Sony Scroe - EV-S900 Hi-8 VCR

I normally don't get too excited about gear finds but in this case, I have been wanting a decent 8mm VCR for years. I had bought one off ebay a few years ago - an EV-S550 - but it only lasted a few tape transfers before it died on me and I never got around to having it repaired or replaced.

Well today, while browsing the local CL, I stumbled upon this for 1/3rd the price I paid for the EV-S550.















Pleased as punch with this beauty!

FEATURES:

$2400 MSRP
• Sony TOP-OF-THE LINE ES Series Unit.
• High-End Home Video Equipment.
• NTSC Video System.
• Hi8/8mm Video System.
• Hi8 Format Delivers 400 Lines of Resolution and Consistent, Clear Image Reproduction for Superior Editing Results.
• Tray Loading System (w/ Open & Close buttons).
• AFM HiFi Stereo Sound (w/ Audio Monitor: PCM/Mix/HIFI).
• PCM Digital Stereo Sound (w/ Audio Dubbing).
• PCM Digital Multi Audio System (6 Tracks, 2 Channels/Track. Parallel or Series recording).
• SP/LP Record and Playback Modes.
• Playback x 2 with Sound.
• Flying Erase Head.
• Advanced Synchro Edit
• High-Speed Rewind
• Tape Stabilizer.
• 12-Segment Led Peak Level Meter with independent L/R sliding audio level controls for manually setting PCM recording levels
• Digital Still / Slow Motion / Frame-by-Frame playback
• Synchro Edit Function
• Picture Sharpness Control
• Edit Switch
• Auto Tracking
• Control L & Control S Synchronized Editing Connectors.
• VTR 1/2 Command Modes and Real Jog Dial/Shuttle Ring Control on Unit.
• 2 Inputs, 2 Outputs: Gold Plated S-Video/Video/Setereo Audio Connectors.
• VHF/UHF Input/Output. Channel 3/4 Switch. Built-In Tuner.
• Mic, Headphone Connectors.
• Wooden Side Panels

DATS a nice one.

I have one and it is an excellent unit. I bought mine to use for transferring some tapes with the audio recorded as PCM multi-audio. It is one of the few deck with this feature.

I'm envious. I've been wanting a Hi8 VCR for awhile now too! Got 12 years worth of home movies on that format.

Very nice deck!

Dang, that is one impressive deck. Never knew that one existed! Truly the creme de la creme of 8mm decks. I need to pick up one of those decks sometime to transfer all my old 8mm home movies to digital. :yes:

Can't get old tapes to play back in stereo

I have several Hi8 tapes that were recorded on a Sony CCD VX-3. They play back in STEREO from the VX-3 using either headphone jack or L&R RCA outs. I cannot get them to playback in stereo on my EV-S900 VCR. This otherwise awesome VCR is throwing me a curveball here. They playback in mono. Any clue?

Very nice. It reminds me a lot of my old SL-HF750 SuperBeta.

Wow! That's one smart looking awesomely built Hi-8 deck!