Rating: 
Summary: Do not buy Sony VHS High Fi VCR model SLV - N51
Review: Do not buy. This is a bad product. I purchased an SLV - N51 Hi fi stereo VCR in february of 2001. I had a problem with it from the begining. It had a problem playing tapes recorded in LP mode. Like the Goodtimes home video's. I was pleased with the rest of the features though, until June of 2001. I know 4 months after I bought it, a knew problem appeared. A tape would play 2/3 of the way perfect, then the tape would act like it was dragging. Both the video and audio would slow, and make the end of the movie unwatchable. Since it is past 90 days, It cannot be returned to the store and is out of warranty. This VCR does that on every tape you try to watch. ... a bad VCR, the VCR only weighs 5 Lbs, 12 oz, that is because almost all the inner parts are made of plastic. ... ... I would not recommend buying this or any VCR that has this many plastic parts. I would not have even given this VCR one star, It's not much good when it does't work. Also I purchased the VCR from a local ... Store.Buyers Beware, the above is all true, ...
Rating:
Summary: Is it really from Sony? Doesn't work like a Sony product.
Review: I am a die hard Sony fan. My TV that I purchased 10 years ago is still working like new despite moving many times. But this VCR is just the opposite. I had to replace it with another after about a year. Cons:
1. Supposed to rewind fast. But it takes many seconds to start the rewind.
2. Chews cassettes. It chewed my kid's Lion King and Winnie the Pooh cassettes.
3. Fast Forward didn't work after one year. Pros:
Are you kidding? I didn't have much problem with picture quality. But overall this is a bad product.
Rating:
Summary: headache from the start
Review: I bought this VCR because it's basically a cheaper version of the Sony N71, but with fewer features. It was easy to set up, and records a nice clear picture in EP, which was the most important feature to me. HOWEVER, I had problems from the moment I unpacked it. It makes an unpleasant plastic-on-plastic squeak whenever I record or play, loud enough to notice during quiet parts of whatever I'm watching. And some tapes that I've recorded on this VCR do not play well on other VCRs, which makes it unreliable for sharing tapes with friends or making permanent recordings of movies. Getting Sony to service the unit requires mailing it in at my own expense, another big hassle. DON'T BUY THIS VCR!
Rating:
Summary: Never Again
Review: I had a cheap (...) VCR for 7 years that survived two toddlers and countless hours of Disney replays. When I finally had to replace it, I looked for another inexpensive VCR that would stand up to more abuse from kids. I decided to spend a few extra bucks to get a Sony because of their reputation for high quality equipment. BIG MISTAKE!!! Within 6 weeks I started having problems with it. The audio went out completely, the picture was snowy on every tape, and it even started chewing up tapes. I got a huge hassle from Sony Customer Service. They tried everything possible to avoid honoring the warranty. When I finally received a replacement (ten weeks later), it didn't last any longer than the first one. So here I am again, waiting for them to send me another machine. It will be a long time before I even consider buying a Sony product again.
Rating:
Summary: Absolute Junk
Review: I had two Panasonic VCRs that worked flawlessly for almost 10 years. I replaced one of them with this Sony model and have had several problems after only one year. As other users have noted the tracking totally stinks, especially when watching tapes recorded on another VCR. There is no way to remove the tracking lines. Adjusting the tracking only lets you move the lines up and down the screen. Move the lines off and the picture starts jumping. It has also chewed up two tapes so bad that I had to take the cover off just to remove the tape. Sony makes good high-end electronics, but they must outsource this cheap stuff to some lousy contractor.
Rating:
Summary: Find something better
Review: I have had good luck with Sony products in the past so I bought this model hoping to continue my success with the company. Unfortunately, this machine ate the first tape I put in it and I had to return it with a copy of Toy Story still inside. The second machine would not tune in channel 6 (my ABC affiliate). I'll be looking for a different brand VCR.
Rating:
Summary: Junk
Review: I have owned Sony VCR's in the past and wanted to replace a 4 year old model with this one. What a piece of crab this is (actually all of Sony's new models are junk, since I replaced this with slv-n81 and same story!). The picture quality is really bad even when recording is from digital cable. Rented video's do not look very good either. If your looking to buy a vcr stay away from this year and last year's models. Ever since Sony moved it's production to Mexico, their quality has gone down dramatically. Sad!!
Rating: 
Summary: Best VCR I Have Ever Owned
Review: I noticed the many negative reviews on this VCR and was surprized. I havn't had a problem with mine in the past 2 years since I bought it. I use it quite frequently and record quite frequently also. The quality of recorded programs is very good if you use a new, blank tape. I often use a head-cleaner tape which seems to be keeping the picture quality clear and sharp. A 2-hour tape re-winds in just 1 minute! It sounds like a high powered drill when it re-winds. Same for fast-forwarding too. The timer-recorder is very dependable. The hi-fi stereo makes a big difference. It produces a more rich and full-filling sound with the music and voices from the movie. It also produces excellent base sound. When I record a movie with it, the tape actually sounds better from the first time I watched the movie or show. This has been an excellent VCR. Consumer Reports Magazine rated it a best buy.
Rating: 
Summary: Sony VCRs are NOT what they used to be
Review: I viewed tapes on several of these machines (Sony SLV-N51) over the weekend. I was not pleased with the picture at all. Picture playback is what it should really be all about. All of these units I played pre-recorded tapes (SP mode) on looked grainy or almost like I was seeing double (hard to explain). The picture just did not look right. I played HOW THE WEST WAS WON, SPARTACUS and Disney's THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. The animated HUNCHBACK looked best. If you watch animated movies I suppose it did not look all that bad. It's difficult to recommend this Sony unit. This is very disappointing and unfortunate. I am getting the impression that manufacturers are letting their VCR lines get out the door with very little QA involvement. That is a shame.
Rating:
Summary: Poor
Review: I've had mine for about 4 months and now the picture jumps as it seems the tape is dragging. I took out a tape and looked at it and it's been creased on the bottom. Not very good quality and it's ruined a few of my tapes. I say stay away
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