SONY SLV-900HF Hi-Fi VHS Experiences
Judson West
I am generally pleased with the features and performance, but it is lacking
some features I have grown to love from other "high-end" SONY VCR's.
One of them is additional output jacks in the rear to drive both a TV and
a tuner/receiver/switcher. All of the scanning is done with the
jog/shuttle dial - If you want to scan through about 2-3 mins of commercials
then your thumb gets tired holding the jog/shuttle ring in the FF position.
There is a button that scans for 30 seconds/press but it's only good for
1 press at a time.
Programming is very flexible. You can either describe the program by
day/time/length/channel or use the VCR+ codes (it took me 10 mins to
program the VCR+ feature). If the VCR looses power, all of the programming
is retained for 3 hours. It it looses power while recording a pre-programmed
event, it will continue the event if the power returns during its window.
There are few controls on the VCR itself. None of them will assist you in
programming it if you loose the remote. You can't even set the clock without
the remote.
PIP (picture-in-picture) is not there (it is on my older SLHF-700V c.1988).
It does have a very nice picture. The tuner (181 channels) is as good as
my XBR television. The flying erase head is great. The quick start is as
good as my Beta (SLHF-900).
Overall, it is a very capable deck for the money.
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Judson West
Sean Fresk
>
>I just recently picked up the subject VCR (at a local store for $549 US).
>I am generally pleased with the features and performance, but it is lacking
>some features I have grown to love from other "high-end" SONY VCR's.
>
>One of them is additional output jacks in the rear to drive both a TV and
>a tuner/receiver/switcher. All of the scanning is done with the
>jog/shuttle dial - If you want to scan through about 2-3 mins of commercials
>then your thumb gets tired holding the jog/shuttle ring in the FF position.
>There is a button that scans for 30 seconds/press but it's only good for
>1 press at a time.
My SLV-750HF has two buttons on the remote, namely >> and <<, that
induce the 5x fast forward (reverse) mode also available via the shuttle.
These buttons, though, don't require me to hold them down while
forwarding (reversing). Press them once and let it go. Press play to
stop it and continue playing.
I'd be *really* surprised if the 900HF doesn't have this also.
Hope this helps.
-sean
Judson West
JW...@r3vm.dsd.trw.com writes:
>I just recently picked up the subject VCR (at a local store for $549 US).
>I am generally pleased with the features and performance, but it is
lacking
>some features I have grown to love from other "high-end" SONY VCR's.
Other stuff I said was deleted....
Another missing feature was found on my older SONY Hi-Fi VHS system and
that was the ability of the remote to control my Beta, 8-mm and VHS
systems from the one remote. I guess that!s progress....
Judson West
Robert M. Wilkinson
>
>I just recently picked up the [SLV-900] VCR (at a local store for $549 US).
>I am generally pleased with the features and performance, but it is lacking
>some features I have grown to love from other "high-end" SONY VCR's.
>
>jog/shuttle dial - If you want to scan through about 2-3 mins of commercials
>then your thumb gets tired holding the jog/shuttle ring in the FF position.
>There is a button that scans for 30 seconds/press but it's only good for
>1 press at a time.
I have a SLV-696, which is basically last year's version of the 900. My
remote has buttons for FF and REW (in addition to the shuttle dial).
If yours doesn't, try this. Initiate the FF (or REW) with the shuttle
dial, then cover the infrared transmitter with your other hand, then
release the shuttle dial. It *should* continue to shuttle (you have blocked
the stop command from getting to the VCR).
--
________________________________________________________________________________
Rob Wilkinson wilk...@gdls.com
________________________________________________________________________________
Tom Gallo (MCSD)
The remote for the SLV-900HF definitely *has* buttons for
forward and reverse scanning. The buttons are on the left side of the
remote toward the bottem. The buttons are labelled << and >>.
My only complaint about the 900 (over the 696) is that almost *all*
controls have moved from the deck to the remote. If the remote is lost
or broken you're basically stuck.
Otherwise I'm pretty happy with mine. Great picture and sound. I really
like the cable box control too!! (I do a lot of time shifting...).
-Tom
--
| Opinions expressed here are my own,not those of my employer!!! |
David R. Villegas
>I just recently picked up the subject VCR (at a local store for $549 US).
I got mine for over $100 less from Camera World of Oregon.
>I am generally pleased with the features and performance, but it is lacking
>some features I have grown to love from other "high-end" SONY VCR's.
>
>One of them is additional output jacks in the rear to drive both a TV and
>a tuner/receiver/switcher. All of the scanning is done with the
>jog/shuttle dial - If you want to scan through about 2-3 mins of commercials
>then your thumb gets tired holding the jog/shuttle ring in the FF position.
>There is a button that scans for 30 seconds/press but it's only good for
>1 press at a time.
I also miss the additional outputs. I solved the problem with the remote
control simply by using my remote for the Sony SLV-676UC.
I wish the SLV-900HF had some features the old SLV-676UC has: audio level
indicators, audio level controls, a headphone jack, a control S out jack,
auto functions (I miss being able to push a button and have the tape rewind/ff
to wherever I set the counter to zero), and switchable remote control command
modes (so I could have two 900HF's next to each other without the remote
triggering both of them at the same time).
If Sony made a 900HF successor with these features and with multiple VHF/UHF
inputs, I'd run out and buy it.
--
David Villegas (ENTP) mnem...@netcom.com
San Francisco, CA vill...@csli.stanford.edu