Philips VR 1200 vs Philips VR 969 vs JVC HR-S4700EH

[SilverPT]

Hello everyone.

I've a small digitize business and I'm looking forward to update my VCR (Panasonic NV-J45). After searching online I narrowed it down to the three options written in the title. All of them are within my budget:

VR 1200 - 115€
VR 969 - 275€
HR-S4700EH - 450€

I can test all except the VR 969 due to the seller living almost 350km away.

I've come to request your help to know which one is the better model (assuming all of them are functioning well).

Thank you in advance. Best regards.

[Bogilein]

JVC-HR-S4700 (from 1991/1992), I own the identical device from Nordmende and is often my first choice for tapes with tracking problems. Unfortunately, it is also very error-prone and something can always break. Due to its age and susceptibility to faults, it is not recommended for everyone.

Philips VR969 (from 1997) is a real Philips, apart from the design with the clock I can't think of anything to say about this device.

Philips VR-1200 (from 2001/2002) is a JVC clone without being able to name an identical JVC recorder. I have read mixed information about this unit. There is a 2-page manual where the unit is supposed to have a TBC&DNR, but in the manual and on pictures of the unit on the internet there is nothing to see or read about a TBC.

Since none of the units seem to have a line TBC, they should only be used in conjunction with a DVD recorder in loop-through mode or a capture card with line TBC function.

My favourite would actually be the JVC HR-S4700 but for the reasons mentioned above I would tend towards the Philips VR1200.

But the choice also depends on the tapes you want to digitise.

[rgr]

HR-S4700EH - 450€

Quite expensive.
I recently bought a JVC HR-S6850 for 90 euros.

[oln]

It seems like a less common model but if it's anything like related JVCs from the same time it will likely need a bunch of capacitors replaced to work properly so unless it's been properly serviced that's rather overpriced.

[SilverPT]

Would the JVC HR-S9400 model be a better choice? I found one that was put up to sale yesterday (440€).

[Bogilein]

Would the JVC HR-S9400 model be a better choice? I found one that was put up to sale yesterday (440€).

No.

I think/hope you know this threads:

https://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-restore/1567-vcr-buying-guide.html

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/286055-VCR-buying-guide-%28S-VHS-D-VHS-Professional%29

https://gleitz.info/forum/index.php?thread/48526-%C3%BCbersicht-%C3%BCber-alle-jvc-pan...r-deutschland/


As oln has already written. The condition of the device determines whether the price is justified. In order to be able to classify the prices a little, here is the website of the vcrshop from the netherlands:

https://vcrshop.com/