Sony SLV-N88 VCRs

Sony SLV-N88 VCRs 

DESCRIPTION

VHS 4-Head Hi-Fi Stereo VCR

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-5 of 5  
[Apr 28, 2003]
Gary C
Casual Listener

Strength:

Attractive styling, front timer-set knob, choice of index scan, choice of flexible FF and Rewind modes, manual-set VCR+.

Weakness:

Only one-minute timer backup, no display of time except when off and only hours/minutes display on the unit, poor quality slow motion and 2x (double-time) display, a worthless commercial advance button, and fairly expensive overall for the features provided.

Usually, the new model year will bring improvements over the year before. With Sony VCRs just the opposite seems to be happening. In order to be more competitive in the VCR world, Sony is reducing features to shave prices and attract buyers. But that means the quality and features of the VCR of one or more model-years ago is far better than current units. The Sony SLV-N88 is the third highest level of four (N55, N77, N99) VCR models, each with varying features. The N88 has a silver finish to match WEGA televisions, and is the least expensive one that has the unique timer dial on the unit. The timer dial allows programming of the VCR without turning on the unit or the television. It is a superb enhancement, very easy to use, and a main feature that has no competition over competing brands. The N88 also has VCR+ which must be set up manually. But the biggest loss on the N88 is the elimination of the one-hour timer backup, a feature unique to Sony and essential for anyone who time-shifts recordings. The one minute backup does not even allow much time to move the unit from one plug to another. A decade ago, Sony offered three-hour backup. More recently, even the cheapest of its units had one hour. Now, they have one minute. The display on the unit is more limited than the previous models and shows only hours and minutes, but not seconds. (onscreen, the seconds do show) During recording, it only reads "REC". The picture quality is fair to good, but slow motion, pause, and x2 (double-time) are not good, jittery and unclear. What was surprising was a playback of an tape in LP mode made on another machine: it was very good. Sony only supports SP and EP recording which is typical today. Commercially pre-recorded tapes are good but there is a slight jitteriness that is faintly visible. The auto-tracking seems effective, but there are manual tracking nobs on the unit only should a tape not respond properly. Good features include flexible fast-forward and reverse (touch once and it operates until "Play" is pressed; hold down/release to manually operate) and index scan that slowly reviews the whole tape showing 5 seconds at the start of each program. User hits "Play" to watch the desired program. Viewer can select to go to pre-selected spot, by tagging the spot as "00.00.00", or move to the next blank area on the tape. For air and cable users, many programs will display the XDS channel, call letters, and program title. Traditional timer programming is reasonably easy to use even for the unsophisticated, but time canot be entered directly--must use the up and down arrow keys to which takes longer. The one-minute rewind of a T-120 tape is good for movie renters, but for time-shifters it is not as desireable. The tape goes so fast you cannot stop right where you want, it always overshoots by a few minutes, which is a minor irritant. Even the index scan feature goes back and forth till it can stop at the desired point. A worthless feature is commercial skip, a button that advances the tape by 15 seconds per press. Standard Fast Forward is just as effective to use. But another button repeats the last ten seconds and that is more helpful. This VCR is of middling quality, and can be considered if the feature set suits the user. It may pay to search for previous years' models that still may be in stores or online. Without the timer backup feature, the SLV-N88 VCR does not distinguish itself from among other competitors in the marketplace today. The higher SLV-N99 model does offer VCR+ Gold which sets itself from the cable or air channels, a major convenience. But this will not work with a satellite receiver. So those who permit the cable or satellite receiver box control the recordings may choose this or a less costly model.

Similar Products Used:

Sony SLV-N81, Sony SLV-M91HF, RCA VR704HF

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
2
[Mar 29, 2003]
webraider
AudioPhile

Strength:

Sharp Picture, excellent Sound Fast re-winding. Very quiet (except when rewiding which is due to it's quickness)

I went through quite a few VCR's to replace My Philips Magnavox. I wanted a stereo VCR and tried many before this Sony Model (even lower priced Sonys as well as just about every brand. The service desk at Wal-Mart and Target loved me). I must say that everyone who see' s movies on it is impressed as I am too. It looks better on my Sony Wega than it did on the Magnavox TV that I had previously as well. It's easy to use and functions great.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Oct 31, 2002]
chubz9
Casual Listener

Strength:

Style, Sony's reputation, Features, Everything...

Weakness:

There will never be any, I think...

I love this VCR. The best VCR I've ever owned. I initially bought the cheapest model from Panasonic, which is the PV-V4022, cause I would just use it in my room and i figured it would be just fine to use a not-that-expensive VCR. But I was wrong, the Panasonic VCR was the WORST one i've ever used. It was so cheap-looking, and the tape-eject mechanism malfunctioned after like 4 days of using it. It is going back to where it came from. I returned it to the store, and being a big SONY fan, I checked out the VCR's from them. I saw the SLV-N55, SLV-N77, SLV-N88, and SLV-N99. Of all these, only the SLV-N88 is colored silver, to match a WEGA tv. I was so attracted to its appearance and features. And when I got home, and finally tested, I figured you really get what you pay for. This VCR, being $70 more than the Panasonic, it is ABSOLUTELY worth it, and it would stay in my room... Go get this VCR, you will not be disappointed. The Remote controller is a universal one, which could control your tv and vcr, and its buttons are luminous, meaning, GLOW IN THE DARK, so its a nice feature.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic PV-V4022? I dont even know if it could be called "similar" product used.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 11, 2002]
Bikedave
Casual Listener

Strength:

Light weight, usual wiring ease.

Weakness:

Annoying blinking red "VIDEO" light that cannot be shut off, you must unplug the machine. Rewind is too fast and you cannot stop where you want. Picture and sound quality is variably poor to good. Record does not work quickly enough - about 1.5 second delay before it begins recording. Manual is unusable.

The Sony SLV-N88 is my first Sony VCR. Previously I had a Philips VCR. I found this machine to be a trying experience. The manual supplied is incorrect in many areas. The VCR readout is poor. Sound and picture quality is not as good as my ten year old Philips monaural VCR. Sony is living off its past reputation in this one.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[May 06, 2002]
Linda
Casual Listener

This is my 3rd Sony VCR and not my favorite. My SLV 679HF got stolen so I replaced it with this one. I don''t like the rewinding - it goes so fast that you have to press Stop about 10 minutes before where you really want to stop and it''s a guess as to where it will stop. My other two previous Sony''s had the second counter on the real time display and this one doesn''t. But, other than that I can''t complain. It''s a good VCR.

Similar Products Used:

2 previous Sony VCRs

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
Showing 1-5 of 5  

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