RCA VR637HF 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR

Rating:
Summary: Returning it
Review: Now I have to unhook it up, pack it up, and mail it back. The remote doesn't work, and almost all the features are only accessed using the remote (that sounds like something that would have been covered in Bad Design 101.) I had visions of, even if I get a remote that works, some day the remote going up and then barely being able to use the VCR. Plus reading some of the negative reviews (which I should have done before), I don't trust that the VCR itself will last. My old VCR lasted YEARS and still works, I THOUGHT I was upgrading.

Rating:
Summary: More Imported Junk
Review: The last VCR I bought was over $200. That was 10 years ago. I now know why there are so inexpensive, because they are junk! The quality of this VCR in no way compares to our older VCR. Come to think of it, our RCA DVD player is junk also. I guess you still need to spend money to get quality. After 10 weeks, I though this thing bit the dust when the front panel controls and the remote would no longer work, and a tape was stuck in the machine. I finally, pulled the power plug and everything reset. Of course, I had to go through the setup programming all over again. The picture quality is poor and playing with the tracking does little to improve it. But the most irritating thing is the lack of displays on the front panel. Not having a clue whether the VCR is on or not is a joke. Fortunately we use an alternate video input to our TV, so when we turn the VCR off, the screen goes blank. This is a backup VCR for us on a second TV. If that's what you are looking for and plan very limited use, get it. I found reviews on other manufacturers products in a similar price range to be worse than this unit. If you want this VCR as your primary source for recording and playing, look for something better. Go back to the $200 plus machines. Hopefully, you will get a little better quality.

Rating:
Summary: MORE IMPORTED JUNK
Review: The only reason why VCR prices have come down so far is because they are junk, and this RCA VCR is no exception. Not being able to tell if the VCR is on from the front panel display is a real joke. Good thing we use an alternate video channel on the TV. This way when the screen goes blank you know you shut if off. After 10 weeks we could not get the remote or the few front panel controls to do anything, and a tape in the machine would not eject. I finally pulled the plug and everything seemed to reset. Of course, we had to reprogram the machine. I have a 10 year old RCA VCR that cost around $, the quality was there. The new machine picture quality is no comparison to my old machine. Constantly adjusting the tracking does not help much either. I bought the second machine for another TV, and got what I paid for it. A piece of junk. No comprison in the quality. I guess you get what you pay for it. I realized I was getting a throw away model if only after a year, but we're only into the third month, and I am getting nervous about it.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed review
Review: The VCR works well for the most part. (Although the commercial advance feature functions correctly only sporadically) The main reason we give it a mediocre rating is because the remote control, while responding well to the VCR, cannot recognize our TV set. (Magnavox) The company's response to our complaint? Tough luck. Your TV is incompatible.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed review
Review: The VCR works well for the most part. (Although the commercial advance feature functions correctly only sporadically) The main reason we give it a mediocre rating is because the remote control, while responding well to the VCR, cannot recognize our TV set. (Magnavox) The company's response to our complaint? Tough luck. Your TV is incompatible.

Rating:
Summary: RCA VCR #VR637HF
Review: There is one important thing to note about this VCR if you do any sort of component-mixing or dubbing. The front panel display does not show the input mode or the tape speed--the only way you can tell is looking at the TV screen. So, if you're not using this VCR as the primary component hooked up to your TV, you'll have to keep two inputs/outputs going at the same time or have to continuously switch back and forth to know if you're in the right input (on the right channel) for recording or playing, or to find out if the VCR is in SP or SLP mode. The picture is also not as clear as my old Sharp VCR, especially in brown and red hues, although it's good enough for general viewing.

Rating:
Summary: good deal
Review: This is a great little VCR. Even though VCR's are on the way out I belive people will still use them for years. Especially since DVD recorders cost so much. Playback is smooth on all my tapes with rich bright colors, recording is fine in both modes. The only drawback Ive noticed is that bright red colors contain streaks in them slightly. Of course this may be my cables or the fault of my cable box but I cant seem to tame it. Overall a good deal...

Rating:
Summary: A Good Deal
Review: This is a solid little VCR at a good price.

Rating:
Summary: Fine 4 Head VCR from RCA
Review: This is an exceptional buy at this price and you really can't beat it. If you have old tapes that were recorded in the LP (4-hour mode) you will find that all RCA VCRs play tapes back recorded at this speed better than any other manufacturers' units. RCA was the last manufacturer to offer LP recording capability before all manufacturers discontinued to offer it. This is an excellent VCR and it records and plays pictures back exceptionally well in the SP and EP (or SLP) modes as well.

Rating:
Summary: This RCA Unit Does not Have Commercial Scan
Review: To RCA Customer Service 10-14-03 I just purchased your RCA VR637HF and I am very angry to find that this unit only has, what is called by most vendors, Commercial Skip. As seen below I specifically asked about this feature before buying! The manual describes, what everyone else calls, Commercial Skip on pages 12 & 24. There is no set up option for
Commercial Scan as there is in my ProScan VCR. What the hell is going on! Why am I being told one thing by your representatives and I get the unit it doesn't even have the feature? If this unit indeed has no Commercial Scan I will be
alerting Consumer Groups like the BBB because all the advertising and marketing of this product is false. Manuel Calcagno
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------------------------------------------------------Response
from RCA about Commercial Advance before Purchase: Dear Customer: Thank
you for your inquiry on your product. During tape playback, the
"Commercial Advance" feature allows you to avoid watching most
commercials on any recording over 15 minutes long. After the VCR
finishes recording, the Commercial Advance system locates and
electronically marks most of the commercial segments. When the recording
is played back, the VCR scans or fast forwards through the marked
segments. Either a blue screen or the fast motion video of the
commercial itself can be displayed while commercials are being advanced
through. Commercial Advance reduces three minutes of commercial time to
approximately ten seconds (SLP mode) of fast forwarding time. We
received your inquiry and appreciate your interest in our line of
products. Thomson products are normally available from most mass
merchants or discount stores, catalog showrooms, department stores, and
drug, hardware, and variety stores. Please consult your Yellow Pages, or
call 1-580-634-0123 for dealers in your area. Retail pricing information
can also be obtained from your local dealers. We do not establish prices
for product sold by independent dealers. You may also find many of our
products at Thomson Direct's web site. Please visit http://www.rca.com
for more information. We are certain you will find our product line to
be both comprehensive and exciting. We are confident you will be pleased
with the performance of any of our products that you may purchase.
Thank you for contacting us. If we can be of further assistance in the
future, please let us know. [Q103192968506519] Sincerely, Sarah
#0310021431 -----Original Message----- From: [e-mail]
Sent: Friday, October 3, 2003 1:13 PM To:
[e-mail] Subject: Re: Contact RCA
Feature Definitions and their Use -- Not Applicab le -- Rikki Thanks
for the response. My main question was to verify that this RCA Unit,
has Commercial Scan/Advance which automatically bypasses commercials
on playback as opposed to Commercial Skip in which a button has to be
manually pressed for each 30-60 seconds. I do not want the latter.
Does RCA also sell ProScan VCR's? If so, where are they available?
They are very difficult to locate. I have an old ProScan with
Commercial Scan which I really liked. Thanks Manuel Calcagno In a
message dated 10/2/03 2:31:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[e-mail] writes:
.