Panasonic 4-Head Hi-Fi Stereo VCR $79.99 at Amazon ($120 elsewhere)

[mintyfresh]

This is a good deal for a great VCR. Price is $79.99 (list $140).

Major retailers (Circuit City, J&R, Buy.com) sell it for $120. Lowest price on PV-V4621 Pricescan is $87-$100 from unrated or shady vendors.

Use $5 off $35 at Amazon to bring you to $75. Shipping is about $10 to Massachusetts.

Panasonic PV-V4621 4-Head Hi-Fi Stereo Home Theater Ready VCR

Amazon link

From Panasonic.com

• 
  Multi-Brand Universal Light Tower® Illuminated Remote for convenient operation
  Home Theater Ready allows the VCR to integrate into your home theater as the width is the same as other standard audio components
  Rapid REW/FF
  Commercial Advance® allows the system to skip over 3 minutes of commercials in about 25 seconds
  Movie Advance® lets you automatically skip over previews at the beginning of rented tapes and begin playing at the feature
  VCR Plus+® SILVER for simple, fast programming
  VCR Plus+®
  ALLSET? Channel Mapping
  Auto Clock Set with 24-hour Back-up sets the date and time automatically
  Front A/V Input Jacks for convenient access
  Multi-Function Clock Display prominently displays the time and various VCR functions
  Trilingual On-Screen Display for on-screen programming instructions in English, Spanish or French
  Index Search for simplified access to various programs on a tape
  Program End Search lets you find the end of a recorded program
  Time Stamp, when activated, automatically tags the start of each new recording and displays on screen the date, time, end time and channel of the program being recorded
  Channel Caption lets you assign an ID of one to four characters to 34 channels
  Tape Status lets you know how much time is left on the tape before, during or after recording
  

Now, *most* people have given these model good reviews on Amazon and Epinions, but there is a small subgroup that complained about picture quality -- perhaps a batch was bad. It's worth the gamble. If it's defective, then return it.

 

[sjshaw]

Good deal.

This is a good deal as well, if you can find it in stock at your local Wal-Mart. WM had another brand on sale in their latest circular for about the same price, although I cannot remember if it is the same one or not.

From Wal-Mart:

Emerson 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR

4 video heads
Hi-fi stereo output
LED display
Bilingual on-screen display
Tuner autoset
7-program, 1 year timer index/time search
Remote control

 

[XFreebie]

i have a panasonic vcr, but it wont read quasi format vhs and wont record cable channels? is this one "cable ready"?

 

[RossMAN]

This is an excellent deal, according to Panasonic.com's VHS VCR model list this is the highest model they have other than an overpriced S-VHS.

Read the reviews here and here.

When it comes to cordless phones and VCRs, Panasonic always makes the best quality/bang for your buck.

 

[LakerGod]

I'll probably get on this deal. Anybody have any experience/comments on this specific model?

 

[LakerGod]

Damn, there is no link to add this to the shopping cart. :|

 

[StringAttached]

Yes, I have, it's a piece of sh*t.

Everything worked smoothly until I tried to record a tape. Playback is pure garbage. I thought, bad tape. Pop in a studio copy of Total Recall - same story. My 8-year old 2-head Shinton plays better than this "Hi-Fi". I should've listened to Amazon and Epinion reviews many of which had stated the same problem. Do yourself a favor and don't bother. I'm gonna return mine, just been too lazy to get my a** to the Post Office.

 

[TrevL63]

VCR? WTF!?! THEY STILL MAKE THESE THINGS???

 

[RossMAN]

<< VCR? WTF!?! THEY STILL MAKE THESE THINGS??? >>



Yes. It's kinda hard to tape E.R. on my Toshiba SD1700 DVD Player.

Then again that's why I have a ReplayTV ... why do VCRs even exist?

 

[LakerGod]

<< Yes, I have, it's a piece of sh*t.

Everything worked smoothly until I tried to record a tape. Playback is pure garbage. I thought, bad tape. Pop in a studio copy of Total Recall - same story. My 8-year old 2-head Shinton plays better than this "Hi-Fi". I should've listened to Amazon and Epinion reviews many of which had stated the same problem. Do yourself a favor and don't bother. I'm gonna return mine, just been too lazy to get my a** to the Post Office. >>



Wow...that's not good. Especially since the main function of the VCR i'm gonna purchase is gonna be for recording and watching video tapes...haha. Thanks for the heads up, I guess I'll look for another deal.

 

[RossMAN]

<<

<< Yes, I have, it's a piece of sh*t.

Everything worked smoothly until I tried to record a tape. Playback is pure garbage. I thought, bad tape. Pop in a studio copy of Total Recall - same story. My 8-year old 2-head Shinton plays better than this "Hi-Fi". I should've listened to Amazon and Epinion reviews many of which had stated the same problem. Do yourself a favor and don't bother. I'm gonna return mine, just been too lazy to get my a** to the Post Office. >>



Wow...that's not good. Especially since the main function of the VCR i'm gonna purchase is gonna be for recording and watching video tapes...haha. Thanks for the heads up, I guess I'll look for another deal. >>



What if you find another deal on an RCA VCR and someone says they own and it's a POS then what are you gonna do?

You're going to listen to one negative remark compared to my advice, the advice from Consumer Reports magazine and dozens of POSITIVE reviews from ePinions.com and Amazon.com ... all because of one bad remark?

LOL.

 

[StringAttached]

You're welcome. I'm on a lookout for a decent VCR as well. Let us know if you find a good deal.

 

[LakerGod]

<<
What if you find another deal on an RCA VCR and someone says they own and it's a POS then what are you gonna do?

You're going to listen to one negative remark compared to my advice, the advice from Consumer Reports magazine and dozens of POSITIVE reviews from ePinions.com and Amazon.com ... all because of one bad remark?

LOL. >>




There were a lot of bad reviews on Amazon.com too. I never believe those reviews, but since somebody on these forums has had the same problem, i'm a little less confident. But I dunno, if I could purchase it from Amazon, I just might because it's such a good deal. His remark about his bad experience with this VCR made me feel less crappy about not seeing this deal earlier. Hopefully somebody will find a good deal on a Sony VCR, i've had nothing but good experiences with them.

 

[taserT]

It says "not available" when i add it to my wishlist and then try to checkout. This would have been good because apparently it had free shipping too!

 

[garsh]

I bought this VCR a week ago from Amazon at the $80 price.

It's been great! I haven't had any problems with it yet.

I mostly record TV shows for later viewing, and have had no problems with picture quality.
It has Commercial Advance - it automatically fast-forwards through commercials! Works great,
except it tends to FF through the little "blurb" at the end of most sit-coms.

It's a bit noisier than older Panasonics, but it's much faster at rewinding tapes.
I've owned two other Panasonics, and they've been good too.

 

[garsh]

If nobody has noticed yet....

Amazon is now offering free shipping on this VCR! So it's an even better deal!

Also, the PV-V4611 is being offered for $69.88 (list $120) with free shipping!

 

[Rickten]

I don't think I would buy a vcr at this point unless it was SVHS with flying erase heads.

 

[wiseguy]

FWIW, I bought a slightly different model, the PV-V4521 at Kmart a couple of weeks
ago for $79.99 + tax. Then, this week, Circuit City has it on sale for $69.99... That
figures...

If anyone is interested in that, just go to www.circuitcity.com and do a search for
"PVV4521" and it'll come up.

 

[thetaz]

<< Good deal.

This is a good deal as well, if you can find it in stock at your local Wal-Mart. WM had another brand on sale in their latest circular for about the same price, although I cannot remember if it is the same one or not.

From Wal-Mart:

Emerson 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR

4 video heads
Hi-fi stereo output
LED display
Bilingual on-screen display
Tuner autoset
7-program, 1 year timer index/time search
Remote control
>>



As far as this VCR, just note that it is made by Orion..a walmart cheapie brand. Just remember you get what you pay for. Panasonic's seem to be ok. Sony, so so. JVC's - the older ones I've had real good luck with. I've got one from 1991 that has more features than the vcr's they sell these days, but I also paid $400 for it back then. I don't know how good JVC is as far as build quality these days. RCA, ive had good luck with them as well.

 

[Losty]

Yes, I have, it's a piece of sh*t.

Everything worked smoothly until I tried to record a tape. Playback is pure garbage. I thought, bad tape. Pop in a studio copy of Total Recall - same story. My 8-year old 2-head Shinton plays better than this "Hi-Fi". I should've listened to Amazon and Epinion reviews many of which had stated the same problem. Do yourself a favor and don't bother. I'm gonna return mine, just been too lazy to get my a** to the Post Office.

Hmmm... sometimes playback on new VCRs are really choppy because the speed you record at using an old vcr isn't the same as the one with the new one...prolly this isn't the case with your vcr but i was really mad when i got my sony vcr... it only had 2 speed vs. my 15yr old panasonic vcr which had 3 speeds .. so all the tapes i had recorded with using the 3rd speed doesn't work...

does this have 3 speeds?

what do you look for in a "good" vcr? i have no idea...

-Losty

 

[jalaram]

I can't seem to add the 4621 to my shopping cart. It does, however, give me an option to pick it up from Circuit City for $119.

Anyway, I would've thought Panasonic had good QC. I've been happy so far with the Panasonic products I've gotten so far, but the reviews for the 4611 are scary. It might be better to get the 4521 locally since it's easier to return it.

 

[garsh]

<< It might be better to get the 4521 locally since it's easier to return it. >>

Returning defective items to Amazon is a piece of cake.

You go to thier website, follow the links for returning things.
It brings up your recent purchases, and you simply click on the
one you want to return.

I had them mail me a UPS label, which I attached to the box, and then
handed it over to UPS. Didn't cost me a dime. And Amazon was pretty
quick with crediting my charge card.

(I had bought the $230 Refurbished Kitchenaid mixer referenced here a
while back and had to return it).

 

[StringAttached]

Losty, it does have 3 recording speeds which is BTW one of the reasons I was all over this deal in the first place. However, I tried to record at SP, and it came out badly. Not only that, but a tape bought in the dept. store (not self-recorded) played horrible, too. I could try to believe it was just my bad luck but there are way too many negative reviews on the Amazon and Epinions stated the playback problem. As much as I trust Consumer Report, I don't think it's just a coinsidence.

 

[rona]

Other than VCR Plus, which I never use, how does this VCR differ from the one Circuit City currently has on sale for $69.99 (model PV-V4521)? I'm mostly concerned about picture quality.

 

[RossMAN]

<< Other than VCR Plus, which I never use, how does this VCR differ from the one Circuit City currently has on sale for $69.99 (model PV-V4521)? I'm mostly concerned about picture quality. >>



Using the link that I posted on 12/26/2001 at 2:30 PM you can get complete specs for both models from Panasonic's website.

PV-V4521
Universal Remote for convenient operation
Front A/V Input Jacks for convenient access
Auto Clock Set with 24-hour Back-up sets the date and time automatically
Commercial Skip lets you jump ahead during playback in 1, 2 or 3-minute increments
Multi-Function Clock Display prominently displays the time and various VCR functions
Trilingual On-Screen Display for on-screen programming instructions in English, Spanish or French
Index Search for simplified access to various programs on a tape
Program End Search lets you find the end of a recorded program
Tape Position Display identifies your current position on a tape with an indication of remaining tape length

PV-V4621
Multi-Brand Universal Light Tower® Illuminated Remote for convenient operation
Home Theater Ready allows the VCR to integrate into your home theater as the width is the same as other standard audio components
Rapid REW/FF
Commercial Advance® allows the system to skip over 3 minutes of commercials in about 25 seconds
Movie Advance® lets you automatically skip over previews at the beginning of rented tapes and begin playing at the feature
VCR Plus+® SILVER for simple, fast programming
VCR Plus+®
ALLSET? Channel Mapping
Auto Clock Set with 24-hour Back-up sets the date and time automatically
Front A/V Input Jacks for convenient access
Multi-Function Clock Display prominently displays the time and various VCR functions
Trilingual On-Screen Display for on-screen programming instructions in English, Spanish or French
Index Search for simplified access to various programs on a tape
Program End Search lets you find the end of a recorded program
Time Stamp, when activated, automatically tags the start of each new recording and displays on screen the date, time, end time and channel of the program being recorded
Channel Caption lets you assign an ID of one to four characters to 34 channels
Tape Status lets you know how much time is left on the tape before, during or after recording.

JVC and SONY also make excellent reliable VCRs.