VCR buying guide (S-VHS / D-VHS / Professional)

[orsetto]

Also, Blaupunkt RTV920 = NV-FS100, which I think is also the AG-1970P. Or maybe the AG-1960P. Where's orsetto?

Orsetto is in Brooklyn and doesn't know much about German OEM versions of Panasonic industrial VCRs.
I don't have verification, but I believe LordSmurf is correct in assuming Blaupunkt RTV920 = NV-FS100=AG-1970P. I'm reasonable sure the NV-FS series jumped directly from 100 to 200, which would make the 100 = AG1970. The only way the NV-SF100 could be the AG1960 would be if there was an interim NV-SF150 taking up the 1970 slot.

If PaulePanter is able to see the actual Blaupunkt or NV-SF vcrs, or photos of them, he can determine this for certain based on appearance. The AG1980 was an evolution of the previous AG1970, which was arguably the most popular semipro model Panasonic ever marketed. As such, the external appearance of the AG1970 and AG1980 are identical, and I would think any Blaupunkt or NV-SF derivative models would also look identical. Other than actual model number engraved on the unit, the only visible clue to identify a 1970 vs a 1980 would be to drop the front cover and look at the front panel just beneath the tape slot. The AG1970 has just PICTURE and HEADPHONE sliders in this location. The AG1980 adds several more items below these sliders: a widescreen/ normal switch, a color/b&w switch, a linear audio switch, and a reset button. The much older AG1960 looks nothing like a 1970 or 1980: the AG1960 is very slim, half the height of the later models, and it does not have a TBC. The first semipro model, the ancient AG1950, is enormous: twice the height of an AG1980, no drop-down panel, no TBC.

[lordsmurf]

Still not sure what a Blaupunkt RTV936 is. (No TBC, from what I can see.)
Grumble, grumble.

I have a photo of a AG-1960P and it looks a lot like the 1980, but missing one row of switches. Size of unit appears close to the same. And it looks a lot like the NV-FS90.

I'd like to figure out what each of these models is:
RTV910
RTV915
RTV920
RTV926
RTV936
RTV950

While we're playing the ID game, I want to know about these:
GoVideo DVR4200 DV/S-VHS/Video combination
GoVideo DVR4275 DV/S-VHS/Video combination
GoVideo DVR4500 DV/S-VHS/Video combination
GoVideo DVR5000 DV/S-VHS/Video combination

And for more entertainment, here's a crapload of JVC S-VHS model numbers.
Mix of crap and good units!
HR-S3500
HR-S3600U
HR-S3901U
HR-S3902US
HR-S3910U
HR-S3912UC
HR-S3912US
HR-S400U
HR-S4500
HR-S4700
HR-S4700E
HR-S4700EG
HR-S4700EH
HR-S4700EK
HR-S4700M
HR-S4700MS
HR-S4700N
HR-S4700U
HR-S470U
HR-S4900U
HR-S5000
HR-S5000E
HR-S5000EA
HR-S5000EG
HR-S5000EH
HR-S5000EK
HR-S5000S
HR-S5000U
HR-S5100U
HR-S5200U
HR-S5400U
HR-S5500
HR-S5500E
HR-S5500EG
HR-S5500EH
HR-S5500U
HR-S5800
HR-S5800E
HR-S5800EG
HR-S5800EH
HR-S5800EK
HR-S5800U
HR-S5900
HR-S5900EG
HR-S5900EK
HR-S5900MS
HR-S5900U
HR-S5902US
HR-S5912UC
HR-S5912US
HR-S5950EU
HR-S5955EK
HR-S5955MS
HR-S5956EK
HR-S5960E
HR-S5960EX
HR-S5961EX
HR-S5962E
HR-S5962EX
HR-S5963E
HR-S5963EX
HR-S5965EF
HR-S5965EK
HR-S5965ER
HR-S5966EK
HR-S5967EK
HR-S6600
HR-S6600MS
HR-S6600U
HR-S6611
HR-S6611EU
HR-S6700EK
HR-S6700MS
HR-S6700U
HR-S6711
HR-S6800
HR-S6800E
HR-S6800EA
HR-S6800EG
HR-S6800EH
HR-S6800EK
HR-S6800MS
HR-S6800U
HR-S6825EU
HR-S6850EU
HR-S6850MS
HR-S6851EU
HR-S6852EU
HR-S6855EK
HR-S6900
HR-S6900EG
HR-S6900EH
HR-S6900MS
HR-S6900U
HR-S6950EU
HR-S6955EK
HR-S6955MS
HR-S6965EK
HR-S7000
HR-S7000EK
HR-S7000U
HR-S700U
HR-S7100U
HR-S7200
HR-S7500E
HR-S7500EK
HR-S7500MS
HR-S7600
HR-S7600EU
HR-S7600MS
HR-S7611EU
HR-S7700MS
HR-S7711EU
HR-S7722EK
HR-S7850EU
HR-S7850MS
HR-S7851EU
HR-S7851MS
HR-S7950EU
HR-S7955EK
HR-S7955MS
HR-S8000
HR-S8000MS
HR-S8000U
HR-S8500E
HR-S8500EH
HR-S8500MS
HR-S8600
HR-S8600EU
HR-S8700EK
HR-S8700EU
HR-S8700MS
HR-S8850EK
HR-S8850EU
HR-S8850MS
HR-S8900KR
HR-S8955EE
HR-S900U
HR-S9200
HR-S9200EG
HR-S9400
HR-S9400E
HR-S9400MS
HR-S9500
HR-S9500E
HR-S9500EH
HR-S9500MS
HR-S9600E
HR-S9600EK
HR-S9600EU
HR-S9600MS
HR-S9700
HR-S9700EK
HR-S9700EU
HR-S9700MS

EK = Europe/PAL
EU = Europe?
EH = ??
EG = ?? (Typo?)
KR = ???!!!
MS= ???!!!
U/US = North America
E = Australia

Not a complete list either.
Models I've seen or used or own are missing, like 2901, 4600, 8965, 7965, 3800
Comes from repair-related info.

Also from JVC:
SR-S360E
SR-S388E
SR-S388EA
SR-S388EC
SR-S388ECA
SR-S388EK
SR-S388EKA
SR-VS20E DV/S-VHS/Video combination
SR-VS20EK DV/S-VHS/Video combination
SR-VS30EK

[PaulePanter]

If PaulePanter is able to see the actual Blaupunkt or NV-SF vcrs, or photos of them, he can determine this for certain based on appearance.

Sorry, I only have photos of the Blaupunkt RTV-950, where you already confirmed that it is an Panasonic NV-FS 200.

Thanks for all your answers!!!

[skicarver160]

Would you all put the JVC HM-DT100U in the same category as the other DVHS recorders from JVC

[orsetto]

The JVC HM-DT100U is generally thought to be one of the better JVC DVHS models. It is less common than some of the others, but is generating lots of interest lately due to closeout deals at several popular North American electronics dealers. Many of the JVC DVHS iterations, despite vastly different model numbers spanning several years, are more-or-less identical except for minor cosmetic diffreneces and some internal refinements to power supplies and other non-video circuits.

[skicarver160]

Thanks for the input orsetto. That is a big help. Compared to a HM-DH30000, it looks like the HM-DT100U adds a ATSC Tuner.

Even though the manual says it is not supported, are people connecting DVHS recorders directly to a computer via the I.Link terminal to convert VHS tapes to a digital format?

[Whuntmore]

Can someone update these models originally posted? quite a few of the Model numbers in bold come up discontinued.

One of the ones I can find is the HR-S5912U

[Bix]

Most, if not all of them aren't made anymore. eBay is your generally best bet aside from the occasional deals like when B&H had a refurbished JVC DVHS VCR recently.

[forwardho]

The JVC and Mitsubishi models fall somewhere between the Panasonic AG1970 and AG1980: significantly better noise and color cleaning than the 1970, but not quite as aggressive as the 1980 and a bit less prone to look fake.

I'm going to buy either the AG1980 or the Mitsubishi HS-HD2000U secondhand on eBay sometime in the next few days. There is a Mitsubishi for sale now that is barely used, but the 1980s are going for about a hundred dollars less. Do you think there is a clear winner here if I can only invest in one unit over the other?

[orsetto]

It can be very tricky. Ordinarily I'd say if you can afford only one, go with an AG1980 because its usually cheaper now, its better built, more durable, more repairable, and can handle a wider variety of issues overall. The catch with the AG1980, however, is they're all getting to be rather old and the ones available on eBay can be a roll of the dice. While you can often find a really decent AG180 for $150 or less, you MUST be prepared to either return a disappointing unit for refund or have it serviced. I've actually had darn good luck myself: I picked up nine AG1980s in the past 18 months at an average cost of $120 delivered, and seven were in good shape (some are in really great condition). But I did have to send one back for exchange and one back for refund. Others have not had my luck, so you need to be sure the seller has a clear return policy. eBay recently changed its underlying rules to offer more buyer protection: no matter what the seller says about "as-is/no returns", technically any item that does not meet its described functionality can be returned for refund. Its just easier if the seller acknowledges this upfront in the listing so you don't have to argue and make a big hassle over it. Avoid sellers that do not explicitly mention a return period.

Because the AG1980 was a hideously expensive semi-pro model with a $1299 street price back in the day, there aren't too many "lightly used, mint condition" examples floating around. Most have been mounted in pro racks which tends to scratch up the metal cabinet something awful. All AG1970s and AG1980s are prone to faded front panel displays, ask about this if the seller doesn't specify. A bright display is preferable but unlikely- if necessary you can always pick up a companion AGA96 edit controller on eBay for $25-40 which has its own huge clear counter display. External condition is not a good indicator of internal condition: "mint" AG1980s are often more defective than worn-looking examples (because the worn ones were used by pros who maintained them with periodic service).

The Mitsubishi HS-HD2000U is an excellent buy if you find one under $200. Most of these are barely used mint units. They are scarce due to the (mystifying) ongoing cult of DVHS users who prize them, but they turn up occasionally. The Mitsu is functionally comparable to a high-end JVC svhs in almost every respect, though some here who've made direct comparisons favor certain specific JVC models over it. But buying used JVC is such an unholy crapshoot I don't put too much stock in that: for every mind-blowingly superior JVC sample there are ten others that I wouldn't use as doorstops. For arguments sake, I'd peg Mitsu 2000 performance at roughly 80-95% of a top JVC, but only assuming that JVC is flawless. A fully functional HS-HD2000 beats a tape-chewing, mistracking, randomly-erasing JVC. The disadvantage of a Mitsu or JVC over a Panasonic AG1980 is the weaker tracking performance, espacially at LP and SLP. This is why those with huge tape libraries to transfer often own one of each: a JVC or Mitsubishi has the edge in polishing already-good tapes, SP particularly, while the Panasonic AG1980 excels with imperfect tapes and/or tracking slow-speed recordings. Note the more recent JVC DVHS models are far less problem-prone than the much older SVHS models, so if you can't find a Mitsu 2000 at a reasonable price try widening your search to include JVC DVHS. Quite a few decent JVC DVHS models have been made but only the one Mitsu has the similar TBC/DNR. There is more choice and more bargaining room in JVC DVHS.

[victoriabears]

Just wanted to share what I am learning as I transfer my vhs’s to dvd. Most of my vhs recordings are very good so am having little trouble using a s vhs vcr (JVC or Panasonic) via a TBC to a jvc dvd recorder, although I am finding that even if I use a DVD RECORDER Pioneer 650H or Philips 3750(uk) or 3576 (USA) does not make a lot of difference.

I had a problem with a slightly fuzzy LP recording, and more by fluke found out that playing it on a Panasonic VCR 685 (UK) connected to another vcr of the same model (Scart) onto the tbc (S Video) and dvd recorder(S Video) improved the quality to a very acceptable level, almost as good as my best.

The different results that are obtained by using different vcr's can be amazing, may be 80% of your vhs collection will work using one method but then along comes that weird one that needs a totally different set up.

[Whuntmore]

Thanks folks,

about a month ago, I found a JVC HR-S9911-U. It was almost brand new, with very little use on it (rollers, tape guides, even the drum has no wear) so I bought it. I'm gonna put it to use.

[pirej]

Hi all, i have found a "Panasonic NV HS 1000" vcr for 65 Euro's , so i'm asking you all.. is it any good??
I wanted a good vcr with TBC, but actually it's really hard for me to find something like that in my place, it seems like no one has a decent vcr at all, every body has some digital hi tech stuff... but no vcr's.

[victoriabears]

the following are now very old and the ones I have had were very used and not as good as the newer models
but 65 euros is a low price, are you sure it is not worn out

Panasonic NV-FS 200
Panasonic NV-HS 950
Panasonic NV-HS 1000

The following would be a best bet if you only want one vcr, the jvc pal vcr\s are very hard to come by but the best model is the 8965


Panasonic NV-HS 930
Panasonic NV-HS 960
Panasonic NV-SV 121

[pirej]

Thanks victoriabears, all i know is that it's an old vcr and that it has tbc (i asked uncle google ) , and only read the person ad that's selling it says "its in perfect condition", but i'm not in to trusting that easily .
How can i tell if it is worn out?? Do i have to open it and see SOMETHING, or a should play some tape through it ? Or...??

[victoriabears]

If it does not have DNR and I don;t think it does, don;t buy it as that really improves vhs to dvd transfers. I am doing alot of PAL VHS transfers and using a JVC M100 dvd recorder (pal) it really cleans up the vhs as well, wait and get a more modern one, how a vcr that old can be perfect is beyond me, most were german bought and were well used.

[pirej]

Thanks, i will keep searching..

[blc7772001]

I just bought a Jvc Hr S9800U S-Vhs Vcr from a seller on ebay , Im not sure if this unit is working correctly .
Problem : Menue for ( Picture control ) The options are Normal , Soft , Sharp and Edit .

The Sharp does not respond to sharp it shows as blurry picture in fact the only picture control setting that
improves the picture is when its set on edit and edit is fair to good but not Sharp .

Im thinking that I got ripped off on ebay and bought a VCR with a bad or worn out picture control filter .

I bought this Jvc Hr S9800U Vcr because it is said to be one of the best you can buy regarding
picture quality and restoration .

I own other Vcr's that have picture control settings and when set on sharp the picture shows that
it is indeed sharper over edit or normal settings .

Did I buy a faulty VCR ? Please Help...

My set up is vcr by svideo out to Pioneer Hard Drive Dvd Recorder out to TV .

This is not a computer Vhs to Hard Drive restoration this is a stand alone Vcr to
stand alone Hdd Dvd Recorder restoration .

Any input from anyone out there reading my post is welcome to respond ,
Again Please Help...

Regards , blc7772001

[lordsmurf]

I have to wonder if your expectations are unreasonable, or if the other VCR is overly aggressive.
Then again, it may be a damaged VCR.

Hard to say without having some samples.

[blc7772001]

Thanks for your reply any input help is greatly appreciated . I own a Panasonic AG-1980 and a JVC S5500U VCR and these
units preform very well using there Picture control levels : Normal , Edit , Soft , Sharp weather I am transfering home recorded VHS Tapes or Store Bought Movie VHS tapes .

I am brand new to this site and know I have a lot to learn in the computer area of VHS to Dvd transfers .
But when it comes to stand alone hardware such as Vcr's , hdd-dvd recorders , TBC's , Video Color correctors I do
have a good understanding from owning and using these units over many years .

I have learned a lot from this site in all of the above units I have purchased over the years .

But when it comes to this JVC HR-S9800U I am very let down after reading at this site and all over the internet that
this Rare Hard to FIND JVC HR-S9800U is the Holy Grail of VCR's .

I am working on a very hard to transfer VHS Home recording off of cable tv in 1993 of a very rare only aired once
A&E Biography my other VCR's Panasonic AG-1980 & JVC S5500U blow the JVC HR-9800U away in picture preformance.
Yet according to countless professional Vcr reviews and people who own the JVC hr-9800u including people at this site
this unit should out preform the Pan- AG-1980 and the JVC-S5500U .

I spent $350 plus shipping thinking I got one of the best Vcrs on the market and that it would out preform my other VCR units plus finally help to bring my old Vhs to even better picture quality , only to be totally let down by its performance .

Why would this so called Hi-end Vcr show the exact blurry picture weather the Picture control is on Sharp , Soft or Normal
and only enhance a little more Sharpness when set on edit ???

Either I got ripped off totally from an ebay seller who sold me a faulty VCR or everything said about the JVC HR-9800U is all B.S. But I will never know unless I one have this JVC 9800u checked out and serviced or two buy another JVC HR-9800U used on ebay and take my chances once again . Sorry for the long reply , Best regards , blc7772001

[lordsmurf]

It almost sounds like head wear. Again, samples needed.

[orsetto]

The problem with ALL over-hyped and over-rated older VCRs is that the rave reviews mostly come from those who bought the damn things brand new 20 years ago, stuck them in a closet and then never used them until 2005 when it suddenly occurred to them "hey, I bet this would be great at transferring VHS to DVD!"

I'm not trying to be a wise-ass, I'm using (slight) exaggeration to make a point. Spending ridiculous amounts of money for a used VCR, no matter how pristine-looking, can be a huge risk that leads to disappointment. The two most popular VCRs for digitizing use are the Panasonic AG-1980 and various top-line JVCs like the 9800. These machines are capable of great results, but potential users must bear in mind they are almost certain to require servicing to achieve those results. High-end VCRs of this nature were low-volume prestige units for their mfrs, even when brand new they were notoriously flaky and 20 years later they are unlikely to have improved with age. If you don't budget for a service trip you're in for a rude shock as far as performance and reliability goes.

The Panasonic AG1980 had atrocious early quality control at the factory, there were several recalls and service bulletins during the first couple years until Panasonic perfected the design. Many of those units are still floating around without the updates, if you get one you may suffer obscure problems until you have it serviced. Luckily the AG1980 was in production for many years, later samples were better and they are easy to service/adjust. The high-end consumer JVCs were dicey as hell brand new, often failing before the 90 day warranty was up: they are probably the single worst risk in used electronics you can possibly take. Nine out of ten JVC SVHS decks will absolutely require thorough servicing before serious use, and occasional service afterward for as long as you keep them. Three of the finest gurus on this forum own such old JVCs and claim to have never had a moments trouble with them, but they are the minority: JVCs are hell on wheels and if you don't adjust your expectations and wallet you will be severely disappointed. Properly serviced they can perform very well, but they will need service and it won't be cheap. The performance edge a 9800 holds over a 1980 is debatable and very dependent on your particular tapes, if you have limited funds the 1980 is easier and cheaper to buy and much easier to service properly.

$350 for a used cranky JVC 9800 is a bit much, but now you're stuck with it you may as well blow another $100 to get it repaired. LordSmurf is probably right that the heads are worn or clogged, my own experience is the transport on these models drifts out of alignment causing all sorts of issues. The sharp-soft-normal filters are on a chip that does not "wear out", if you are truly seeing no visible effect then something is mechanically wrong with the VCR. Note as LordSmurf mentioned the picture adjustments on some JVCs are very subtle until you train your eye to see them, the Panasonic adjustments are sledgehammer obvious and if you're used to the 1980 the JVC can seem like its has no effect at first.

One last point to consider is not everyone sees the same things in the same way. The "improvements" possible with the JVCs or Panasonic 1980 are not as impressive to some people as they are to others. Much depends on your particular tapes and DVD recorder or PC. Those who do professional restoration or obssess over huge personal family video projects can justify $350 for a used, potentially problematic old VCR but if all you're doing is converting the typical VHS collection to DVD the fancy VCRs can be way more trouble (and $) than they're worth. Its not always as cut-and-dried as forum chatter often leads us to believe.

[rooks]

Hi thanxs for a very informative thread on VHS to DVD transfer.

I would like you to add the JVC HR-S8600EU (PAL) on the list.

My old Panasonic NV-HD610 VHS that i pulled out of the closet last year was broken, so I needed a replacement as i had decided to transfer my old family videos to dvd before it was tooooo late.

I learnt on the internet that a VHS with a s-video output would improve the pic quality. Throw in TBC and the quality, depending on the source, might or might not improve further.

s-video output seems to come from mostly S-VHS machines. Stand alone TBCs are too expensive and are hard to find used.
Then I stumbled upon this thread which gave a list of S-VHS which had both, quite help full indeed.
So using this as a reference i waited and nothing happened.

Then from Last month until now, all heavens broke loose.
1. Panasonic NV-HS 860, missed cos I was at work.
2. Panasonic NV-FS 200 - no remote, missed cos i was at a dinner. Very annoying indeed.
3. JVC HR-S7500, missed by an hour !!
4. JVC HR-S7500, the guy promised but never called back?
5. JVC HM-DH40000U, the ad claimed an american imported NTSC, but living in europe i have only PAL tapes.
6. JVC HR-S8600EU, this appeared yesterday and the ad claimed it had TBC. Not wanting another miss i decided to buy it. Not being on the list, I verified, and it seems to have both TBC and DNR according to the downloaded manual which goes like this.

"Your video recorder is equipped with the Digital TBC (Time
Base Corrector) that removes jitter from fluctuating video signals
to deliver a stable picture even with old tapes and rental
cassettes.
The on/off of Digital 3-DNR (Noise Reduction) which cuts noise
and enables clear picture reproduction is also linked to this
function."
* The default setting is "ON".

The VHS arrives next week so I hope it is not too worn out.

7. JVC DV S-VHS HRS1, this is still around but with no description except a picture which shows a DV & S-VHS combo and with a price tag of around $445 i guess this is goint to be around for a while.
I couldnt find any information on this combo, maybe it has wrong descriptions. Does any body have any idea on this unusal combo??
I hope I am not making another big miss on this one.
Here is the combos image link.

http://195.149.144.149/images/26/2607531205.jpg

[danno78]

If you already have HR-S8600 then I see no reason to buy HR-DS1. A used MiniDv camcorder can be under 100 USD. Next time try to hunt a Panasonic S-VHS with TBC.

[victoriabears]

Evere tried www.bidnapper.com works like a charm

[themaster1]

1. Panasonic NV-HS 860, missed cos I was at work.
2. Panasonic NV-FS 200 - no remote, missed cos i was at a dinner. Very annoying indeed.
3. JVC HR-S7500, missed by an hour !!
4. JVC HR-S7500, the guy promised but never called back?
5. JVC HM-DH40000U, the ad claimed an american imported NTSC, but living in europe i have only PAL tapes.
6. JVC HR-S8600EU, this appeared yesterday and the ad claimed it had TBC. Not wanting another miss i decided to buy it. Not being on the list, I verified, and it seems to have both TBC and DNR according to the downloaded manual which goes like this.

If it's on Ebay then try this: https://www.gixen.com/ i won a few items while i was away from home , thanks goes to this site.

[rooks]

I collected the HR-S8600 yesterday and its seems to be ok so far.

@danno78 Yes I had already ordered the HR-S8600 as I couldnt find any information on the HR-DS1 or whatever the name used for the DV/S-VHS combo in the picture.
What I meant by miss, is if it is a better machine than the 8600 just like I missed the NV-FS 200. Thanx for the info anyway and if there is a next time i shall try the Panasonics.

@victoriabears and themasters1 I am new to bidding on the internet. That is good info. shall try it next time. Thanx

[jefflbi]

Wow! All this is very confusing!! I thought this thread was going to give me an answer!! But I find I only have more questions! Are there any recommendations for vcr/dvd combo?? From what I have gathered is that the vcr playback quality is a key factor and that most times what people perceive as a worn tape is actually just a poor quality vcr player, or one that's in need of repair. I have a few 20-30 yr old vhs tapes that I thought degraded over the years, but it's not like I played them constantly, quite to the contrary! But I have changed vhs players, so I'm thinking I may have just gotten a vhs player that wasn't as good as my previous one. Can anyone recommend a good combo unit?? My goal is to transfer the videos from VHS to DVD. Thanks.

[lordsmurf]

You never want a combo, aside from those JVC S-VHS pro decks that MSRP'd for about $700+ (up to $2,000 each for some models). Consumer combo decks are all garbage, and are NOT made for transferring video.

[jefflbi]

Oh man, that sux!! I guess, if I really want to transfer these videos, I guess I'm gonna be looking to pick up a separate player and some sort of capture device or card. For just your average Joe who has some domestic VHS tapes (not foreign), I assume that tapes made/bought in the US are NTSC, is there a suggested setup?? I notice a lot of the info provided is at least a year old. Some of that hardware might not be available "new in the box", as I prefer. I also assume I'm not gonna find what I need from your typical Best Buy/public electronics store. Any suggested websites?? Thanks for the response.