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REVIEWS
STRAP
First Run
HEAD
SONY SLV-AV100, VCR-DPL AMP COMBO £750 ****
Why’s it here? It might be better to ask why hasn’t someone
done it before? The integration of a NICAM VCR with a beefy AV amplifier and
DPL processor is quite unique, and it makes a lot of sense. Akai produced a VCR
with a built-in surround-sound decoder and amplifier about five years ago, and
more recently a VCR with a DPL decoder, but the Sony SLV-A100 is a far more
complete solution. It can function as the core component of a home cinema AV
system, with auxiliary inputs for up to four other source components, including
a tuner, CD and laserdisc players.
Any unique features? Apart from the weight? At 13kg it’s
quite a lump. That’s due to the dual power supplies, one very meaty transformer
and a substantial metal chassis. It’s very solidly built -- Sony proudly told
us that 130 screws are used in its construction... The VCR section is loosely based
on one of their current NICAM models, an uprated SLV-E810 in fact, with a
super-fast deck mechanism. It’s a reasonably sophisticated design, with auto
installation, on-screen displays, NTSC replay, Trilogic tape optimisation,
front AV inputs and multi-speed replay.
The AV amplifier appears to have quite a lot in common with
their TA-VE700, though the power outputs are a little lower, with 40 watts RMS going
to each of the front three channels and 2 x 20 watts for the rear surround
channel. There’s a full set of surround modes, including Pro Logic and Dolby 3-channel,
plus a range of DSP modes, that includes theatre, hall and stadium effects, and
an equalisation preset optimised for video games. Sony have gone to
considerable trouble to isolate the amplifier section from the VCR, with
independent power supplies and plenty of screening. Incidentally, the amplifier
section has its own cooling fan, this is powered by the VCR, and its speed varies
with volume.
How does it perform. Although it is actually two separate
devices, they function as one, with a unified on-screen display system and
remote control handset. Some aspects of the control system are a little idiosyncratic,
and it has clearly been designed with owners of Sony TVs in mind, but once you get
used to it, it’s not too bad. The VCR performs well, resolution is a little
above average, at just under 250 lines. Noise levels are low, lower still with
higher grade tapes, which the optimiser uses to good effect. Colours are bright
and reasonably accurate, with comparatively little noise, even on areas of high
saturation. The stereo soundtracks are very clean, with hardly any background
hiss.
Unfortunately we haven’t had the opportunity to test it with
the optional speaker pack (5 speakers and an active sub-woofer). In spite of
the relatively modest outputs the amplifier is quite gutsy and it has a good reserve
of power, more than enough to fill a large living room, though the rear channel
has to be wound up quite high to avoid it being swamped. The DPL decoder is good
at picking out and steering loud dynamic sounds, softer effects can sometimes
sound a little muddy. There’s minimal leakage to and from the centre channel.
With all of the effects switched out the amplifier has a clean, well balanced response;
bass output is adequate, but we suspect the optional active sub provides some
useful extra welly, to really bring blockbuster movies alive.
Our Verdict. Sony are taking a bit of a chance with the
AV100. We’re not sure that many people will be in the market for an AV amp and
VCR at the same time. For those that are, it’s a practical and cost-effective combination
of technologies that’s much more than the sum of its parts.
SLV-AV100
Features VCR:
NICAM, VideoPlus+ with PDC, auto set-up and clock check, NTSC playback, remote
functions for other Sony products. AV Amp: Dolby Pro Logic, 7-mode DSP, 3 x 40
watts RMS (front), 2 x 20 watts RMS (rear)
Sockets 4 x
AV inputs (phono), speakers (spring terminal), aerial bypass (coaxial)
Dimensions 157
x 430 x 412 mm
Picture Quality ****
Sound Quality ****
Build Quality ****
Features ****
Ease of use ***
Overall value ****
Competitors
There are none, but check out the Akai VS-G2400 DPL VCR at £1000
Sony UK telephone 0181-784 1144
Critical Captions
It’s quite a lump, and the added height might cause problems
with some installations, nevertheless it still takes up a lot less space than a
separate VCR and AV amp
The jog/shuttle controls on the front panel and remote
handset are not spring-loaded, which makes the multi-speed replay functions
easier to use.
The front panel display has a lot of work to do; some of the
display elements are not very large, and it’s not always easy to tell what it’s
up to
The large, uncluttered rear panel connections simplify
hook-ups to other items of AV equipment.
HEAD
JVC HR-J935, £499, ****
Why’s it here? VHS is a mature technology, close to the
limits of its performance envelope, and in the twilight of its years,
manufacturers are fast running out of ways to keep their VCRs looking fresh. It
has fallen to JVC, the inventors of the format, to come up with the goods. The
HR-J935 is without doubt the most interesting and unusual VHS VCR we’ve seen
for a very long time, and the really good news is that it’s not some incredibly
expensive flagship machine. At just under £500 it’s at the top end of the NICAM
VCR scale, but when you take into account the new features, it has to be a
bargain!
Any unique features? Only one, and that’s the Dynamic Drum.
During fast picture search the upper cylinder on the head drum assembly is
automatically tilted by a fraction of a degree. That means the heads track the
tape more accurately and the result is a noiseless picture at X2, X3, X5, X7
and X9 search speeds, in both directions. That on its own is impressive, but
JVC have gone one step further with a digital audio buffer -- virtually identical to Sanyo’s Digital
View Scan -- that lets you hear snatches of the soundtrack, in real time, at whatever
speed the tape is running. JVC call noiseless replay with sound TimeScan, It’s
ideal for watching sports and movies, without loosing track of the plot. Add to
that NICAM, NTSC replay, picture enhancement and tape optimisation, auto
set-up, jog/shuttle dials on front panel and handset and more editing fetaures
than you can shake a camcorder at and you’ve got one helluva machine!
How does it perform? Brilliantly, though we have to say
we’ve only tried a very early production sample, serial number 00000011 to be
exact. However, if the rest are anything like this one JVC have got a winner on
their hands. Resolution was a shade over 500-lines, picture noise levels are
very low, and trick-play stability is simply amazing, not a trace of line break-up
anywhere in the picture, at any replay speed. TimeScan sound is a bit rough,
but speech is intelligible. Normal stereo hi-fi and NICAM sound is good, noise
levels are a little below average and the response is reasonably flat.
Our Verdict. Go get it! For the price of a top-end NICAM VCR
you can get something really special. TimeScan has to be the best new VCR feature
since Video Plus+, but even without it the J935 would still be a fine machine,
with a great line up of features and excellent AV performance, at a realistic
price
JVC HR-J935, £499
Features TimeScan,
NICAM, VideoPlus+ with PDC, auto set-up and clock check, insert editing with
flying erase head, sound shuttle, audio dub, manual audio recording level
control, ‘Easy Edit’ assemble edit control, BEST tape tuning, illuminated
multi-brand remote control, NTSC replay, child lock
Sockets 2 x
SCART AV, stereo line audio out and front AV inputs (phono), RF bypass (coaxial)
Dimensions 435
x 105 x 353mm
Picture Quality *****
Sound Quality ****
Build Quality ****
Features *****
Ease of use ****
Overall value ****
Competitors
Mitsubishi HS-561 £480 HE35
Sanyo VHR795 £430 HE35
Toshiba V856 £500 HE39
JVC UK Ltd., telephone 0181-450 3282
HEAD
Philips SBC-HC520, £80 ****
Why’s it here? Philips are on a roll. They’ve been quietly
flogging headphones for years but just recently they’ve moved into infra-red
cordless models, in a big way. We’ve been very impressed with what we’ve seen
so far; the modestly-priced HC120’s and 380’s, reviewed in the August issue,
received glowing reports, but now they’re filling the gap between those cheaper
models and the top-end SBC 3995’s (£100). The SBC-HC520s will be selling for £80; Philips say
performance and styling are designed to appeal to more demanding audio and home
cinema enthusiasts.
Any unique features? Nope. We’ve seen it all before, though
Philips have clearly put a lot of effort into the cosmetics, and the trackball
volume control is rather natty. Unlike most other IR phones on the market, this
one uses high-frequency carriers of 2.3 and 2.8 MHz, giving the system a wide
bandwidth of 12Hz to 24kHz. The spring-loaded headband and soft ear cushions
are very comfortable. They’re light too, tipping the HE kitchen scales at just
250 grams, (with batteries). The transmitter module can be stood upright on its
base plate, at a variety of angles, or laid horizontally, though in that case
the phones will have nowhere to perch, when they’re not being used, or on charge.
How does it perform? Philips are the first to say the
HC520’s are not in competition with proper corded headphones; the priorities here
are portability, convenience and fun. The system generates moderate amounts of
background hiss and they can become quite noisy at the extremes of the range,
though the auto-mute system kicks in quite smartly, when the signal is lost. In
spite of all that they sound quite good, with unexpectedly solid bass, coherent
mid-range and bags of treble. Volume is adequate, a little more wouldn’t have
gone amiss though. The phones are largely immune to interference from other
light sources, including fluorescent tubes and TV screens.
Our Verdict. They’re okay, and amongst the most comfortable
cordless phones we’ve tried, but the springy headband bumps and grinds if you
bop around too energetically, and the background noise levels are a little
higher than we’d have liked. On balance our vote still goes to the cheaper
HC120s, currently selling for £50.
Philips SBC-HC520,
£80
Features automatic
level control, auto mute, rechargeable batteries that last up to 15 hours,
8-metre range, 4-position transmitter module
Sockets line-audio
in (phono), charging lead (minijack)
Weight 250
grams
Sound Quality ***
Build Quality ****
Features ***
Ease of use ****
Overall value ***
Competitors
Philips SBC 3995 £100 HE38
Sennheiser IS-360 £70 HE38
Vivanco IR650 £90 HE38
Philips Consumer Electronics, telephone 0181-689 4444
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R. Maybury 1996 1110
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