Sharp VC-H965U 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR
Best you'll find in the dwindling VCR market
It's getting harder and harder these days to find VCRs with any features. Although I use more DVDs and record on DVD, I still needed a good stand alone VCR. Over the years I've owned many, mostly Panasonics and Sonys. The Sonys, with more features, all have gone bad. The Panasonics seem to live forever but have the least to offer. I specifically needed VCR with a tape counter (hours:minutes:seconds) on the front panel, and this is the only one around. I've been very pleased to find that this VCR plays tapes 10 years plus in age with no problem. My Sonys would not only not play them, but were pulling the tapes and ruining them. This VCR is able to play the semi-ruined ones (tapes with edges made all ragged by the Sonys) with a nice clear picture. The set up is easy, they just label the remote with different labels for familiar things. I'm copying my old tapes onto DVD -- and I feel the picture and sound this Sharp is getting is as good as its going to get. I was so pleased, I got another one to replace another old Sony. The audio options are little more extensive than on most, for outputs you can choose mono, stereo or L mode / R mode -- meaning the left channel comes out of both speakers, or the right channel comes out of both speakers. It gives you the option of leaving the black and white static screen, or the blue one that covers it. These odd little features come in handy for different uses. I don't mind at all that the screen is extremely dim when not in use -- I can't stand all the bright buttons and lights on my other equipment, especially in the bedroom. I gave it 4 stars only because I really don't like the double FF and RW feature. I want it on the fast speed only and find the constant double pressing very annoying. I find myself constantly switching them. All in all, if you need a decent VCR, I would get this while you can.