Customer Reviews

JVC HRS3901U 4-Head S-VHS VCR, Black

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At first I thought I wanted a Sony, since that's what professionals seem to prefer, but I could never get them to play my old tapes well (on reading customer reviews, I saw I wasn't the only one with that problem). After reading all the reviews, I went with this machine. It plays all my old tapes better than my old machine. It does a great job with new recordings on my old tapes, and a phenomenal job with Fuji H471S S-VHS tape, which I'm told is the best out there right now ...While I had to use the manual, I found the programming to be more intuitive than on Sony or Panasonic machines, and have come to like the event programming options quite a bit. Sure, it has a lot of plastic, but they all do. The next step up would be the 5000 series with flying erase heads (which is useful for precise editing, and may reduce the rainbow flicker in the first few seconds of recording). My only complaint is that I wish the on-unit display was more informative, adding a full-time clock (rather than clock or channel choice). I'm told this unit and the 3900, 3910, and 3911 are all the same, with the differences being color; the 10 and 11 being the newest model, with more internal plastic parts. I don't think you can beat this one with features for the price, and if you want to play old tapes, this one's a winner.

Update:
This is a fantastic sub-$150 S-VHS player, February 20, 2005

My VCR is still working. I am still very happy with it. I'm not sure why others are giving it only 1 star. Perhaps they should consider reading the manual? If they were still manufactured, I would buy a 2nd one to connect to my computer. In fact, I think I'll take a look at the JVC line to see what has replaced it.

For what I paid for this VHS, I can't imagine what complaints anyone would have. The picture quality is outstanding. Who cares about the construction of the case and buttons at this price? Obviously some people do...

Original review:
This is a fantastic sub-$150 S-VHS player, October 11, 2002

After reading the other reviews, I almost didn't buy this unit. Yes, the case is an all plastic construction. Yes, some of the buttons have a cheap feel. Make no mistake about it, this machine was built to be sold at the lowest possible price point. If you go to the JVC web site you will see that the HRS3901U is at the bottom of their line up. It does not have the same quality construction that a $400 S-VHS has. It it does have however, many of the same features as JVC's higher priced units. Plastic case and buttons aside, the picture is very good.

Construction aside, the HRS3901U is full-featured. There is a sufficient number of inputs. The picture quality is VERY good for a budget S-VHS. Likewise, the sound quality is good. Signal quality is likewise very good. Unlike my last budget VHS (Toshiba), I have not heard a squeak out of it yet. I doubt that there is a better machine at a similar price.

I was not looking to invest a lot of money into a fading technology. I do not need a machine that will last me the next 10 years. I just need a VCR that will work until the price of digital recorders come down. When the time comes, I will simply transfer my VHS to DVD (Fair Use).

The bottom line? I could have spent more money for a better constructed box. But why bother? The HRS3901U gets the job done and it does it well. This is a great machine FOR THE MONEY. The picture quality is very good, even with composite connections.

If you want top of the line, then pay for a top of the line unit. At its price point, the HRS3901U is a well balanced machine. Cheap outside, quality inside. Five stars for the good picture quality and features despite the budget price.

I don't know what the other reviewers are doing, but this baby deserves a WOW! This is a great picture and a very comparable picture quality to my DISH PVR-its 400+ lines of resolution double a standard VCR and come close to DVD/digital 480p. Try using this baby for a little while and read the brief manual which other reviewers unfortunately did not do. Use the SP-ET setting for optimal quality on a regular VHS and you will not find a better VCR reproduction-especially for its low price. These S-VHS models have been dropping in price in 2003 and can now be had for about the same price as a standard model ( I got mine for [money amount]). Too bad it does not have S-video port on the front, but I believe later models have this convenience. Otherwise, it is a breeze to run the S-video into my computer for DVD back-up of all video, giving me a with great picture.
JVC invented the technology and they remain on top.

I cannot be happier than I am with this lovely purchase and father's day gift from my family.

I bought the JVC for the S-vidio capability. I was disappointed with the quality, especially the all plastic construction. I had some problems with color -- picture appeared in b/w. The last straw was the motor made noticible noise during PLAY mode. I just couldn't feel good about this purchase. This appears to me an extremely cheap-quality player with S-Video tagged on. I returned it and am shopping for a better quality VCR for [the price]. I decided I can live w/o the S-Video.

It is a pretty good VCR except that you can not tell see the counter on the VCR while rewinding or fastforwarding. It would be a great VCR if it could do that.

Bought this vcr less than five months ago and it is already busted, though I have not used it more than ten times in that period. A real hunk of junk. Stay away from this product, unless if you are happy buying a new two hundred dollar vcr every five months. Obviously while parts are under warranty, the labor isn't after 90 days, so you would pay as much fixing it as to buy a new one. What a waste of money. I've had bad vcr's before, but this is by far the WORST.

It looks good sitting on top of the DVD player, the picture and sound are decent. So why am I not happy? I have used VCRs for more years than I care to admit. I have never, since my first archaic VCR had a problem programming them to record a show in the future even without opening the user manual. The programming of this VCR is not at all user friendly! You would think to just hit the menu or program button and be on your way following a step by step menu to set time, date, etc. But not on this VCR. But even if you get past that part, I was frustrated because I could not just punch numbers to set the time and date for recording, it had to be done by half hour increments for time (without an am/pm toggle no less) and day increments for date. I do not have time for that when I am trying to program the VCR on my way out the door to work. I want to hit the numbers and keep it moving. I typically love JVC products but this appears to be a poor relation.

TO ALL THE MANY THAT HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS VCR GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND LEARN HOW TO READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTONS. THIS VCR IS ONE OF THE BEST IN IT`S CLASS OF SUPER VHS VCR`S.IT`S NOT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST LIKE ONE REVIEWER WROTE. AS FAR AS SONY THE CONSUMER LINE IS JUNK IF YOU WANT SONY YOU HAVE TO GO INTO THE PROFESSIONAL LINE. IT`S REALLY ASHAME THAT MOST ELECTIC COMPANIES ARE GOING THAT WAY SCREWING THE CONSUMERS AND PUTTING THERE MONEY ON THE PRO LINE. BUT THE HR-S3901U IS A HELL OF A MACHINE...............