Features:
- Hi-fi stereo sound
- 4-head machine for excellent special effects
- VCR Plus+ recording system
- Automatic clock setting
- Front-panel audio-video inputs
Description:
Scarcely a decade ago, $300 would buy a bare-bones VCR with monaural sound and a few frills. Today, for less than half that amount, you can own the Philips VRA651 AT, a high-performance VHS machine with hi-fi stereo sound and virtually every feature imaginable. Like most contemporary VCRs, hooking up the VRA651 AT is a breeze. You connect your antenna cable, run a second cable to your television (if your set has the necessary input facilities, stereo audio and composite-video cables will improve sound and image quality), plug in the power cord, and you're ready to watch movies. Happily, simple installation is only one of the VRA651's user-friendly perks. When you turn the power on, the unit asks you to choose which language (English, French, or Spanish) you'd like the onscreen menus to appear in. The tuner then automatically sets up all available channels, while the clock sets the correct time. The VRA651 also offers one-touch recording, VCR Plus+ (which simplifies recording by using program codes from your local TV listings), front-panel camcorder inputs, and a "Smart Picture" control. There's even an automatic head cleaner to minimize maintenance. In our tests, the VRA651 AT's performance was flawless. The transport responded instantly to commands from both the remote control and front-panel push buttons; it's one of the quietest mechanisms we've tested. On the downside, the remote doesn't have a backlighting feature, which makes it tough to find the right button in a dark room. Sound quality in both stereo and Pro Logic is dynamic and clean, with deep, powerful bass and excellent vocal clarity, while the highest frequencies remain sweet and pleasant. Fast motion, slow motion, and reverse/review images remain sharp and clear thanks to Philips' four-head design. Picture quality is good, if not exceptional. On prerecorded tapes, images seemed somewhat "soft" or lacking in detail, but setting the Smart Picture control to either the Distinct or Sharp mode improves the picture slightly. Color rendition is fairly accurate, but compared to other VCRs we've tested, reds and greens were somewhat muted. For tape renters and timeshifters who wish to record programs for future viewing, the VRA651 AT's superb complement of features, decent performance, and bargain price should win many friends. --Anthony Chiarella Pros:
- Vast array of features at a bargain price
- Impressive stereo and Pro Logic sound
- Useful onscreen menus and owner's manual
Cons:
- Hard to operate remote in darkened rooms
- Average picture quality
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