[waltchan]

Originally Posted by jfrog1983

waltchan, I also collect VCRs for some reason, and mainly the higher end Hi-Fi stuff just like you! I focus on the 1980's Hi-Fi VCRs, but do also have some 1990s ones.

Most of the VCRs in my collection are made by Panasonic because of the largest availability of units still around today, although I am disappointed in having too many Panasonic-made VCRs.

RCA was the #1 selling VCR brand in the 80s, but 80% of the units were already dumped more than 10 years ago due to Hitachi's infamous idea of using six belts in the chassis that required changing every 3-7 years, and they ate tapes very easily if belts go bad or turn to goo. Despite the six belts, this chassis is very durable, reliable, rugged, very simple to fix, and it's the most favorite by my technician. The mono units were excellent, but the Hi-Fi units used a black-sealed, glued surface-mount caps board mounted at the video board that often fails and it is non-repairable or replaceable. The 1983-1985 units suffered from bad DC-DC converter that made the timer mode and clock no longer work. Hitachi-made VCRs scored the lowest by me for fit-and-finish. All the units I've seen so far were repaired before, and they all creaked like crazy at the exterior case when carrying the unit around. Hitachi-made VCRs of 1988-1991 were pretty bad and should be avoided. Hitachi was the only 80s manufacturer to make a 7-head Hi-Fi VCR (yes).

Panasonic (Matsushita) has always been rated #1 in reliability by Consumer Reports for more than 30 years, and they are the best around performer for performance, reliability, features, durability, and your greatest chance in finding a used 80s unit on eBay. Almost all of the units I've seen so far come with screws that were never removed or opened for repair. However, Panasonic used switch-mode power supplies that require new caps every 10 years, and the felt white strip from the tension band falls off very easily that requires re-gluing again. Their die-cast aluminum chassis is so durable that it is impossible to kill it, although they are often harder to service. Panasonic always tried to make their chassis using the fewest belts as much as possible, which helped Panasonic get the #1 reliability rating for 30 years. The pre-1987 ones were winners, but the G-chassis decks from 1988-1990 were only marginal by me as the timing jumps very easily in the chassis, lots of surface-mount caps used that caused the video and audio to fail sooner than you thought, terrible caps used at the power supply, units ran very hot due to smaller size and limited ventilation holes, and plastic shell mount cracks very easily. Panasonic-made VCRs scored the highest by me for fit-and-finish, though. Panasonic made VCRs for most of the US TV companies, including Curtis Mathes, Philips, Magnavox, Sylvania, General Electric, and RCA (pre-1982).

Second best after Panasonic, in my opinion, would be Sharp. Their chassis is only average, but their electronics rarely ever fail, and they appear to last longer than any other Japanese brands, including S-VHS Hi-Fi units. I never need to worry about no picture on the screen or dead audio. However, the idler tire wears out faster than any other brand, and the mode switch gives a lot of trouble if the unit hasn't been used for a long time, causing the loading motor to not operate correctly. Sharp was the only manufacturer to make a 8-head Hi-Fi VCR (yes) that were produced in limited numbers in the early 90s.

JVC is an excellent, reliable, durable brand, but their higher-end S-VHS Hi-Fi units often get some weird electronic problems. Mono units were exceptional quality. Their early 80s units were super built like a tank, and were better than Panasonic, but used a lot of belts. Quality slipped dramatically after 1991. 95% of Zenith 80s VCRs were made by JVC.

Toshiba is another excellent, reliable brand, but the loading motor often breaks down causing no operation at the chassis at all, and my technician told me that Toshiba is the worst maker to still offer replacement parts. It's impossible to get any parts for a Toshiba VCR now.

Sanyo was rated the most reliable VCR brand with a linear power supply and 3 recording speeds, but not many units were made. Chassis is reliable and sturdy, electronics are good, but the STK regulator at the power supply often fails.

Fisher was rated the worst of the worst, least reliable 80s VCR, despite it being made by Sanyo, and 35% of the units required servicing within 2 years from purchase, although Fisher did make some very nice high-end Hi-Fi units with a below average chassis, but the belts, at least, lasted longer than Hitachi. 75% of the units were already dumped and gone.

Funai is not remembered by many technicians, but their 80s units were pretty reliable and rarely give any problems, although they used a lot of belts in the chassis and the rubber bumper turns to goo very easily in a few years, making it a mess to clean up. The original belts Funai supplied have a very short lifespan, and every units I've seen have belts that already fall down to the bottom plate. Funai's first generation chassis (1985-1988) is very strong and operates very smoothly, but the rubber bumper is no longer available. It is one of my favorite chassis. Funai's second-generation chassis (1989-1991) is pretty decent but the brushed capstan motor's bearing wear out easily. Funai's reliability rated high by Consumer Reports in the late 80s.

Orion (Emerson) is pretty decent and reliable, but some plastic pieces at the chassis break off easily. Mode switch often fails. Orion-made VCRs, one time, were rated more reliable than Panasonic in 1991-1992 by Consumer Reports, but they were rated below average most of the years. Orion has always been more higher-end than Funai, but Funai apparently made more reliable products than Orion.

NEC is above average by me, but they often used some bad caps. Chassis is sturdy and fairly reliable, but it is very slow in changing mechanical modes, even with three motors. No parts are available anymore.

Mitsubishi is only average by me because every units I've seen comes with belts that already turned to goo, factory applied glue was used on the video/audio circuit board that would rot after 10 years and ruin the electronics, and the chassis is very difficult to service. The pre-1985 units were dismal quality with tons of electronic problems. The 1987-1989 units were way a lot better and quite a number of units are still in operation today. Mitsubishi's 80s chassis is built very strong and tough, and it can withstand abuse in changing mechanical modes repeatedly, probably better than Panasonic. Their higher-end S-VHS Hi-Fi units get a lot of weird electronic problems, and the S-VHS video heads were already discontinued and no longer available.

Sony released their first VHS in 1988, and it was made by Hitachi. Sony's own made VCR and chassis, beginning in 1989, uses no belt at all and runs with a geared nylon tooth belt, but the cam gears break very easily, causing no tape loading. Sony's first S-VHS Hi-Fi unit, SLV-R5UC suffered with the same gear problems, but with caps at the power supply that leaked very easily, and they require changing after 5 years of use. Sony VCRs often get a high number of electronic problems due to some surface-mount caps used.

I don't have any comments to make on the Korean brands as I have never own one.

Overall, the best made VCRs were by Panasonic and the best VCR brand is Canon. If you don't like electronic problems in a VCR, then Sharp is the winner. Canon VCRs were identical to Panasonic AG Pro-Line VCRs but were sold to consumers instead. They used linear power supplies instead of switch-mode power supplies, and were made by Panasonic, and they are the #1 choice by me for performance and reliability. If you are lucky to win one on eBay, check out the Canon VR-HF710 and VR-HF720.

Originally Posted by jfrog1983

1. Hitachi made RCA with Hi-Fi but only 2 heads, has the brush type motor that drives the capstan and reels. It seems to be really confused, sometimes the buttons don't work at all and sometimes they are all mixed up i.e. you push play and it goes into rewind. I remember when I could get it to play it would have color interference on the screen that got worse and worse as it warmed up, and also the front clock display goes out at that point too, I believe its the power supply, but I don't know where to find another.

The contact switches at the front panel are now bad and worn out. Go to http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com/switch.htm. You will need to e-mail him the model number, so he can give you the correct sizes. Soldering is required. Color interference is coming from the black-sealed, glued board mounted on the video board, and it is non-repairable. The vanishing clock display is caused by a bad DC-DC converter at the timer board, and it is no longer available. I would give up on that unit.

Originally Posted by jfrog1983

2. Akai that looks more like a tape deck, the loading motor doesn't respond to any commands however the motor is good.

Either the contact switches are bad at the front panel or bad caps at the system control board.

Originally Posted by jfrog1983

3. NEC made Yamaha that I think needs new caps in the power supply or new power supply itself. When cold, interference patterns all over the screen, noisy Hi-Fi and only one channel works, after its warmed up it works fine!

Replace all weak caps at the power supply.

Originally Posted by jfrog1983

I got some others like a JVC made Teac that keeps losing its right channel output, I need to learn how to fix these annoying electrical problems, I am good with the mechanics of VCRs...

Either tape path is out of alignment or weak caps at the Hi-Fi audio circuit.