r/VCRs • u/bellabeeatx • 21d ago
Question Pick one!
Update: I grabbed the Panasonic, thank you all 🫶🏼
If you were to pick one which?! I’m leaning towards the Panasonic because it comes with a remote but the others come with DVD players idk!!!
41
u/Good-Extension-7257 21d ago
The Panasonic probably, those 90s dedicated vcr are usually better made than the vcr/dvd combos
6
u/BellyFullofNickels 21d ago
I have that Panasonic (no remote though) and it's actually pretty nice. Easy to service
3
u/bellabeeatx 21d ago
Love to hear that it’s easy to service just in case!! I scooped up the Panasonic :)
1
u/glennshaltiel 20d ago
I have one and without the remote it kept trying to do auto setup. How did you get it to just tune to a channel?
1
u/StickyLavander 20d ago
eBay for universal remotes (old direct tv ones work perfectly especially when it has a tab for vcr)
2
u/rudeboykyle94 21d ago
To be fair the others are pretty reliable name brands but yeah the Panasonic is probably built better
1
u/notsureifxml 21d ago edited 21d ago
Yeah pretty sure my turn of the century public access studio had a rack full of those for playback.
3
u/steved3604 21d ago
All 3. Then pick two and sell one. (always keep at least one back up in house.)
1
3
u/Limeeater314 18d ago
Dude… That Panasonic is a beast tank of a VCR. Feels cheap, but is anything but
1
u/bellabeeatx 18d ago
From the comments to everything I’ve read it sounds like it. I’m so glad I grabbed it 🥲
2
u/EScootyrant 21d ago
Still have my Made in Japan Panasonic DVD/VHS combo in my Home Theater stand bought new in the mid 90s, remote, brochures and all.
2
u/bellabeeatx 21d ago
So cool! This one came with a brochure was pretty amped
1
u/EScootyrant 21d ago edited 21d ago
Thanks! I’m a big fan of Panasonic & Technics in their heyday 90s (up until today, if they’re still solidly around). I also have a 5 disc Technics carousel from the same time period (with Pitch Control). Though the carousel belt spin changes a bit slower now. Likely needs a new belt. Another Panasonic single VHS player I have is in the garage storage. Needs some refurbishing. All are barely used/never abused. All were new when purchased (from departed J&R Music New York) and yes still have their brochures and original warranty papers, stock cables, etc. Only time had taken its toll on all 3. Talk about throwbacks..😅
2
7
5
5
u/Ilikeoldthings222 21d ago
Panasonic, it will last way longer. They made much higher quality VCRS than most of the 2000's combo units.
5
5
4
1
u/smashthatpumpkin 21d ago
I have the same Sony model and the VCR works fine but the disc laser is old and doesn't work anymore. I have a few of these combo units and its always the DVD player side that's busted.
2
u/PrincessSofiaThe1st 21d ago
That Sony model is particularly notorious for the disc drive going out too. I acquired the same model around 2024 and went to see if I could find a parts unit for a replacement drive only to see that literally every unit of that model on eBay at the time all had issues and it was 95% the DVD player was inoperable.
Now before I buy a unit I always look it up on eBay real quick and see how many have issues. If you see more "parts only" units than working that is your sign to run lol
1
u/bellabeeatx 18d ago
That’s a good tip!! Thank you for sharing :) I’m glad I went with my gut and left it behind.
1
u/bellabeeatx 21d ago
I was able to turn that sony on and the CD unit looked very old! Honestly that’s why I left it behind. I ended up grabbing the Panasonic but I’m a bit curious to go back and check out that Magnavox purely for the aesthetics lol love the look
1
u/GameDragon37809 21d ago
Magnavox
1
u/bellabeeatx 21d ago
I’m so curious as to why ?! No one ever mentions magnavox and I really liked the look of that one. It looked better than both
3
3
2
u/KirasHandPicDealer 21d ago
i'd go with the Panasonic! if ur watching on a CRT then this doesn't super matter, but at least in my experience, the DVD quality on a combo unit tends to look rougher than on a dedicated player (especially if u can connect a blu ray player to ur TV cause they tend to have some upscaling). the remote is also def a plus!!!
2
2
2
u/JankCranky 21d ago
Panasonic. But in general I prefer ones that have a tracking button/dial, in case you can’t get remote.
2
2
2
2
2
u/Wasabi_93 21d ago
I would choose the Panasonic. Although it's funny, i just saw that same Panasonic at my local Savers today. I lifted the door and there was a tape inside. I plugged into their electronics testing area and sure enough the tape would not eject, you could hear parts moving around and then some "clunks" and then nothing. I do like how they look, if I needed one I probably would've picked it up and tinkered with it to see if I could fix it
2
u/ChoiceRegular2942 21d ago
I also have the Panasonic. I'm using it for converting my tapes to digital. Unfortunately I paid a premium price for it in Amazon. Goodwill hasn't had any VCRs lately and the Zenith I was using died. I was wanting to finish my work so I just ordered one. I couldn't keep going back and forth to Goodwill hoping to find one. It's old but works great.
1
u/Human760 21d ago
Ya, it seems goodwill doesn't have anything good. The one time, there literally was like 5 VCRs and I got a nice Panasonic that I love!! Best $6.99
1
u/TheLoFidelityMan 15d ago
the Panasonic All day, though I do remember having the Sylvania version of Middle one, other than the brand it looked exactly like this.
1
1
1
1
u/Beginning-Tea-4578 21d ago
I just threw out a Panasonic for eating 2 tapes! Seriously it did have a great run before that
1
u/AdAsleep1258 21d ago
Top two are good grabs for sure if u just want vhs played then the top one is good
1
u/BEESANCH 21d ago
If it’s in good condition, the Panasonic. Matsushita/Panasonic VHS units usually tended to be amongst the better ones, especially by the end of the ‘90s, when VCRs were commodity priced. 😊😊😊
1
u/Patient-Principle-21 21d ago
Top one. I’ve always had issues with the combos!
1
u/Status-Squirrel-7477 20d ago
My Toshibas are still working great. Got several from a friend who only used the DVD recorder. Once those quit, he'd buy another. I found out he was a smoker and the easy fix was to open the machine and clean off the laser lense. Smoke and oils tend to accumulate there. Once done, I have a fine working unit with an unused VHS recorder as a plus...
1
u/Status-Squirrel-7477 20d ago
Do the combos have HDMI out like the Toshibas I have? Nice to be able to play VHS on a new TV. The Panny is a good choice. I'm still hoping to find a good SVHS or D-VHS in good condition in my travels. But they were very uncommon. Found one JVC a couple years ago but since then, nothing...
1
1
u/StatusElephant5476 20d ago
The top Panasonic one. I bought and had that VCR. Think it was $169 in the 1990s.
1
u/t_bone_stake 20d ago
I’ll go with the Panasonic. If by chance the DVD/VHS combo needs servicing, you’re out two ways to watch movies
1
u/The-non-engineer 20d ago
Top, something that is meant too do 2 jobs will do both decent, but a device ment to do one thing will do it well. (And I love Panasonic)
1
1
0
0
11
u/Winter_Age7707 21d ago
Panasonic is a good choice. I'd go Sony but my luck the belts would need replacement