Panasonic PV9662/9664/9668 review/problems
Peter Scalia
for, the response seemed to indicated the 9664 (because of the
DynAmorphous Heads).
Well, I had bought PV-9662 back in June and I had the following
problems:
1) The recording quality was not as good as my old '88 GE (Panasonic
built) VCR.
2) The AllSet (VCR Plus Silver) would not work no matter what ZIP code I
put in.
(I leave in an area with 5 zip codes :)
3) The on screen menu seemed to have a little jittery to me, where as my
old GE ('88) and RCA ('94) VCRs didn't.
I sent email/called Panasonic, but all I was told was that I had a
defective unit. So I returned it. I was going to then get a PV-9664,
but for $8.00 more I got the PV-9668.
This model had improved recording/playback video clarity over the 9662,
but I am not sure it is that much better than my old VCRs.
But this VCR had its own problems:
1) The Auto Clock set did not work. This feature not only worked with
the PV-9662, but it also set the channel caption for the PBS station it
used (WGBH).
2) The AllSet feature did not work.
3) The on screen menus were just as jittery.
4) The Spatializer Circuit would cause the audio to increase in volume
and at times it cut off audio when there was music and dialog in the
same scene.
This time I sent an extensive E-Mail to the consumer support email and
after waiting 10 days got a canned response to call their 800 number.
So if you need to contact Panasonic, DO NOT USE E-MAIL!
Again I was told that my unit was defective, but not because of the
AllSet or the Spatializer circuit, but because the Auto Clock worked on
the PV-9662 and not on the PV-9668. I was told that the AllSet feature
may ot may not work. They have heard of cases when it would work on one
connection in the home, but not another. They also said that the
behavior of the Spatializer Circuit was normal.
Well, I took the PV-9668 back and have gotten another unit. This one
has less jitter on the on screen menu, but still not rock solid and the
Spatializer Circuit is better behaved. It doesn't increase the volume
too much and it doesn't cut out the audio.
But, alas it still does not do the AutoClock or the AllSet :(
Does anyone know what I can try to fix this problem? I cannot believe
that Panasonics QA is this bad.
BTW, one observation about the user interface; it sucks :) When
programming it, it makes you scroll through the start/end times, date,
and channel instead of allowing you to use the numbers on the remote.
The only time numeric input is accepted is when entering a VCR+ code.
Well, I hope this helps some people with their purchasing decisions and
I hope someone can help me :)
If I cannot resolve these problems I will probably get either an RCA 650
or a ProScan 73 even though they look poorly built in comparison to the
Panasonics. The reason I choose these two for my next choice, is that I
love the Commercial Advance feature. It is like have a cruise control
for the VCR :)
Best of Luck and thanks,
Pete
(Please remove SPMLESS from the return address to respond :)
Eric
> A while back I posted a message asking which of these VCRs I should go
> for, the response seemed to indicated the 9664 (because of the
> DynAmorphous Heads).
>
> Well, I had bought PV-9662 back in June and I had the following
> problems:
ACK! In that price range, try a Mitsubishi HS-U545 or HS-U575.
Much better quality machines.
EK
--
[Remove "boy" from address for email.]
David Matthew Wood
<sca...@SPMLESS.xtdl.com> wrote:
> A while back I posted a message asking which of these VCRs I should go
> for, the response seemed to indicated the 9664 (because of the
> DynAmorphous Heads).
>
> Well, I had bought PV-9662 back in June and I had the following
> problems:
>
Indeed, the bahavior of the Spatilizer is normal. It's purpose is to
enhance the audio in order to simulate surround sound with two speakers. If
you have surround sound or if you are listening in mono, you would of course
want this turned off.
How do you have this unit hooked up anyway?
As for the on screen menu, get used to it. The flickering you see is normal
for television. Unlike your older VCR, they used standard interlacing on
this one, hence the flickering. Sony does this as well.
It is actually better this way because it makes it more compatible with
certian older sets that might otherwise have a problem.
--
David Wood
AOL IM: SNESfan78
ICQ #: 6885878
"When in Slobovia, do like the other Slobs do, I always say."
-Bugs Bunny
Peter Scalia
Mitsubishi VCRs, that you mentioned, on their web site :
http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com. Regretfully the models they have listed will
not fit my needs: no front video/audio hookups for one thing. :(
Thak you again,
Pete
(Please remove SPMLESS from the return address to respond :)
Eric wrote:
> Peter Scalia wrote:
>
> > A while back I posted a message asking which of these VCRs I should go
> > for, the response seemed to indicated the 9664 (because of the
> > DynAmorphous Heads).
> >
> > Well, I had bought PV-9662 back in June and I had the following
> > problems:
>
Peter Scalia
> > and at times it cut off audio when there was music and dialog in the
> > same scene.
> enhance the audio in order to simulate surround sound with two speakers. If
> you have surround sound or if you are listening in mono, you would of course
> want this turned off.
>
If the cutting out of the audio is normal, my latest unit is extraordinary, as
it does not cut out the audio :) I was about to give up the Spatializer
circuit, until I heard its affects from my current unit. Not the feeling of
surround sound, but still a much fuller feel.
>
> How do you have this unit hooked up anyway?
I have the cable go into a splitter. One connection goes to the VCR the other
goes to the TV. I have even tried just hooking the VCR directly to the cable,
but that did not seem to help at all. I have the video/audio outputs of the VCR
hooked directly to my stereo TV and the output of the stereo TV hooked to my
stereo receiver (Technics). I have the audio channeled through my TV, since it
has a Stereo Enhancement feature. The new Spatializer Circuit seems to
complement the stereo enhancement feature of the TV.
>
> As for the on screen menu, get used to it. The flickering you see is normal
> for television. Unlike your older VCR, they used standard interlacing on
> this one, hence the flickering. Sony does this as well.
> It is actually better this way because it makes it more compatible with
> certian older sets that might otherwise have a problem.
>
Funny the lower end RCA models (647/650) do not seem to have this problem, but
the Panasonic and Procan (71/73) VCRs do. :(
Thank you again for your response and for any help,
David Matthew Wood
>> > and at times it cut off audio when there was music and dialog in the
>> > same scene.
>> Indeed, the bahavior of the Spatilizer is normal. It's purpose is to
>> enhance the audio in order to simulate surround sound with two speakers. If
>> you have surround sound or if you are listening in mono, you would of course
>> want this turned off.
>>
>
> If the cutting out of the audio is normal, my latest unit is extraordinary, as
> it does not cut out the audio :) I was about to give up the Spatializer
> circuit, until I heard its affects from my current unit. Not the feeling of
> surround sound, but still a much fuller feel.
>
hmm...yeah, that isn't normal <g>
>>
>> How do you have this unit hooked up anyway?
>
> I have the cable go into a splitter. One connection goes to the VCR the other
> goes to the TV. I have even tried just hooking the VCR directly to the cable,
> but that did not seem to help at all. I have the video/audio outputs of the
VCR
> hooked directly to my stereo TV and the output of the stereo TV hooked to my
> stereo receiver (Technics). I have the audio channeled through my TV, since
it
> has a Stereo Enhancement feature. The new Spatializer Circuit seems to
> complement the stereo enhancement feature of the TV.
I kinda have the feeling that the Spatializer on the VCR is the same as
using the "surround" on a Sony TV...you know, the one that is supposed to
emulate an opra hall effect with two speakers (my old Sony receiver
STR-AV570 has this).
>
>>
>> As for the on screen menu, get used to it. The flickering you see is normal
>> for television. Unlike your older VCR, they used standard interlacing on
>> this one, hence the flickering. Sony does this as well.
>> It is actually better this way because it makes it more compatible with
>> certian older sets that might otherwise have a problem.
>>
>
> Funny the lower end RCA models (647/650) do not seem to have this problem, but
> the Panasonic and Procan (71/73) VCRs do. :(
that's because they didn't use standard interlacing. Basically they just
skipped every other line to eliminate flickering. A lot of video game
consoles do this as well. But for the purposes of setting up the VCR and
setting the timer, I don't really see a problem with it...I say if you can
see it, that's all that matters. After all, you aren't going to sit there
for hours and admire all the on screen menus, are you? :-)
Eric
> Thank you for your response, but I was unable to find either of the
> Mitsubishi VCRs, that you mentioned, on their web site :
> http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com. Regretfully the models they have listed will
> not fit my needs: no front video/audio hookups for one thing. :(
The Mitsubishi website is woefully out of date. For information on the
CURRENT line of Mitsubishi VCRs, pick up the "Year 2000 Product Catalog
with Diamond Series" at your nearest Mitsubishi dealer. All current
VCR models end in the number 5.
Both the HS-U545 and HS-U575 have front A/V inputs, BTW. All of the
current models have front A/V inputs.
Pick up the catalog.
Peter Scalia
- Pete
(Please remove SPMLESS from the return address to respond :)
Peter Scalia
David Matthew Wood wrote:
> >> As for the on screen menu, get used to it. The flickering you see is normal
> >> for television. Unlike your older VCR, they used standard interlacing on
> >> this one, hence the flickering. Sony does this as well.
> >> It is actually better this way because it makes it more compatible with
> >> certian older sets that might otherwise have a problem.
> >>
> >
> > Funny the lower end RCA models (647/650) do not seem to have this problem, but
> > the Panasonic and Procan (71/73) VCRs do. :(
>
> that's because they didn't use standard interlacing. Basically they just
> skipped every other line to eliminate flickering. A lot of video game
> consoles do this as well. But for the purposes of setting up the VCR and
> setting the timer, I don't really see a problem with it...I say if you can
> see it, that's all that matters. After all, you aren't going to sit there
> for hours and admire all the on screen menus, are you? :-)
No, put it is a little disconcerning and gives the impression of poor quality :)
Thanks again,
Eric
> Thanks again Eric, I'll try to find a local dealer and do a search of the net.
Mitsubishi has finally updated their website. All VCR data is in Acrobat
format. Free download at site.
Both the HS-U545 and HS-U575 are now there!
> > Peter Scalia wrote:
> >
> > > Thank you for your response, but I was unable to find either of the
> > > Mitsubishi VCRs, that you mentioned, on their web site :
> > > http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com. Regretfully the models they have listed will
> > > not fit my needs: no front video/audio hookups for one thing. :(
> >
> > The Mitsubishi website is woefully out of date. For information on the
> > CURRENT line of Mitsubishi VCRs, pick up the "Year 2000 Product Catalog
> > with Diamond Series" at your nearest Mitsubishi dealer. All current
> > VCR models end in the number 5.
> >
> > Both the HS-U545 and HS-U575 have front A/V inputs, BTW. All of the
> > current models have front A/V inputs.
EK