1988 MITSUBISHI HS-U80 S-VHS VCR

[Master Tasuke]

interesting. i'm guessing "GERMAN STEREO" is more precisely constructed than the plain vanilla STEREO that is the evident standard of the majority of the world at large?

anyway;

a minor cosmetic enhancement of the U80 remote unit. (Model 939P216A5)

it looks like it was always intended to be there from the factory, IMHO;

(STOCK HS-U80 REMOTE)

 

[derek92994]

interesting. i'm guessing "GERMAN STEREO" is more precisely constructed than the plain vanilla STEREO that is the evident standard of the majority of the world at large?

It does have a much more Fuller sound than my other Hi-Fi VCRs in that same league (semi modern, year 2000 onwards). But the older units with heavy build quality will always have the edge in my opinion.

 

[Master Tasuke]

not sure how well it really shows here, but i just finished up oiling the side panels with OLD ENGLISH wood polish.
the stuff seems to work wonders on refreshing aging wooden surfaces, even imitations such as veneers;

 

[Master Tasuke]

i just acquired an "ELECTROHOME" AVR-G96, a CANADA market clone of the MITSUBISHI HS-U80, with intenal issues for about $67shipped. it will serve as a parts donor for both my HS-U80 and -U70;

my U80, while in overall FANTASTIC condition for a VCR of it's age, did actually have some sort of weird rubber peg-foot mod
done by the original owner, and he/she had clearly removed them and refitted the original gunmetal aluminum isolator feet
before listing the deck for sale. a rubbery silicon-like residue was left, seemingly bonded to the sheet metal bottom panel,
which i tried my best, but ultimately failed to remove, so this -G96's identical bottom panel will be replacing it.

also, the G96's isolator foot set will be going to the -U70, making my HS-U80 and HS-U70 REALLY well and truly look like a matched set.

finally, since someone on these boards had suggested that my ailing U70 was suffering a funky PSU, i'll go ahead and swap that out
with the G96's identical PSU and see if that cures my problem...

uncharacteristically, i never took any photos of the AVR-G96 that just came in yesterday. indeed, it was in poor, non-functional
internal condition, CHOCK-LOADED full of cat-dander.

externally, the parts i really needed were in fine shape, so a general cleanup,
and on they all went to the HS-U80;

the HS- U80 DIGITAL EFFECTS module, up close and personal;

some of the few good condition cosmetic parts i kept from the G96 hulk; (the thing was pretty well worn out and rough around the edges)

 

[derek92994]

Very nice, I enjoy your posts, please let us know how the replacement power supply goes. I wouldn't mind seeing that parts machine you bought to even if its in bad condition, shots of the internals would be good too. That video effects board looks like it has lots of mitsubishi and motorola chips on it, very cool. My VHS jukebox machine uses those, but more closer to Commodore 64 chips with some EPROMS which I have to keep covered from uv light as it erases them.

 

[Master Tasuke]

Very nice, I enjoy your posts, please let us know how the replacement power supply goes. I wouldn't mind seeing that parts machine you bought to even if its in bad condition, shots of the internals would be good too. That video effects board looks like it has lots of mitsubishi and motorola chips on it, very cool. My VHS jukebox machine uses those, but more closer to Commodore 64 chips with some EPROMS which I have to keep covered from uv light as it erases them.

it made no difference, alas. i'm guessing my U70 is likely to be suffering some faulty SMD caps somewhere.

also, very sorry, but i parted the AVR-G96 out pretty much immediately, and never thought to take photos of it beforehand, D'oh!!!
i have very, VERY little spare storage space anymore, so i tend to guard it jealously, which leads to some rather overzealous decision making on the fly, again apologies...


in any case; Japanese market version of the HS-U80, HV-V36;

 

[derek92994]

Great machine, easy on the eye. I have had hi-fi tracking issues with some hifi vcrs in the past, many times it was the capacitors on one of the boards and not the heads causing the problem. Had I known this I would not have thrown out my National NV-850 (space issues), it was a beautiful machine from my childhood.