Price Paid:  $15.00 from 2001 audio video

Summary:
Only been able to watch 6 movies in 8 months, picture and sound seemed good but the motor was loud.
It has been in the shop three times for a total of 4.5 months and Panasonic is still unwilling to replace it.
The price was good, but it still works out to $25 for each movie reviewed.
The VCR is a joke, and Panasonic should be ashamed of themselves.

Strengths:
Ease of use, when something is always broken there is nothing to use

Weaknesses:
only plays two movies, then breaks.

Similar Products Used:
sony

Price Paid:  $100.00 from Sears

Summary:
This VCR is a great little basic player. I don't do a lot of recording, it's mostly for playback of pre-recorded purchased VHS tapes. I have owned other Panasonic VCRs and have always preferred the picture quality and reliability of their VCRs compared to the competition. I recently purchased the 4520 at Sears, they were the only store that still had stock left over from the 2000 model year. I looked at the 4521, and the quality just isn't there. The 2001 models are being made in Indonesia now, no longer Japan. If you are still able to find a 4520 model, I recommend that you pick it up quick because you will be very happy with the performance.

Strengths:
Compact size, made in Japan, excellent picture and sound, smooth operation.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Sony, RCA, Zenith, Fisher

Price Paid:  $90.00 from Future Shop

Summary:
I just bought this VCR (PV-4521-K the 2001 model for the PV-4520-K) a few days ago to replace my Radio Shack VCR that prematurely died from a motor coronary.

The first thing I noticed about this VCR are the incredibly small buttons on its universal tower remote. The channel and pause buttons are the size of pin heads. How is anyone going to find these buttons in the dark? The remote is a wedge shape that is too thick on the bottom so it does not site well in my hand. The rectangular base keeps digging into my palm. I'd recommend tossing the remote before you injure your hand on it and getting something larger like an RCA universal remote.

The rewind and fast forward is noisy. The play/record noise isn't noticeable. The tape eject sounds like someone is kicking in my door. It will wake up the dead.

The biggest drawback is the tuner which adds snow to the upper channels. The tape doesn't have to be playing. If I simply flip back and forth using the VCR/TV button, it looks like I'm viewing some channels through pebbled glass. I hooked it up to another TV this time using RCA cables and I still get a snowy picture. I also noticed faint horizontal lines on the picture of most channels. Unfortunately this noise gets recorded on the tape.

The "tape remaining" on screen display is a progress bar only that is marked to the nearest hour. It is missing the hh:mm that you see on my last 3 VCR's. So you don't really know if you have enough tape left or not.

The audio quality is excellent. I have it hooked up to a pair of amplified computer speakers and it rocks.

If you don't mind the hard to handle remote, the snowy picture, and noisy motor, this VCR is for you. As for me, mine is going back to the store.

Strengths:
Excellent sound. Panasonic has excellent repair record in Good repair history for Panasonic in Consumer Reports

Weaknesses:
Poor remote, snowy picture, noisy FF,RW,Eject

Similar Products Used:
Radio Shack, Mitsubishi, Sony

Price Paid:  $89.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I cannot hear the motor exept when it is FFE or REW. Picture is really solid with beatiful color. Stereo sound is better than the old Zenith. Yes the remote takes getting use to, BUT once the syntax of the menus is understood it is very easy to use. The only thing you can see in the Multi Function Display window when the unit is in use is PLAY, FFW, & REW; however, hitting the display button puts the time and other info on the picture. A heck of a buy for $89. I just hope the tape transport will hold up as good as the old Zenith (which I now use to digitize VHS tapes).

Strengths:
Price, Picture quality, ease of use

Weaknesses:
Information shown in Multi Function Display window

Similar Products Used:
Zenith - 15 years old & still going strong

Price Paid:  $100.00

Summary:
Hey you guys,

I have to speak out here! I just purchased this Panasonic HIFI VCR about a month ago. I paid $150 CDN (taxes in). I don't see what all the compalining is about. Picture is good, HIFI sound is excellent! Remote is very good and on-screen instructions are fab and easy to use.

This VCR is replacing my 11 year Fischer Studio Standard HIFI which I paid $600 CDN for. Excellent machine by the way.

The Panasonic is light and somewhat limited in certain features but what do you expect for an entry-level HIFI VCR?

Strengths:
Product brand-name, made in Japan (high quality), excellent on-screen menues, excellent sound and good picture quality. Low price.

Weaknesses:
Comercial skip feature is limited (only skips in intervals of 1, 2, or 3 minutes.

Similar Products Used:
Fischer HIFI VCR (again made in Japan).