How good\reliable were Sony VCRs with smartengines decks? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Rick62008 · 30th Jan 2014, 5:30 pm

Lately i've been acquiring a few VHS vcrs machines and I wasn't really able to get rid of them. Not really sure if I'm actually collecting them at this point but I really like vcrs, they bring me back a lot of memories.

Now straight to the subject. I was given a Sony VCR model SLV-SE10 with the SmartEngine deck. The machine is in mint condition and it came with its original remote.

I would like some feedback from you on how good/reliable these machines were since I never had or even used one. I guess this VCR is from 1997, not the best time in vcr history probably but physically it looks pretty decent.

Thanks in advance

Welsh Anorak · 30th Jan 2014, 6:35 pm

Hi
Unlike the Philips Turbo deck which really was for one mechanism, the SmartEngine name tended to cover a variety of decks, and could even have been used to denote the electronics rather than the mechanics. However they weren't a bad machine generally speaking, and the one you have is pretty good for the time.
Glyn

vhs doctor · 31st Jan 2014, 9:46 pm

Hi Rick

Your vcr has the S mechanism it is similar to SR mechanism (after SR mechanism sony VCRs have the samsung mechanism TS-10).

I have some sony VCRs, in my opinion older sony VCRs are better than new.

About problems for S mech are similar to H mech (the previous mech from S)
First the mechanism have luminous plates to reflect the infrared beam from the infrared led to start/end sensors due to years the plates are covered from dust or dirt and the system control can not recognize the end or the stop of the tape. This fault maybe cause problems on tape quides and in some ocassions you may have broken tension band base and broken quides.
The other fault it is related with the cassette block. Press eject and notice if during eject the cassette crashes "hit" on the cassette door, if the cassette crash you must replace the cassette block, if you continue to eject the tape with faulty cassette block the fault create serious damage on main plate and sometimes brake also the loading motor worm gear.

emeritus · 1st Feb 2014, 1:59 am

I have a Sony Smartengine VCR , model SLV SE830. The fast wind/rewind stopped working properly some time ago ( it does rewind, but not quickly), but otherwise it is OK. I use it for playing ordinary VHS tapes and rewind using my JVC SVHS VCR. I did check out the rotary switch that contriols the various functions in case it was simply dirty contacts, but no joy, and I have been too busy with more important things to investigate further.

Rick62008 · 2nd Feb 2014, 10:53 am

Thanks for you quick responses and thoughts\opinions on this matter. The machine runs flawlessly at the moment. Actually inside and outside looks as new as in it's first day because i believe it was used less times than you can count fingers on your hand.
Not sure if this is a stereo machine or a dual mono machine as i can get audio from both channels on it's scart plug. I may have to play with it a bit more but seems like a fine machine.
I saw two possible date codes but i couldn't be sure. Seems it is from 1995 but the service manual i got online is from 1997 so if anyone could confirm this i would appreciate.

threeseven · 2nd Feb 2014, 11:40 am

I have a smartengine Sony VCR from about 2001 which was in use until about 3 years ago. Never had a problem with it but didn't really like it as it was clumsy to program. Got an old JVC in use now, around 1995 vintage, much easier to use, better features and much faster winding speeds.

Rick62008 · 2nd Feb 2014, 1:21 pm

I don't really like to wind\rewind tapes on later vcrs because the tape doesn't unlace at all from the heads. Probably your 1995 JVC vcr unlaces the tape from the heads.
Still i could never get around the ideia that the tape keeps around the head drum at all times in later vcrs, what were they thinking? So that the deck could perform faster between different tasks?

This Sony vcr also does not unlace the tape from the heads. That made me wonder if there were any vcr model from any brand from the late 90's\early 00's that did unlace the tape for winding\rewinding.

threeseven · 2nd Feb 2014, 1:49 pm

The JVC may well unlace the tape as it takes a while to go into winding mode and there is alot of mechanical action during that time!

Maarten · 2nd Feb 2014, 5:09 pm

From the model nomber SLV-SE10 it would probably be a low end machine, so no stereo.

30th Jan 2014, 5:30 pm	#1
Rick62008 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Braga, Portugal. Posts: 231	How good\reliable were Sony VCRs with smartengines decks? Lately i've been acquiring a few VHS vcrs machines and I wasn't really able to get rid of them. Not really sure if I'm actually collecting them at this point but I really like vcrs, they bring me back a lot of memories. Now straight to the subject. I was given a Sony VCR model SLV-SE10 with the SmartEngine deck. The machine is in mint condition and it came with its original remote. I would like some feedback from you on how good/reliable these machines were since I never had or even used one. I guess this VCR is from 1997, not the best time in vcr history probably but physically it looks pretty decent. Thanks in advance

30th Jan 2014, 6:35 pm	#2
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,925	Re: How good\reliable were Sony vcrs with smartengines decks? (SLV-SE10( Hi Unlike the Philips Turbo deck which really was for one mechanism, the SmartEngine name tended to cover a variety of decks, and could even have been used to denote the electronics rather than the mechanics. However they weren't a bad machine generally speaking, and the one you have is pretty good for the time. Glyn

31st Jan 2014, 9:46 pm	#3
vhs doctor Pentode Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Athens, Greece. Posts: 173	Re: How good\reliable were Sony vcrs with smartengines decks? (SLV-SE10( Hi Rick Your vcr has the S mechanism it is similar to SR mechanism (after SR mechanism sony VCRs have the samsung mechanism TS-10). I have some sony VCRs, in my opinion older sony VCRs are better than new. About problems for S mech are similar to H mech (the previous mech from S) First the mechanism have luminous plates to reflect the infrared beam from the infrared led to start/end sensors due to years the plates are covered from dust or dirt and the system control can not recognize the end or the stop of the tape. This fault maybe cause problems on tape quides and in some ocassions you may have broken tension band base and broken quides. The other fault it is related with the cassette block. Press eject and notice if during eject the cassette crashes "hit" on the cassette door, if the cassette crash you must replace the cassette block, if you continue to eject the tape with faulty cassette block the fault create serious damage on main plate and sometimes brake also the loading motor worm gear.

1st Feb 2014, 1:59 am	#4
emeritus Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 5,346	Re: How good\reliable were Sony vcrs with smartengines decks? I have a Sony Smartengine VCR , model SLV SE830. The fast wind/rewind stopped working properly some time ago ( it does rewind, but not quickly), but otherwise it is OK. I use it for playing ordinary VHS tapes and rewind using my JVC SVHS VCR. I did check out the rotary switch that contriols the various functions in case it was simply dirty contacts, but no joy, and I have been too busy with more important things to investigate further.

2nd Feb 2014, 10:53 am	#5
Rick62008 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Braga, Portugal. Posts: 231	Re: How good\reliable were Sony vcrs with smartengines decks? Thanks for you quick responses and thoughts\opinions on this matter. The machine runs flawlessly at the moment. Actually inside and outside looks as new as in it's first day because i believe it was used less times than you can count fingers on your hand. Not sure if this is a stereo machine or a dual mono machine as i can get audio from both channels on it's scart plug. I may have to play with it a bit more but seems like a fine machine. I saw two possible date codes but i couldn't be sure. Seems it is from 1995 but the service manual i got online is from 1997 so if anyone could confirm this i would appreciate.

2nd Feb 2014, 11:40 am	#6
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: How good\reliable were Sony VCRs with smartengines decks? I have a smartengine Sony VCR from about 2001 which was in use until about 3 years ago. Never had a problem with it but didn't really like it as it was clumsy to program. Got an old JVC in use now, around 1995 vintage, much easier to use, better features and much faster winding speeds. __________________ BVWS member

2nd Feb 2014, 1:21 pm	#7
Rick62008 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Braga, Portugal. Posts: 231	Re: How good\reliable were Sony VCRs with smartengines decks? I don't really like to wind\rewind tapes on later vcrs because the tape doesn't unlace at all from the heads. Probably your 1995 JVC vcr unlaces the tape from the heads. Still i could never get around the ideia that the tape keeps around the head drum at all times in later vcrs, what were they thinking? So that the deck could perform faster between different tasks? This Sony vcr also does not unlace the tape from the heads. That made me wonder if there were any vcr model from any brand from the late 90's\early 00's that did unlace the tape for winding\rewinding.

2nd Feb 2014, 1:49 pm	#8
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: How good\reliable were Sony VCRs with smartengines decks? The JVC may well unlace the tape as it takes a while to go into winding mode and there is alot of mechanical action during that time! __________________ BVWS member

2nd Feb 2014, 5:09 pm	#9
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,203	Re: How good\reliable were Sony VCRs with smartengines decks? From the model nomber SLV-SE10 it would probably be a low end machine, so no stereo.