hi i am looking for a good vcr it can be from any year it don't have to be svhs but if it is that would be a great

hi i am looking for a good vcr it can be from any year it don't have to be svhs but if it is that would be a great
My top, recommended reliable VCRs (ranked in order reliably copied from Consumer Reports, and all are Hi-Fi models):


1. Panasonic AG-1950 (a superior choice that's rated #1 by me), along with AG-1800, AG-1810, PV-1730, Canon VR-HF600, VR-HF710, and VR-HF720 (all tie with linear power supply).

2. Toshiba SV-771 SVHS, M-647, M-651, and M-652 (also rate highly by me)

3. TEAC MV-550, MV-560, and MV-620 (all made by Funai)

4. Sanyo VHR-1900, VHR-2900, and VHR-3700

5. Emerson VCS-990 and Sansui VCR-7500 (all made by Orion)

6. JVC HR-D470U, HR-D530U, HR-D570U, HR-D630U, HR-D700U, HR-D750U, HR-S5000U SVHS, HR-S5500U SVHS, and HR-S7000U SVHS

7. Sony SLV-585HF, SLV-595HF, SLV-686HF, SLV-696HF, SLV-700HF, SLV-720HF, SLV-900HF, and SLV-920HF

8. Mitsubishi HS-412UR, HS-422UR, HS-413UR, and HS-U50

9. Sharp VC-H860U, VC-H870U, VC-H890U, VC-H903U, VC-H904U, VC-H906U, VC-H907U, and VC-H914U

10. Hitachi VT-S730A SVHS, VT-S751A SVHS, VT-1805A, VT-F362A, and VT-F372A

11. NEC DX-1000U, DX-2000U, DX-2500U, DX-3500U, DX-5000U, and DS-8000U SVHS

12. Fisher FVH-6600, FVH-6700, and FVH-S6800 SVHS
.

I will have to write these down in case I see them on the cheap somewhere as I am always looking for another good VCR.

My next recommendations (ranked in order and all are Hi-Fi models), but I wouldn't call them my most favorite due to slight lower reliability:


1. Toshiba DX-7, DX-900, M-5900, M-9485, M-HF845, SV-970 SVHS, and SV-F990 SVHS (loading motor and capstan motor problems, but #1 by me)

2. Panasonic AG-1720, AG-1820, AG-1960, AG-1970, AG-1980, PV-1640, PV-1740, PV-1642, PV-1742, PV-4768, PV-4780, Canon VR-HF730, and VR-HF800 (switching power supply problem)

3. JVC HR-D725U, HR-S8000U SVHS, and HR-S10000U SVHS (more electronic problems than HR-D750U and HR-S7000U)

4. Emerson VCS-966A and VCS-977A (idler post breaking)

5. Hitachi VT-2700A SVHS, VT-3800A SVHS (mode-switch problem) and VT-87A, VT-89A (clock display problem)

6. Mitsubishi HS-411UR and HS-421UR

7. Mitsubishi S-VHS: HS-423UR, HS-U52, HS-U69, HS-U70, HS-U71, HS-U80, and HS-U82 (some electronic and carriage problems)
.

do you have any pictures of these vcrs i would like to see them
thanks

do you have any pictures of these vcrs i would like to see them
thanks
No photos available. Do a search on eBay or Craigslist.

Finally, my Top 10 NOT recommended and junkiest VCR models ever made in history (ranked in order) due to multiple problems, had poor reliability in the past, or repair costs are exceedingly expensive due to aging concerns and poor design in the first place:


1. Any Fisher VCR models made before 1989 (idler fails all the time plus mutiple electronic problems)

2. 1983-1984 Sharp VC-388U and VC-489U (HUGE common problem with reel-motor turning ON on its own; STK6942, and tracking/picture knob issues. STK6942 mostly defective by now since they're old and replacing it doesn't help.)

3. 1984-1985 Mitsubishi HS-400UR, HS-410UR, and HS-430UR (multiple electronic and mechanical problems)

4. 1988 Hitachi VT-3000A, VT-3040A, RCA VR-270, and VR-450 (multiple electronic and mechanical problems)

5. Any 1989-1990 (but not 1988) Panasonic G-Chassis VCR models and 1991-1998 S-VHS models (switching power supply problem AND surface-mount caps problem, often up to 50, on video AND Hi-Fi audio board).

6. Any GoldStar-made VCR models made after 1990 (gears and LED problem)

7. Any Daewoo-made VCR models made during the late-90s (idler problem)

8. Any Sony VCR models made after 1995 (mutiple gears problem)

9. Any JVC VCR models made after 1990 (video-head, gears, carriage, and multiple electronic problems)

10. Any Funai-made VCR models made after 1997 (loading belt and LED problem)
.

Finally, my Top 10 NOT recommended and junkiest VCR models ever made in history (ranked in order) due to multiple problems, had poor reliability in the past, or repair costs are exceedingly expensive due to aging concerns and poor design in the first place:


1. Any Fisher VCR models made before 1986 (idler fails all the time)

2. 1983-1984 Sharp VC-388U and VC-489U (HUGE common problem with reel-motor turning on on its own; STK6942, and tracking/picture knob issues)

3. 1984-1985 Mitsubishi HS-400UR, HS-410UR, and HS-430UR (multiple electronic and mechanical problems)

4. 1988 Hitachi VT-3000A, RCA VR-270, and VR-450 (multiple electronic and mechanical problems)

5. Any 1989-1990 (but not 1988) Panasonic G-Chassis VCR models (switching power supply problem AND surface-mount caps problem, up to 50, on video AND Hi-Fi audio board).

6. Any GoldStar-made VCR models made after 1990 (gears and LED problem)

7. Any Funai-made VCR models made after 1997 (loading belt and LED problem)

8. Any Daewoo-made VCR models made during the late-90s (idler problem)

9. Any JVC VCR models made after 1995 (carriage problem)

10. Any Sony VCR models made after 1995 (mutiple gears problem)
.

Used to stock the rewind idler for the Fishers. They never lasted very long.

The SONY's were fine up to 1995 or so, like you say. I've junked several recently that I found were out of time after spending alot of time getting one back in time, with no evidence of gear problems, only to see it jump time a few days later when I stuck a tape in it. Not worth the work.

I only look for the high-end machines now... flying erase heads, etc. Now and then one will turn up, and often, there is nothing wrong with it that cant be fixed with a drop of oil, or a dobb of grease.

I was so happy when VCR's got rid of belts...

Finally, my Top 10 NOT recommended and junkiest VCR models ever made in history (ranked in order) due to multiple problems, had poor reliability in the past, or repair costs are exceedingly expensive due to aging concerns and poor design in the first place:

9. Any JVC VCR models made after 1995 (carriage problem).

That don't jibe with my experiences with most of the ones I have.
I have 2 different S-VHS models that have been trouble free despite seeing weekly+ use for several months. I also have 4 S-VHS-ET models from around 2003(they have the same mechs and general design, but some have more features). Two of which have seen HEAVY weekly use for at least 2 years now.....Of those 4 units only one ever had an issue and that was that it ate two tapes within as many months(not the worst considering how many tapes it normally sees in that time period, but 1 eaten per year is about my tolerance limit). I fixed that issue by swaping the whole mech with one from a lesser used model with less features. That swap was sooo easy...remove three screws for the top, remove four more that hold the mech in, and a ribbon wire connection, then pull the mech right out...easier than chassis removal on some tube radios!

I just got a NTSC/PAL/MESECAM multi-standard deck that is apparently a bit confused on it's tape handling so not all JVCs of that period are as dependable as others.

Panasonic AG-7750, JVC BR-S811u/611u, BR-S-822u/622u

That don't jibe with my experiences with most of the ones I have.
I have 2 different S-VHS models that have been trouble free despite seeing weekly+ use for several months. I also have 4 S-VHS-ET models from around 2003(they have the same mechs and general design, but some have more features).

These machines would be my recommendation, but go for the higher end models with the Digipure TBC/DNR such as the HR-S7600*, 7800, 7900, 9600*, 9800*, and 9911. They were also branded as the SR-V10 and SR-V101 in the final years of production. The starred models also have JVC's "Dynamic Drum" system. I would also recommend the Panasonic AG-1980, but finding one in working shape is tough as most need to be recapped.

I would second the recommendation for the AG-7750 (I have more than 10 at the moment...) but keep in mind that they are SP only... no slow speeds. But they do have a nice TBC, motion control, noise reduction, etc. Better than my AG-1980s, but the single speed limitation requires alternative machines.

Chip