Will a video "clarifier" help?

[KingsGambit]

Hi all, I'm new to posting in these forums but have been lurking (skulking maybe? ) for a while, and often come here for the great info.
We just got a Philips DVDR-70 here, fantastic machine, and IMHO better than the Panasonic E50 we bought and took back rather fast! It's a lovely machine, but the compatibility of the discs was just unacceptable. Anyway, I've managed to capture some treasured old movies onto DVD and am very pleased with it, however, I want to know what people's opinions are on those external devices which claim to remove copy protections and improve the image.
I'm playing from a very nice VCR, and I will admit that the quality of the tapes and recordings isn't great to begin with, but the image on the television screen really is quite poor. I'm using an s-video lead for the video, but if these external devices claim to improve the quality, sharpness, etc, I am very interested. Do they work, or is it a sales pitch? I'm not expecting any miracles but any improvement would be welcome. I do believe that you cannot add quality which isn't there start with, but if these devices can sharpen up a fuzzy recording, remove the fuzz and lines that is always present they sound great. Any recommendations, opinions and advice would be most welcome. Thanks in advance.

[Tommyknocker]

Have you cleaned your VCR in the past year?

[KingsGambit]

I think the player is actually less than a year old, but I will give it a head clean and hope that it may not be quite so fuzzy. Still, if those external boxes offer to improve it slightly I am still interested.

[jobedo1]

No one ever seems to answer this question. I am under the impression that a video clarifier only makes it possable to defeat copy protection
not improve the video,maybe it even makes it worse
jo

[Laddydaddy]

The video clarifiers I'm familiar with only remove copy protection. If you want to adjust the color or sharpen the picture you would need something like the Sima color corrector. It has controls to adjust colors, brightness, hue, sharpness, etc.

[lordsmurf]

Very nice VCR? If it came from the local electronics store, it's probably low end.

Look at a JVC S-VHS VCR. It has filters, and top-end ones have built-in TBC.

Maybe look at an external TBC like the DataVideo TBC-1000.

Those kinds of playback devices will give you the results you're asking for.

[FOO]

The clarifiers just remove Macrovision.