Mitsubishi HS-U778 VHS VCR

Pros: Clear Picture, scary fast FF and REW, Multi A/V in-outs
Cons: Remote doesn't fit hand naturaly

Had a JVC HRS-3911 S-VHS vcr. The JVC recording quality level was sorta kinda almost better than what you see from any plain Jane VHS vcr, even though S-video inputs were used. I needed an S-VHS vcr for recording broadcast content programing. so ...

Pros: controls cable box, has commercial skip, good quality
Cons: none

I needed a vcr that would control my cable box. After two attempts with the Sony 900, I purchased the Mitsubishi. The Mitsubishi controls the cable box with a wired IF device. The device works; the timed recordings, all switching the cable box, work.

Pros: Great picture/sound. Nice display. Great tape transport, nice remote, way better than their cars.
Cons: None! A great deck at a reasonable price.

Seems like a good machine, purchased from Tweeter about a month ago. Always wanted an S-VHS machine, but the current offerings from JVC are either junky or $400; too much to spend on any VCR except a D-VHS machine.

This Mitsu has great picture quality (use a real S-VHS tape to get the most out of it -- make a huge difference), Bat-out-of-hell rewind, but has gotten noisy rewinding so I'm exchanging for another machine (same one). Tape transport is smooth (other than the rewind problem) and very quick.

Overall a very nice unit, with S-video jacks in and out for the best picture quality possible. The cable eye only controls 3 brands of digital cable boxes; if you have a motorolla forget it. Remote lights up, if not useless a cool feature. For just over $200, considering it'll probably be the last VCR you'll buy, it's definietly worth it.

Update: I've had the machine for over a year, works great. With a VCR this good, I see no reason to jump on the recordable DVD bandwagon until you're able to record true dolby digital sound and HDTV resolution for a reasonable price. That's not yet.