It's not better. Over time the S-VHS buffer got small, though it was somewhat offset by DDR (double data rate). Eveything after the HR-S9900 has only 2mb instead of 4mb, and it can make a difference at time. Understand that this is a nitpick, however! It does NOT mean the 9600/9800/9900 is worth overpaying for.
A benefit of the D-VHS is that the TBC and stablizer can be on at the same time.
It also has a sync filter similar to the one in a PanasoniC ES10 recorder (passthrough use only), though not as good. However, it works for most tapes.
The big problem is the build quality of D-VHS units, as they part of the 2000s era of JVC hardware. It's not as good as the 1990s gear.
If you can get one for a good price, do it. You won't regret it. But I'd still suggest a plain S-VHS deck of some kind, either JVC or Panasonic (or both).
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