Greetings everyone. First off, to anyone who might bring it up, I've already checked all "similar threads" and have also searched for any similar threads such as these, and either found no such threads or found none that contained discussion relating to my issues. Thanks. :)

With that said, here's my story:
After not having owned or personally played a VHS deck and VHS tapes in a solid decade, I was recently blessed with (literally) boxes full of old '90's TV recordings of obscure, yet favorite shows and cartoons of mine which have yet to be released on DVD (and due to expired licensing rights/issues probably never will, period) and other misc. stuff which I had feverishly been looking for. After the initial awe and glee of my grab wore off, it immediately dawned on me that yes, these are dozens of VHS tapes with dozens if not hundreds of hours worth of priceless TV recordings amongst them, and that I should convert them to DVD or a more durable format ASAP. Yep, I'm not even taking the opportunity to watch and go through them all (mostly because I don't have the free time to do so!)

Despite my feverish intentions to try and convert all of these puppies to DVD and to be able to view all of this good stuff in a more comfortable format (and with a piece of mind), there's a couple of problems. First off, my 6+ year old Dell Dimension 4400 PC is NOWHERE near capable of even handling a VHS to DVD conversion program, much less even attempting the process. It doesn't even have a DVD drive for gawd's sake! And I am far from having enough money to purchase a PC that could not only handle such a job, but also fit the needs that have long outgrowed my current PC's usefullness.

Long story short, using my PC to convert my tapes to DVD is completely out of the question, as is purchasing a new, more capable PC in the forseeable future (which could be up to two years).

Guess the aforementioned paragraph contradicted part of my topic title now didn't it? While I do have the option of hauling my VHS recordings to someone else who has a capable PC and/or hardware to convert VHS to DVD, it'll either be very time-consuming and/or uncomfortable and inconvenient having to depend on someone else and constantly be in their household or work place, or <gasp>

With all of that said, it looks like the only option currently have considering my limited funds is to purchase ag ood VCR/DVD Recorder combo. Currently, I only own a cheap XBV713 VCR/DVD that I recently bought on a whim to view these tapes. It's a good combo player that gets the job done, but it doesn't convert VHS to DVD.

So, any suggestions for a VHS/DVD Recorder combo player that:

- could provide me with at least decent to good DVD reproductions of my VHS recordings that aren't too far off from the original source, quality-wise?

- have some essential, minimal editing options, i.e splitting episodes of a TV show that originally ran back to back on the VHS recording, place chapter points on episodes to be able to skip recorded commercials (I'm not expecting to edit anything in or out of the recordings though, since its not possible, right?)

- Future-proof (currently, all of the TV's in my household are turn-of-this-century, clunky 4:3 CRT's with S-Video/Component outputs at best but when and if we make the jump to HD hardware we don't want to have to buy new hardware again to accomodate it
)
-Can upconvert (consider this as being a sub-category of the aforementioned "future-proof" criteria. If I'm still able to play VHS through plain-jane Composite connections on a fancy-schmancy HDTV though, ignore this.)

- No more than $300, $250 if possible.

Prior to purchasing my Zenith XBV713 VHS/DVD combo player (how the hell is it that Zenith still exists? I thought the company went under ages ago!) I had been contemplating on purchasing a VHS/DVD recorder combo instead, but wasn't sure if paying too much for something that has a VHS player attached to it, would've been a smart decision, as I'd be using the VHS portion strictly to convert tapes to DVD, not to regularly view VHS's.

Lastly, considering this long description I just gave, am I better off purchasing a VHS/DVD Recorder combo player or should I go the external route? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Check out the Philips DVDR3575H/37 for a good unit to convert your tapes on from an external player (no VHS), but with 160GB HDD which will make your editing much easier, and NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners for future-proofing.

Click my signature for more info and a link to the Philips store where you can get an up-to-date "Factory Renewed" unit with free shiipping for $199.

I agree the 3575 with a good external VHS player would be your best bet. If you want to record say a 6hr long block, and then break the chunk into shorter episodes a HDD is a must, that or use RAM discs with a RAM type recorder. In your case the 3575 using R discs would be much cheaper in the long run.
I personally would prefer to use the SP(2hr mode) but you may find longer modes work for you. Philips goes up to 6hrs/DVD, and the HDD can store more than a hundred hours.
Note you may get discouraged reading the thread hearing about various tuner related problems. If you're OTA most likely you won't be effected and copying tapes won't even use the tuner. Pretty much all DVDR's with a digital tuner has issues, especially with QAM(cable). Don't let it scare you off.

Well, I have Time Warner Digital Cable, and also own a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 DVR. Any idea how all of this would affect the effectiveness of any DVD Recorder I could get? For example, would I be able to record both programming and DVR recordings from the box?

Oh, and as far as buying or owning an external VHS deck goes, not only have I not seen any for sale in the NYC area in YEARS, but I honestly don't have the space to place both a DVD and VHS deck in my "entertainment center", in my small, cramped room. Is it absolutely necessary or better to own an external VHS deck?

What are you going to do with the VHS deck you said you had: "... a cheap XBV713 VCR/DVD that I recently bought..."?

Is it just a matter of space? If so, you'll have to look for one of the new Toshibas or Panasonics that have VHS/DVD recording capability... no HDD, just a single-disc DVD recorder.

Look in this thread. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=970168)

Well, I have Time Warner Digital Cable, and also own a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 DVR. Any idea how all of this would affect the effectiveness of any DVD Recorder I could get? For example, would I be able to record both programming and DVR recordings from the box?

Oh, and as far as buying or owning an external VHS deck goes, not only have I not seen any for sale in the NYC area in YEARS, but I honestly don't have the space to place both a DVD and VHS deck in my "entertainment center", in my small, cramped room. Is it absolutely necessary or better to own an external VHS deck?

u should be able to record from both.

i think a seperate vhs deck is better cuz:
1.if u need to use a video filter (a whole 'nother issue), combo unit may not have the inputs and outputs to insert the filter into the signal chain.
2. if the combo breaks down u have to take the whole thing in for repairs, with seperates u only have to get one unit fixed (hopefully:p).


for a project like this, what i would do is put whatever gear you're going to be using in a seperate place for the duration of the project just to simplify things and reduce clutter around the main entertainment area.

i would suggest panasonic recorders cuz of their great pq in the LP mode, good out to 3 and even 4 hours. a machine w a hard drive would be best but i guess no more pannies w hdds are to be had.
so maybe the phillips.

good luck finding a vhs vcr.

What are you going to do with the VHS deck you said you had: "... a cheap XBV713 VCR/DVD that I recently bought..."?

I'm most likely going to return it to my local Circuit City, where I bought it three weeks ago, and get a refund. If I can't get a refund, then I'll probably exchange it for their Samsung DVD-V9700 Upconverting DVD/VCR combo player, which at least has an HDMI output and upconverts DVDs to 720p/1080i, and pay the $20 difference.

I personally would use a separate VCR and Panasonic DVDR(since I already have them), but in your case since you would probably want to burn blocks of material and then insert chapters(or even split the title) you need a DVDR with a HDD.
No one makes a DVDR W/HDD and VHS so you will be limited to a separate VHS player(or combo player w/VHS).
If you did want one of the combo recorder units without HDD, I think JVC makes one for ~$200, I haven't seen much on that unit on AVS. Panasonic also makes the EZ-47 ~$300 w/digital tuner(can be buggy and problematic dubbing. Likes to start and stop by itself(or so I've read)).
If you want to go the used route the ES-30 is a excellent Panasonic DVDR w/VHS. The only thing you may need to do is clean the spindle. Very common in older Pannys.
Note unless you get the HDD you will be stuck with one block, or if you baby sit the recordings you can get different titles for each episode by pushing stop on the DVDR after each episode but the chapters will be the standard 5 min.

Yeah, I plan on doing as much editing as possible if I score a DVDR, so based on your guys' descriptions a DVDR w/a HDD would be best. If I'm not able to find a standalone VCR anywhere 'round these parts, then would the VCR on my combo player be adeuate enough to utilize with a DVDR w/HDD?

Also, a hypothetical question: How would I deal with the tracking on my tapes while I'm recording the tapes to DVD? Will that pass along to the DVD recordings? The manual for my combo player mentions that it contains auto-tracking, with some minimal manual tracking. Would I indeed have to be "babysitting" such recordings?

Yeah, I plan on doing as much editing as possible if I score a DVDR, so based on your guys' descriptions a DVDR w/a HDD would be best. If I'm not able to find a standalone VCR anywhere 'round these parts, then would the VCR on my combo player be adeuate enough to utilize with a DVDR w/HDD?

Also, a hypothetical question: How would I deal with the tracking on my tapes while I'm recording the tapes to DVD? Will that pass along to the DVD recordings? The manual for my combo player mentions that it contains auto-tracking, with some minimal manual tracking. Would I indeed have to be "babysitting" such recordings?
Your existing VCR combo would serve just fine if it tracks well. You shouldn't have to babysit a unit with auto-tracking (cross-fingers here!).

WHen doing lots of tapes, I always run the tape FF thru to end, display the total time, then after rewinding (which helps seat the tape on the reel and reduce moisture), you can start the tape playing and press REC severla times to cover the total length of the tape. That's called Manual Timed Recording, where each press of the REC button adds 30 minutes of recording time.

Once you've started the recording and set the total length of time, you can walk away and come back tomorrow... the tape should rewind back to beginning and the DVDR will have stopped recording.

maybe baby-sit the first copy session just to make sure everything is working right.

Yes I think the VCR is the hardest thing for people to find in your situation. You could look for a better quality used JVC VCR. They really didn't make any bad ones. I also had luck with Samsung VCR's. Hopefully unless you get a real cheap combo player the VCR should be adaquate. Personally I'd stay away from the likes of say: Sylvania, Magnavox, Funai, Daewoo, or a host of other "no-name" brands. There VCR section really lacks IMO. Like I said JVC has always been good as well as most Panasonic's and Mitsubishi's. Try and get one with a external(on unit) display. Makes it easier to see how much time is left on the tape without having to display on-screen(which will be copied!)
As mentioned basically all VCR's of the last 20? years have had "auto tracking" which SHOULD lessen the baby sitting required.

IMO first choice would be DVDR w/HDD eg. Philips 3575 ~$300 new, ~$200 referb. and good used(~$50?) VCR.
2nd choice. Good DVDR only, Panasonic new EA-18? <$200 and good VCR combo(JVC, Panny, etc.)
Tied for 2nd, Used Panasonic ES-30 DVDR/VHS recorder combo ~$100??? used probably less.
3rd choice Cheap new DVDR ~$100+ with a cheap new(~$50) combo unit.

Hmm, guess I better start searching for anyone who's selling good standalone VCR's in the NYC area before returning my Zenith VHS/DVD combo player.

A question about "generational loss": Would I experience any such generational loss if I were to copy recordings from my SA8300 DVR to DVD via a DVDR or the HDD of a DVDR? (Follow me?) My cable provider's (Time Warner) Digital Cable service offers a passable picture on all of my channels at best, with low bandwidth, compression and whatnot.

As a matter of fact, wouldn't it be redundant to own two devices with a HDD? (SA8300 DVR and a DVDR w/HD) or would I be better off with both?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm such a newb and worry-wort. :(

Generational loss with real-time copies is much more noticeable if the original source is "marginal" like on typical analog channels.

On my Philips 3575, I've done 6 real-time generations of a 1-hr-HQ recording (highest quality) of a movie on a HD digital channel (TNT), and there was no noticeable loss, even tho there was lots of detail stuff that would normally show PQ degradation.

So, the source is VERY important for maintaining PQ in real-time copies.

Recording from the HDD of your DVR to your DVDR will not produce a "generational loss" compared to recording the program live from your DVR to your DVDR. You can set up movies to transfer from the DVR to the DVDR when you go to work, or to bed, and they will be done when you get back.

I have a DVR, and a DVDR with a 160GB HDD. Besides using the HDD of the DVDR to free-up space on the DVR, having the HDD on the DVDR lets you do the editing easily and cleanly, before burning to disc. Also, I record a lot of TCM movies directly to the HDD of my DVDR, and burn them to disc later.

make sure you use quality media like Taiyo Yuden or Verbatim, or all your effort transferring the tapes will be wasted.

Condor Joe I would have 2 machines: A VCR/DVD player combo and a DVD Recorder with HDD.
If the VCR section of your XBV713 VCR/DVD that you have looks good to you then use that or exchange it for the other one that upconverts (if the VCR section is decent). That way you have something to play the DVDs on. I don't like to wear out the DVD Recorder playing back DVDs.

The DVD Recorder with HDD: I have 2 and they both have their strengths depending on what you want to do.
The Philips 3575 has the digital QAM/NTSC/ATSC upconverting blah blah blah and looks great in 1 hour and 2 hour mode. I like it for time-shifting TV programs and the occasional DVD I want to burn from said shows.

For VHS to DVD copying I use a Toshiba RD-XS35 with NTSC tuner only but lots of recording/editing flexibility to get the VHS recordings to DVD. You can record entire tapes to the HDD from beginning to end and then edit/split/combine/mix 'n match titles and chapters etc. until you get it the way you like, then burn! I like to make a 'High Speed Dubbing" no-loss copy onto the HDD (which the Toshiba does), then go nuts slicing and dicing the copy, leaving the original intact.
Also another great thing about this Toshiba is it's Digital Noise Reduction chroma filtering which VHS needs. This really good Toshiba model is discontinued but there are Factory refurbs available on ebay and amazon right now.

To KJBAWC
This is just what I want to do. How do you hook up the DVDR? Any problems at all? What DVDR are you using?

To KJBAWC
This is just what I want to do. How do you hook up the DVDR? Any problems at all? What DVDR are you using?

Sorry for the late reply. I was on vacation for a week. I have a Pio 640 DVDR. I have an AVR, so I run everything through that, with S-Vid and line audio outs from my Comcast Motorola 6412 two-tuner HD DVR, to the DBS input of my Denon AVR. My DVDR is hooked up to a set of VCR ins and outs, using S-Vid and line audio. I use the "rec select" setting to have the DBS (DVR) out to the DVDR, so I can dub even when I am listening to, or watching, something different on the Denon. If you don't have an AVR, you can run the DVR outs directly to the DVDR, and select that line input when you want to transfer from the DVR to the DVDR. If your TV has a PIP (picture in picture), and you use an AVR, you can monitor both the source, and the recording at the same time.

If I am going to work, or going to bed, and want to transfer a program from the DVR to the DVDR, I use the one touch rec button, to set a timed recording on the DVDR that runs past the length of the program on the DVR. Then, I start the playback of the stored program on the DVR. I turn off the TV, and mute the AVR, and go to bed. Before I delete the program from the DVR, I edit it on the DVDR's HDD, and run through the entire program, no faster than FF3, to check and see that no "emergency broadcast" or weather alerts messed up the transfer. Then I check to make sure the edited program will all fit on one disc. After that, I can delete it from the HDD of the DVR, and burn a disc from the HDD of the DVDR any time I want.

When I first started doing this, I would sometimes turn off the AVR out of habit. That, and the emergency alerts, are the only problems I have had. But, I live alone, so there isn't usually anyone there to mess with the system while the transfer is in progress. Other possible problems are if your hookup will transfer screen graphics to your DVDR, you don't want to check how much time is left while doing a dub, or it will be on your DVD.

I am having good luck with a VCR-DVD recorder combo set bought at Wal-Mart:
MAGNAVOX MWR20V6 -- $150, last July 2007. I see them now available at online stores for a lot less money. At the time, it was the lowest price item I saw in any of the local electronic stores.

I am using it to dub old VHS tapes to DVD and it has worked for me. After dubbing, I put the dubbed DVD into my computer and copy the .vob files to my hard drive for editing and making family videos. I am doing my dubs in the highest quality mode only, they call it HQ; this limits the dubbed DVD to about one hour of recording. Hope this is useful information.

I have been working the last six months on converting my VHS tapes to DVD, and I find the only real issue is getting the content off the tapes. I have several VCRs, and I am moving tapes from one to the other until I find one that will track any given tape. I know the content is there, but getting a player to reliably reproduce it is the challenge now. I use S-Video to go to a DVD recorder with a hard drive where I separate the long titles into separate episodes and then burn the separate episodes to a DVD-R. The hard drive is almost essential if you want to do more then very simple editing. For a current selection of hard drive models look here (http://www.world-import.com), then select DVD recorders. These are not necessarily cheap, but your task isn't small or trivial either. On the other hand, you could use your computer and many different software packages to do this too. I prefer to use a stand-alone box rather than my computer, so I don't know much about them. Others here are much more knowledgeable with using their computer. I don't care about fancy looking titles and menu systems, I just want to watch the content.

In September 2007 I completed my ten month-long project dubbing to DVD selected portions of my twenty years of home-recorded videotapes. My original videotapes came from a variety of name brands and "quality" levels, and were recorded at various recording speeds. Most of my original videotapes had been stored without having been played since the original recordings were made.

I am just estimating here as to usage percentages of my original VCRs but I would say that 15% of my home-recorded videotapes were originally recorded on a two head Mitsubishi-built Emerson "HQ" VCR (purchased in December 1986); 35% of the videotapes were originally recorded on a four head Sony SLV-UC555 HI-FI VCR (purchased in 1990); 45% of the videotapes were originally recorded on a "six head" Toshiba M781 HI-FI VCR (purchased in 1996); and 5% were originally recorded on various other family VCRs including Panasonic, GE, JVC and Samsung.

I used two methods for dubbing/copying around 5,200 titles, mostly with Panasonic DMR-ES30V and DMR-ES35V combo recorders. 85% of the titles were dubbed/copied internally with the FUNCTIONS menu-initiated Time Limited Dubbing/Copying, sometimes using the Flexible Copying feature. 15% of the titles were dubbed/copied with two external Toshiba VCRs connected to Panasonic inputs. These recordings were manually-initiated or SCHEDULE-initiated timer recordings (sometimes using the Flexible Recording feature). With these model Panasonics the FUNCTIONS menu-initiated dubbing/copying methods provide for user defined customized settings, seamless results, and allow these combo recorders to do their work with very little supervision. (The Panasonic front panel control for dubbing/copying prevents the user from specifying customized settings, results in a start and stop DVD recording with a new "title" at VHS index marks and other places--such as commercials--deemed to be a program change, and requires frequent user supervision. Such operational limitations render the 2007 and newer Panasonic combo recorders unsatisfactory for an extensive selective dubbing/copying project.)

The external method of dubbing/copying was necessary due to tracking difficulties related to the physical condition of certain T-160 videotapes. The two Toshiba VCRs, one of which was one of the original recording VCRs mentioned above, were generally better able to track Sony T-160 videotapes (purchased beginning in 1996 or 1997) that had been recorded at the EP (8 hours per T-160) speed. After just five to ten years of dry, room temperature storage, Sony T-160 tapes became difficult for most of my Panasonic combo recorder VHS sections to track. I seldom found that my Panasonics had problems tracking T-120 videotapes or other brands of T-160 videotapes stored in the very same environment.

Other than certain tracking problems (described in more detail below) I found full-featured Panasonic 2005 and 2006 combo recorders to be ideal for selective dubbing/copying.

I deliberately use the term "selective." By "selective" I mean that with many videotapes I did not wish to preserve the entire contents, only "selected portions." Most combo recorders currently found in the marketplace are not particularly adept at recording "selected portions" of videotapes. This is but one area where the 2006 Panasonic combo recorders (DMR-ES35V, DMR-ES45V, DMR-ES46V) and one 2005 Panasonic combo recorder (DMR-ES30V) outshine other combo recorders.

Outstanding picture quality is another area where Panasonics outshine most other brands.

Adjustments to reconcile video and audio tracking became a frequent problem with most Sony T-160 videotapes. These problems appeared since Panasonic combo recorder VHS tracking could not be manually adjusted during "internal" dubbing/copying. Problematic videotapes were then sampled between the Toshiba VCRs and played on the one that provided the best compromise between audio and video tracking. With the Toshiba VCRs the "digital tracking" adjustments could be overridden and the Toshibas would maintain the manual tracking setting while playing the videotape, but only until pressing STOP. Then, when resuming PLAY on the Toshibas I would readjust manual tracking before beginning recording to the Panasonics. Even while merely playing many of these Sony T-160 videotapes the Panasonic manual tracking adjustments were found to be too limited in their factory pre-set range.

I also experimented with the manual tracking override of a Samsung combo player/recorder but found that its digital tracking would reassert itself after a brief time rendering the Samsung useless as a player in the dubbing project.

I should mention that one DMR-ES35V had what initially seemed to be a problematic VHS section. I partially disassembled and rebuilt the VHS mechanism. That DMR-ES35V became the "best tracking" of my Panasonic combo recorders; seldom having a problem with any videotapes. This indicates that there are certain adjustments that may be made to VHS mechanisms. I just happened to stumble onto the right adjustment without realizing how that was accomplished.

I sometimes found it necessary to set the Toshiba VCRs to output only the linear audio tracks (instead of the HI-FI tracks) on some videotapes. While I don't have sophisticated (enough) equipment to have TBC, playing only the linear audio tracks often allowed a satisfactory balance between video and audio tracking. This indicates that older VCRs (both my Toshiba VCRs date from around 1996) have a wider range of pre-set tracking adjustment than is found on current products.

My six most heavily used Panasonics (two DMR-ES30V and three DMR-ES35V combo recorders and one DMR-ES15 DVD recorder) average more than 3,000 recording hours per machine. One of the DMR-ES30V models has more than 4,200 recording hours. During my dubbing project I usually had four Panasonic DVD combo recorders each running up to sixteen hours per day. Occasionally I had up to seven Panasonic DVD combo recorders or DVD recorders running up to eighteen hours per day

While I have two Panasonic 2007 DVD recorders I have not attempted to dub/copy videotaped recordings with Panasonics newer than the 2006 models. I have just received a “renewed” Philips DVDR3575H/37B. (I have started using the Philips for recording directly from cable but not yet for editing.)

The issues I had with tracking were all the result of my own choices early on. I was starting to run short of shelf space, so I went from T-120s, to 160s, then to almost exclusively T-180s, just for space reasons. That was until, I found out about the JVC ST-210 Super VHS tapes. Three and a half hours per tape SP mode, ten and a half hours per tape EP mode. They were pricy, but real space savers. I could easily fit a whole season a show on two of these tapes. Today, the machines I recorded them on are no longer with us, and the newer machines just don't like that hyper-thin tape, so, I have a difficult time reproducing the content. My fault. Had I stuck with T-120s, I doubt I would have any issues at all.

could provide me with at least decent to good DVD reproductions of my VHS recordings that aren't too far off from the original source, quality-wise?

- have some essential, minimal editing options, i.e splitting episodes of a TV show that originally ran back to back on the VHS recording, place chapter points on episodes to be able to skip recorded commercials (I'm not expecting to edit anything in or out of the recordings though, since its not possible, right?)

- Future-proof (currently, all of the TV's in my household are turn-of-this-century, clunky 4:3 CRT's with S-Video/Component outputs at best but when and if we make the jump to HD hardware we don't want to have to buy new hardware again to accomodate it
)
-Can upconvert (consider this as being a sub-category of the aforementioned "future-proof" criteria. If I'm still able to play VHS through plain-jane Composite connections on a fancy-schmancy HDTV though, ignore this.)

- No more than $300, $250 if possible.

Prior to purchasing my Zenith XBV713 VHS/DVD combo player (how the hell is it that Zenith still exists? I thought the company went under ages ago!) I had been contemplating on purchasing a VHS/DVD recorder combo instead, but wasn't sure if paying too much for something that has a VHS player attached to it, would've been a smart decision, as I'd be using the VHS portion strictly to convert tapes to DVD, not to regularly view VHS's.

Lastly, considering this long description I just gave, am I better off purchasing a VHS/DVD Recorder combo player or should I go the external route? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

If all you want to do is watch and enjoy the tapes I believe Samsung makes a DVD/vcr combo unit that upconverts and you can continue to watch your tapes well into the next decade. Unless you feel your next of kin will find some value in them, I'd just enjoy what you have the way you have it, right now, and don't worry about trying to convert them. Just get a machine with the right connector for when your TV needs an upgrade. And, even there, that's not all that necessary now that we have converter boxes.

That's my two cents. Hope it helps.

Church AV Guy,

At some point in the late 1980s I purchased a JVC SVHS VCR. While I found very good picture quality with SVHS tapes recorded at the SP speed, the EP picture quality with SVHS tapes recorded at the EP speed was inferior to EP tapes recorded on non-SVHS VCRs. I exchanged the JVC SVHS VCR for another that had the same problem. This JVC was exchanged for the Sony SLV-UC555 that provided much better EP picture quality than did the JVC VCRs. While the Sony was an outstanding machine it developed a number of problems that required parts replacements. I had purchased an extended third-party warranty at the time. I kept that Sony running for several years even though it needed several repair visits, all of which were covered by the warranty.