Sony SLV-N700 Hi-Fi VHS VCR
A good, features rich VCR
I was deciding between the Panasonic 4623S and the Sony SLV-N700 and I bought both to do a side-by-side comparison.  The Sony model is more expensive but it has more features such as VCR+, Quasi SVHS playback and a handy replay button. Rewinding speed is extremely fast, and I prefer Sonys on-screen display better. For example, after you press the rewind button, the Panasonic model doesnt display the time counter right away; it takes a few seconds for it to show up, making it difficult to search video just a few minutes prior. Programming is equally easy on both, but only Sony has VCR+.  In terms of video quality, the Sony model records and plays with superior video quality in both SP and EP mode, but the difference is not huge. This is the only two recording mode available in the Sony model vs. Panasonics SP, LP and SLP mode. Buttons on both remote controls are tiny; Panasonics remote is illuminated but only on 4 navagation buttons. Sonys model has a glow in the dark remote on every buttons, but some markings are not directly printed on the buttons, rendering it meaningless to have blank buttons that glow at night.  Panasonic features commercial advance (CA), which is different from commercial skip from other manufacturers. After recordings, Panasonic will rewind the tape to mark commercials. During play back, itll automatically fast forward without having to touch the remote.  It works almost all the time but sometimes itll miss a commercial, depending on the program and signal. The down side of CA is that it takes 15 mins to mark a 2-hr recording. Sonys commercial skip only fast forward 30 sec per key press.  Overall, Sonys quality and feature wins out, but I decide to return it and keep the Panasonic, mainly because of the commercial advance feature. For those who care, the Sony is made in China and the Panasonic is made in Indonesia.