Price Paid:  $159.00 from Future Shop

Summary:
The JVC 3900/10U offers the best price/performance in VCRs today. Sure you can save a few bucks and buy a non S-VHS machine - BUT WHY? The S-VHS picture quality is excellent in SP mode, and very good in SLP. I tried the S-VHS ET mode and found a small improvement over standard VHS. But why not stock up on S-VHS tapes and enjoy the better picture with all your recordings? In terms of sound, it easily bests any hi-fi machine I've owned. The owners manual is quite straightforward and the remote is as good as you can expect at this price point. The unit runs quietly and everything functions perfectly. All-around, a great product. ê

Strengths:
Picture & sound quality, plug-and-play, value.ˆ

Weaknesses:
No jog/shuttle on remote. Mail-in coupon for cable eye (which did arrive within 10 days of ordering).

Similar Products Used:
Fisher, Sharp, Toshiba, Sony & Panasonic over the years. (This is my 6th VCR))

Price Paid:  $109.00 from Grant's Appliances (floor model)

Summary:
I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem in JVC Vcr's. I have to get service on this unit already and only have used it less than 1 month !

The problem is the picture comes out black and white , not color (playing tapes and recording). Just today I rewired some of my system with a new JVC tv I bought and once the plug and play was done , I turned unit on , it went from color to black and white. The manual does not cover this problem in the trouble shooting area.

I have hooked up the unit to my reciver with the audio in/out's and video using the "S" video in/out. I called JVC service and they told me maybe it's a weak signal. I don't buy it because the b/w video comes out very clean.

I will give value rating a 5 , for price , only a 2 because of problem .

Strengths:
Easy setup , program recording , user manual.

Weaknesses:
None than I'm aware of except , I need service already!

Similar Products Used:
GE , LXI (worst buy I ever made at Sears) 17yr old RCA and still working...

Price Paid:  $149.00 from FutureShop (for $229 Canadian without tax)

Summary:
My good 'ol Sony SLV676UC finally died, it was 14 years old. That's about 200 in VCR years. :P

I decided on the JVC model since I had a few friends that bought the predecessor to the S3910U The SR3800U.

The VCR is heavier than it's predecessor, so pushing in a video tape won't move the VCR. Tape loading seems smooth.

The remote control is (from memory) indentical to the SR3800U. So if you didn't like that one, you won't like this one. For me, the remote is fine. Buttons seem to be in the palces where I'd expect them, though the menu buttons seem a bit crapmed at the bottom, but all buttons you'd use most often are located along the center and right hand side. So it's great if you're right handed.

The cable TV tuner seemed nice and lacking of any additional background noise. Esentially as good as the cable TV could get. Some channels seemed a bit softer than the output from the Toshiba model, but the S3910U had a less noisy (snowy) picture.

Recording quality is excelent (for SVHS), SVHS-ET is also sharp, but with the addition of extra noise (you get what you pay for).

Strengths:
nice sharp picture, TV tuner is noise free

Weaknesses:
silver colour, remote is fair, recording takes a few seconds to engage.

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba W804