Summary:
This VCR is quite nice for the price paid for it. It plays old tapes quite well and generates a nice picture from pretty much any tape: old or new, good or bad quality. I was very impressed, to be quite honest. When recording, it also does a fantastic job with contrast and color as well as overall picture quality. The unit itself looks nice on my shelf and the build quality seems quite good, compared to the other VCRs that were considered before purchasing this unit. The only real gripe I have with this unit is that it's a bit loud when a tape is ejected or inserted as well as when a tape is rewound or fast-forwarded. On a side note, a few months after purchasing this VCR, the need arose for me to purchase another VCR. Since the picture quality of the JVC, mentioned above, came highly recommended from a friend, I bought it in addition to the Sony. After using the JVC along side the Sony for a while, I wish I had just purchased another one of the Sonys. The JVC was more expensive and while it has SVHS capability, the Sony's picture quality is right up there with the JVC. It is also much more user-friendly and better built than the JVC. Anyone looking for a fairly well priced, quality VCR should definitley consider this unit.

Strengths:
Easy to setup and use, nice remote, great picture quality, decent build quality.

Weaknesses:
The unit is quite loud on ff and rew as well as when the tape is either ejected or inserted out of/into the unit.

Similar Products Used:
Older Zenith and Sony plus a JVC HR-S7600U

Summary:
I have had this unit for about 4 months and love it. It is playing some tapes I recorded 10-15 years ago like they were new, with no noise on playback, still frame, or slo-mo
(which is the main reason I replaced my old unit). I got this for $159.00 at Ward's and consider it a great bargain at that price.

Strengths:
Great picture and sound, easy-to-use, plays very old (10-15 years) tapes I recorded, at like-new quality.

Weaknesses:
No jog/shuttle on the remote.

Summary:
Ive had bad luck with my Sony VCRs... my last 2 have been stolen :) I am very happy with the 789HF--it combines the best of my previous two. My older 679HF had index search, and my 779HF had slightly better picture quality. The 789HF brings back index searching, has great picture quality (especially with tapes recorded with Reality Regenerator and played back with that feature turned on) and is exceedingly simple to program. A small knob on the front bezel allows you to set a program time and channel in about 5 seconds, and you never have to use an onscreen menu or the remote.

I picked this up at Best Buy for $189, although you can probably find it cheaper.

Strengths:
Easy timer, great picture quality, index search

Weaknesses:
No jog on remote (but I dont use that remote anyway)

Similar Products Used:
Sony SLV-679HF, SLV-779HF

Summary:
Make sure you have a return capability when buying this unit. If you find one that works it's probably a nice VCR.

Strengths:
Good picture, features

Weaknesses:
Worked for a few hours out of the box then ate a tape. Shortly thereafter it ate another tape. Returned to store (Best Buy). Poor quality control.

Similar Products Used:
Several other Sony VCRs and Phillips/Magnovox

Summary:
Picture quality very good for VHS. Adaptive picture control works well on tapes from other recorders. Sound quality tops at about 90db, good as it gets. Some features and controls less than intutative. Makes lots of noise changing functions, like any 9 pound unit would. Trend to light construction by all VCR makers raises questions of long term durability. When a Sony R5 comes in at around 21 lbs you have to wonder just what was left out. The price is cheap and it works well. Unless you want to spend a $1000 or more it's a real buy.

Strengths:
Audio and video quality very good. Timer recording excellent.

Weaknesses:
Slow responce to remote commands. Noisy.

Similar Products Used:
Sony SLHF R5 SVHS, Samsung StarSight VCR, various Panasonic VHS and SVHS VCR's