Video Asylum

Posted by John C. - Aussie (i) on February 26, 2001 at 16:19:26:

In Reply to: vcr's. we all need one, so which one should i get? posted by zaphod on February 26, 2001 at 15:03:19:

We use video tape a lot, time shifting to avoid ads as well as to move programs to a more convenient time slot.

Experience has shown that not all recorders have quality tuners and the cheaper units in all brands cut corners in the circuitry. The best recorders IMO are the S-VHS Panasonic/National ones, even if not used in the S-video mode (a mode we rarely bother to use as the limitation is often the broadcast so S-tape costs more with no added benefit). However the S-VHS recorders do contain better video circuitry and we can make tapes (from 625 line PAL broadcasts) that project well on to a 112 inch wide screen. The Panasonic/National recorders have excellent tuners and are generally reliable. Their stereo sound output is good, something not true of some other brands we have owned.

If you find the S-video recorders too expensive then make sure you get a model with a back up battery so power outages do not lose any programming.

Good hunting.