Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Not reviewing this, but I have run into a problem with recording and play back with the audio with the VCR. Recently, this has started. The last 3-4 weeks. It records fine, the picture. But the audio after recording and playing back on two VCRs (the JVC HR-S3800U and a VCR part of a DVD/VCR player/recorder combo) is noticably lower than before, and is limited to a certain level of volume. Which is not quite satisfactory, and just isn't ideal at all. This wasn't a problem until about a month ago.

Is something set wrong? Is the audio heads/power of the VCR starting to fade? Are the audio plugs (which are plugged in the back) fading?

If I replace it with another VCR, will that fix the problem?

I do use a surround sound system from Sony. But that has never conflicted with recordings in the past.

FiresignTh

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $62.00 from eBay

Summary:
OK, but not great. An interesting problem as well. Reasonable for an eBay buy. The problem is that the cable converter control system won't set channels higher than 199 for my General Instruments 2244. That was a disappointment. No timed recording from HBO.

Strengths:
It was the first time I ever got the time setting feature to work on any VCR. But I never really tried that hard before. It even worked when I passed through only a local PBS station from my digital cable box to the VCR.

Weaknesses:
No cable box control from the VCR to the General Instruments 2244 for channels over 199. Tuner seems weak on my RF from the cable box.

Similar Products Used:
Lots of cheap VCR's since my first in 1977 that a neighbor's dad bought.

Price Paid:  $119.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
Well...Glad I didn't read the reviews before I bought my JVC. It has been a dependable workhorse for me for the past 18 months. I replaced an RCA D-VHS deck with the 3800 and while the 3800 is certainly NOT D-VHS caliber, it was not nearly as costly either. I believe that the 3800 has been the better value proposition as the RCA (VR-911HF) did not last much past its second year of service. This unit delivers quality recording and playback using S-VHS-ET in EP mode with Sony Premium grade tape, which I use for everyday (I tape about 10 hours of sports programming from Directv each week). Despite what I have read from others in these posts, the ET mode is easy to use, and beats the daylights out using standard VHS under any circumstances. Special events are taped on Fuji AV Master and Maxell Hi-Fi using S-VHS-ET, and results are wonderful. While I have not tried using S-VHS tapes yet, I am confident I will get excellent results based on what I have seen thus far. From reading the posts in this forum combined with my experiences, I believe this deck is best suited for those who have an S-Video connection to and from the deck (satellite, digital cable, etc.). I understand this is a significant issue for those of us who only have one S-video connection into their TV, but that will boost your picture quality and that is how my deck is installed currently. Folks who are using over the air antennas or standard cable will probably not enjoy this deck as the grainiess that was discussed in previous posts was evident when I have had to use rabbit ears (rainstorms!!) and had less than average picture. I DO agree with just about everyone in one area: It feels really cheap. but it is still holding up well. My thoughts are that for $119 you get what you pay for and if you want it to remain stationary, Velcro-rubber feet-other creative solutions would work. Surprisingly, this unit seems to play my older tapes better than the unit which it replaced in standard VHS mode. Seems the video calibration is responsible for that. Whatever the cause it has breathed new life into my old recordings! Finally, the issue of some video tapes performing better than others. MOST VCR's are like that! To my knowledge the only company that directly addresses that issue is Mitsubishi with their Perfectape system. The bottom line: Exactly what I was looki

Strengths:
Picture quality when using S-VHS-ET, value for dollar!

Weaknesses:
Strange method to set timer, Plug and play irrelevant with DSS, cable mouse should have been in box, Remote is form of torture device for non-techies.

Similar Products Used:
Sony SLV-2100 Beta, Sony SL-HF 550 Beta Sony 575 VHS Hi-Fi, RCA VR-911HF, Philips VR960 owned personally, extensive experience with Panasonic, JVC, Sony Hitachi, Samsung, Aiwa, and Go Video VCR lines

Price Paid:  $110.00 from BestBuy

Summary:
I bought this HR-S3900U as open box from best buy.Initially when I played tapes recorded on sharp, I was very disappointed.Picture has too much color push(It was beatiful in Sharp).But Finally I figured out after going thru manual that keeping Video calibration off giving the correct picture for the cassettes recorded on other VCRs.I have seen many people complaining many problems, I guess mostly because they didn't go thru Manual in detail.
I liked the slow motion in forward and reverse.and liked jetspeed picture search.One wonderful thing is all the program indexes I made on Sharp is working wonderfully for index search on this machine.

As far as SVHS-ET, initially I didn't find much difference with standard tapes(including Sony premium). Then I tried
TDK EHG(Extra High grade $1.50 each), Maxell HGX gold($1.00 each), Maxell HI-FI($2.00 each) and Sony V-Higrade($1.50 each). The picture quality was good in ET in Order Sony V-High Grade, Maxell HI-FI, TDK EHG, Maxell Gold. These tapes really improved picture quality a lot with SVHS-ET. But when compared to my friends Sharp 101U SVHS quality in ET mode, JVC is not reaching that quality.

Note: I heard Fuji Master120,Fuji SuperHG,TDK DSP tapes are very good for SVHS-ET.

Strengths:
This is about HR-S3900U, Transport is smooth and quite,fast, picture quality on par with other SVHS machines, cheap

Weaknesses:
Universal remote which needs two hands!!!? No menu button on machine, SVHS-ET quality not so good.

Similar Products Used:
Sharp 4 head HIFI and Panasonic 4 head hifi

Price Paid:  $170.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
Buying a new VCR today can be a terrible dissapointment! When my good old Sony failed, and the cost will be very high to repair it - I chose to pick up a cheap-o VCR to get by for now. My first puchase was a Toshiba '515 for $70 from Wal-Mart's closeout rack - good video but an unreal lack of quality... no surprise it was defective.

Ultimately I went to Best Buy and ended up with this JVC - actually the newer '3900, as it was the best of the bad lot. Definitely more solid than most, it loads the tape smoothly, runs silently, winds the tape very fast and the remote is okay - at least it is not a complex mess like the Sony units I have had.

The bad side - I am not impressed with the SVHS ET option. At first I didn't realize I had to engage it on the front panel... when I did, yes the video is better - but not up to true SVHS. When using a SVHS tape - it's a credible performer. So don't expect what true SVHS can deliver using a common tape - but a compromise.

Overall - at least I have compatibility with my other SVHS deck, and a VCR that has better build than the real cheapies out there. I have read the comments below, and I can't help but wonder if some issued have been addressed with this newer version - namely lack of high-speed wind and noisy transport issues. I've also noted many comments comparing quality of this VCR to those purchased 10-15 years ago... todays VCRs are disposable! Apples to oranges here folks! We get what we pay for, and this one didn't cost a lot for what it does. BTW for those looking for a flying erase head, the '5900 has that for only $20 more.

Strengths:
One of the best of the sorry lot of affordable VCRs today. SVHS is a major plus. Transport loads and runs smooth and quiet.

Weaknesses:
Video quality on standard tape with or w/o ET is marginal.

Similar Products Used:
Mid 1990s higher-end consumer models from Sony and JVC. 2 year old Sony.