The
JVC HR-S3911U is an inexpensive Super VHS ET VCR in silver color. You can buy it for less than $130. The same VCR is also available in black color as
JVC HR-S3901U.
Picture Quality
If you are interested in a Super VHS machine, you are probably interested in picture quality. If you don’t want the best picture quality available in an analog VCR, you would get regular VHS model and save money. Super VHS features 400 lines of horizontal resolution, comparing to only 240 lines for “regular” VHS.
The S3911U is very impressive in terms of the picture quality – in “real” Super VHS mode on a somewhat expensive
S-VHS tape (about $5 per tape). After watching a recording in S-VHS, regular VHS looks blurry. You can see smaller details with SVHS recording, which are not visible if you use “regular” VHS recording.
The marketing folks at JVC and other companies try to persuade the customers that the S-VHS-ET mode (which is the same as S-VHS, except you use cheaper regular VHS tapes) should provide excellent picture quality with cheaper tapes.
Not so fast, dude. The S-VHS-ET produces mixed results, which largely depend on the quality of tape used and are worse than S-VHS overall since there is video noise and some “color bleeding”. But it is still better than VHS in terms of resolution and detail level. And I found that even the temperature matters. That’s right – the recordings at lower temperatures tend to have less video noise that recordings at high temperatures.
If you want to see more details than with “regular” VCR and can tolerate some mild video noise, S-VHS ET will work for you. Otherwise (if you want excellent resolution and picture quality), in addition to getting this VCR, you will have to buy expensive S-VHS tapes. This way, you can perform time-shift recording of your favorite programs with virtually no loss in quality
and reuse the tape. All this without having to spring for an expensive DVD-recorder and not-so-cheap DVD-RAM discs.
The VCR also records and plays tapes in VHS mode and produces excellent results (although with lower resolution than S-VHS). It can record in SP and EP speeds. The sound is Hi-Fi and is close to CD quality; you can use the VCR with a Dolby Pro Logic surround sound system.
Active Video Calibration
This relates to video quality: the S3911U uses so called
Active Video Calibration that probes the tape for several seconds before the first recording or playback and adjusts recording/playback parameters accordingly. Even though I didn’t compare results with and without this feature, I hope it improves the picture quality and I always leave it on.
It may be annoying though, so the good news is you can turn it off. I say annoygin, because it delays the actual start of recording for several seconds (unless you start with Pause-Rec mode or the tape has already been “probed” before).
Connections
Another thing related to picture quality: the VCR has an S-Video in and out on the back panel in addition to an A/V input (composite video, analog stereo audio) and an A/V out. You also get an additional set of RCA-type A/V jacks on the front panel (to connect you camcorder for recording, for example), but with no S-Video jack.
It is important to note that the S-Video connection should be used whenever possible (over the standard composite connection). S-Video transfers color and brightness signals (chrominance and luminance) separately, whereas composite video connection carries them together, creating potential for rainbow-like noise and other unpleasant effects.
There is an AV CompuLink connection available as well as a jack to connect a “Cable Eye” cable box controller, which can be obtained free from JVC by using the included coupon. See below for details on Cable Eye.
Cable Eye Controller
The “Cable Eye Controller” allows you control your cable box or satellite box during timer recordings. You place it in front of your DBS or cable box and it sends the IR signals making the device think it is being controlled by its own remote control. You have to make sure the cable box is turned on before the timer recording - the controller switches the channel, but does not turn the box on or off.
Note: although you can use the "Cable Eye" controller to control number of cable boxes, the number of DBS (satellite) boxes it can control is limited to JVC (DISH), ECHOSTAR (DISH), SONY and RCA. I have a HUGHES DirecTV box and cannot control it using Cable Eye.
Another way to record the shows from the DBS is to program the box to turn itself on when the show starts and turn itself off when it’s over. The VCR has a “Rec Link” button on the front panel that makes it record when and what is being fed to its A/V input. This way, it is easier to program recording.
Shuttle Control
The front panel of the VCR has a shuttle control, which is useful for finding the exact frame you want to start recording from. The tape transport mechanism is pretty quick and works well. The remote has “super shuttle” control that allows you to perform the same function but using buttons. See the “Remote” section below.
Remaining Tape Display
The S3911U has an onscreen tape position display that shows you graphically where you are currently located on the tape. You can also see the remaining tape time in hours and minutes at a push of a button with high accuracy.
Features
The VCR has index search and instant review functions, auto clock and auto channel set. You can record in VHS, S-VHS (if you use S-VHS tape that costs around $5) and S-VHS-ET (same as SVHS, but on regular tape). See above for notes on picture quality. You can record at SP and EP (SLP) speed in either mode, so you can either record 2 or 6 hours on T-120 tape. There is no recording in LP speed, but the LP playback is present.
Remote
The remote control, which is supplied with the VCR, is somewhat big in size and can control a TV, cable box, DBS and even two JVC VCRs. But the operation and the programming process are overly complicated. Four separate buttons allow you set start time, end time, date and channel. Yet another button sets the recording speed. What’s the point?
Frequently used buttons are located in the bottom portion of the remote, The TV control is also strangely arranged – you have to hold down the “TV” button while pushing other buttons to control the TV.
Also, the number of DBS (satellite) boxes it can control is limited to JVC (DISH), ECHOSTAR (DISH), SONY and RCA.
Bottom Line
Although not ideal, the JVC HR-S3911U Super VHS VCR provides excellent picture quality in Super VHS mode and doesn’t cost much. It can be considered a much cheaper alternative to the DVD-recorder with a little less features but not much loss in picture quality. Provided you get good quality Super VHS tapes.
