No.

I wouldn't get anywhere near something like that.

And this is a great eBay listing for me to educate others on warnings signs. :)
That thread is here: https://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/new...-ebay-vcr.html
Read it, learn.

Understood, I’m not buying, good points for everyone to ponder, though, but assuming it was a viable unit, is that a worthy unicorn? I’ve never seen one and it’s frickin gorgeous.

I moved the eBay aspect to a new thread.

Referring only to the unit ... maybe?

It's not a unit I'm familiar with. But Japanese gear scares me away, because it tends to be irreparable. Anything non-JVC and non-Panasonic is simply the worst to fix. Even some of those are awful.

That unit you linked seems to be a VCR + receiver combo, and I have no idea how it works.

I've never been impressed by Mitsubishi S-VHS decks, and I just don't see this one being any different.

Anybody who has an extra $1k lying around, and wants to DIY repair a deck, with potentially zero service manual documentation and zero parts available, should look into it. I don't think we'll see any takers. :laugh:

Obviously this is "rare" item, but that doesn't automatically give it "unicorn" status.

I'm glad you posted about it. :)

Hello boys :-)
I thought you might be interested to hear the low-down on the Mitsubishi "Unicorn" :-)

I'm always wary of eBay listings, didn't really expect it to be TOTALLY "NOS", but that's fine...so long as it works.
I'm not an idiot Ebayer who just blindly believes everything I see in a listing, lol. The lack of operating instructions and "odds & ends" accessories was also a big clue. But I bought it anyway! Wanted it for its (supposedly) superior playback of EP recordings. There are tracking options for "Digital" (standard automatic adjustment) "NE(EP)" - not sure what "NE" refers to, but this mode uses the DT heads, and manual (via front mounted pot).
Long story short, the "main issue" was a soggy drive belt. Lots of screws to get to the bottom of the mech! SOOO many.
Once replaced, testing began.
SP mode...superb.
EP mode...excellent in auto/manu, not QUITE so good in NE(EP), which should be THE BEST. The other DT functions also don't work well (the freeze frame is atrocious!) Sadly, no service manual available.
Based on "soot" above the big beefy power transformer (on underside of top cabinet) I'd say the deck has been plugged in for a couple of years, but barely used. The fluorescent display is as-new.
The DT issues could be down to soooo many things...the slip-ring/brushes are fine...I think head wear is extremely unlikely (it's probably seen just a handful of tapes) but I wouldn't even know where to begin to even find the DT circuitry. So many boards, and acres of wires in between, and no service manual. I'm more used to working on professional VTRs with proper serviceability...slot-in boards for each function, not a "Spaghetti Junction" of wires.
The seller is a really nice guy. He purchased a large quantity of high-end gear from the estate of a guy who passed away.
The original owner was head of Texas Instruments in Korea. He amassed a large collection of high-end gear, and didn't actually use much of it. A lot of it was, indeed, NOS.
If someone can live without the DT functions (most people don't really need them) then this would make a pretty awesome purchase. It's BEAUTIFUL, and very well made, inside and out.
I mostly use Sony SVO-5800 decks, but they don't support EP recordings. For EP, I use JVC SR-S360U decks, with external TBC.
The Mitsubishi TBC was a bit "weak sauce", too. Good enough for most people/most purposes, not good enough to feed directly into Blackmagic Teranex.
I'm returning the unit to the seller. He's cool with that. I've "suggested to him" that around $750 would be a very fair price for this handsome beast. For most people, it will do everything they need, beautifully. For my hopes, of "near perfect tracking" on random EP tapes, direct into Blackmagic capture gear, it fell short of the mark. For playing SP tapes (and EP, in auto/manu tracking)...perfectly good. I get EP tapes from clients with all kinds of f'd up tracking issues, and normally have a scope attached to the RF test points and manually adjust the entry/exit guides and ACE head assembly. Tedious. "Dynamic Tracking" for EP VHS would have been a godsend...if it were working 100% like new.
For killer-looks, high-end SP performance (and perfectly normal EP performance...only the DT mode was a bit lacking), you'd have to search very hard to find a machine like this. "NOS" would have been AWESOME, but never mind, nothing ventured, nothing gained! I felt it was worth taking a chance on it. Most people would be thrilled with it...just not me with my never-ending supply of crappy EP recordings!
Oh, and the mark on the top aluminum panel...not damage, just a smudged fingerprint!
Someone will hopefully enjoy this very unique machine, for the right price. I think $750 would be appropriate, personally.