Panasonic PV-HD1000 D-VHS VCR - Anyone have one? Experience? Comments?

[jbd5010]

Just saw a Panasonic D-VHS unit pop up on eBay. I wasn't really aware they made D-VHS units, maybe I read about it somewhere at one point and just forgot... anyway, the model number is PV-HD1000.

The manual is here - http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/PVHD1000.PDF

Doesn't look like it has S-VHS playback, only SQPB... aka "begrudgingly plays your S-VHS tapes in low resolution." I don't have any S-VHS tapes, though, so I'm only really wondering if VHS playback is any good. Anyone have this unit?

Also, does it have a TBC? I don't see mention of one in the manual.

[orsetto]

Its not a particularly desirable model anymore unless you actually do still want to record DVHS tapes (and have one of the HDTV cable or set top boxes that can communicate with it over FireWire). Its dates back more than ten years, has no internal ATSC/QAM tuner for todays broadcasts, can't record or play true SVHS format (only "ordinary" VHS or DVHS), has no TBC/DNR to improve "ordinary" VHS playback, and is (oddly) based on the rather poor 1994 Panasonic consumer VCR chassis that is especially difficult to repair if it breaks (parts are very scarce). Its comparable to the Mitsubishi HS-HD1000U in terms of having no outstanding VHS/SVHS features and being designed almost exclusively for DVHS use with external FireWire STBs. If its in mint internal condition, its a decent basic VCR if you can get it for under $50 and like the idea of owning a rare model, otherwise skip it. When playing regular VHS tapes its really no better than a used $15 Quasar, Panasonic or Sharp you'd find at a thrift shop.

The DVHS vcrs with TBC/DNR/SVHS capabilities similar to or better than the classic SVHS JVCs or Panasonic AG1980 would be the Mitsubishi HS-HD2000U or one of the numerous JVC DVHS models. The Mitsubishi used to be scarce but is showing up more often lately on Craigs List and eBay. Its a well-built compact vcr with complete VHS-SVHS-DVHS compatibility and includes a JVC-derived TBC/DNR feature. Mine has been pretty reliable over the last four years dubbing hundreds of VHS to DVD, it has an outstanding color noise filter. JVC sold a surprisingly wide range of DVHS variations, just about all include TBC/DNR comparable to the older "DigiPure" SVHS models. The later slimmer JVCs run a bit cooler and may be more reliable. The first few "tall" JVC DVHS models run hot and can be slightly less reliable but are easier to find and more affordable. Any DVHS is likely to be in much better second-hand condition than an old JVC DigiPure or Panasonic AG1980.

[jbd5010]

Thanks for the advice, I'll pass on this one then.

I had found a bunch of cheap HM-DH30000U's on eCost.com back in January, $70 each shipped, factory refurbished with all accessories (wow!). I sold them all on eBay and made enough money to start buying a few models I REALLY wanted. I was going to keep a 30000U for myself but I was unimpressed with color saturation on playback, and even MORE unimpressed with the analog-->MPEG-2 encoder via firewire out to my PC.

Maybe the 40000U or 5U provide better playback as far as JVC D-VHS models.

On another note, I a couple weeks ago I found an SR-VDA300U and got it for only $30 shipped. Even though the only difference between this and the 30000U is the SDI digital connection instead of firewire (according to JVC service manuals and documentation), playback quality seems superior. The seller had it listed as "SR-VDA300U Mastering Recorder," probably a costly error on their part. They should've put "VCR" in the title for more hits on searches, and ultimately they should've put "Pro Version of HM-DH30000U." It's branded "professional series."

I'm deciding if I want to keep this unit or not; my SR-V10U provides about the same quality, and definitely has a TBC (while the 300U doesn't have one listed at least)... and I may be able to get a little more than I paid for it if I re-sell it, put the money towards a Mitsu 2000U when one pops up for sale.

[orsetto]

If you are looking for a unit that matches or exceeds your JVC SR-V10U, the Mitsu 2000 might be a good choice if you can get a good price (>$150). Compared to my JVC 9911, the Mitsu 2000 is usually neck and neck but sometimes notably better. Since they use TBC/DNR circuits similar to those in the SR-V10U, the biggest influence seems to be tracking variation (the Mitsu 2000 uses a non-JVC transport). Note the Mitsubishi does not have the extra analog/digital conversion options of the JVC 30000 and other JVCs, its PC connectivity may not be as useful.

Your SR-VDA300U sounds interesting, it never ceases to amaze me how many DVHS models JVC churned out (considering they were not terribly successful in North America). There were some threads a couple years back where several members compared their various JVC DVHS models and concluded they all showed evidence of having TBC/DNR even if there was no button on the front panel or other obvious indication. I'd be surprised if the SR-VDA300U lacks TBC/DNR, it may be automatically switched on or buried in a menu option somewhere. JVC always joins DNR and TBC together as a unified feature, some models mention only "DNR" on a button or menu while the uncredited TBC tags along for the ride. That "Mastering Recorder" label might mean its different internally, though.

[jbd5010]

Here's the service manual... basically says "go get the HM-DH30000U service manual," haha.
http://www.jvcservice.com/download/373921229/82967.pdf

A guy is shipping me his HM-DH30000U that he says has power issues. He says the optical audio jack glows red, and the LCD screen powers up momentarily, but that's about it. It only cost me $20 because he would "rather give it away than throw it out." If these models are *really* that similar, maybe I'll be able to build a "hybrid" machine with SR-VDA300's (what seems to be) superior playback capability, combined with the HM-DH30000U's firewire port (since the 300U's SDI port is useless for 99% of consumers)

The SDI input portion of the 300U is actually a removable module that forms the base of the VCR. Look at the photos here:
http://pro.jvc.com/pro/attributes/hdtv/photos/300w/srvda300.jpg

EDIT: You can also see from that photo that the bottom part has a black power switch on the right, while the "normal" vcr part also has the standard front panel power button on the upper left. The SDI module actually takes a separate power cord (standard C13 IEC "computer" power connector like the ag-1980). So it could be removed and the upper part should still function.

[jbd5010]

Okay... I realize we're WAY off topic on the original thread title, but just one more fun thing.

I'm a hands-on guy... so after that last post I took the top cover off of the unit. What did I find??? Well... look at the photo (sorry it's a Blackberry picture, my digital camera batt is dead). It's a FIREWIRE PORT!


And wait... what does it show up as when I plug that firewire into my PC? Look at the second photo.... an HM-DH30000U!


I was able to capture analog input to the A/V ports just like on the HM-DH30000U I tested. Unfortunately, also like the 30000U, I wasn't able to capture a VHS tape being played directly on the unit, only signals fed to the analog inputs.

So it IS a 30000U in disguise!