Refurb S9911U, used S9800U, or new DH40000U?

[tluxon]

I want to digitize my home collection of VHS cassettes, many of them from our first VHS camcorder (starting 1986) and on TDK HDX tapes at 2-hour speed. I'm looking first for build quality and second for a S-VHS VCR with a TBC, frame memory, and noise filtering.

I know there's high regard for the JVC HR-S9911U VCR but it's hard to find new and if I want to stay under $300 I'll need to look to eBay. On the other hand, Vanns has new HM-DH40000Us for $300 and it appears to have S-VHS features very similar to the S9911U.

Does anyone have an opinion on how these two units will compare in build quality? How about use for VHS -> DVD conversions?

Thank you!

Tim

[ edit ] revised subject to include S9800U

[lordsmurf]

9911

This has been discussed in other threads during 2005.

[rbatty11]

I own a JVC 40k DVHS unit and am beginning to suspect that it was intended mainly to play DVHS tapes and not really geared toward VHS and SVHS playback and transfers. I'm having some issues in converting some VHS tapes currently with the DVHS unit. I may be wrong b/c I don't own a 9911.. But I've heard nothing but good things about it. I'd say go with the 9911, as well.

[tluxon]

Thanks - I think I'll stay away from the 40K, even though it would be nice to archive HiDef stuff off my limited capacity firewire-equipped DVR.

So what would be better between a S9911U and a S9800U?

[tluxon]

Well I bid up to $275 on a lightly used S9800U on eBay and it ended up going for over $360. I was also watching a S7800U go for $250 and saw a S7600U go for over $200. I could see myself getting into bidding wars with a number of people who are obviously looking for the higher end JVC VCRs and who seem willing to pay more than I was hoping to.

So, I decided that for that kind of money I probably wouldn't lose too much by going with a new 40k for $300 (Vann's ran out and won't be getting any more so I went with B&H, the only other place that seems to have new ones).

With the lack of clarity over future HDTV recording options, I may end up being pretty glad I got the D-VHS VCR. Due to heavy usage of VHS tapes in the past, I have plenty of room to hold HiDef D-VHS (or modified S-VHS) tapes, and I have a fair amount of HiDef material on my PC that I could then store on playback tapes.

As far as VHS, I can continue to do most of my capturing with my Toshiba W-704 - which I'm really happy with - and try the advantage of Digipure Technology (TBC, frame memory, digital filtering) of the 40k on the problematic tapes.

Now I just have to wait for UPS Ground to get here from New York.

[pijetro]

Yeah, i watched you on that bid. IMHO, that item went for more than it would usually go..But you shouldn't have given up after your first loss..
Sooner or later a cheaper unit comes on by..
I just got a Panasonic 1980P on ebay..Waited a month for this little miracle...$205.
We'll see if a TBC is required..For now, i just wanna get rid of dropped frames on lousy tapes...