JVC HR-S4800 S-VHS VCR

The HRS4800U is a Super VHS ET VCR with editing features. It has a flying erase head (see my review), insert editing and audio dubbing. You can buy it for below $170, which is a great deal on a Super VHS VCR with editing features.

The HRS4800U features 3 modes: VHS, S-VHS (if you use S-VHS tape that costs at least $5 apiece) and S-VHS-ET that allows you to record in S-VHS format on a standard VHS tape (quality will be better than VHS, but worse than the one made on S-VHS tape, depending on tape quality). The Super VHS mode provides noticeably better quality than standard VHS ? more detail, contrast and sharpness. However you have to use good tapes and SP mode to get these benefits of S-VHS [ET].

All of these three modes can be used with several speeds. There is no recording LP speed, just SP and EP (SLP), so you can either record 2 or 6 hours on T-120 tape, but the LP playback is possible. The VCR has 2 Hi-Fi stereo audio heads in the video drum, so the sound is Hi-Fi stereo.

Picture Quality
The picture quality is noticeably superior to the ?standard? VHS. The detail level is much better with S-VHS (just use good tapes) ? since S-VHS uses 400 lines versus VHS?s 240. After watching a good recording in S-VHS-ET, regular VHS looks blurry and less detailed. You will se a benefit especially if you have a good source ? digital camcorder, DBS or digital cable.

S-Video in/out
The VCR has an S-Video input on the front panel in addition to gold-plated composite video and analog audio in ? very convenient to connect camcorders, etc. There are also S-Video outs and A/V jacks on the back panel. Switching between composite video and S-Video input is performed through the menu.

Plug & Play
JVC has some work to do here. The ?auto clock set? might have significant difficulties with the time zone, so you might have to resort to manual setting of the time. Panasonic VCRs don?t exhibit such behavior. The auto channel setup, on the other hand, works perfectly.

Jog and Shuttle Control
The 4800U has a Jog/Shuttle control on the front panel (see my review of VCR features), which is a must for a VCR with editing features (which this model has). Although it works well here, I prefer ?thumb wheel? style that HRS3600 features.

Remote
The remote is somewhat big and has the same shape that other JVC remotes have. The buttons glow in the dark and it can control a TV, cable box, DBS and even two JVC VCRs. But there is a lot of room for improvement in ease of use. Example: you have to press and hold down the ?TV? button while controlling your TV, same with other devices.

To start recording, you have to hold ?Rec? and press ?Play?, to start recording in pause mode (?Pause/Rec?), you have to hold ?Rec? and press ?Pause? and to change from ?Pause? mode to ?Play? mode, you have to press ?Play? (not ?Pause? again, as in other VCRs I used to).

Cable Eye Controller
The HR4800U uses so-called ?Cable Eye Controller? that allows you to control your cable box or DBS during timer recordings.

1. I have a Motorola digital cable box and, although the controller and remote are not supposed to work with this brand, they actually do work with it (under Jerold code - 06), which makes me vary happy.

2. The cable box should be left "ON" before the timer recording - the controller switches the channel, but does not turn the box on or off.

3. Be careful where you plug the controller - there are two similar jacks on the back panel (?Cable? and ?AV CompuLink?), I accidentally tried to use the wrong jack (?AV CompuLink?) and was disappointed that the controller didn't work.

Editing features work well with a help from the jog/shuttle control. Insert editing works flawlessly, using the flying erase head to eliminate video noise in the ?insert? points.

The JVC HRS4800U is a very good deal ? the editing features, picture quality, S-VHS capability and price make it a good choice.