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VCR. New or Older? Help!

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I have studied manuals and roamed the archives but I am in a quandry. Should I get a new VCR, or should I troll the resellers for a used hi-end machine from years ago such as JVC, Sony, Panasonic, Akai, Mitsubishi?
The new machines seem light, full of plastic and glittery finish. The older hi-end units are heavier and more substantial. But what does this mean? This was posted on this forum some time ago:
>Posted by petew ( i ) on July 18, 2001 at 18:42:06
SNIP...
>But you sir, are a sensible man, and know that for under $200 you can get a HI-FI, multi-head VCR that is far superior to the best machines of only a few years ago.
Ahhh ... the confusion enters here. There are convincing arguments on both sides?
WHAT I NEED/DON'T NEED
* Don't need features
* Don't need a tuner
* Do need Hi-Fi stereo (ie at least 4 heads)
* S-VHS seems like a worthwhile thing � yes/no?
* Do need RCA out
I don't mind coping with an older machine and refurbishing IF the obvious advantage is in better signal and better engineering.
This has been discussed before, but ANY suggestions would update the arguments and help me a lot � Thanks
PS: Yes we have a cheap DVD machine (Toshiba SD-260J) but here in Japan the rentals are still full of analogue. Besides, I want to use the VCR for recording vinyl on T-120 cassettes.

Follow Ups:

Zenith VR3200 - DWPC 21:03:37 12/27/04 (1)
Built like a tank (30 lbs) and has superb HiFi Stereo. Mid-80s vintage. If you find a a serviceable one, grab it. I have one sitting in the garage with a busted RF converter board (kids broke it off!) that I should get rid of, but I keep hoping I'll find a replacement part. The downside is bad parts availability. Among the last of the "lifetime" units; new vcrs are throwaways after a couple hundred hours.
- Re: Zenith VR3200 - strieb 04:09:25 12/28/04 (0)
  Thanks DWPC. I have come across a stirring recommendation for Zenith VCR's in other places. (Perhaps it was even from you.) So I have been looking, and I will be looking for one as I make my customary rounds in the future.
  You may have read my post in regards to my purchase of a Mitsubishi S-62. It produces a VERY nice picure on my little Trinitron which rivals DVD on my 17' eMac. The sound is excellent, although the signal to noise ratio is not first rate. There is a 60 cycle hum coming from somewhere, but as long as audio is actually happening, I don't notice it. I still enjoy analog tracks from the Mistu as compared to the DVD soundtracks in my eMac, or the budget DVD Toshiba DVD unit that feeds my Sansui alpha-707Extra integrated amp. Great for $50, a recent lube and check and a three month warrenty. Who needs the shark infested waters of Ebay?! Cheers � Lorne
Personally.... - grantv 06:47:02 12/20/04 (6)
The last piece of electronics I'd buy used would be a VCR. As far as my experience goes they are the least dependable piece of equipment in an HT system. This is from someone who's bought (all new) high end Sony's and Mits's, plus I used to sell audio equipment. I'd buy new.
- I'm listening... but which one? - strieb 09:27:30 12/20/04 (5)
  Thanks Grant. Any recommendations? At last count, the biggest retailer here only had Sony, Sharp, and one or two others. The line-up of purebred VCR's (as opposed to disk and cassette combos) were priced at somewhere between 12,000 to 20,000 yen � say $150 on the average.
  One other question: how do you think they will perform compared to the better older machines when they were new?
  BTW � ALL of this lineup boasted 19 micron heads. At the time I was thinking 'so what?' I thought the head gap was optimized for a specific recording speed?
  - Mission Accomplished - strieb 06:33:23 12/22/04 (0)
    Yesterday I plugged a couple of tapes a store had on hand into the premium Victor (JVC?) VCR. It was feeding a Sony TV. The image was appallingly awful. I still can't believe that all was right with the setup, but the clerks were to busy to ask. Everything else was so uninspiring that the thought of spending even $120 for one of the current machines put me off. So off I went to my favorite reseller.
    So now I own a 1992 Mitsubishi HV-S62 � more than likely a domestic model. It is an S-VHS, Stereo Hi-Fi deck with minimal features. It is has a rugged steel chassis, removable bottom plate and is distinctly heavy. I shone a small light into a dozen transports including a 1999 Sony. The Mitsubishi won out despite its age because it just screamed build quality compared to the others which included mid 90's Panasonics, Sonys Sanyos and Victors. It has been inspected, cleaned, tested and lubricated by a tech and has a three month guarentee and sold for 5,500 yen � $53.
    Time will tell, but if it is anything like the Mitsu, downstairs it will be just what I want. Thanks to countless people whose knowledge I tapped in the archives, as well as Grantv who has responded to me in this thread. Everyone helped. Now, on to analogue adventures ....
  - Re: I've been out of the running for awhile - strieb 16:43:33 12/20/04 (2)
    Good suggestions in regards to experimenting in the store, but it is definitely against the grain here in Japan. In order to accomplish anything like it, I'd have to be swifter and more subtle in Japanese. Anyway, if Sony has a 4 or 4+ head deck I may snag it. Sony and Mitsubishi have their own workshops/labs here in Sendai, and they accept warrenty issues and incidental repairs from the public over their counters � (cool).
    Would you like to comment on what you would do if given a choice between HQ and S-VHS in the same situation? The primary concern is audio. Most of the viewing will be on rented tape. I won't be tuning TV or dubbing. Some commentators have said that the S models have more sophisticated circuits in them which is a general enhancement regardless of format. Others advise to not to bother. Thanks again � Lorne
    - Might be losing me now, but.... - grantv 06:39:49 12/21/04 (1)
      I think they both had to do mostly with picture quality, no? Maybe someone else better suited to answer this one, sorry. Curious... why not buy a CD recorder and copy your LP's to that?
      - You asked ... so ... - strieb 08:48:41 12/21/04 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Might be losing me now, but.... posted by grantv on December 21, 2004 at 06:39:49:
        
        I love the sound � the feeling � of analogue. That's the flat-out, short answer. But let me continue for a bit:
        For recording analogue I already have some good cassette tape machines, including a Nakamichi. For source I use an old Micro TT with the venerable MC Denon DL- 301 cart. In addition there are some restuffed tuners from decades ago. They pull in analogue broadcasts of material from NHK's vast archive and their live transcriptions from Tokyo and elsewhere. Those who don't know what good tuners can do with good broacasting perhaps will not be convinced, but trust me; it's good!
        I llike analogue sountrack on the older movies. And for my ears, and perhaps because our DVD gear is not the best, the MP2/MP3 track on DVD does not come up to what the Mitsubishi Hi-Fi VCR can do on the family rig. Any LP transcription I intend to do on the intended VCR will be icing on the cake. The main thing is to watch and LISTEN to video cassettes in bed.
        There are four CD players here � Marantz, Denon, NAD and a rare prosumer Kenwood, but it's the vinyl and tapes I love to relax to. Have you ever heard good LP on video cassette tape? I heard a lot of it years ago. Most of it was from excellent gear including a Linn TT. In a word � stunning!
        And just so I don't get wacked by wackers � I know that analogue is not better. I just like it as a matter of individual taste.
        I appreciate the question and thought it deserved a careful answer. Now if I can just find that tape of Lawrence of Arabia � just gotta hear T.E. kick over that Vee-Twin Brough Superior and start up the country lane!
  - I've been out of the running for a while. - grantv 12:08:27 12/20/04 (0)
    I haven't sold equipment for some years now, and I haven't bought a VCR for probably 4-5 years (no VCR in the TV room, just DVD recorder). At the time my fave's were Mits and Sony. JVC had horrible warranty problems, Hitachi picture quality wasn't so hot....
    My Pioneer DVD recorder has a fairly crappy tuner section so I'm not so sure Pioneer would be a good bet. If I were you I'd see if they'll let you try a few on the same set even at the store. Tweak the set then try a prerecorded tape, record something and watch something from cable. Some VCR's have good tuners, some not so good. Same goes for the sound quality, same for picture quality off of recorded tapes vs prerecorded, etc etc....

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