Price Paid:  $499.00 from Mission Audio

Summary:
I needed a quality VCR with S-Video output to work with the new home theater configuration I set up when we moved into our new home. I had a top of the line Sony VCR from 1996 which had great picture and sound, but no S-Video. Upon beginning my product search, I discovered that it is really difficult to find a good quality VCR these days since most companies seem to be discontinuing them in favor of DVD's and DVD recorders. After trying a $149.00 JVC unit from Ciruit City and realizing it was a step down from my Sony, I came across the Marantz, and I purchased one after reading the preceding reviews here on AudioReview.com. The Marantz is a fantastic component. The sound quality is excellent, and really does rival the sound I get from DVD's (although obviously not surround sound). The picture quality is also the best I have ever seen out of a VCR. The lack of a flying erase head doesn;t bother me since we only use this component to watch video tapes. The controls all have a good solid feel, and the display panel is very crisp and easy to read. The little stereo level meters are also really cool, although totally uneccessary. Most of the few VCR's still on the market were really lightweight and just seemed to be of generally lesser quality than the other components in my system. The Marants must way around 10 pounds and is built like a tank. I can tell it is going to last for years. I'd recommend this unit to anyone who has a high end home theatre setup and needs a good VCR because the have an existing large tape collection.

Strengths:
Awesome build quality. Great on-unit display. Cool stereo sound meters. Front video input for connecting a video camera concealed behind panel.

Weaknesses:
On Screen displays could be better. Would be nice if lighted controls were provided on the units jog-shuttle (like on the Sony. Expensive, but I guess you get what you pay for.

Similar Products Used:
High end Sony. JVC.

Price Paid:  $300.00 from accessories4less.com

Summary:
This is a very nice super vhs vcr. It's larger and heavier than most vcrs built today. About 11 pounds. The Digital Studio Picture Control is very similar (same?) as JVC's Digipure system and provides excellent detail and resolution on new as well as older tapes in either vhs or svhs. My favorite setting is the "distinct" setting. Brings out detail long lost on my cheapo Sony vcr. I can actually clearly see the words "I Love You" written on the college girls eyelids in Raiders of the Lost Ark! Excellent for my old Indiana Jones collection that's not out on DVD yet. I do have another JVC vcr and this model is very similar. I think the guts are the same as the JVC. The on screen menus are the same, clock display etc. are the same. Of course, Marantz always adds a little extra engineering on their own, especially to the sound capabilities and this unit seems to excel a bit more in producing excellent stereo separation as I feed it into my Marantz receiver for dolby surround processing. Color control and separation using svhs cables is almost as good as my DVD - which is saying a lot. These are different formats and should be treated a such in comparisons. This VCR is one of the best I've seen in doing what VCR's do. There are DVD recorders appearing but I've still got lots of videos and this should last me a while. Marantz products are excellent. I'll probably get a Marantz DVD recorder when they put out one. Will probably be based on the Philips model - but I'm fine for now, especially since there are format wars a brewing between the different dvd writable formats. SVHS is still a viable format for recording shows from ReplayTV (or Tivo). A great fix while manufacturers get recordable DVD straight. Later, you can always take these svhs tapes and put them on DVD.

Strengths:
Superb picture, SVHS, Superb Sound, Marantz look, feel, quality. Not a cheapo vcr. Digital Studio Picture Control works as advertised - Bravo Marantz. Difficult to tell the differenct between SVHS recordings and DVD. Old VHS tapes look better than ever. Commercial vhs tapes look superb. Remote is the best VCR remote on the market. Intuitive, ergonomic, easy to use and unique. The Indexing system on this VCR is the same as the high end JVC vcr's and is the best way to catalogue recordings on a tape. Closest thing to ReplayTV you'll get on a VCR. Great Deal and lives up to what I imagined.

Weaknesses:
Doesn't have a brake to stop on a dime like the Marantz MV 880 (previous similar model vcr - but the MV 880 doesn't have digital studio picture control and also doesn't have an on screen status indicator of where you are on the tape).

Similar Products Used:
JVC HRS7600, Sony, Panasonic, Marantz MV 880. ReplayTV 3020. DVD is Marantz VC8100 (thx certified dvd changer).

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Accessories4Less.com

Summary:
This is a playback and TV show recording VCR only - NOT an editing deck much to my dismay. Seems to have every gadget BUT a flying erase head. Playback is nice and clear. Sound is second to none. TV tuner is average at best. If you don''''''''t do any editing, it is a nice VCR. Overall, not worth the money.

Strengths:
Sound quality comparable with DVD digital using a good sound processor - best yet from a VCR that I''''''''ve heard.

Weaknesses:
NO Flying erase head! This is NOT an editing VCR! Tuner is average at best. Very disappointing for a VCR at this price point.

Similar Products Used:
Various Mistubishi, Sony, JVC