Sony SLV-N750 VHS / S-VHS playback VCR
- VCR Type: VHS / S-VHS playback
- Number of Video Heads: 4
- General Features: Auto Clock Set Auto Head Cleaner On Screen Menu Quasi SVHS Playback Commercial Skip Auto Tracking Auto Channel Program Child Lock Jog Dial
- Audio: Hi-Fi Stereo
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Not what it seems: pretty poor
Pros
A VCR, no matter how bad, is a rarity these days.
Cons
Certainly no better than cheaper VCRs, and worse in some ways.
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
No VCR can be recommended for gentle tape handling or good overall quality; the Sony's initial impression of superiority is completely false.
The number of VCRs on the market today can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The Sony SLV-N750 appears to be less flimsy than the sadly degraded products made by Panasonic like the current PV-V4524. The Sony's better build and higher price may mean a longer life, but its layout and performance make it unpleasant to use and unsatisfying to watch.
First, the usual review: the color in record and play modes is washed-out and the image is waxy, though fairly free of video noise even on EP [SLP]; there is no longer any middle LP speed on VCRs. Sound is fine, though on EP playback, it takes a few seconds before the sound focuses. The flimsier, certainly shorter-lived Panasonic PV-V4524 has better, if perhaps slightly saturated, color, more believable image quality, and does not show physical tape imperfections on the screen as white lines, which the Sony does.
The Sony's problems and frustrations outweigh its benefits:
[1] No one has commented on this, but after use with today's VCRs, visible striations along the length of a tape may be observed, presumably from pressure against the indented segments of the rotary video heads. The Sony's smooth feel is cosmetic, the cruder Panasonic PV-V4524 producing these lines on the tape less frequently and harshly, though the Panasonic transport often nicks the edges of tapes upon eject after rewinding. Older VCRs were certainly gentler on tapes; my tapes show very few striations, and those are mild. Interesting to note, every aspect of the Sony transport, even set-up functions and read-outs, are *identical* with the stripped-down, very inexpensive Samsung 8460.
[2] The Sony's auto-tracking simply doesn't work, and it can't be disabled: it adjusts for the tape *once* but if you happen to play a tape with a section recorded on another VCR, the Sony's tracking generally does *not* readjust. You must then do it manually, a nuisance because manual tracking is available only on the unit itself, not on the remote. Even tapes recorded on the Sony do not track well. The Sony takes about six seconds of jerky sound and picture to find the right tracking position for any tape. Some tapes--not even old or damaged ones--*will not* be tracked by the Sony under any circumstances. With tapes for which it must make "big" adjustments, it loses these adjusted positions as soon as the user presses "Rewind," "FF," or "Stop"--*without* ejecting the tape, and then goes through the tiresome adjustment process all over when "Play" is pressed again! That is unheard of: a tracking adjustment isn't supposed to revert while the tape is still in the machine. And forget about noise-free, non-jumping still frames from any tape without serious manual adjustments (not available on the remote, remember). I have never seen such ineptly designed "auto-tracking," even on the cheapest units. For reference, the flimsy Panasonic 4524 tracks every tape instantly and perfectly (that is, until it self-destructs).
[3] The remote is very long, ill-balanced, and badly laid out; one could easily get tendonitis from continually trying to reach various buttons--especially eject. Considering that there are a number of common TV brands that this "universal" remote won't control--like Samsung, which isn't even listed--its enormous size is ridiculous.
[4] The display on the unit is reminiscent of DVD/VCR combos: it reads out elapsed hours and minutes, but not seconds. You have to press "display" on the remote for an on-screen readout; and unless a tape is ejected--not simply stopped--you can't even get a clock readout either on the unit or on-screen.
[5] Some published specs claim that the Sony has "self-cleaning heads." It doesn't, nor is any mention made of it in the actual owner's booklet.
This VCR is neither user-friendly, gentle on tapes, compatible with tapes recorded on other decks--or itself (!), nor does it have an impressive picture quality. While the cheaper Panasonic 4524 is flimsy and clunky, it's more logically arranged than the Sony, has better image quality, and its normal-sized remote will control seldom required tracking adjustments. Of course, this assumes that it's even possible to obtain a Panasonic unit that isn't defective and won't break down after a short time, given that company's current absence of quality control in VCR production.
In short, I can't recommend any VCR currently available. It's clear that manufacturers have conspired to eliminate the VHS format as efficiently as possible. Those of us with large VHS tape collections will have to resign ourselves to new players that harm our tapes and/or perform badly, as well as their ultimate obsolescence against our wills when our better-made old VCRs expire.
--Robert E. Seletsky
First, the usual review: the color in record and play modes is washed-out and the image is waxy, though fairly free of video noise even on EP [SLP]; there is no longer any middle LP speed on VCRs. Sound is fine, though on EP playback, it takes a few seconds before the sound focuses. The flimsier, certainly shorter-lived Panasonic PV-V4524 has better, if perhaps slightly saturated, color, more believable image quality, and does not show physical tape imperfections on the screen as white lines, which the Sony does.
The Sony's problems and frustrations outweigh its benefits:
[1] No one has commented on this, but after use with today's VCRs, visible striations along the length of a tape may be observed, presumably from pressure against the indented segments of the rotary video heads. The Sony's smooth feel is cosmetic, the cruder Panasonic PV-V4524 producing these lines on the tape less frequently and harshly, though the Panasonic transport often nicks the edges of tapes upon eject after rewinding. Older VCRs were certainly gentler on tapes; my tapes show very few striations, and those are mild. Interesting to note, every aspect of the Sony transport, even set-up functions and read-outs, are *identical* with the stripped-down, very inexpensive Samsung 8460.
[2] The Sony's auto-tracking simply doesn't work, and it can't be disabled: it adjusts for the tape *once* but if you happen to play a tape with a section recorded on another VCR, the Sony's tracking generally does *not* readjust. You must then do it manually, a nuisance because manual tracking is available only on the unit itself, not on the remote. Even tapes recorded on the Sony do not track well. The Sony takes about six seconds of jerky sound and picture to find the right tracking position for any tape. Some tapes--not even old or damaged ones--*will not* be tracked by the Sony under any circumstances. With tapes for which it must make "big" adjustments, it loses these adjusted positions as soon as the user presses "Rewind," "FF," or "Stop"--*without* ejecting the tape, and then goes through the tiresome adjustment process all over when "Play" is pressed again! That is unheard of: a tracking adjustment isn't supposed to revert while the tape is still in the machine. And forget about noise-free, non-jumping still frames from any tape without serious manual adjustments (not available on the remote, remember). I have never seen such ineptly designed "auto-tracking," even on the cheapest units. For reference, the flimsy Panasonic 4524 tracks every tape instantly and perfectly (that is, until it self-destructs).
[3] The remote is very long, ill-balanced, and badly laid out; one could easily get tendonitis from continually trying to reach various buttons--especially eject. Considering that there are a number of common TV brands that this "universal" remote won't control--like Samsung, which isn't even listed--its enormous size is ridiculous.
[4] The display on the unit is reminiscent of DVD/VCR combos: it reads out elapsed hours and minutes, but not seconds. You have to press "display" on the remote for an on-screen readout; and unless a tape is ejected--not simply stopped--you can't even get a clock readout either on the unit or on-screen.
[5] Some published specs claim that the Sony has "self-cleaning heads." It doesn't, nor is any mention made of it in the actual owner's booklet.
This VCR is neither user-friendly, gentle on tapes, compatible with tapes recorded on other decks--or itself (!), nor does it have an impressive picture quality. While the cheaper Panasonic 4524 is flimsy and clunky, it's more logically arranged than the Sony, has better image quality, and its normal-sized remote will control seldom required tracking adjustments. Of course, this assumes that it's even possible to obtain a Panasonic unit that isn't defective and won't break down after a short time, given that company's current absence of quality control in VCR production.
In short, I can't recommend any VCR currently available. It's clear that manufacturers have conspired to eliminate the VHS format as efficiently as possible. Those of us with large VHS tape collections will have to resign ourselves to new players that harm our tapes and/or perform badly, as well as their ultimate obsolescence against our wills when our better-made old VCRs expire.
--Robert E. Seletsky
