Quote:
Originally Posted by andy
I think it depends on brand. For example, I'd say Pansonic peaked in 1986 to mid 1987 (before they went to that awful single motor design). 1985 Panasonics are almost as good, but have one more rubber parts and tend to lack some of the features of the later ones.
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True, but they use switching power supplies with capacitors that need replacement every 8-15 years. Check out the Panasonic AG-1810, NV-H70PX (I have one), or the Canon VR-HF720A unit. It uses the same chassis but with a linear power supply (big transformer), and it looks and works like a consumer model than a commercial model. Frank Fendley at Studio Sound Electronics (
http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com) is the place where you can buy replacement rubber belt kits and he can tell you what's good and what's junk. I e-mail to him all the time.
The most reliable Panasonic VCR ever made in history is the 1984 PV-1730 and 1986 AG-1950 units. They use direct-drive motors for each changing function with no belts needed and use no surface-mount capacitors. I'm not sure if you are familiar with these two models.
The highest life-longevity you can get in a Panasonic VCR (not reliability) is the one made from 1981-1982 with a brushless capstan motor (e.g. PV-1770). The chassis and electronics (if maintained properly) are designed to last for 50 years max.
Despite the switching power supplies Panasonic used in their VCRs, I consider Panasonic to be like Toyota of quality. There hasn't been one bad, lemon Panasonic VCR year yet for 25 years now.
If you think 1988 is the beginning year for the one-belt G-chassis, think again. This chassis was first introduced in 1987 and was put in the Panasonic AG-1820 and Canon VR-HF800A units (I have the Canon). Although you may not like the G-Chassis, according to Frank at Studio Sound Electronics, it's considered to be the most reliable mass-marketed Panasonic chassis ever made, and there are a lot more G-Chassis units out there still in operation today than the mid-80s two-belt chassis.
I wouldn't consider 1986 the peak quality year on VCRs because there were more units with idler tires than in 1987, and idler tires do crack and break. 1988 is not better than 1987 because Hitachi went from the rugged six-belt chassis to the one-belt chassis with mode-switch and power supply failing all the time.