JVC HR-S7300U worth buying?

[Hmm12345]

Hello everyone,

I have found someone relatively local to me that is selling a JVC HR-S7300U. Considering the "best" vcr I own is a magnavox, I'm heavily considering an upgrade.

Is there anything I should be wary about with this model? I know its not on the vhs buying guides best jvc decks, but I think its like second tier?

Whats the max I should pay for this? I dont want to reveal more since its listed online. Seller says it plays tapes and has a low quality picture of the tv image when playing.

I assume I'll notice a significant improvement from my magnavox but I wanted to run this by the experts before I buy. The capture card I bought from papasmurf works very well. It deserves a better input and thrift stores arent doing it for me

Thank you.

[lordsmurf]

Welcome.

What is the intended use for this?

Assuming VHS conversion...

It's ancient. Not just old, but damned old, early 90s (infancy of S-VHS).

That may, or may not, be upgrade from your existing VHS VCR. Condition matters. Assuming this person is just some random nobody, realize that whatever you're "told" (or read on Facebook/wherever) is just hot air. You need to see and hear the actual performance.

The 7300 is mostly a consumer-grade JVC that also plays S-VHS with s-video out. It's certainly not 2nd-tier. I'd not spend more than $25, about double what a VHS VCR costs from the thrift store. If you're really generous, really wanting it, then $50 is fair.

s-video is s really all this deck has to offer. But merely having s-video output is not the only reason that suggested JVC S-VHS VCRs are suggested. s-video alone does not determine image quality.

I can appreciate people wanting to find bargains, but a lot of those "bargains" are just dressed-up junk, Cheap for a reason.

What about non-conversion?

To record S-VHS tapes, it should be fine.

Manual attached.

[Hmm12345]

Thank you very much for the information. Yes, its for vhs conversion. I will not bother purchasing the deck as it was advertised for more. It is a random nobody and I'm aware of the hot air situation at play. Thats why I felt I needed your opinion. Of the few vhs ive found at thirft store, my personal favorite was a Magnavox MCV604, but i heard something snap in it and now it cant seem to play anything. Then I found a Magnavox CMWV and its picture appeared identical so i use it now. Although, it has a constant audio hissing, but i remove it afterward with audacity and remux(?) with virtualdub so its not so bad. Also, apologies for botching your username in my post. If you come into possession of a decent say 2nd tier deck, that you think is a significant improvement from my machines, that wont break the bank, even if its not the aboslute best (cause i cant afford that), please keep me in mind and let me know. I would appreciate it.

[lordsmurf]

Let's talk numbers.

Realistic numbers.

- $ amount you hope to spend
- $ amount way above your desired number, but you could swing it with creative/proper planning

And then, upon which metric or comp(arison) have you crafted those numbers? Or did you just pluck them from random air?

What did you spend on the Magnavox decks? $10-15 each?

Sometimes people say "break the bank" about a VCR, then blow $1000 on a phone, $50 on packs of smokes, $5000 on a gamer computer, etc.
- If you eat ramen, and need cheap, I get it.
- If you eat steak/lobster, and just whine about money, I don't get it.

And a Smurf is Smurf.

[dpalomaki]

Just a thought. If it is local it might be worth checking if you could give it a test to see how it performs. Use an expendable tape with a variety of material on it. Lugging a TV along with you to check the s-video outputs and audio, or perhaps a USB capture card and a laptop. if you can only test it at the current owners site.

FWIW "low quality picture" when playing tapes could be the VCR, or it could be the original recording, the ability of the viewing TV to deal with analog SD inputs, or that the user is used to and expecting to see HD quality on his TV. And if that low quality picture is a cell phone snap of a TV screen all bets are off. Cell phone snaps of a TV screen are seldom representative of the actual picture. Also final price may be negotiable, especially if it hasn't sold within the first week or two of listing.

[Hmm12345]

You both make valid points. The seller wants $320 CAD. And the low quality picture meant a low quality cell phone picture of the tv, which I agree is certainly not a good judgement of the video.

Lordsmurf; the magnavoxs were no more than $15. I could probably afford to shell out $1K CAD (my currency) if you can find something thats better than consumer grade. But thats only like $700 USD. But I need to hold off until the end of the month before I can confirm that.

[lordsmurf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hmm12345

You both make valid points. The seller wants $320 CAD. And the low quality picture meant a low quality cell phone picture of the tv, which I agree is certainly not a good judgement of the video.

Lordsmurf; the magnavoxs were no more than $15. I could probably afford to shell out $1K CAD (my currency) if you can find something thats better than consumer grade. But thats only like $700 USD. But I need to hold off until the end of the month before I can confirm that.

PM'd. There are some nice options for that price range.