JVC HMDH40000U D-VHS HDTV Digital Video Recorder | 
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| Brand: JVC
Category: CE
List Price: $999.99
Buy Used: $499.99
You Save: $500.00 (50%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 21.4 x 20.4 x 8.3
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: HMDH40000U
Model: HMDH40000U
UPC: 046838161490
EAN: 0046838161490
ASIN: B0000ACY2B
Availability: Usually ships in 6-10 business days
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| Features:
| • | Record up to four hours of HDTV broadcast to D-VHS cassette | | • | Compatible with playback of S-VHS/VHS tapes; FireWire/iLink connectivity for set-top boxes and DV camcorders | | • | Video/audio input/output: RF, component video, S-video, RCA jacks, optical | | • | 5.1-channel Dolby Digital audio output | | • | Measures 17.2 x 3.75 x 12.2 inches (W x H x D) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
Record high-definition television broadcasts with the JVC HMDH40000U D-VHS digital video recorder. Using special D-VHS tapes with a 50 GB of capacity, you can record up to 3.5 hours of high-quality video and Dolby Digital audio. Features include 5.1-channel Digital Dolby audio, FireWire/iLink connectivity, VCR Plus+ instant timer programming, and playback of D-Theater prerecorded movies. Thanks to its high read/write speed (28.2 Mbps in HS mode), D-VHS produces up to six times better quality than DVDs. And you'll get powerful home theater sound with the 5.1-channel Dolby Digital audio output (and support for 2-channel linear PCM output). With the JVC HMDH40000U, you can record any type of broadcast, including HD, SD (standard definition), and analog. You can also play your old VHS and S-VHS tape library, as well as record analog video signal to those older formats. The JVC HMDH40000U has two FireWire/iLink ports so that you can connect to a digital set-top box. If you have a digital camcorder, you can download video footage to a D-VHS tape (using the MPEG-2 video standard) via the second FireWire/iLink port. The Video Navigation System feature enables you to store title, date, and storage information on up to 2,000 tapes. Other features include: - Time Base Corrector removes jitter from fluctuating video signals
- Digital YNR/CNY improves signal-to-noise ratio by 3 dB
- Record up to 24 events, up to 1 year in advance
- MTS stereo reception
- Remote control featuring multibrand compatibility and glow-in-the-dark buttons
Recording modes include: - HS (28.2 Mbps; 210 minutes max with DF-420 cassette)
- STD (14.1 Mbps; 420 minutes max with DF-420 cassette)
- LS3 (4.7 Mbps; 1,260 minutes max with DF-420 cassette)
- LS5 (2.8 Mbps; 2,100 minutes max with DF-420 cassette)
- SP (210 minutes max with S-VHS or VHS cassette)
- EP (630 minutes max with S-VHS or VHS cassette)
Tech Talk
D-VHS: The D-VHS (or Digital VHS) format offers the highest consumer video resolution for recording and playback. It stores digitally encoded video signals and accompanying multichannel audio from high-definition TV (HDTV) to a tape format. You can record up to 3.5 hours of video at either the 1080i or 720p HDTV formats. For audio, D-VHS encodes Dolby Digital at 576 Kbps (compared to DVD's 384 Kbps and 448 Kbps data rates), which can mean higher sound fidelity due to less compression. HDTV formats: There are two common video formats for HDTV. The 1080i format displays video at 1080 vertical by 1920 horizontal pixels and it is interlaced (which means that a video screen scans the odd-numbered video lines first, then the even-numbered lines). The 720p format displays video at 720 vertical by 1280 horizontal pixels and it is progressive (which means that all video lines are filled at the same time). What's in the Box
JVC HMDH40000U D-VHS player/recorder, remote (LP21036-013), two AA batteries, S-Video cable, RCA audio cable, coaxial cable, head cleaning cassette, and instruction manual.
Product Description
This sleek home theater system plays pre-recorded high-definition movies (D-VHS), captures and plays back HD broadcasts, plays digital movies from your HD camcorder and more! Record any type of broadcast including HD, SD or analog with multiple recording modes - up to 40 hours.It includes DigiPure technology for high resolution analog recording/playback; 5.1 Dolby digital output; multiple input/output capabilities; video navigation; frame synchronizer; express programming; plug and play for automatic tuner and clock set-up; 1-year/24-event programmable timer; and so much more! Use it to record from HD MPEG-2 digital sources and maintain all the quality of the original. The 50-gig high capacity of a DF-480 D-VHS tape lets you fit an entire HD feature film broadcast on a single cassette. You can also record a standard definition digital broadcast in better than broadcast quality. On-screen navigation and convenient tape access functions, like chapter search, take you directly to what you want to watch. The color graphical user interface helps you keep track of your movie library. In Super VHS mode with DigiPure technology, you can enjoy the highest picture quality even for all of your old analog tapes. So, grab some popcorn, dim the lights and see your favorite movies the way they were meant to be seen!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Impressive piece of technology February 13, 2008
Who knew you could record HDTV on Super VHS tapes?* JVC performed a minor miracle when they designed this machine. This unit can:
- play all your VHS and S-VHS library
- record upto 4 hours HDTV from a Firewire/I.Link set-top box
- record upto 8 hours standard definition
- record upto 40 hours compressed video (near-DVD quality)
- and when the tape is full, you just switch to another tape! No need to worry about running-out of space on your machine, as is true with DVRs. The capacity is UNLIMITED.
The quality coming out of this machine is truly beautiful... never have I seen such crystal-clear recording from my previous VCRs.
* (To use S-VHS tapes you need to drill a second hole in the cassette; easy procedure. High-quality VHS tapes work too, if you are willing to accept the occasional pixelated image.)
 DO NOT BUY THIS UNIT October 22, 2005
7 out of 12 found this review helpful
WARRNING.... Do not buy this unit. I have ahd to send it back to JVC three times and they still won't send me a new one. The VCR tapes won't come out when you push eject. JVC service people won't refund shipping charges even when the unit is broken. I am out over 100.00 in shipping too. Don't buy anything JVC. BAD SERVICE.
D-VHS An Orphaned Technology October 18, 2005
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
On the one hand, the JVC D-VHS units are actually state of the art. I own two different units and they do a great job. On the other hand, they are pretty much obsolete and you will likely be much happier with an HD DVR.
If your plan is to record OTA HD programming then do realize that your HD tuner must have firewire output. The only way to feed HD signal into this VCR is via firewire. If you want to build up a library of pre-recorded D-Theater titles, forget about it.
Buying one of these now is sort of like buying the latest in 8-track players. JVC, along with the studios, appear to have abandoned the D-Theater format. The quality of the D-Theater tapes is spectacular, better than CD and even higher bitrate that broadcast HD. Unfortunately, the last titles released were "Master & Commander" and "Passion of the Christ". Those will probably be the last ones ever. Even blank D-VHS tapes are becoming harder to find.
Most of the better D-Theater movies are no longer available. This will leave you shopping at that big auction site. You will find mostly stuff not worth owning. You will also find that some rare titles such a Bourne Identity and Alien are selling for prices that defy any sort of logic. Look at what you can purchase these on DVD for and multiply by 10 or 20 and you will get the idea. You would really have to be insanely obsessed with seeing these pics in HD to purchase them at that price. Of course, with BlueRay or other HD DVD right around the corner, those tapes will soon be worth less than a buck on the same auction site.
 Not a good VHS VCR at all June 9, 2005
11 out of 15 found this review helpful
I have to disagree with some other reviews I've read. I've owned this VCR for about a year now and very rarely, if ever, use it. First, there's the almost impossible task of getting HD content into the thing. Second, as a regular old everyday-use VCR, it sucks. It's very slow to start playing a tape, it's tracking is terrible, and it doesn't even show a picture when you fast forward. My $99 Mitsubishi VCR is far superior for everyday VCR use. Although with TiVo and Netflix, I really don't use VCRs much anymore! I miss the awsome VCRs they made in the early '90s...with frame advance, jog shuttles, etc. I thought this would be the best VCR they make these days, and if it is, I think it's safe to say the days of the VCR are drawing to a close.
Problems with HMDH40000U June 8, 2005
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
I purchased two separate units, neither would work out of the box. Received the same error message: 201 calibrating, please wait. I waited hours, reset, ect. Could never get them to work, called JVC, they were of no help. I have used the earlier model 30000 for years with no problems. Purchased the HMDH5U after giving up on the 400000. The HDMI out does not work on the HMDH5U and now play back without problems is sporadic. Every 10 minutes it shuts off comes back on after 20 seconds.
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