Sony SLV-N750 Full Chassis 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR
Videotape is dead, but if you really need a VCR...
This is the one to get, especially if you already have a Sony WEGA TV.  I needed to replace an 11 year old JVC model which served me well for a long time.  I'd rather do all my recording on a DVR, but my son has a lot of shows already recorded on VHS.  This is a solid-feeling VCR, featuring a whisper-quiet tape transport mechanism.  My VHS tapes haven't looked this good in years, particularly shows recorded on this VCR.  Colors are brighter.  Images are sharper.  And the comemrcial skip button is a nice, helpful feature.  I also like that the VCR displays the name of the whatever show you're watching.  That's a fun touch.  One minor gripe though.  The RF cable Sony includes is one of those clip-on jobs, rather than the more secure screw-on coax connector.  After about two days of staticky picture, I tried jiggling the RF cable and immediately realized that the included cable was providing a bad contact with the VCR's RF output.  I connected a proper screw-on RF cable and the picture instantly became the best VCR picture I've ever had.  If you have one and are unsatisfied with the picture, try checking the RF cable and see if you got a cheap one too.   Compared to other recording devices on the market today, this would only get 3 stars.  But compared to other VCRs, five stars.