Low end S-VHS vs HiFi VHS

[marksk918]

I'm looking for a new vcr for capturing. Due to budget restrictions, I'm looking at either a low end s-vhs or a Hi-Fi vcr. I was looking at the JVC 3902 becuase it has the picture control feature. I know the 9911 would be ideal, but that's way out of my price range. Would I be better off with a plain VHS Fi-Fi unit than the 3902? Anyone have any experience with the 3902 or recommendations on another unit?

thanks!!
mark

[davideck]

The 2900/3900 series are pretty poor performers.
How about a used VCR from Ebay?

My recommendations are documented here;
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1381787

[lordsmurf]

What is your budget?

My last SR-V10U was $145
A friend bought a HR-S7900 for $150

Those were shipped prices.
Used off eBay, but work extremely well.

[marksk918]

What is your budget?

My last SR-V10U was $145
A friend bought a HR-S7900 for $150

Those were shipped prices.
Used off eBay, but work extremely well.

my max is right around there. i started watching ebay a few days ago and am watching a couple of items.

thanks!

[lordsmurf]

Just keep in mind those were lucky prices and took a couple of months of looking around. Typical prices are $200-250 and rightly so.

New ones hover around $300 (used to be $400-500), although some of the newest ones, the SR-V101U, is about $250-300 or so.

[davideck]

My EBay VCR Purchases (shipping was extra) for "like new" machines;

HR-S9600U => $150 "Buy It Now"
HR-S7600U => $40 "Buy It Now" (seller had no clue)
HR-S5400U => $100
HR-S4900U => $78

Good things come to those who wait.

If you're considering the SR-V101US, you should read this;
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=280412&highlight=

[FulciLives]

The best consumer made S-VHS VCR ever was the Toshiba 6 head units with DNR.

Here is an eBay link ---> CLICK HERE

Only has about a day left !!!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[lordsmurf]

The best consumer made S-VHS VCR ever was the Toshiba 6 head units with DNR.

Here is an eBay link ---> CLICK HERE

Only has about a day left !!!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

Doesn't this lack the TBC that is valuable at assisting an effective DNR system?

[davideck]

If its DNR is line based, then this machine might look MUCH better than a JVC.

[BrainStorm69]

I have a 6 head Toshiba VHS machine with DNR. The DNR is very effective with respect to chroma errors and doesn't soften the picture quite as much as JVC's does, but it doesn't correct problems with time base errors, so you can still end up with waviness in vertical lines in the picture that the JVC's TBC will fix. So it's a trade-off. Ultimately my preference is to have the time base errors corrected, so I use the JVC.

[davideck]

BrainStorm69 - very interesting...

Are you using an external TBC?
Do you know if your Toshiba VCR has the flying preamp?
Is it an SVHS VCR?

[FulciLives]

BrainStorm69 - very interesting...

Are you using an external TBC?
Do you know if your Toshiba VCR has the flying preamp?
Is it an SVHS VCR?

The Toshiba VCR's with the ProDrum "V" Technology are the best and they made VHS and S-VHS units like that.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[BrainStorm69]

BrainStorm69 - very interesting...

Are you using an external TBC?
Do you know if your Toshiba VCR has the flying preamp?
Is it an SVHS VCR?

Honestly, I haven't tried it with my TBC-3000 yet. But I have noticed in other tests that the TBC-3000 doesn't seem to correct time base errors that distort vertical lines in the picture. I'll see if I can try it tonight to confirm, but I might not have the time since I'm going to a wedding.

My Toshiba VCR is the M-784 with the flying preamp (Pro Drum V3 technology). It is not S-VHS, just VHS.

[davideck]

...the TBC-3000 doesn't seem to correct time base errors that distort vertical lines in the picture.

Yep - the JVC TBC does a great job of removing timebase errors.
I wish it could be used without the DNR...

[BrainStorm69]

I wish it could be used without the DNR...

That's why I now have a Studio 1 DR-1000 Image Enhancer (although I still need to find the most effective settings for it).

[davideck]

Honestly, I haven't tried it with my TBC-3000 yet. But I have noticed in other tests that the TBC-3000 doesn't seem to correct time base errors that distort vertical lines in the picture. I'll see if I can try it tonight to confirm

The TBC-3000 does reduce some lower frequency timebase errors, so this could be a valuable test. Please post your results if you perform it.

My PVR-250 also reduces the noticeable artifacts of some timebase errors, making the DVD playback look better in some respects than the original source. What is your capture device?

That's why I now have a Studio 1 DR-1000 Image Enhancer

If you're enhancing the image just to counteract the JVC DNR that must be on to use the TBC, then that represents a lot of unnecessary filtering. Is it possible that a DVD burned from a capture with your Toshiba/TBC-3000 might look just as good or better overall than one burned from the JVC/Enhancer/TBC-3000?

[BrainStorm69]

Sorry I didn't get any tests done this weekend. Had a HD crash on me. D*mn Maxtor drive!

[FulciLives]

Sorry I didn't get any tests done this weekend. Had a HD crash on me. D*mn Maxtor drive!

Of all my years with DOS/WINDOWS based computers (since 1990) the only HDD to ever crash on me (of many that I owned) was a Maxtor.

I feel your pain my friend.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[anitract]

OTOH, I thought I read that recent Maxtor drivers were rated quite high. Well, nothings ever certain I guess.

[marksk918]

davideck,

i see you have a HR-S4900U, do you have an opinion on the 4800?

thanks

[davideck]

The 4800 is a later vintage than the 4900, and looks similar to the 3800 / 3600 / 3500 units.
The playback performance of my 3600 is about the same as my 9600 when I turn its TBC/DNR off...

A lot will depend upon the quality of your tapes and the rest of your setup. My TBC-3000 provides a modest amount of timebase correction and noise reduction. My Hauppauge PVR-250 helps out a bit as well...