JVC HR-S5880AM SVHS VCR opinions?
 

Any opinions on the JVC HR-S5880AM?

Thanks!

It should be mostly equivalent to the HR-S7800/HR-S9800 variants for playback, just without the TBC/DNR function. JVC used the same mechanism (other than the dynamic drum stuff), syscon and main video ICs in all of the svhs models in a lineup, the differences came down to other features.

It's an AM model, so it supports both PAL and proper NTSC (3.58) playback/recording.

Thanks Hodgey, I have an ES-15, so the TBC won't be needed, you think? Is the DNR necessary?

I'll only be running standard VHS tapes in it, not SVHS.

Yes.

But, as usual, for others who may later read this, the technicals...

ES10/15 is not a frame TBC, but strong+crippled line TBC with non-TBC frame sync. Overall, in general, the ES10/15 alone works maybe 50% of the time at most. Add the DVK as weak frame sync (setup correctly, sometimes modified), it goes up to 95%+ overall. As a line TBC, it has negative effects, but better than no line TBC at all. When used for anti-tearing, the net result is better than many VCR TBCs or no TBC.

The reason to own S-VHS units has nothing to do with the S-VHS format. The S-VHS decks tend to be some of the best VHS players made.