New Technology in a VCR
Written: Jun 01 '01 (Updated Aug 09 '01)
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Pros: Good picture/audio quality, useful features, reasonable price.
Cons: Commercial Advance does not always work.
The Bottom Line: The PV-9662 is easy to use, good performance, useful features, and low price.
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| kyo77's Full Review: Panasonic PV-9662 VCR |
Although I'm not a fan of the low-rez of VHS, it's still one of the only ways to record TV shows (except for SVHS which is analog and $8/tape) and this vcr does it well. Probably the most useful feature is the commercial advance. The VCR marks when the commercials come on, and when you watch the recorded shows back, it automatically fast forwards through the commercial. The picture quality is great (about just good as the show you were watching, picture wise and audio), and there are three modes: SLP, LP and SP, which allow you to control how much tape is consumed per quantity of time. I havent noticed a big difference between the modes, and in order to maximize the length of a VHS tape, SLP (Super Long Play) is usually better. Also, it fast forwards faster through commercials in SLP mode, than compared to LP and SP. This VCR also sets the time automatically. No more fumbling through instruction manuals to find how to set time, and no more blinking "12:00" lights anymore. The VCR also sets up channels for you and comes with a tower style illuminated remote. This remote is nice, because it can control up to three devices. It controls the VCR, television, and a DSS/cable box. The buttons are layed out nicely. If you have a television that has a delayed response when you change the channels on your tv from the remote (no cable box), no more of that, because now the channels change quickly. Also the VCR has front and back RCA inputs, which allow you to hook up a dvd player or another vcr or camcorder(s) to the panasonic vcr. The instruction manual is easy enough to understand that anyone that can read will understand it. The panasonic line of vcr's are rated highly by consumer reports, and the panasonic name is up there, and some cases even better than sony, at a lower price. This VCR is a must have for anyone that likes watching tv, but hates commercials. I especially hated how commercials are louder that the program you were watching. Anyway, the remote allows you to see how far you are through a tape. The day/month/year and time is recorded each time you push the record button. This is useful if you want to know when you recorded that show, or what day it was on...etc. etc. And there's a reset button that allows you to mark a certain time or position on the VHS tape. The slow motion works nice, however it functions only at one speed, and that speed depend on whether the tape was recorded at SLP, LP or SP.
The commercial advance does not always work. Sometimes I'll watch something I taped and the commercial comes on. I don't know if this is just my vcr or all of them, but the older the VHS tape, the more likely that the commercial advance won't work. I'll say it works a good eighty five percent of the time, though. Also, if this matters, this VCR is kind of loud. When you stop and rewind a tape, it has a loud rewinding noise, but it IS fast at rewinding.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 179
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Epinions.com ID:
kyo77
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Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 0 members
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