparent from descriptions in online stores, 3600U has an S-Video in and out on the back panel in addition to 1 from composite A/V in and 1 A/V out. Additional set of gold-plated RCA-type A/V jacks is present on the front panel (A/V input to connect camcorders, etc.).
Small annoyance – you have to switch between back A/V composite in and S-video input using the menu.
The inputs/outs are clearly marked and are not as flimsy as the ones on new Panasonic PV-VS4821.
Jog and Shuttle Control
The VCR has a Jog/Shuttle control on the front panel (see my review of VCR features) – I love these things. Jog control is very useful for finding the exact frame you want to start recording from. Although the mechanism is a bit slower and noisier than my old European SuperDrive-Equipped Panasonic SD11AM (which cost me $340 about 7 years ago) , it does the job pretty well.
Picture Quality
I am really impressed with the picture quality. I actually compared the recording made from DVD on my Panasonic NV-8661 (3 years old) using composite video connection with both VHS and S-VHS-ET recordings on the same tape made using S3600U and S-Video connection. I used Maxell Gold premium VHS (non S-VHS) tape.
Surprisingly, S3600U provided noticeably better quality with less video noise – in VHS mode. In S-VHS-ET mode, the picture has noticeably more detail, but more video noise. My old NV-8661 is not bad, but it’s a bit old (3 years of use) and this JVC’s SVHS machine is better – in SP mode.
And S-VHS or S-VHS-ET are noticeably better than "standard" VHS in terms of picture detail. After watching a recording in S-VHS-ET, regular VHS looks blurry.
S-VHS recordings on a good S-VHS tape in SP mode approach the DBS quality.
Active Video Calibration
In addition to auto tracking (and available manual tracking), 3600U uses so called Active Video Calibration that probes the tape for several seconds before the first recording or playback and adjusts recording/playback parameters accordingly. Unfortunately, it might delay the actual start of recording for several seconds (unless you start with Pause-Rec mode).
But: the auto tracking in EP (SLP) mode does not work well, so when I recorded some South Park in EP mode, the VCR had big problems playing its own recording until I switched to manual tracking and back. Which you cannot do from the remote (as other VCRs allow), you have to press both “Channel Up” and “Channel Down” on front panel simultaneously.
Additionally, it played the EP recording made on my PV-8661 with noise in Hi-Fi channel.
Another small annoyance – when you turn on the VCR with a tape inserted, it spins the head drum immediately, which might give you faster beginning of a playback, should you decide to press “Play”, but if you just use your VCR as a switchbox between you cable box/DBS, DVD and other stuff? My Panasonic didn’t do thing like that (until you press “Play” for the first time, it took it less than a second anyway). Downside – a little bit of noise and some possible mechanical wear.
A nice touch – there is a feature that allows you to combine two operations, example: press “Rewind” and then “Power” and the VCR will rewind the tape and turn the power off.
Remaining Tape Display
3600 has an onscreen tape position display that shows you graphically where you are currently located ( looks like B--O---------E). You can also see the remaining tape time in hours and minutes and it’s very accurate.
The VCR allows you to record in 3 modes: VHS, S-VHS (if you use S-VHS tape that costs at least $5 apiece) and S-VHS-ET that allows you to record in S-VHS format on a standard VHS tape (quality will be better than VHS, but worse than the one made on S-VHS tape, depending on tape quality).
There is no LP speed, just SP and EP (SLP), so you can either record 2 or 6 hours on T-120 tape.
It took me 2.5 minutes to rewind a T-120 tape.
Remote
The remote has 6 main buttons that glow in the dark. It is somewhat big in size. It can control a TV, cable box, DBS and even two JVC VCRs. But the way it does it is somewhat annoying – you have to press and hold down the “TV” button while controlling your TV, same with other devices.
Also some other functions are quirky – to start recording, you have to hold “Rec” and press “Play”, to start recording in pause mode (“Pause/Rec”), you have to hold “Rec” and press “Pause” and to change from “Pause” mode to “Play” mode, you have to press “Play” (not “Pause” again, as in other VCRs I used to).
The good part – you can control menus from VCR’s front panel (but not program it) – it has “Menu”, “OK” and “Up” and “Down” buttons.
Plug & Play
It works properly occasionally. I had the “auto clock set” functionality in my Panasonic PV-8661 3 years ago and it worked perfectly. In HR-3600 it works once in a while. When all settings are set to “Auto”, sometimes it sets the time that belongs to a different time zone (2 hours ahead of my time zone).
The auto channel setup was OK.
Cable Eye Controller
The HR-S3600U comes with so-called “Cable Eye Controller” that allows you to control your cable box or DBS during timer recordings. I noticed the following:
1. I had a Motorola digital cable box and, although the controller and remote are not supposed to work with this brand, they actually do work with it (under Jerold code - 06), which makes me vary happy.
2. The cable box should be left "ON" before the timer recording - the controller switches the channel, but does not turn the box on or off.
3. The controller does not support channels above 199, which is not good, since I use channels 2 through 250.
4. Be careful where you plug the controller - there are two similar jacks on the back panel, I accidentally tried to use the wrong jack and was disappointed that the controller didn't work.
5. Later, when I got Hughes DirecTV system, I realized the "Cable Eye" doesn't work with it. It only works with RCA and Sony as well as with DISH receivers by Echostar and JVC.
The VCR also allows you to program it (by a push of a button on the front panel) to set it to record from the rear A/V or S-Video input when the signal is supplied. It means that you can connect your DBS to the rear inputs and program DBS to turn on during specific time, so VCR will record your show. I use this method now and it works well with my DirecTV receiver.
This VCR has index search capability and instant review (plays the last recorded segment). It also has “Movie Advance”, which I didn’t test yet and is unlikely to use at all.
Durability (updated 04/2009)
As of 04/2009, after 8.5 years of use, this VCR still works perfectly. Granted, I do not use it frequently anymore (but I used to). It survived a move and several changes of receivers (that sat on top of this VCR). And it outlived a bunch of DVD payers, some of which were replaced because I wanted something better, and one that died altogether. This VCR seems to simply be indestructible!
Bottom Line
In SP mode in both VHS and S-VHS (S-VHS and S-VHS-ET), this VCR provides excellent picture quality, provided you use high quality tape.
This VCR is not as easy to use as Panasonic VCRs (and not as easy as it should be). And it might not be as reliable. Auto clock set might not work as well as it should in certain areas (I assume it works somewhere :-) ).
The HR3600U is a bargain – the picture quality, S-VHS ability and features for $160 are excellent. So if you look for value, it’s there. But if you need the best machine, chip in $100 or so more bucks and get a Panasonic’s S-VHS model. Also, if you need insert editing and audio dubbing capabilities (and front S-Video input), check out JVC HR-4600.
Note: see my reviews on VCR features and how to choose a VCR at http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-4677-115108C-394C3540-prod1 .
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
dkozin
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 in Electronics |
 - Top 10 |
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Location: California
Reviews written: 817
Trusted by: 514 members
About Me:
I love to push buttons on electronic (audio and video) equipment. It makes me happy.
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