Panasonic PV-V4620 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR

Other products by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [2.14mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 16.9 x 3.9 inches ; 7.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 10 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004R8UC
• Item model number: PVV4620
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,479 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Panasonic's PV-V4620 is an easy-to-use VCR that combines a wealth of conveniences with truly impressive performance. Far from a no-frills deck, the PV-V4620 is outfitted with just about every feature imaginable, including automatic clock setting and tape head cleaning; VCR Plus+, which simplifies programmed timer recording; and a one-touch recording system that you can activate from either the remote handset or the unit itself.

Commercial Advance is an excellent feature that marks the commercials on a recorded tape and then automatically winds past them during playback. A similar Movie Advance function allows the viewer to fast-forward to chosen scenes or segments of favorite films. These features are accompanied by an excellent onscreen menu system that can display in English, Spanish, or French. In addition to a comprehensive fluorescent display and transport (stop, play, rewind, etc.), the handsome faceplate includes a second audio-video input for quick connection of a camcorder or video game.

Many otherwise excellent VCRs are compromised by remote controls that either lack important features, have poor ergonomics, or are impossible to use in a darkened room because they don't have lighted keys. Happily, the Light Tower remote supplied with the PV-V4620 leaves nothing to be desired. An ergonomic masterpiece, this substantial handset features buttons of various shapes and sizes for easy identification. And of course, the most frequently used keys are backlit, making low-light operation a nonissue. This versatile transmitter also controls most brands of televisions, cable boxes and digital satellite receivers. A broad base enables the handset to stand "tower- style" on virtually any flat surface.

In terms of sound and image quality, the PV-V4620 is one of the best midpriced VCRs we've tested. Colors are at once rich and natural, with a nearly perfect balance between "warm" flesh tones and background blues and greens. True blacks (as opposed to deep navy) are capably rendered as is the contrast between dark and light surfaces. Resolution of fine details and a lack of video "noise" are other hallmarks of this player.

That said, special effects (fast play, review, and pause) are merely adequate. We noticed some image "jump" and horizontal bars, which the best current models virtually eliminate. Panasonic notes that this machine is made in Japan (as opposed to the other Pacific Rim countries where most VCRs are manufactured). This fact, combined with the PV-V4620's unsurpassed assortment of luxury features, probably explains the premium pricing.

Given its superb remote control and a host of indexing and editing functions, which should satisfy avid "time shifters," the PV-V4620 easily justifies its somewhat higher than average price. --Anthony Chiarella

Pros:

• Excellent image quality from prerecorded and rental tapes
• Unusually comprehensive array of features should satisfy gadget lovers
• Multibrand remote adds convenience and versatility

Cons:

• Feature-laden VCR is more expensive than competing decks

Amazon.com Product Description

The Panasonic PV-V4020 is home theater ready and offers hi-fi stereo audio outputs and four-head tracking as well as a host of convenience features such as VCR Plus+ Silver programming and a multibrand, universal Light Tower remote. VCR Plus+ Silver allows you to program your VCR simply by entering the codes found in your local newspaper or TV Guide. Equipped with an auto clock-set function, the Panasonic PV-V4020 receives data from your local PBS channel to set and back up the clock and date automatically.

The Panasonic PV-V4020 features a trilingual onscreen display, commercial skip, index search, program-end search, and tape-position display. Commercial skip enables you to zip through unwanted commercials recorded onto a tape at the touch of a button. This VCR also offers audio-video inputs on the rear panel. In the box, you receive the Panasonic PV-V4020 VCR, an A/V hookup cable, and the remote control. The Panasonic PV-V4020 comes with a warranty for a year on parts, 90 days on labor.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great VCR but with one flaw, July 7, 2000

By	Sam Sanders (Watauga, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have purchased 4 of these VCRs for a special project and subject them to over 20 recording sessions per week. The VCR is packed with features. It is one of only a few VCRs that you can program a timed recording all from the front of the VCR. That is important if you have a deck of these VCRs in the same rack. Has many features I will probably never use. The on-screen menus are user friendly. There is one possible flaw of which I have not been able to resolve with these VCR's. This undesireable incident has occurred on all of the VCRs I have purchased. Out of over 20 recordings done during the week, perhaps one or two of the programmed sessons will terminate prematurely before the programmed end time. Most recordings I do are longer than 4 hours. Some of these recording terminations have caused a loss of 20 to 60 minutes. User error has been checked over and over. Times have been double-checked and documented. I even have put the rack of VCRs on a Power backup supply to avoid power line loss. Nothing seems to indicate what is causing the problem. I suspect either there might be a firmware or sensor problem, or a very sensitive tape transport that haults on an imperfect tape, or a really faulty VHS tape. Panasonic did not own up on the problem and recommended that I take the decks to their service shop. Other than this technical mystery, the deck is a fine machine.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Features!, November 28, 2000

By A Customer

I just purchased this VCR via Amazon to replace a seven year old Hitachi and I have to say that I am amazed at the features this thing has compared to my old one. First of all, the commercial advance is the best feature of the whole machine. Record your favorite program and when you come back to it on tape, as soon as you hit a commercial, the machine fast forwards past them all until right before your program starts again. Awesome! No more pressing fast forward and then guessing if that will be the last commercial before the show starts again. This thing does it all for you! My one complaint about this feature is that it doesn't do this on the fly. At the end of your recording you have to press a key to tell the machine to mark the commercials which takes a few minutes. That's not a biggie compared to not having to watch any more commercials!

Another cool feature is the way this thing sets up your channels and sets your time. You just press a few keys on the remote to begin and it does everything for you. You don't even have to enter in a time. It takes the time somehow when you either enter in your zip code or from a local channel in your area. It also has a 24 hour memory so if your power goes out, you have quite a big window to play with. Other VCRs that I checked out have a 4 hour memory limit max.

This machine also has a movie advance to fast forward through all those annoying previews at the start of a movie. I haven't had a chance to try this out yet since I watch DVD movies but if it works like the commercial advance, it should be good.

The only other thing that I really don't like about this machine is the remote. It's too small, especially the volume and channel buttons. I don't know about you but I like to use my VCR remote to control my tv and these buttons are way too small. The VCR control buttons like play, stop, rewind, and fast forward are nice and large but everything else is pretty tiny.

Overall I'm very pleased with this machine and all that it can do for the price. The ... remote prevents me from giving this five stars.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Puzzling features, December 1, 2000

By	CriticalThinker "CES" (TX USA) - See all my reviews

Although this VCR was highly rated by Consumers Report, I am disappointed with some of the features. VCR+ Silver - The channel auto set up works, but if you use the VCR+ code, the date, time and length are set correctly, but the channel is always 01. Timer Record - you must turn the VCR off for the timer record to work. This is a major hassle. If you happen to be using the VCR to watch another channel when it's time for a program to record, tough cookies. My previous VCR would switch over to the channel to be recorded while it was on. Set up / entry - You can not use the numeric keypad to enter numeric values in any set up option or timer record. You have to use the left and right arrow keys to decrease / increase number values. Remote - does not have a "last channel" button. The channel, volume, and record buttons are tiny. Only the device selection and power button are back lit.