JVC HR-VP770U: This VCR Has Everything, BUT...
Written: Mar 09 '00 (Updated Oct 24 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Chock full of features, great for editing
Cons: Disappointing video quality
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| craigmoosh's Full Review: JVC HR-VP770 VHS VCR |
Before I bought this VCR, I had been looking for one for over a year, continually checking ads, and comparing models. Finally I found the model I wanted for a great price (it retails for $269; I paid $144). Better yet, I could get reimbursed the full amount through Pointclick.com.
Why this model? I picked this model (the JVC HR-VP770U) because it is one of the few VCR's still made with all the editing features I wanted. With the flying erase head and insert editing, I can cleanly edit several things together onto one tape without the annoying rainbow effect at the beginning of a recording, and without gaps. I can also insert something in the middle of a recording without it erasing the next 10 seconds of the tape, which any VCR without these editing features will do. When does this come in handy? Okay, just as a hypothetical example, say you have an amazing Bruce Springsteen bootleg video from 1978. Then say you leave that precious tape in the VCR without pulling the tabs (always pull the tabs on tapes you want to keep!). Then let's say you accidentally hit the record button while channel surfing, and record several seconds of Jane Pauley talking about sperm donation in the middle of Bruce's great cover version of "Sweet Little Sixteen." Now that would be bad, especially if you can't find anyone with that recording in such great quality. With insert editing, you can use a lesser quality video, and perfectly insert the song (albeit in lesser quality) on the tape without any gaps, and save the all-important continuity of the performance!
Of course, that was a purely hypothetical example. Bootlegs are illegal, and who would be such an idiot as to record over part of their favorite tape? Granted, many people would never find a use for the insert editing or flying erase head. Personally, I have grand plans of copying home movies and other legal things, so these features will come in handy for me. Another nice editing feature is front audio/video jacks, so you don't have to try to jam your head behind the entertainment center to hook up the cables. It also has audio dubbing, which allows you to insert music or commentary over pre-recorded video. I like to insert my voice saying humorous things over commercials and TV shows (okay, so I'm easily amused!).
Other Nice Features: This VCR is chock full of other features. It records and plays in HI-FI Stereo, and has four 19 micron heads. It has a multi-brand remote control that can work with other TV's and cable boxes. The built in VCR Plus makes for easy programming to record shows. The plug and play feature is really convenient. When the VCR is first plugged in, and after having no power for over 10 minutes, it automatically programs all the channels and sets the clock (no more continuous flashing of "12:00"!). It also automatically sets the clock for daylight savings time, and keeps its memory up to 10 minutes in case of a short power outage. See the full list of features at the bottom of this review.
My Big Complaint: Yes, it has a ton of great features, and they all seem to work well enough. So why am I only giving it 3 stars? It's the only complaint I have with this VCR, but it's a big one. The video quality is solidly mediocre. Even recording in SP, the picture if far from the crystal clear recording I had hoped for. The recordings are a bit grainy, and sometimes records lines that aren't visible in the broadcast being recorded. I have a JVC recorder bought in 1988, with thousands of hours of use, and 2 Beta recorders from the mid 1980's (I still think Beta was the better format) that record as well or better.
As much as I love all the features this VCR has, the disappointing video quality keeps me from giving this more than a borderline recommendation.
Full List of FEATURES:
*VCR Plus+ with "Cable Eye" Cable Box Controller
*Jog/Shuttle control on front of VCR unit
*Front (Gold Plated) and rear A/V inputs
*Multi-Brand TV/Cable/DBS Compatible
*Remote with Glow Keys
*Hi-Fi Stereo with MTS Decoder
*400mm Chassis
*Movie AdvanceTM
*VCR Plus+ Instant Timer Programming
*Instant Review
*Insert Editing with Flying Erase Head
*Audio Dubbing
*Rec Link
*AV Compu Link for integrated operation with compatible JVC TV's and audio components
*Active Video Calibration
*Child Lock
*Pro-cision 19u EP Heads
*Oval-cut DA-4 head system
*S-VHS Quasi playback (SQPB)
*VHS Digital Live Circuitry
*Auto Picture
*Picture Control
-Auto
-Edit
-Soft
-Sharp
*Plug & Play
*Full-Function Remote control
*Shuttle Plus
*Express Programming
*Ultra Spec Drive with Jitter Reduction Circuit
*Auto SP EP Timer Recording
*Trilingual English / French / Spanish Multi-Color On-Screen Menu with Menu button on VCR
*Silver-plated front AV inputs
*Auto Index
*Digital Tracking
*Multiple Speed Search
*Index Search
*On-Screen Tape Position Indicator
*Auto Daylight Saving Time
*1 Year/8 event programmable timer
*181-channel cable-compatible frequency-synthesized tuner
*HQ (High Quality) System Circuitry
*Extended power backup (10 minutes)
*Full-auto functions: Real Time Tape Counter, Auto Timer, Auto power on, Power off/eject, Auto play, Auto rewind
*Frame Advance
*Variable Slow motion
*Surge Protection
*Repeat playback (up to 50 times)
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
craigmoosh
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Member: Craig
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin
Reviews written: 25
Trusted by: 200 members
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