JVC HR-S9800U Buying

[TaranScorp]

Is this JVC worth $350 if it's new?
I want to transfer some VHS home tapes to DVD and want to maybe use this unit with the AVT-8710.

Thanks

[Dr_Layne]

I have one and got it for about that price new a couple months ago. Worth every penny, though it may be overkill if you only need to transfer a handful of tapes that are of good quality already. The AVT-8710 will work well with the unit also.

Steve

[davideck]

I only use my JVC 9600 to capture EP mode tapes that are noisy. I use an older JVC VCR (6800) without noise reduction for good quality VHS/SVHS tapes because it preserves more picture detail. IMHO, the JVC TBC/DNR units sacrifice picture detail for noise reduction; if your tapes don't require noise reduction, you'll lose picture detail with the 9800 unless you turn off the TBC/DNR. Since you already have a TBC, the added benefits of the 9800 seem pretty minimal to me.

[chas0039]

You might do some searching for lordsmurf's posts. As I recall he has a lot of experience with JVC machines and the quality differences.

[tonyp2]

I only use my JVC 9600 to capture EP mode tapes that are noisy. I use an older JVC VCR (6800) without noise reduction for good quality VHS/SVHS tapes because it preserves more picture detail. IMHO, the JVC TBC/DNR units sacrifice picture detail for noise reduction

David, can you turn off the NR feature in these JVC decks? If so, do they produce the same image quality as the 6800?

[lordsmurf]

9800 is perfect machine, and that's a good deal

[TaranScorp]

I should have the 9800 by the end of next week.
The 8710 should be here next week too.
I've been using a JVC-S3500U for the last couple of years and it was doing a good job on VHS home movies to PC captures.
I can't wait to see what the 9800 can do.

[davideck]

tonyp2 - yes you can turn off the TBC/DNR but they go together; both On or both Off. IMHO, the 9600 transport is not as stable as the 6800 vintage machines, so the picture quality of the 6800 is better than the 9600 with the TBC/DNR Off, particularly with EP mode tapes. I assume that the 9800 would be the same, but I cannot say for sure.

[tonyp2]

davideck, what are your thoughts on the S6700U? As I recall it had some kind of "picture enhancement" button, and a sharpness control of some sort. But I guess I'm not sure of where the "sweet spot" is in the history of JVC machines for features, reliability, and pure image quality capabilities.

[gshelley61]

I have a prosumer JVC BR-S378U that was built more recently than the 6600 or 6700, and has all the picture enhancement, Y/C filtering, and noise reduction circuits of the DigiPure equipped machines, but without the line TBC. It also has a built in softness/sharpness, I and Q white balance, and color saturation adjustments - all of which can be totally bypassed. The image quality is fantastic on these machines, and the build quality is very heavy duty. They look great, too (a real nice brushed aluminum face with a flip down tape access door). Original MSRP on these was over $1300. There are certain tapes I've run into that this machine has done a better job with because of it not having the line TBC. I use a standalone TBC with the BR-S378U if necessary.

[davideck]

tonyp2 - If I am not mistaken, the HR-S6700U is the same vintage as the HR-S6800U. I have never had a 6700 but I have had a 5800. The 6700 and 5800 look identical. It's transport was vitrually identical to my cherished 6800. Very stable and responsive. GREAT pictures. If you can find a good one, I would recommend it. I assume that you will be using an external TBC for capturing.