JVC or Sony SVHS VCR?

I do not have the JVC 6700. I do have the 5800, however which is basically
the same unit only with a different remote. I also have the R5.

No, it doesn't bother me. Not in the least. I do a lot of editing from the
couch using the remotes. It is more convenient that way. Nevertheless,
the jog/shuttle on the JVC, while it will work in pause record, is not very
accurate. Therefore, it is kinda worthless for the way you want to use it.
Even with that capability, the JVC is less convenient to use for editing. I
also edit from my camcorder (Sony V701) and from my sony SLHF900 beta. I edit
also from the JVC to the R5. Why do I use the R5 as the record master while
editing? Quite simply because it is more convenient and does a better job,
IMHO. It is easier to use even without the record pause jog/shuttle on the
remote. The edits from that point are cleaner on the R5, also. At the time
I wanted the second machine, I couldn't get an R5. They were hard to come by.
That is why I got the 5800. It is an OK machine but ergonomically, it is not
very good. You have to flip the door down to do FFWD or REW but you can play,
stop, or pause from the front. You select the AUX input by using the jog
shuttle as a channel changer. AUX input is just under channel 2. Same for the
remote unit. The front inputs override the rear input. Unfortunately, there
is only one output from the machine. One rear input and one front input which
overrides the rear input. Inserting the S plug overrides the composite input.
Using the remote to program the VCR is difficult under some light conditions as
it is difficult to see the "AU" or channel number unless the light source is
at just the right angle. Using the on-screen menus to check your programming
is cumbersome, also. You can't get the list until you check the current one,
go out and come back to the menu from which you can select which program you
want to check. As I said, the wide body remote with my 5700 is cumbersome to
use.

Although the 5800 is not really a bad machine. The video looks good. I have
not had the tracking (audio) problems with this unit that I did with my 570.

The R5 on the other hand, has two outputs. One for a monitor with the effects
generator, and the other for dubbing without menus or any other unnecessary
video. The rear input and front input are independant. You have a select
switch to go from tuner-multiplex-Line 1(rear)-Line 2(front). I can leave the
L1 input on the switcher and plug the camcorder into L2 when needed. I can
edit between the front and rear inputs without unplugging anything. Now, that
is a handy meaningful feature which is more important than the jog/shuttle in
record pause. The keyboard layout is ergonomically better than the JVC. The
buttons are layed out together, logically.

Using the R5 and JVC5800 side by side for the last 6 months has me preferring
the R5 for editing. It is just a much more convenient machine to use.

I never use the time remaining feature. Never needed to. I know the tape
I have in and I know how much I've used. Remaining time has never been an
issue with me. BTW, Sony has been using real time rather for years on their
VCR'slong before the VHS decks started using them.

Yeah. Nice feature.

You get what you pay for.

5800 - Yes

Yes. Yes. Yes. No. - on the 5800

Yes Yes. No, Yes.

One. Yes it would but there isn't. You can program the VCR without turning
on anything, A/V or TV. There is a program feature on the remote which can
store 4 settings. I always program through the remote. I refuse to have a
VCR that requires looking at menus to program the thing. I have never used
the menus to program the 5800 or R5. The R5 programming is simpler. Makes more
sense, also. For instance, When you set the start time on the R5, When it
comes time to set the off time, it starts from the on time you set. The 5800
starts from wherever it was left at the last time it was used. I like the
toggles on the R5 better than using the jog dial on the 5800. The display on
the 5800 does not necessarily keep up with the dial. Quite often I must go back
to the previous choice and correct it after I have moved on.

Reasonably so. R5 is more reliable. Also, the accuracy on the R5 is better
than on the 5800.

Yes. Both 5800 and R5

Well, it is a VHS. The R5 has a high speed rewind (extremely fast) which
unthreads the tape. Otherwise, it is like their betas. High speed rewind
resets the timer, also.

As I said, my comments are for the 5800 which is basically the same as the
6700 except the 6700 has a newer slimmer remotebasically the same
as the R5.

Put both machines side by side and compare the panel and buttons. How are
they arranged? How is the remote arranged? What features are important to
you and how much are they worth?

Another thing I don't like about the JVC remote. When I am searching, if
I don't hold the buttons right, sometimes the machine locks in search mode and
won't release when I let go of the button. I must then press stop and then
start again.

Also, when using the JVC remote, If I am in play and press pause, if I want to
go into record pause, I must press both Rec and play to get it into record mode
and then I must immediately press pause, otherwise it starts recording. That
is why they need to jog while in record pauseso you can get back where
you wanted to be. The R5, while in play pause, you press rec and it goes
into record pause. Now, that is the feature I like.