Video Asylum

Posted by dwpc on January 17, 2002 at 16:22:52

In Reply to: VCR PURCHASE posted by ishmael on January 15, 2002 at 10:33:48:

Some years back, it seems all the VCR makers went for lowest cost and quality/durability generally went out the window...thus the $99 name brand VCR. VCRs are probably more mechanically complex than in any other consumer electronics unit, and there's no substitute for accurate tolerances and adequate strength.

For example, my Zenith VR3200 (cost over $500 in '86) weighs about 30 lbs and hasn't even hiccuped in 15 years. It seems like everything in it that moves or subject to wear is made of steel or brass. I did take it in to a shop when my son broke a male cable connector on the back a couple years ago. The service guy told me to keep it running as long as I could because later vcrs are generally toast a couple years under normal service. The heads wear out and aren't worth replacing.

If I were you, I'd look for a good buy for a 4-head stereo VCR at one of the big retailers that offer a long term warranty for a few extra bucks at purchase.