Aiwa HV-MX100 Hi-Fi Multi-System VCR
From anything to anything (via a 3rd!)
I have this unit (tho I paid a lot more for it before ... started stocking it! :(  )<br />It does exactly as described, taking an input signal (or playing a tape) in any one of PAL, NTSC, (ME)SECAM and displaying it on whatever display system you have.<br />Better still, if you're really in the mood for something bizarre, you could feed it a signal from a SECAM source, record it in PAL while watching it on your NTSC TV!<br />There are also both DIN (push on) and Cable (screw) connectors for RF signals and a seperate tuner associated with both.  It certainly decodes MTS (US Stereo) tho I'm not sure if it does so for NICAM (Europe/Germany/South Africa)<br />Images are crisp for a non-S-Video device (my one gripe)<br />The user interface is OK, but not great.  It only has a 6-programme memory, but now that I have a TiVo that's moot :)<br />The biggest complaint I have is probably not a factor for many, but it's a killer for me: there are no Discrete power-on and power-off commands (just a power toggle) making it nearly impossible to programme a Philips Pronto to control the power state of the Aiwa.  I talked to Aiwa at length, but they refused to provide the Discrete codes, eventually admitting that Aiwa do not have Discrete codes.<br />It's soon to be put out to pasture in my setup, only to be used to view the occasional PAL tape or to make recordings for friends and relatives in other countries.<br />If you need to view and record VHS tapes in multiple formats, this is definately a good buy (and a good price)!