Samsung VR-8559: Meet my new and very good friend!
Written: Nov 05 '00 (Updated Nov 06 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent picture and sound; very dependable!
Cons: A few minor design omissions
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| mkp51's Full Review: Samsung VR8559 VHS VCR |
Last March, I mourned the passing of a dear old friend.
My friend had lived with us for the past seven years. In each of the five homes we made, in two different countries and on two separate continents, my old friend was a constant and faithful companion...always willing to communicate with me on my terms, ever reliable, never one to let me down.
Until the night of Friday, March 17, 2000, that is...unlucky St. Patrick’s day, as it turns out.
At around 7:30 p.m., my dear old friend, my Sony SLV-585HF Stereo/Hi-Fi VCR, gave up the ghost and went to that Great Electronics Graveyard In The Sky. Unfortunately when it died, it took an innocent victim along with it...one of my prized VHS movies. It was not a pretty sight!
I had inserted my copy of The Color of Money (starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) into my faithful Sony, ready to watch once again as former pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson attempted to mold his new protégé, Vincent (Tom Cruise), into his own image. I had just settled back into my recliner when I heard the sickening "scrrruuunnnch" of crumpling video tape coming from within my VCR! My poor movie - for which I paid $39.95 in 1987 - was being mangled unmercifully. It was over before I could do anything to save the situation. That horrible "scrunch" was followed by a "thunk," and then a wisp of acrid smoke coming from the back of the VCR...
...Bye-bye Newman and Cruise. Bye-bye Sony VCR.
Now, I am an inveterate movie watcher. If I had my way, I’d take my wife to the theater every night! But, since we live waaaayyy out in the "sticks," and the nearest theater is 35 miles away from my home, that’s pretty much out of the question. That being the case, I willingly settle for watching videos at home. Since 1989, I’ve amassed a considerable library of movies on VHS videocassette, so the idea of being without a VCR is unthinkable to me!!
Next morning, I decided to check out our local Ames discount department store (very similar to Wal-Mart, but on a smaller scale) to see what they had for VCRs. As luck would have it, they were running a sale on VCRs beginning that very day! Trouble was, the only ones they had on sale were made by Samsung. And that didn't sit very well with me.
My first - and last - experience with Samsung products came in 1983, when I lived in South Korea. Back then, Samsung (a Korean electronics conglomerate) had an unsavory reputation for making cheap junk. I personally found that out when I purchased an audio cassette player which came out of the box broken. Not a first impression to inspire much confidence in the Samsung brand name!
Well, I was desperate, and figured...heck, I can't get burned too badly if the thing doesn't work right, and the price is certainly right - $109.95, down from $149.95. Despite my misgivings, I marched out of the store with the top-of-the-line Samsung, the VR-8559 Stereo/Hi-Hi model, tucked under my arm. And am I glad I did!
Over the past eight months, my new Samsung VR-8559 Stereo/Hi-Fi VCR has turned out to be an absolute gem! It works flawlessly, and it's loaded with all the latest features, most of which you’d expect in models with much higher price tag.
THE REALLY GOOD STUFF ABOUT THE SAMSUNG VR-8559...
* Superb picture and sound! The picture is bright, sharp, clear and stable; the stereophonic hi-fi sound, which I have set up to play through my Technics stereo system, gloriously fills my den with crisp sound that has excellent balance between bass, midrange, and treble frequencies, and superbly realistic stereo imaging!
* Small and lightweight: It’s only 14" wide X 4" high X 9 ½" deep, and weighs only 6 ½ pounds. It tucks very nicely into my stereo cabinet, and, because it has all the appropriate audio and video jacks on the back, it integrates quickly and easily into my stereo system.
* Excellent Universal Remote Control (URC): It's slim and lightweight, simple in design, and easy to use. Everything can be controlled by this "magic wand." There’s a numeric keypad for direct channel input; channel up/down keys; TV/VCR select button; tracking up/down keys; and all VCR control functions arranged in a "shuttle ring" configuration. Some of the buttons are a bit on the small side, but the layout is ergonomically pleasing. It’s easy to do everything with only one hand. The URC’s signal is strong enough to activate the VCR from almost anywhere in the room.
* Easy to set up: The VR-8559 has on screen programming, which is a snap to use. Press the menu button on the URC, and the blue programming screen comes up. Instructions are right there in big white letters, clear and easy to read. Setting VCR functions are very simple. Especially easy is setting the clock and pre-programming the VCR for recording at later times.
* Whisper-quiet operation: Nothing irritates me more when I’m tryin’ to watch a movie than listening to the humming of a VCR motor. The VR-8559 is whisper-quiet when running! Believe me, that’s a nice feature! (Even my beloved Sony tended to sound like a Cessna on take-off roll at times!)
* All the functions you could want: The basic functions - Play, Record, Fast Forward, Rewind, Stop, and Eject - can be controlled from either the URC or the VCR’s front panel. The remote is definitely easier to use! The more advanced functions - Review, Scan, Frame Advance - Forward Advance/Skip, and others, are controllable from the URC.
* Year 2000 compliance: An absolute must, as we all know! The VCR’s clock is good until December 31, 2099. After that...well, if I were you, I wouldn’t worry about it too much!
* Plug and play: Once you plug your VR-8559 in, it’s ready...well almost ready...to play! If you have cable TV, or, in most cases, a cable box, the VCR will automatically detect all available channels and set itself up. The VR-8559 won’t miss any channels, but sometimes it turns out to be a bit too thorough. If it detects any signal at all - even line noise - it will add the channel. It’s a good idea to follow up your auto channel setup with a manual review to delete any unwanted channels.
* Very reliable: In the eight months I've owned my Samsung VR-8559, there hasn't been even a hint of trouble with it!! Every feature works flawlessly.
...AND A FEW MINOR IRRITATIONS:
* No automatic clock setting feature: The VR-8559’s clock will NOT automatically reset itself after a power outage. Considering all the other great features built into this VCR, I don’t understand the rationale behind the decision to leave an automatic clock resetting feature out. Penny wise and pound foolish, if you ask me!
* Inconvenient layout of control buttons on VCR: The buttons on the VCR itself (except the "play" button) are all very small, and the button labels are miniscule and hard to read. You’re better off using the URC for everything.
* No "Tape" indicator: This is another incomprehensible minor omission by the VCR’s designers. There’s no way of telling at a glance whether or not there’s a tape in the VCR! Another attempt at saving a few cents, I guess, but why...I don’t know.
Now, I know that most people these days are buying DVD players rather than VCRs. However, VCR technology has kept up pretty well. They’re smaller, more lightweight, and easier than ever to set up and use. They’re also just as dependable! Yes, you do give up a few features, and some video and sound quality; but, if you’re like me, with a considerable amount of money invested in a videocassette library, then a good, reliable VCR is an absolute must to own.
So, meet my new friend...the Samsung VR-8559 Stereo Hi-Fi VCR! It fills that role perfectly!
Recommended:
Yes
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mkp51
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Location: Midcoast Maine
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