Price Paid:  $317.00 from Tech Depot

Summary:
I bought this VCR so that my sister in Britain could send me videos of British TV. I was a little concerned to read some reports that the conversion in this VCR made the picture poorer quality than with a standalone converter. But I needn't have worried. The picture looks fine to me, it's as good as I get US network TV. It is an expensive VCR - but worth it to get my fix of Brit TV.

Strengths:
Easy to watch British PAL video tapes on a US NTSC TV. I could connect my British PAL video camera, watch them on US standard TV and copy them onto US tapes.

Weaknesses:
The provision of multiple inputs/output standards makes it a little more complicated to use than a normal VCR. Before I got used to the equipment I accidentally recorded a US netwrok TV transmission as being European PAL and it was unwatchable. But it was my mistake. Why does the feature of watching foreign tapes have to be so expensive? Most British VCR's will play US tapes - even inexpensive VCR's. But this seemed to be the least expensive product that does it in the USA that I could find.

Price Paid:  $450.00 from www.world-import.com

Summary:
I think the picture of the unit used by audioreview.com is wrong.To see how it really looks go to :www.world-import.com

Here the specs:
*4Mb converter
*Quasi Super VHS Playback
*Play overseas tapes on an American TV
*Basically, this VCR is capable of playing any tape on any TV

*Convert/play/record in PALNTSC <-SECAM
Also plays and records in French Secam but it does not have a French Secam-L tuner

*This unit can also be used as a standalone video converter
*Diamond Head System for superb picture and long life
Diamond heads also increases life of video heads up to 3 times and keeps heads permanently clean and reduces tape wear

*4-Video + 2 Audio Heads for HI-FI Stereo recording and playback
*MTS/SAP Stereo reception
*Advanced flourescent display
*Worldwide Tuners: Pal I,M,N,B/G,D/K - NTSC 3.58,M - Secam D/K,B/G

*Digital Special Effects

*Digital SSS - gives perfect jitter-free freeze frame, frame advance, slow motion, 'stroboscope' playback

*Warp Search for quick viewing during FF or rewind
Picture Sharpness control dial
*Jog/Shuttle on full function glow in the dark remote control

*AV Inputs - 1 Front / 1 Rear
*AV Output - 2 Rear
*Scart connection - Rear

*1 Year U.S.A. Warranty
Dimensions: 16.9W x 11.6D x 3.9h Weight: 9.5 lbs
Automatic switching between 110 - 240 volt 50/60hz

Strengths:
all

Weaknesses:
none