It's also my understanding that the NTSC decks came out before PAL versions. So that's probably why the PAL decks are generally in better condition, as all the bugs/problems were resolved. Too bad NTSC didn't get upgrades as well. They stayed with the AG-1980 for 10 years with no major changes. I've never understood that.

JVC wasn't so daft (excluding most EOL models), and gave us frequent upgrades.

Even worse: Both Panasonic and JVC were Matsushita.

Panasonic did sell upgraded Z-Chassis SVHS decks in Japan (and likely South Korea since they were NTSC too). Why they didn't make their way overseas is a mystery.

@NJRoadfan: any detailed info on JP models besides the mechanism? The one Panasonic model I imported (NV-DHE10) and one I have lossless captures from (sold here) both have an ugly PQ artifact that I've never seen outside of JP VCRs... I would suspect the 100V to 110V converters being used by me and @PR_Media_Info, but at least with the DHE10, the Blue Back and E-E passthrough both look fine. It's only playback that is uglied-up.

I have no experience with Japanese market VCRs, they are a bit pricey to ship these days. The biggest problem would likely be the black levels as NTSC-J set black to 0.0 IRE as opposed to 7.5 IRE.

Does it really need that converter? Most switch mode PSU's have a working range which then allows 10% +/- either way. Unless it is linear then it may have a problem but most PSU's are SM. I'd almost be tempted to find out what the DC output rails are and fit my own supplies inside if needed.

Generally you get 120VAC out of the outlets in North America. There are folks using older Japanese market VCRs without a step-down transformer here in the US, but the power supplies tend to overheat as they are linear supplies. I have one product here imported from Japan and the switch mode brick it came with was rated 100-120VAC! Weird because they are usually rated for the full range of 100-240VAC. Either way, the product was definitely domestic market only given that all the manuals were strictly in Japanese and the product had to go thru a reshipper to get here in the US.