Sony SLV-N500 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR

• Compact 4-head, hi-fi VCR with commercial skip and 1-month, 8-event programming
• 19-micron heads ensure clear quality in EP (extended-play) recordings
• Front AV inputs facilitate hookup of a camcorder, game console, or second VCR
• ChildLoc circuitry locks the VCR after the timer has been set to preserve advance-program settings
• Includes multi-brand remote control and coaxial video cable

This is a good vcr with excellent slow motion playback at the EP speed. Remote has tiny buttons but very full-featured. It is not very good at playing back homemade tapes made with other vcr's especially for pause and slow motion. Rewind to 0000 is aggravating; it bounces back and forth narrowing down to 0000 numerous times. All in all convenient features and good picture quality.

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I bought this VCR primarily for the purpose of playing my previously recoded VCR tapes as my original unit (also a Sony) was wearing down after about 10 years of great service. However, I am finding that this new Sony VCR does not like to play these old tapes if they were recorded in the extended play mode. I am having a hard time getting the tracking consistently right. What makes it more difficult is that there are no tracking buttons on the remote, so I actually have to go to the unit for corrections (its good that it gets me off the coach, but it's a hassle). My old Sony VCR had tracking buttons right on the remote, but unfortunately that remote is broken or I'd try to use it instead.

The unit seems to record programs just fine and those programs playback with no problem even in extended play mode. It's just disappointing that it doesn't like extended play shows that were recorded on other VCRs, even other Sonys (even my third VCR, a very cheap Panasonic, doesn't have any problems).

This is probably a decent VCR to have until DVD recorders become a little more affordable.

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The SONY-SLV-n500 is a superior quality VCR. I am frankly quite surprised to see some of the poor reviews here. I have worked with many different types of vcr.

I have always found SONY to be amongst the longest lasting and hardest working.

First off the slv-n500 is a later model vcr making it far superior to the sony-n50 series which it is often confused for. the Sony-n50 and Sony-n51-55 series is NOT nearly as good as the n500. The problem with the Sony-n50 is that it is a noisy machine with a constant hum off the power supply even when there is no vhs tape in the vcr.

I have sold more than a few VCR's on AMAZON. The Panasonic late model Pv-4525 is a top seller. A real quite and clear picture vcr. However, this lesser reviewed is still superior to the light weight Panasonic pv-series of VCR.

From my personal experience with dubbing older vhs tapes to DVD these sony 500's will playback any home video or commercial EP mode video with the best tracking. The sony slv-n500 has a 19u micron head for clearest picture in EP mode.

Overall if you are shopping for a VCR that will last I would go with either this well-built heavier model SONY-n500 or a Sony-n900. These SONY's are also the only ones that have true FLASH REWIND in 60sec.

The LCD display is large and clear. the front panel offers full manual control with channel select / input select and tape position controls.

Which is another important thing to consider if you are transferring tapes to dvd or pc. You want to be able to line up the scene on the tape without the remote. You also want to see the min/sec position clear and bright this way its easier to line up the tape for recording.

The SONY as other high-quality vcr has a back Line Out AV connection.

This will be good enough for connecting to most dvd recorders.

However, if you are looking for the best video signal out from vcr to dvd recorder. S-VIDEO connections are the way to go.

JVC is the most popular brand of VCR that offers S-Video in and out connections on the back of the VCR. So regardless of the quality of the vcr player you have. They will never output as well as a vcr with an S-VIdeo out to DVD.

I hate most VCR remotes. I think they are all poorly designed.

Even new model dvd player and blu-ray players have just plain awful remote button layouts. This said you are not going to get a much better original vcr remote than the ones that come with these SONY models. The button layout and the size is the best I've seen. Perhaps only the JVC late model vcr's could be as good.

Consider this vcr better than older Sony-51's but not as good as the SONY slv-n750 ( silver ) which is a longer vcr in size.

The best one i've seen and the latest one made by sony is the SONY slv-n900.

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I give this VCR 5 stars because of the things I do like. The programming is easy, it has an excellent picture. Most of all it allows to Video lines, so I have my DVD and Gamecube plugged in through my VCR instead of having RF adapters hooked to my TV. The rewind/ff speed is exceptional. I also like all the slow motion/commercial skip options.

Now for my gripe, it's the remote. It does have a horrible remote. It's touchy and the batteries are used up so quickly I need to have stock in Duracell or Energizer. Also the commercial skip button is finicky and won't work half the time or if you accidently hit the very stupid VCR/TV sliding button it won't work.

All this said, I still give it 5 stars because of the ease of use and I used this thing to record hours of video from TV and it would play on any VCR tried on. This is a big thing for me.

I made the mistake of replacing it with a JVC also reviewed on amazon and it was a horror. I will be buying this SOny model again!!

For me the cons aren't even a consideration. This is my favorite VCR and I don't use that statement lightly.