JVC DRMV1S Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder and VCR Combo , Silver
JVC is normally good, but this product is not
To begin with a positive, to this point in time I have had wonderful experiences with JVC products.   I have a 27 inch JVC television that has worked flawlessly since 1994, a 13 inch JVC that has worked perfectly since 1997, and a 27 inch flat screen JVC that has been perfect for one year.   And all have great quality pictures, and were purchased at very fair prices. <br /> <br />Now, to continue relevant to this product's review, I just received the DR-MV1S for Christmas.  I had little intuitive difficulty with the cabling set-up, even though the user manual buried information about connecting with a home theater system on page 72.  I was disappointed to read Plug & Play for clock and tuner settings does not work with a digital cable box, but found the manual set-up process on page 21 quick and painless. <br /> <br />I immediately played a DVD with no difficulty, and high quality. <br /> <br />However, in testing the VCR in preparation for dubbing and recording operations, the very first tape inserted into the machine became stuck before completely entering the play mechanism.    I haven't had a video tape stick in a VCR since the 1980's.   Through turning the machine on and off, hitting eject, and with finger adjustment, the tape did eventually come free.   Bravely, I attempted to insert another tape.  To my surprise, it entered with only minimal hesitation, and began to play with fine quality.  However when I began rewinding the tape, the machine seemed to labor and \\"whine and grind,\\" seeming to change speeds multiple times before \\"It's a Wonderful Life\\" was successfully returned to the beginning.  Afer a successful ejection, I haven't wanted to make a potential sacrifice of any other tape for further testing. <br /> <br />When I inserted a recordable DVD to test the TV record function, the machine presented a \\"disk error\\" message.    I tried the disk formatting tips an earlier reviewer pointed out on Page 78 of the manual, with the same \\"disk error\\" message. <br/> <br />I agree with many of the previous reviewers regarding the strong need for detailed reference to the User Manual.  If one must go to page 78 for initial use, and if indeed a page 78 even exists, the product is usually not very user friendly. <br /> <br />I suspect that if I worked at it, I could make this machine function at least adequately for my personal use.  A concern however is that my other family members might hit \\"brick walls\\" in use without my troubleshooting presence.  My greater concern is that on day one and two of use, I have already experienced the significant VCR difficulties other reviewers have mentioned. <br /> <br />Therefore, I will be exchanging the machine.   I'm currently researching the SONY RDRVX 500 which seems to be readily available for just over $450.   I note another reviewer's good experiences with a Toshiba model I will also check out. <br /> <br />Presuming Best Buy works well with me on the exchange, which I suspect they will, I will give JVC the benefit of the doubt on this one bad product experience.   I will still consider JVC to be normally good providers of quality for the dollar spent.