I am now getting great results using this VCR but it required being shipped back to JVC to get the free firmware upgrade offered for all that need it. This model is now discontinued and has been replaced by the JVC HM-DH40000U which is reputably more reliable. JVC consumer VCRs in general are very fragile but I have been using them for years with only minor problems and I own several different SVHS and D-VHS models with each only lightly used. This one has been used heavily for a couple of weeks only so I can't comment yet whether it will be reliable over the long run. It has a very fragile feel and sound so I am afraid it may not last long, but only time will tell. The avsforum has many threads discussing the problems with this VCR, so check out the HDTV Recorders section of avsforums and see if you feel like dealing with the potential problems.

Now the good news. I am recording movies in high definition from DirecTV using a 169time (sixteenninetime) modified DirecTV RCA DTC-100 receiver. This VCR records the full 1080i or 720p data and decodes it upon playback. Dolby Digital audio is also recorded when present in the data stream. Picture quality is indistinguishable from the source when the recording is good. The VCR has optical digital audio output for connection to home AV receivers to decode Dolby Digital audio. HDNet Movies, Showtime HD and HBO HD all broadcast high definition movies each day. Since I can't stand to watch live TV and almost exclusively watch recorded programming, this VCR helps make HDTV worthwhile for me. The 169time website explains their product and offers it for sale. It is expensive and although I am pleased with the results, it is not for everybody and can certainly be tricky to use which has nothing to do with this VCR except that it is currently the only way to record HDTV from DirecTV to D-VHS. A promising new product R5000U is planned for release in August 2004 which sounds more stable but requires recording to a computer hard drive, which could then be recorded to this VCR. The firewire ports on this VCR are bi-directional and a separate decoder such as the Samsung SIR-T165 STB can be used to decode the data stream.

D-VHS or high grade SVHS videotape is required to record HDTV. The tape travels at 2 meters/minute so a 240 meter ST120 videotape will record 2 hours. Most tape manufacturers throw in a few meters for free so you will get a couple extra minutes. A DF300 D-VHS videotape is 300 meters long so the result is 2.5 hours plus a couple of minutes for free. This VCR also records SVHS, VHS and standard definition D-VHS but since I don't use it for anything other than HDTV, I can't comment on performance using any of those formats. I expect the picture quality to be excellent for each format.

High definition pre-recorded D-VHS tapes called DTheater are available now although only a very few titles have been released to date (maybe 50). I own three and they are excellent quality. The cost is about $30 each and they can be purchased from various online sites, I used DVDEmpire. The only two VCRs released in this country to date that can playback DTheater tapes are this VCR and the newer HM-DH40000U.

If your local cable company offers an HDTV digital cable box with firewire out, you may be able to record HDTV using this VCR and such a box. The FCC has mandated that cable companies offer firewire enabled boxes so you have some leverage if your cable company does not currently offer one. Again the avsforum has much information regarding using D-VHS VCRs with various cable boxes so once you know the specific model offered, you should inquire at the HDTV Recorders section. Just as with my DirecTV receiver, there are considerable challenges getting VCR and signal source to work together. The cable company solution is much more reasonably priced and some are getting good results, others are having problems since the cable box software is still being improved.

I also own and use a JVC SR-W5U W-VHS VCR which can record HDTV from component video in analog format. D-VHS offers better picture quality, uses cheaper videotape, and records Dolby Digital audio when compared to W-VHS. I have also written a review here on the SR-W5U. The SR-W5U is much more expensive and appears to be built to much higher quality standards. If archiving is the need, D-VHS is preferable. If timeshifting is the goal, the W-VHS would be my preference. If DirecTV is the HDTV source, then the HD TiVo, model number HR10-250 is much better for timeshifting than either D-VHS or W-VHS in my opinion.

This VCR has several shortcomings. There is no DVI or HDMI output, no DTS audio output, and the VCR timer setting does not allow selection of firewire input. This VCR does not have an ATSC tuner so a separate STB is required for HDTV recording. The HM-DH40000U added DTS audio capability but other shortcomings apply. The DVI and HDMI output is going to be offered in the next model, the HM-DH5K which should be available in a month or so. A much more expensive model has been announced which includes an ATSC tuner.

As you can tell by this review and my other VCR reviews, I am a serious home audio video hobbyist. This VCR has just become the workhorse of my VCR fleet and I will soon see if it can handle the load without breakdown.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 280