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Buying Guide--VCRs
by Amazon.com
Whether you want to watch rented movies or tape your favorite
programs, a VCR is an essential part of your home theater. Today's VCRs offer a
wide range of great features to make your video viewing better and easier, from
slow-motion replay, one-touch VCR+ programming, and automatic tracking, to
hi-fi stereo audio and high-resolution S-VHS video capability. Use our guide to
common features and formats to find the right model for you.
Overview
Gone are the days of clunky VHS and Betamax VCRs--today's video
cassette players offer high-quality picture and audio with easy-to-use
interfaces and affordable prices. The VCR is the mainstay of most home video
setups; virtually all major (and many minor) movies are released on VHS, making
it the current standard format for video. VCRs let you record your favorite
programs--no rushing home to catch the latest episode, and you can fast forward
through the commercials.
VCRs range from basic players with minimal extras to home
theater machines with S-VHS, special effects, hi-fi stereo and a host of other
advanced features. Our buyer's guide will help you sort through the features
and ratings to find the VCR that best fits your needs.
Picture quality
An important indication of a VCR's playback quality is the
number of heads it uses. Many lower-cost VCRs are equipped with only two heads,
the minimum number needed for playback and recording. A four-head VCR includes
an extra set of heads, which will give you a superior picture. In addition to
cleaner playback, four-head VCRs perform special functions better than two-head
VCRs; freeze-frame, fast-forward, and slow motion are significantly cleaner on
a four-head VCR at any playback speed.
Sound quality
One of the most important decisions you need to make before
buying your VCR is the level of sound quality you're looking for. The
lowest-priced units usually only offer mono sound compatibility, which can be
satisfactory for non-audiophile users. However, if you plan to use your VCR in
a home theater setup, you will probably want to invest in a VCR with hi-fi
stereo. With sound that approaches CD music quality, a hi-fi stereo VCR can
deliver audio that makes you feel like you're in your local movie theater. Most
current home video movie releases are recorded in hi-fi stereo, so the extra
investment is worth the money. To experience your tapes in stereo, however,
you'll need to connect your VCR to either a stereo TV or home stereo system. If
being able to record is not important to you, then you might consider looking
at a DVD video player instead of a VCR. While higher in price, DVD players
offer unsurpassed digital video and audio for the ultimate home theater
experience.
Audio/video outputs and inputs
If you plan to connect an additional device to your VCR, such as
a camcorder, you should look for a unit that allows convenient access to the
audio and video input and output jacks. Many newer models are now including
front-panel jacks so that you can hook up additional components without having
to pull out the VCR to reach the back of the unit. If you plan to hook up
multiple devices, then look for a unit that has more than one set of audio and
video input and output jacks.
Super VHS
Super VHS is a technology that offers an increase in picture
quality over standard VHS players. S-VHS provides up to 400 lines of resolution
compared to 240 lines in VHS. This improvement will be most noticeable when you
tape from high-resolution sources, such as a direct satellite system or DVD
video player. In the near future, you'll also be able to get D-VHS machines
that are specifically made to record digital video signals from the emerging
HDTV broadcast format.
On-screen programming
Most VCRs offer on-screen programming, which allows you to
record your favorite programs ahead of time by following a series of on-screen
instructions. Usually, you program a recording by inputting the desired channel
and program time with your remote control. The amount of advance
programmability varies unit-by-unit. Some VCRs allow you to record a program as
far in advance as a year, while others only let you record programs up to a
week ahead of time.
Cable viewers should make sure that the VCR is correctly
connected to the cable tuner--many people make the mistake of setting the VCR
to record a broadcast channel when they actually intend to record a cable
channel. For example, if all of your cable programming arrives through channel
4 on your TV set, then you may need to use that channel to record all cable
channels. If this is the case, then you will also need to set your cable tuner
to the desired channel during the time the program is recording.
VCR+
Setting your VCR to record your favorite program--a seemingly
simple task--can be amazingly difficult for most of us. Fortunately, many VCRs
now come with VCR+, a technology that makes programming your VCR a snap. Most
local TV listings and TV Guide magazine now publish a VCR+ code alongside each
program listing. Simply enter this code and hit the program button on your
remote control; the program will automatically be recorded when it begins.
Remote control
Are you suffering from remote control overload? If you are like
many of us, you probably have multiple remote controls cluttering your living
room. Some VCR models come packaged with a universal remote control, which can
be programmed to function with your TV and other devices as well. While some
universal remote controls work only with hardware devices that are made by the
same manufacturer, most will operate across multiple brands. Even if they don't
include a universal remote, most VCRs come with at least their own remote
control.
Head cleaners
While it is recommended that you clean your VCR heads
periodically, many players come equipped with a built-in head cleaner. This
feature automatically removes debris from the tape heads whenever your VCR
enters the play or record mode. If you don't clean your VCR heads, dirt and
dust particles will accumulate and deteriorate your picture quality; the
automatic cleaning feature can be useful in maintaining a clear picture.
Tracking
It happens to just about everyone--you pop a rented movie in
your VCR but the picture is obscured by fuzzy static. What do you do? If you
have a VCR with auto-tracking, you do absolutely nothing--the VCR will
recognize the problem and correct it. Most video players also allow you to
manually adjust the tracking control. This is an essential feature of any VCR,
since it is common for different machines to record and play back at slightly
different speeds. The resulting visual distortion can be attributed to these
slight variations. When you use the tracking feature, you are adjusting the
playback head speed on your VCR to match the speed in which the tape was
recorded.
Search functions
In addition to standard rewind and fast-forward functionality,
some VCRs now come with search features that allow you to advance to a specific
portion of the tape. For example, Time Search allows you to enter a specific
time on the tape that you wish to advance or rewind to. The VCR will
automatically seek out that area of the tape and begin playback. Another common
feature is Index Search, which adds an electronic tag on a tape as you record.
In many cases, this tag is searchable so a viewer can seek and find a specific
point on the tape. Many VCRs also contain Auto Blank Search, which
automatically bypasses the blank portions found at the beginning of a tape.
Other advanced features
There are several advanced features to consider when making your
VCR purchase. For example, many machines now come equipped with a power backup
feature, which is enabled during a power outage or surge of electricity. This
feature will preserve your clock and programming settings for a limited amount
of time, should the power be interrupted.
Some units also feature a jog shuttle dial, which makes it
easier for you to advance or rewind through a tape by turning the dial to the
right or left. The dial is often located on the front of the VCR unit and/or on
the remote control.
If you're a sports fan, you can take control of sports action
replays by taping your game with a VCR that includes a variable slow-motion
option. This feature allows you to control slow-motion speed at your own pace.
Auto repeat features allow you to view your favorite scene again and again
without having to touch the controls. Our favorite feature is Commercial Skip,
which automatically skips past commercials on taped programs. The VCR
automatically begins to play at the conclusion of the commercial break.
Last but certainly not least, many video players now
automatically set your VCR clock. This is welcome relief to those who have
spent the past decade with a blinking "12:00" above their TV sets.
Pricing
A no-frills VHS machine (mono sound, two-heads, no recording
functionality) can sell for as little as $75 to $100. Most standard four-head
VCRs with hi-fi stereo sound sell for $100-$200. With additional features, such
as Commercial Skip and VCR+, expect to pay between $200-$300. If you are
looking for a top-of-the-line video experience, prices can be even higher.
S-VHS units generally begin at $300 and up.
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