Sony SLV-N81 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR Best Review
Prior to purchasing this particular VCR a couple years ago I’d only ever purchased JVC VCR’s. As a matter of fact, at that time I’d been pretty heavily into JVC products but through word of mouth and some exploration at the stores, that was about to quickly change; this was but the first of several Sony electronics purchases that have all proven to be quite well made through years of enjoyable usage.
One of the most important features in a VCR is the quality of the image and sound in playback mode and I’ve found the playback quality on this Sony VCR to be outstanding with “near” DVD quality in image and the Hi-Fi sound is as good as can be expected from a VCR. Another extremely important aspect in a VCR is the quality of its recordings and this particular VCR records nearly flawless images, making the viewing experience of recordings that much better!
One feature that is highly important to most people is ease in programmability and it really couldn’t be any easier with this VCR especially given for the automatic presetting on the clock and TV channels that is fed from your cable company. In just a few short steps, you can program this VCR to tape all your favorite shows, hit the power button and it’s ready to do its job when the time comes. Also, for recording your favorite shows, this Sony VCR comes with the VCR Gold Plus+® System; making recording that much easier, providing you have your local cable listing. Should you desire to run this VCR through your cable box, it easily sets up in that manner and works perfectly as well.
Overall, I highly recommend this or any other of the line of outstanding Sony VCR’s as this was my first of two Sony VCR’s and in the future, should I need another; I won’t even look at another brand! {ssintrepid}
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Sony SLV-N81 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR Feature
- 4-head hi-fi VCR with plug-and-play setup
- Connects with cable box/DIRECTV through cable mouse for simplified timer programming
- Commercial skip, digital autotracking adjustment, and parental lock
- Front and rear composite inputs, 1 set of composite outputs, and coaxial and S-link connectors
- Hi-fi stereo recording and MTS stereo broadcast reception
Sony SLV-N81 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR Overview
The Sony SLV-N81 four-head VCR is a step up from most video recorders, as it coordinates between your VCR and cable box/DirecTV receiver using a cable mouse unit. This allows users to take advantage of the Pluscode numbers published in many TV directories, which include the date and time of the selected program. Merely enter the Pluscode number when using the VCR’s programming mode, and the recording timer is set. The VCR’s video performance is ensured by the four-head recording and playback, which enables two speeds for SP mode and two speeds for EP mode. The slower EP mode is nearly as sharp as the SP mode due to the 19-micron heads, which reduce distortion and deliver a clear, digital-like picture. In addition, the device employs a hi-fi audio recording system, which delivers a wide dynamic range and full audio frequency response.
Other features include auto tape speed, which automatically adjusts the tape speed from SP to EP if the programmed recording time runs longer than the remaining tape; adaptive picture control, which tests each tape and adjusts the playback and recording to receive the best picture quality; and commercial pass, which zips past unwelcome program interruptions. The SLV-N81 also employs plug-and-play setup, which automatically tunes the channels and sets the clock so users can enjoy the device straight out of the box. Other features include an eight-event timer, auto head cleaning, a multilingual onscreen display, a parental lock feature, and front composite inputs for connecting to a camcorder or game system. Other inputs and outputs include a coaxial connector, an additional set of composite inputs, an S-link connector, and a set of composite outputs. In addition, the SLV-N81 is Energy Star compliant.
What’s in the Box
VCR, coaxial cable, remote control, two AA batteries, user’s manual.
Customer Reviews
Sony isn’t what they used to be. – Reuben K. – Honolulu, HI USA
I liked this VCR until I had to get it fixed. It was a minor thing, though, so I wasn’t worried. I was, though, ticked off when I was told (essentially) “Buy a new VCR!! We don’t want to fix it!! It’s too much of a hassle, and it just costs too much!!!” I found this odd. Especially since the VCR was (at that point) barely a couple of months old, and was under a warranty. I almost had to drag them kicking & screaming into their repair shop just to get them to do what they were supposed to. In the end, it didn’t even cost me anything … except my loyalty to their company. This sort of thing occurred anytime I went to down to Sony’s repair shop. In short, it was all part of a strategy to “convince” people to ditch VCR’s and go for their new (and more expensive) DVD recorders. I guess they figured that’d happen if they made it a pain in the butt for people like me just to get a simple adjustment made on a brand new VCR … which I find totally disgusting.
This VCR was the most expensive that Sony had for sale at the time (I paid around $[...]). Unfortunately, all the high tech stuff that I was used to seeing in their VCR’s was nowhere to be found. There were two features, though, that made it stand out from the rest:
1) A wheel/knob thingy on the front that allows you to set the time & set programmed recording events without having to turn the TV on.
2) Adaptive Picture Control (APC): It allows the VCR to customize recordings to each video tape, allowing great quality.
Unfortunately, though, the 2nd feature has been taken out of Sony VCR’s since then, so the picture quality isn’t that great anymore. Of course, they could’ve come up with something else. But if they have, I haven’t heard about it. And even if they did, big deal. If they’re going to do everything they can not to fix your VCR, and force you to buy a new one the minute something goes wrong, what’s the point in buying a Sony VCR? The next time you’re in the market for a VCR, I’d go for a TiVo. Or a DVD recorder. Or both. And if you really have to get a VCR, don’t get a Sony. You don’t need the hassle.
Goodbye Panasonic. Hello Sony. – MarkItWell – Atlanta, GA
I’ve only had Panasonic VCRs in the past, but had to take back two bogus (poorly designed and produced) models in the past year, so I did the research and tried this unit. It’s awesome, with easy, logical programming and the finest picture available from material it records itself. The EP picture is surprisingly clear and noise free, and there’s no comparison between the quality video of this unit compared with the dull, lifeless and grainy recordings and playbacks of Panasonic units.
Completely seizes up. – –
Maybe I just got a lemon, but after only two months we’ve had nothing but problems. At least once a day when trying to put a tape in, it refuses to take it and then the entire machine seizes up – it won’t even turn off or on. The only thing to do is unplug it and then turn it back on. Today I had to send it in for a warranty repair when after unplugging it, it still wouldn’t do anything. This is in addition to it suddenly stopping while it’s recording. Set it up to record, come home and find it quit after 10 or 15 minutes. Junk!
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 20, 2010 12:53:36
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