rem@bu-cs.UUCP (Robert E. Mee) (12/06/85)
I am about to phone order an AKAI VS603U VCR from American Express. This is a new HF unit that they recently put out. Has anyone had any experiences with this unit or with any AKAI's? Also does anyone know what other consumer electronics companies have invested interest in AKAI? Many Thanks, Rob -- +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Robert Mee Boston University Academic Computer Center | | | | UUCP: ...!harvard!bu-cs!rem | | ARPA: rem%bu-cs.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa | | CSNET: rem@bu-cs | +------------------------------------------------------------------%
marcos@sdchema.UUCP (Marcos Hatada) (12/09/85)
In article <804@bu-cs.UUCP>, rem@bu-cs.UUCP (Robert E. Mee) writes: > > I am about to phone order an AKAI VS603U VCR from American Express. > This is a new HF unit that they recently put out. Has anyone had > any experiences with this unit or with any AKAI's? I recently purchased the 603U and am quite happy with it. It has the following significant advantages over other hi-fi vcr's: 1) It has a "direct-control" mechanism for the tape drive, which results in fewer and lower mechanical noises when you're running the thing. 2) It has very easy to use on-screen programming. Even my mom, who has an aversion to these types of things, felt comfortable programming it. 3) The remote control is very complete, allowing you to do virtually anything you'd want to by remote. Now the disadvantages: 1) It does not have an MTS decoder (i.e. it doesn't decode the stereo signal from the source signal)and does not have have outputs for an external decoder. This means that if you want the stereo signal, you'll have to decode it after it's run through the VCR (probably from the MTX jack of your TV, if it has one). 2) While it is "cable-ready" (whatever that mean, and can quartz tune 139 stations, it does not have direct accestuning, which means when you first get it you'll have to search out the stations in your area (it will do this for you) and assign them station numbers (this is up to you). But you only have to do this once. Up to 16 pre-sets are allowed. The 603U has been reviewed by several video magazines (I don't recall which), and has received very favorable reviewsAs for price: I paid $499.99 (as in $500) for mine (*NOT* grey market) from the most unlikely source-- Target Department Stores (this is a cha, they may be in your area too, I don't know). This is their "everyday low price", and, at least a couple of months ago, was at least $100 less than anyone else's pric Overall: if you can live with the disadvantages I've listed above (mainly 1), and you can get it for a reasonable price, I think you'll be happy with it. "Dr. DAP"
barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold) (12/10/85)
My parents-in-law recently got a stereo Akai that was "cable-ready." (I include quotation marks because it's limited to 14 channels, while their cable has about 25. That means if something they want to record shows up on one of the Non-Sacred-14, they have to retune the Akai.) It also has only two hour and six hour speeds, not four hour. --Lee Gold
keithd@cadovax.UUCP (Keith Doyle) (12/11/85)
In article <500@sdchema.sdchema.UUCP> marcos@sdchema.UUCP (Marcos Hatada) writes: >I recently purchased the 603U and am quite happy with it. It has the following >significant advantages over other hi-fi vcr's: > >3) The remote control is very complete, allowing you to do virtually anything > you'd want to by remote. Does this include zeroing the tape counter? That's what I miss most on my machine (I am constantly getting up and zeroing it now), and have yet to see a machine that implements that. Keith Doyle # {ucbvax,ihnp4,decvax}!trwrb!cadovax!keithd # cadovax!keithd@ucla-locus.arpa
marcos@sdchema.UUCP (David A. Pearlman) (12/12/85)
In article <980@cadovax.UUCP>, keithd@cadovax.UUCP (Keith Doyle) writes: > Does this include zeroing the tape counter? That's what I miss most on my > machine (I am constantly getting up and zeroing it now), and have yet to see > a machine that implements that. > Yes, the 603U does indeed allow zeroing of the tape counter by remote (as well as the option to "return to zero", wherever that may be at the time). You can even change the tracking by remote! In fact, the ONLY things you can't do by remote (please, no flames if I forget something) are: 1) reset the clock (not something you'll be doing very often, especially since}i the 603U contains a battery which (it's claimed) will retain such info. for about 6 hours. in the event of a power outage). 2) set the channel presets (presumably, you'll only do this when you first set up the recorder, anyway. Once you put it into preset mode, the actual setting CAN be done by remote). 3) change the recording speed (a little bit of an annoyance, if you tend to switch between speeds often, but I suspect this was done to avoid accidental changes). 4) set the audio source to external (i.e. your stereo receiver). 5) change the recording/playback mode from mono to hi-fi (only important when renting a non hi-fi tape [otherwise you can leave it in hi-fi mode at all times]). 6) Manually set the recording levels for external hi-fi recordings. (Not normally necessary; the vcr will automatically set them). 7) Change the resolution from "normal" to "sharp" or "soft" (I've never even touched this). 8) call Kate Bush or the Grateful Dead (oops, sorry, wrong group :-) ). David ("Dr. DAP") Pearlman