Differences between JVC HR-S29xxU, -S39xxU, -S59xxU?
 

For the past few months I've been using the family JVC HR-J692U HiFi VCR to capture some old VHS tapes (not home movies, just nostalgia fuel), but that just bit the dust.

So now I'm in the market for a new VCR. Since I'm not capping anything particularly precious, I'm looking for something affordable, and I'm thinking a low to mid-range late-model SVHS JVC (basically what I've been using, but with S-Video). I'm seeing quite a few on ebay in the $50-150 price range.

My question is: what are the differences between the HR-S29xxU, HR-S39xxU, and HR-S59xxU models, when it comes to capturing and digitization? Are they the same in the essentials, and just differ in irrelevant features? For reference, here's an archive of what appears to be JVC's last product listing for SVHS VCRs: https://web.archive.org/web/20200809.../supervhsvcrs/.

I know there's been a lot of discussion about higher end VCRs here, but I really don't want to spend that kind of money yet, especially with the luck I've been having with problem tapes.

Genrally playback circuitry is the same for the non-TBC higher/lower SVHS models from a lineup yeah (not getting into multi-system and other weirdness). In general on the somewhat modern decks, JVC used the same main video IC for the the fancier non-SVHS decks and up in each lineup. The SVHS models additionally has a 2D digital/SVHS board (The very last models put it on the main board, and the PAL/SECAM 59xx models specifically also seem to lack the digital NR/YC separation IC entirely) and a tape stabilizer thingy on the mechanism, and the top of the line models have a 2M or 4M 3D digital/TBC/SVHS board instead of the 2D one. Some of the earlier one had a digital 3R sharpening feature too which was featured on the top-end SVHS and some random other models but I think they had dropped that feature (which isn't all that useful for capturing anyhow) by the x9xx models.
EDIT: For European and US ones at least, they had some fancy models in Japan with other stuff that I don't think were found elsewhere.

Of the specific ones you mention, there is an older/newer variation though, the 3900U/5900U is has a different mech and electronics to the later ones. No idea if there is a notable difference in performance between those and the later NTSC ones though.

JVC also used the S5900 and S6900 names on a much older model which is totally different, but not sure if that was used in the US or only on european ones. EDIT2: The S4900U and S6900U exist yeah, and are as noted much older and very different.

How is the compatibility of the remotes between different JVC models? Would my HR-J692U remote (LP21138-001) likely work for other models, at least to use the menus? Looking at some of the images and manuals, the HR-S2902U seems like it has the same remote as I have, but all the other ones have a different looking one.

Relatively sure it'll work. At least for the PAL side of things the remote from my 1998 HR-S8500 works fine on my 2003 HR-XVS20 and vice versa and on my other JVCs too.

I used my HR-J693U remote exclusively with my HM-DH5U. Was surprised that it worked, since the remotes look so dissimilar and the models are from opposite ends of the price spectrum.

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Nothing really. All are almost identical.