JVC HRS4600U Super VHS Hi-Fi VCR
Excellent Value for S-VHS
This is my first S-VHS VCR and I am very satisfied.  The options alone are worth the price, let alone the S-VHS-ET ability.  For those of you new to S-VHS, it's a technology that reproduces picture quality 60% better than  the standard 19micron recording heads in your typical VCR.  Unlike S-VHS  players of the past, this S-VHS-ET unit records S-VHS resolution on  standard VHS tapes.  There's no need for those expensive and impossible to  find S-VHS tapes.  However low quality tapes will give you low quality  recordings and that is especially noticeable on this VCR since it records  at a very high resolution.<br />I have a lesser model S3600U which does not  have some of the features of this particular model.  Namely the flying  erase heads and audio dubbing capabilities as well as a front mounted  S-Video connectors.  If you have a JVC camcorder, this VCR contains the  'compulink' capabilities.  It also has S-Video out and in which  dramatically improves the picture quality on your TV set.  <br />The VCR also  has active video calibration which automatically adjusts the tracking and  other technical features to give you better playback and recording quality.   This unit also has automatic time/date setting which sets the VCR's clock  and date automatically using a local PBS channel.  Very handy if you also  want to set your watch to the exact time.<br />The only gripes I have about  this VCR is that I've been having problems with it feeding the tapes.  For  some reason the tapes tend to get hung up when loading down into the VCR.  The VCR does eject the tape so it's not a major problem, but it may take a  few tries before the VCR excepts the tape.  I also wonder if I'm causing  damage to the VCR or my tapes every time it gets hung up.  Another issue is  it's pausing ability.  For such a hi-tech VCR you'd expect the pause image  would be very good.  But that's not the case.  The top of the screen is  always blurry and jittery, just like one of those old 2-head VCRs.And  S-VHS recorded tapes cannot be played on traditional VCRs so you must be  aware that once you record anything in S-VHS, you can only play it back on  an S-VHS capable VCR.  However, S-VHS can be deactivated and it will record  like a typical 19micron head VCR.  Since VHS does not have a bright future  in this digital age, this VCR maybe more than you need.  This unit is great  for those of you who need it for editing purposes; want S-video connectors;  are very neurotic about sound and picture quality of your recordings; or  just want an excellent playback and recording VCR.  <br />All in all, a  wonderful machine although the technology does not show promise in this  digital age.  So hang onto this machine if you record anything in S-VHS.