JVC HR-S3900 Super-VHS VCR

Other products by JVC

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005B9A9
• Item model number: HRS3900
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #115,057 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Product Description
The JVC HR-S3900 offers high-resolution recordings with Super VHS and 19 Micron Heads. "ET" mode lets you make S-VHS recordings with economical VHS tape. Easy operation is assured with Plug n' Play setup. VCR Plus offers simple timer recording. A/V Compu Link provides one-touch operation with matching JVC components.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good value if you know how S-Video works, November 19, 2001

By	Joe Oberuc (AZ) - See all my reviews

Great playback and better than average recording if you know how to set-up the unit. Read the manual!... is important to know that the SVHS benefit only comes from recording(s) in SVHS if you are using a S-Video CABLE AND a S-Video output SIGNAL like another VCR w/SVHS, a camcorder w/ S-Video, or cable box w/ S-Video. NOTE: the signal from the outputting device to the SVHS VCR must remain S-Video -- no where can the signal be converted to `Composite video' [RCA style jack] or the "Super" quality will be lost.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars entry-level SVHS deck = entry-level quality, October 12, 2001

By	Kahn Ding (souther california) - See all my reviews

I bought this as an upgrade to my old Panasonic VHS Hifi VCR ($500 when I bought it back in the early 90's.) I assumed an SVHS deck would easily outperform any VHS VCR, not so as I discovered!

In VHS mode, at EP (slowest speed), the JVC SVHS VCR has mediocre picture quality, slightly worse than my old VHS VCR! In SP, the two are about equal, with the Panasonic exhibiting less noise.

In "SVHS ET" mode (using regular VHS tape), the JVC SVHS VCR again has mediocre picture quality, but with slightly higher resolution. In SP, the picture is slightly better than the old Panasonic. SVHS-ET depends on tape-quality a lot, and I was using 'mid-grade' TDK VHS tape (E-HG) Seems like this is more a marketing gimmick than a useful feature.

In SVHS mode (using SVHS tape), the picture is a lot better, and the VCR starts to earn its 'SVHS' label. Even in EP (slowest speed), the image detail is noticeably better than VHS or the fake 'SVHS ET' mode. Using SP speed, image detail is roughly the same, but less picture noise. All in all, the picture is almost indistinguishable from a live TV broadcast.

Playback of prerecorded (store-bought) VHS movies was very medicore...more picture noise than my 8 year old Panasonic VHS.

As long as you use real SVHS tapes with this machine, you'll be ok. Otherwise, look elsewhere! A less-expensive regular VHS VCR will give you better picture-quality (for VHS tapes)!

43 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Skip it, May 14, 2001

By	Robert T. Johnson (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I would like to know who design this VCR. Even though it is a Super VHS machine, it does not live up to the super part. The channel, FW, REW and pause all use the same control, which is a rotary knob and very confusing to use. Push the knob and rotate to select channels. Push and rotate for FW or REW. Push to pause. Why would anyone try to use one knob for five different functions? The remote must have been designed by the same person. Once you program the remote to communicate with your TV or cable box you must hold the TV or cable button while pressing the function button that you want to use. To raise the volume press and hold the TV button and while holding the TV button you then push the volume up button, this is dumb. Setting a timer program you use the remote which has buttons for the start, end, date and on and on why so many buttons. The record quality is not very good at all. I have a Panasonic that records a much better picture and another thing JVC only records in SP or EP while the panasonic records in SP,SLP and EP.