4 heads Hi-Fi stereo Auto clock set power/rewind/eject Commercial scan Protect Plus+ MTS/SAP Special effects Auto program & program backup Digital auto tracking RF in/output & composite A/V jacks Includes TV/VCR remote RF cable Front A/V jacks
RCA's VR637HF offers all the convenience of VHS recording and playback--a great way to time shift your TV viewing and share camcorder footage with loved ones, and the best way to enjoy your extensive library of videocassettes. A camcorder or gaming console plugs right into the VR637HF's front panel for hassle-free connections.
This model's four-head design ensures smooth slow-motion play (forward and reverse) and clear still-frame images, and it records and plays back stereo audio tracks with hi-fi sound. If you route the stereo output to an AV receiver, it's easy to enjoy four-channel (left, center, right, and monaural surround) Dolby Pro Logic mixes from TV and Dolby-encoded cassettes. You can schedule ahead using the recorder's one-month, eight-event programming. Express record (XPR) lets you quickly set the duration for programmed recording, while one-touch recording (OTR) prompts immediate recording of whatever channel is being viewed--there's no need to worry about hitting "play" as well as "record."
Commercial scan jumps the tape forward in 30-second increments (30 seconds for every time you press the button), making it easy to skip past interruptions in recorded programs. Want to play S-VHS tapes? No problem--you can view them on this machine in standard VHS resolution. With Pro-Tect Plus you can "lock" the VCR so that the front panel and remote control buttons don't work. Use this feature to protect timer recordings and keep youngsters from using the VCR when they're not supposed to. Clock back-up holds the set time for up to one minute of power loss, while non-volatile program backup retains your timer information no matter how long the power is out.
Features like a trilingual (English, Spanish, French) onscreen display, tape-position display, auto play, auto repeat, auto power off, and the ever-handy auto clock set simplify setup and operation. Rewinding takes less than two minutes with a T-120 tape, and the supplied remote control operates the VCR as well as RCA and GE televisions.
What's in the Box
VCR, RCR110VA1 remote control, RCU battery, antenna cable, user's manual, warranty information.
Note: Auto clock set is subject to availability based on local off-air and cable broadcasts.
1 Not satisfied
Having owned an RCA VCR in the past, this one is a diappointment. I own two other VCRs (by two different manufacturers, not RCA) that cost less and have more features than this particular model.
The "unified" remote operates only an extremely limited number of TVs (and not the brand I own). The unit has a single speed for fast forward and reverse. The absence of two speeds is bothersome. The smallbuttons for operating the tape are, and poorly located at the bottom of the remote. The buttons that change channels and volume are large, but the volume control is useless unless you use it with an RCA, GE, ProScan or Scenium TV. At least the instruction manual indicates it will operate those brands. The tiny search button doubles as the "Commercial Scan" feature. It is located at the top of the remote just below the On-Off button, so on occasion be prepared to turn the unit off in error when you attempt to fast forward through a commercial.
Instead of being the main VCR, this unit will be relegated to use as a back-up.
2 Eh, well, I can't recommend it, yet...
I have big minor issues with this unit. The most annoying is the Pro-Tect feature. It only works with the remote. The remote controls the VCR fine... EXCEPT for the Pro-Tect feature. Jeez! You have to hold either the VCR or Power buttons down for like 10 seconds in order for it work. BUT, unlike the other buttons, the VCR is as not responsive to this function. I discovered I had to lay on my back and just find where to hold the remote, which was different every time. I could use all other functions, but, with the remote in the same position, the Pro-Tect would not work. Plus, holding your wrist at an odd angle for several seconds at a time is not pleasant. AND, the Pro-Tect remote feature would not even work when the remote was aimedly directly at the unit, either close up, middle away, or far away!
The search functions of the unit have only 1 forward speed. I prefer the 2 speed commonality, one press while playing forwards slower and the next press forwards faster.
The playback wasn't perfect, but, wasn't too terrible a picture either. I didn't need the record function, so, I haven't tried that out.
The Pro-Tect feature, which I wasn't aware of until I opened the unit, was something I really would have liked to use. BUT, the remote prohibits proper use of it, so, what good is the feature? I don't know, yet, if I'll return this or not. It works and works, so far, okay. But, I cannot recommend it either because these minor annoyances have inconvenienced me in a larger way than should be tolerated.
In the end, I would recommend, if you're contemplating this model, to pass on it. There are cheaper alternatives that work just as well as this one has for me.
3 Wrong Manual Loaded Here
Amazon have the wrong product manual loaded here. The manual linked from this page is for the VR634, not the VR637. The VR637 (this product) does not have commercial advance.
The VR637 is an OK VCR, but the SLP recordings are on the fuzzy side. Sound, while OK, is not up to the sound from an unrecorded program (also slightly fuzzy). So not what I would consider a HI-FI VCR.
Features are reasonable, but the remote is poorly designed (lots of indistinguishable little buttons, that are all positioned in un-meaningful patterns on the remote). First time that I have had to keep an instruction manual by my chair to refer to constantly, in years.
So - overall, score 2 out of 5. An OK VCR for the price (let's get real about what I could expect for this price range). But it's not great quality. I would not buy this model (or probably any VCR from RCA) again.
4 This RCA Unit Does not Have Commercial Scan
To RCA Customer Service 10-14-03 I just purchased your RCA VR637HF and I am very angry to find that this unit only has, what is called by most vendors, Commercial Skip. As seen below I specifically asked about this feature before buying! The manual describes, what everyone else calls, Commercial Skip on pages 12 & 24. There is no set up option for
Commercial Scan as there is in my ProScan VCR. What the hell is going on! Why am I being told one thing by your representatives and I get the unit it doesn't even have the feature? If this unit indeed has no Commercial Scan I will be
alerting Consumer Groups like the BBB because all the advertising and marketing of this product is false. Manuel Calcagno
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------Response
from RCA about Commercial Advance before Purchase: Dear Customer: Thank
you for your inquiry on your product. During tape playback, the
"Commercial Advance" feature allows you to avoid watching most
commercials on any recording over 15 minutes long. After the VCR
finishes recording, the Commercial Advance system locates and
electronically marks most of the commercial segments. When the recording
is played back, the VCR scans or fast forwards through the marked
segments. Either a blue screen or the fast motion video of the
commercial itself can be displayed while commercials are being advanced
through. Commercial Advance reduces three minutes of commercial time to
approximately ten seconds (SLP mode) of fast forwarding time. We
received your inquiry and appreciate your interest in our line of
products. Thomson products are normally available from most mass
merchants or discount stores, catalog showrooms, department stores, and
drug, hardware, and variety stores. Please consult your Yellow Pages, or
call 1-580-634-0123 for dealers in your area. Retail pricing information
can also be obtained from your local dealers. We do not establish prices
for product sold by independent dealers. You may also find many of our
products at Thomson Direct's web site. Please visit http://www.rca.com
for more information. We are certain you will find our product line to
be both comprehensive and exciting. We are confident you will be pleased
with the performance of any of our products that you may purchase.
Thank you for contacting us. If we can be of further assistance in the
future, please let us know. [Q103192968506519] Sincerely, Sarah
#0310021431 -----Original Message----- From: support@rcahelp.com
Sent: Friday, October 3, 2003 1:13 PM To:
rca_faq_product@customerlinx.com Subject: Re: Contact RCA
Feature Definitions and their Use -- Not Applicab le -- Rikki Thanks
for the response. My main question was to verify that this RCA Unit,
has Commercial Scan/Advance which automatically bypasses commercials
on playback as opposed to Commercial Skip in which a button has to be
manually pressed for each 30-60 seconds. I do not want the latter.
Does RCA also sell ProScan VCR's? If so, where are they available?
They are very difficult to locate. I have an old ProScan with
Commercial Scan which I really liked. Thanks Manuel Calcagno In a
message dated 10/2/03 2:31:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
support@rcahelp.com writes:
.
5 Don't waste your money!
I wanted another VCR, but my RCA is no longer being sold, so I picked this one. Big mistake! It won't recognize my PBS station's time so I have to set the time manually. (All my TVs and other VCRs recognize PBS timewithout difficulty.) And it won't recognize my TV, so I have to use 2 remotes, plus I can't tape the show I'm watching unless I set the timer. And the remote is clunky with tiny buttons, nothing like my older RCA VCR which is great. Don't waste your money on this piece of junk!
6 RCA All The Way!
I LOVE my RCA VCR! My husband gave me this exact VCR last year for Mother's Day to go along with my RCA DVD and RCA television. I use one remote for all three and that's wonderful.
I have never had any problems with my RCA purchases. After comparision with Sony VCRs, this VCR beats them out any day. And, the price is right!!!
My husband has a Sony entertainment system and I was going to buy him a Sony VCR, but after reading a few reviews, I decided against it. I'll purchase something I KNOW works great.
Playback and record are wonderful. Fast forward and rewind are fairly quiet.
It has a 60 second commercial skip, which I love.
Whether you're using and old or new tape, the picture quality at SP and EP are excellent.
I highly recommend this VCR. You can feel confident that you will use this purchase for many years.
7 Functional and basic
Did a lot of research with Consumer Reports on vcr's as we're in the market for a second one. They don't rate any of them "excellent" and only a few get "very good." I think this reflects the industry's investment in these machines - just aren't putting the quality into them any more. That being said, this machine works okay for my purposes. So far, no troubles (only 2 months old), it's fairly easy to use, and I do like the "commercial advance" and index features. Also, it's fairly compact.
8 Mixed review
The VCR works well for the most part. (Although the commercial advance feature functions correctly only sporadically) The main reason we give it a mediocre rating is because the remote control, while responding well to the VCR, cannot recognize our TV set. (Magnavox) The company's response to our complaint? Tough luck. Your TV is incompatible.
9 More Imported Junk
The last VCR I bought was over $200. That was 10 years ago. I now know why there are so inexpensive, because they are junk! The quality of this VCR in no way compares to our older VCR. Come to think of it, our RCA DVD player is junk also. I guess you still need to spend money to get quality. After 10 weeks, I though this thing bit the dust when the front panel controls and the remote would no longer work, and a tape was stuck in the machine. I finally, pulled the power plug and everything reset. Of course, I had to go through the setup programming all over again. The picture quality is poor and playing with the tracking does little to improve it. But the most irritating thing is the lack of displays on the front panel. Not having a clue whether the VCR is on or not is a joke. Fortunately we use an alternate video input to our TV, so when we turn the VCR off, the screen goes blank. This is a backup VCR for us on a second TV. If that's what you are looking for and plan very limited use, get it. I found reviews on other manufacturers products in a similar price range to be worse than this unit. If you want this VCR as your primary source for recording and playing, look for something better. Go back to the $200 plus machines. Hopefully, you will get a little better quality.
10 MORE IMPORTED JUNK
The only reason why VCR prices have come down so far is because they are junk, and this RCA VCR is no exception. Not being able to tell if the VCR is on from the front panel display is a real joke. Good thing we use an alternate video channel on the TV. This way when the screen goes blank you know you shut if off. After 10 weeks we could not get the remote or the few front panel controls to do anything, and a tape in the machine would not eject. I finally pulled the plug and everything seemed to reset. Of course, we had to reprogram the machine. I have a 10 year old RCA VCR that cost around $, the quality was there. The new machine picture quality is no comparison to my old machine. Constantly adjusting the tracking does not help much either. I bought the second machine for another TV, and got what I paid for it. A piece of junk. No comprison in the quality. I guess you get what you pay for it. I realized I was getting a throw away model if only after a year, but we're only into the third month, and I am getting nervous about it.
11 Didn't last
I will never buy an RCA again. This one lasted only a little more than a year before breaking down. (My last VCR, a JVC, lasted over eight years.) Tapes kept getting stuck in this RCA unit, and I'd have to take the machine in just to get the tapes out. And when I played movies on it, it kept making this loud, annoying, intermittant BZZZZT!! noise, and I couldn't get it to stop.
It was a pain...from the get-go, and I spent a little more on this unit than some others cost because I wanted to get a quality item. Hah!
12 Didn't last
I will never buy an RCA again. This one lasted only a little more than a year before breaking down. (My last VCR, a JVC, lasted over eight years.) Tapes kept getting stuck in this RCA unit, and I'd have to take the machine in just to get the tapes out. And when I played movies on it, it kept making this loud, annoying, intermittant BZZZZT!! noise, and I couldn't get it to stop.
It was a pain...from the get-go, and I spent a little more on this unit than some others cost because I wanted to get a quality item. Hah!
13 Great Brand, Great Product
This VCR is of very good quality, winds lightning-quick, very quiet. I was also very impressed with the ease of registering the product's warranty and was able to register in online at RCA's website. Very pleased with my purchase!
14 Returning this today.
The record/playback quality of this unit is very poor. Also, the front panel tells you nothing but the time of day. I have a clock for that! You cannot even tell which channel you are taping on without going to the on-screen display. To top it off, the unit came with a remote that is not in the book. It has a seperate sheet for it but that seems sort of tacky.
15 good deal
This is a great little VCR. Even though VCR's are on the way out I belive people will still use them for years. Especially since DVD recorders cost so much. Playback is smooth on all my tapes with rich bright colors, recording is fine in both modes. The only drawback Ive noticed is that bright red colors contain streaks in them slightly. Of course this may be my cables or the fault of my cable box but I cant seem to tame it. Overall a good deal...
16 Not a value
It died within 1 week. Swallowed a tape and died. I did not save the box, so no return from target. It is much more complicated to use than other VCRs I have owned. Not a good experience on this buy.
17 handicap with eese
Hi iam disabled and , i bought 4 vcr,s this week.
I have limeted to no use of my fingers,an other than my zenith vcr that i cant find any more this is a god sent.
The buttons are set far enough apart an large enough so you dont hit 2 buttons at once, easy to program,and read/understand great for your grandma to.
The pitcher is good at TARGET and the price is good.
RCA makes another one cheaper in price--the best price is at
K-MART ,it is same remote RCA VR546 not stereo- for 64.99
LUCINDA
18 handicap with eese
Hi i have bought 4 other vcrs this week and other than my zenith i cant find anywere]-the remotes are a pain to use.
Theses buttons are spaced apart for easy pressing u dont hit 2 keys.
And programing is easy to do and read, great or your grandma to.
The picture is fine , the buttons are big ,
19 RCA VCR #VR637HF
There is one important thing to note about this VCR if you do any sort of component-mixing or dubbing. The front panel display does not show the input mode or the tape speed--the only way you can tell is looking at the TV screen. So, if you're not using this VCR as the primary component hooked up to your TV, you'll have to keep two inputs/outputs going at the same time or have to continuously switch back and forth to know if you're in the right input (on the right channel) for recording or playing, or to find out if the VCR is in SP or SLP mode.
The picture is also not as clear as my old Sharp VCR, especially in brown and red hues, although it's good enough for general viewing.
20 A Good Deal
This is a solid little VCR at a good price.
21 Bang for your buck!
If you're looking for a nice inexpensive player, this one is a great choice. It plays all my tapes (even the 20 year old one's) without incident.
22 A Fine robust VCR
I looked at Toshiba,Sharp and Others prior to getting it. The VCR plays old and new tapes clearly and has a nice read out. The set up and programming are easy. It comes with a cable and its remote worked perfectly. The timer recording works great and I like its silver and black face. The rewind is not very noisy but you can hear its distinct hum. Its worth its price and the only fact it lacks is VCR + programming. Definately a good buy.
23 Fine 4 Head VCR from RCA
This is an exceptional buy at this price and you really can't beat it. If you have old tapes that were recorded in the LP (4-hour mode) you will find that all RCA VCRs play tapes back recorded at this speed better than any other manufacturers' units. RCA was the last manufacturer to offer LP recording capability before all manufacturers discontinued to offer it. This is an excellent VCR and it records and plays pictures back exceptionally well in the SP and EP (or SLP) modes as well.
