JVC HR-S7900 VHS / S-VHS playback VCR
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- VCR Type: VHS / S-VHS playback
- Number of Video Heads: 6
- Audio: Hi-Fi Stereo
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A good S-VHS VCR at a good price
Pros
Good recording quality, price
Cons
Multiple JVC VCR's can be a pain to control
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
This is a good S-VHS VCR at a good price.
I've owned a total of 5 JVC VCR's over the years, with the last 3 being S-VHS models. I used to have a JVC HR-S9600U, which was the top-of-the-line S-VHS model at the time, and was very happy with it, so when it crapped out on me, I figured I'd go with the 7900, which is about $200 less than the 9600.
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ABOUT S-VHS
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S-VHS (Super-VHS) is basically a second VHS format, which delivers a better picture than standard VHS. Standard VHS displays something like 240 lines of resolution, while S-VHS displays 400 lines of resolution, which is better than a 50% increase in resolution. Not as good as DVD, but a lot better than standard VHS. So what's the catch? Well, there are 2: The S-VHS tapes cost between $6 and $10 each, and S-VHS tapes are not playable in most standard VCR's. It should be noted that S-VHS VCR's also record in standard VHS on standard VHS tapes.
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THE JVC HR-S7900U
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This VCR comes in black only. It has S-VHS and standard RCA inputs and outputs on the rear, and S-VHS and RCA inputs on the front. Other than that, it is pretty much a standard VCR design. Obviously, this VCR records in Hi-Fi Stereo.
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STUFF I LIKE
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The picture quality on S-VHS recordings is very good. No jitter, no tracking problems. Likewise, the Hi-Fi sound is excellent. The remote is fairly well laid-out, although a jog/shuttle dial would have been nice (there's one on the front panel of the VCR). The onscreen displays are intuitive and easy to use.
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STUFF I DON'T LIKE
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First off, I have 2 JVC VCR's, which brings me to my first gripe. All JVC VCR's can operate on one of 2 remote control frequencies. When you have 2 VCR's, you need to unplug one of the VCR's, set the remote control frequency to 1 or 2, then press a button on the remote to set the VCR to that frequency. That's all good, except for one thing: if you lose power or unplug the VCR's, then use a remote while they're both plugged in, both of the VCR's will 'set' to the remote channel you're using. What this means is that you have to unplug one of the VCR's and reset it manually (as described above). This is a real pain in the butt when your electric power company is as inept as mine, and cuts the dang power all the time.
My second gripe is aimed squarely at ALL JVC VCR's: Sometimes they damage your tapes when recording in EP mode. Like I said, I have had 5 JVC VCR's over the years, and all of them (except this one, so far) have "creased" the tops of video tapes. This only seems to happen in the first 45 minutes of an EP recording. The result is that the damaged section of tape is unwatchable. It sucks. Now, to be fair, this problem may be attributable to crappy tapes, and it really doesn't happen enough to be a major concern, but it is a pain when it does happen. Like I said before, the 7900 has not exhibited this behavior (yet), so I'm not sure if the problem has been fixed or not.
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THE BOTTOM LINE
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The JVC HR-S7900U has been a pretty good workhorse for me. The picture quality is very good, the features are nice, and there are plenty of easily accessible inputs and outputs. And the price is right. If you're looking for a new VCR, this model might satisfy you.
---------------
ABOUT S-VHS
---------------
S-VHS (Super-VHS) is basically a second VHS format, which delivers a better picture than standard VHS. Standard VHS displays something like 240 lines of resolution, while S-VHS displays 400 lines of resolution, which is better than a 50% increase in resolution. Not as good as DVD, but a lot better than standard VHS. So what's the catch? Well, there are 2: The S-VHS tapes cost between $6 and $10 each, and S-VHS tapes are not playable in most standard VCR's. It should be noted that S-VHS VCR's also record in standard VHS on standard VHS tapes.
-----------------------
THE JVC HR-S7900U
-----------------------
This VCR comes in black only. It has S-VHS and standard RCA inputs and outputs on the rear, and S-VHS and RCA inputs on the front. Other than that, it is pretty much a standard VCR design. Obviously, this VCR records in Hi-Fi Stereo.
----------------------
STUFF I LIKE
----------------------
The picture quality on S-VHS recordings is very good. No jitter, no tracking problems. Likewise, the Hi-Fi sound is excellent. The remote is fairly well laid-out, although a jog/shuttle dial would have been nice (there's one on the front panel of the VCR). The onscreen displays are intuitive and easy to use.
----------------------
STUFF I DON'T LIKE
----------------------
First off, I have 2 JVC VCR's, which brings me to my first gripe. All JVC VCR's can operate on one of 2 remote control frequencies. When you have 2 VCR's, you need to unplug one of the VCR's, set the remote control frequency to 1 or 2, then press a button on the remote to set the VCR to that frequency. That's all good, except for one thing: if you lose power or unplug the VCR's, then use a remote while they're both plugged in, both of the VCR's will 'set' to the remote channel you're using. What this means is that you have to unplug one of the VCR's and reset it manually (as described above). This is a real pain in the butt when your electric power company is as inept as mine, and cuts the dang power all the time.
My second gripe is aimed squarely at ALL JVC VCR's: Sometimes they damage your tapes when recording in EP mode. Like I said, I have had 5 JVC VCR's over the years, and all of them (except this one, so far) have "creased" the tops of video tapes. This only seems to happen in the first 45 minutes of an EP recording. The result is that the damaged section of tape is unwatchable. It sucks. Now, to be fair, this problem may be attributable to crappy tapes, and it really doesn't happen enough to be a major concern, but it is a pain when it does happen. Like I said before, the 7900 has not exhibited this behavior (yet), so I'm not sure if the problem has been fixed or not.
--------------------------------
THE BOTTOM LINE
--------------------------------
The JVC HR-S7900U has been a pretty good workhorse for me. The picture quality is very good, the features are nice, and there are plenty of easily accessible inputs and outputs. And the price is right. If you're looking for a new VCR, this model might satisfy you.
