Sony SLV-N55 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR Review

1) Like someone else wrote, I too get this disturbance at regular intervals when playing back with the SLV-N55. For me it occurs with some recordings made by other VCRs and pre-recorded videos.
Every 5 to 10 seconds, the picture will jitter vertically for a second. I played around with the tracking to no avail. If it's because of the condition of the tapes or the recordings are a year old, that's still no excuse because these same particular tapes play perfectly stable on my other 3 Panasonic VCRs, and it should have no problem with pre-recorded tapes ESPECIALLY.
(Side Note: I have a Panasonic PV-V4522 that makes recordings with a severe vertical jitter on older tapes, leaving you with a bad recording, but if I re-record over the same tape at the same speed, that recording will be stable... go figure)
A hyper-sensitive VCR that requires mint condition tapes to play a decent picture (in the Panasonic's case, to record one)is not very useful then, because you'll WANT to watch and use your tapes and videos in the future, and you can't store your cassettes in a vacuum, electro-magnetic and gravity free chamber or something.
2) While so far the SLV-N55 has no problems playing back recordings made by itself, the quality of those recordings is not to my liking. It seems to record with more color bleed than other VCRs. Also there is this noticeable outline to the right of every object in the picture, resembling a slight "ghost" effect like with poor reception on a TV with rabbit ears or turning the sharpness too high on your set. (I get digital cable)
If this is what 19 Micron quality is all about, then no thank you. I had an Optimus 19 Micron VCR long ago and while playback of it's recordings were fine, playing back of those same recordings on another VCR was very grainy.
They should just keep everything the standard 26 Microns and all will be fine. So from now on I will avoid the feature "19 Micron Heads" like the plague. : P

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Product Description:
Don't miss a minute of your favorite shows or tapes. Sony's compact, 14-inch-wide SLV-N55 is packed with features like flash rewind, commercial skip, and Instant Replay so you can rewind T-120 tapes in less than 60 seconds, flip past commercials with the touch of a button, and replay sports or movie scenes missed the first time around. A camcorder or gaming console plugs right into the SLV-N55's front panel for hassle-free connections.
This model's four-head design ensures smooth slow-motion play (forward and reverse) and clear still-frame images, and with hi-fi sound the unit records and plays back stereo audio tracks. If routing the stereo output to an AV receiver, you can even enjoy four-channel (left, center, right, and monaural surround) Dolby Pro Logic mixes from TV and Dolby-encoded cassettes. The SLV-N55's dual-azimuth construction uses two pairs of recording heads rather than one, each optimized for a specific mode (one for SP recording, the other for EP), while 19-micron heads deliver the clearest possible picture when recording or viewing in EP (extended-play) mode.
Plug & Play guarantees easy set up with auto tuner preset and AutoClock set for all VCR tuner channels. ChildLoc circuitry protects tapes and kids from harm. Other features include index scan and a one-month/eight-event timer. The unit comes with a multibrand TV/VCR remote control.

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Panasonic PV-V4520 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR Review

This is a very solid VCR.It does a good job at recording as well as playback.Programming is very, very easy--I didn't even need the manual to figure it out, there are on screen directions which are real easy tofollow.The only weak part of this unit is the remote.The channel andvolume buttons are really small, so it is a little difficult to use atfirst, especially in the dark.This isn't a real big deal to me, but itwould be nice if these buttons were bigger.It is also nice that you canuse all the functions of the VCR without the remote, which is nice forthose of use who have the tendency to lose the remote.

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Product Description:
Why bother with lesser known brands when you can get a fine VHS VCR by Panasonic? The Panasonic PV-V4520 is an excellent performer loaded with features that make it fun and easy to use.The double-azimuth 4-Head video system produces superior, jitter-free special effects for a clear and stable picture during still/pause, slow motion, and forward/reverse search. Digital Auto Tracking Allows playing of most VHS tapes without the need for manual tracking adjustment by continuously adjusting the tape's tracking across the video heads during playback. Receive and record stereo sound from MTS (multi-channel television sound) stereo TV broadcasts, where available. The VCR Plus+ System simplifies VCR programming by reducing programming entries. Program the VCR by entering PlusCode programming numbers that can be found in most newspapers and TV listing magazines.This VCR provides stunning sonic performance, with dynamic range approaching CD levels of quality. With today's incredible sound effects in movies, Hi-Fi Stereo is an essential part of any home theater. Illuminated Universal Remote Control allows you full TV control in the dark. Besides providing total control of the TV, it also controls key features on most brands of VCRs and Cable Boxes. Additional features include Trilingual On-Screen Display for on-screen programming instructions in English, Spanish or French and Auto Clock Set with 24-hour Back-up that automatically sets the current time and date and updates the clock in the event of a power failure. Index Search is included for simplified access to various programs on a tape. Program End Search function will let you find the end of a recorded program, while Tape Position Display identifies your current position on a tape with an indication of remaining tape length.

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