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6 heads
Pros
6 heads + 19 micron = good picture
Cons
Crummy remote. Some parts feel cheap.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Don't buy this just because it has 6 heads, the picture is not noticeably better than a 4 head VCR. Otherwise it's perfectly fine.
Picture:
Very good picture due to the 6 heads and 19 micron architecture. It always finds the best tracking setting without my messing with it.
Update:
I recently was reminded that 6 heads produces a better picture only when pausing or using slow motion, and that normal playback in a 6 head VCR is the same as in a 2 head one. Also, 19 micron heads only improve the picture when viewing tapes recorded in SLP or EP mode (in other words, since commercial movies that you buy are always SP, they will not see any improved picture from the 19 micron heads.) In my opinion I'd say that 19 micron heads are worth it if you like to watch a lot of copied tapes or if you record a lot of your own, but 6 heads isn't really necessary. Go for a cheaper 4 head VCR.
Sound:
Never had any problems, but nothing stellar.
Remote:
Lots of buttons that look and feel the same make it difficult to do much when you are watching a movie in the dark. The controls aren?t the best designed, you have to press a button to make the display disappear off the screen while on other VCRs the display disappears after a few seconds of not being used.
Connections:
RCA inputs up front and in the back make for handy connections. It?s kind of funny that the inputs in the front are gold-plated to make it look like you bought an expensive machine (gold makes for a better electrical connection), but the ones in the back (the ones that you?ll probably be using all the time) are just regular cheap stuff. It would be nice if it had S-video output or input, but you?d have to go to a more expensive model, probably SVHS, for that.
Overall:
A decent, solid performing VCR, but I don?t think it?s any better than the 4-head ones out there. 6 heads is supposed to give you a better picture, but if it?s picture you?re after why aren?t you using DVD? There are probably better buys out there.
Very good picture due to the 6 heads and 19 micron architecture. It always finds the best tracking setting without my messing with it.
Update:
I recently was reminded that 6 heads produces a better picture only when pausing or using slow motion, and that normal playback in a 6 head VCR is the same as in a 2 head one. Also, 19 micron heads only improve the picture when viewing tapes recorded in SLP or EP mode (in other words, since commercial movies that you buy are always SP, they will not see any improved picture from the 19 micron heads.) In my opinion I'd say that 19 micron heads are worth it if you like to watch a lot of copied tapes or if you record a lot of your own, but 6 heads isn't really necessary. Go for a cheaper 4 head VCR.
Sound:
Never had any problems, but nothing stellar.
Remote:
Lots of buttons that look and feel the same make it difficult to do much when you are watching a movie in the dark. The controls aren?t the best designed, you have to press a button to make the display disappear off the screen while on other VCRs the display disappears after a few seconds of not being used.
Connections:
RCA inputs up front and in the back make for handy connections. It?s kind of funny that the inputs in the front are gold-plated to make it look like you bought an expensive machine (gold makes for a better electrical connection), but the ones in the back (the ones that you?ll probably be using all the time) are just regular cheap stuff. It would be nice if it had S-video output or input, but you?d have to go to a more expensive model, probably SVHS, for that.
Overall:
A decent, solid performing VCR, but I don?t think it?s any better than the 4-head ones out there. 6 heads is supposed to give you a better picture, but if it?s picture you?re after why aren?t you using DVD? There are probably better buys out there.
