Toshiba W403 4-Head Mono VCR

Fully tested and working Toshiba W403 VHS VCR. Has some scratches and scuffs on the top (see photos). Front is in good condition overall.
If you’re buying a VCR but you do not want to spend some huge cash and don’t need a hi-fi model, Toshiba’s W-403 is a good candidate. This four-head mono deck is well made, easy to set up, and relatively simple to operate.

Hooking up the W-403 and programming channels took only a few minutes, thanks to Toshiba’s auto-setup mode. It’s as simple as connecting the coaxial cable input to the VCR and attaching the supplied RF cable from the VCR to the TV, together with an RCA audio cable and a composite cable. (Toshiba does not supply the audio-video cables.) Once it’s hooked up, you simply plug the VCR cord into the wall outlet, and press the power switch. The W-403 automatically sets the clock and searches for available channels. If necessary, you’ll be able to also set the clock yourself using the remote control and onscreen menu.

We were a little annoyed with the remote, which we used to operate our TV in addition to the VCR. Even supposing programming the remote to control the television was a snap, switching from side to side between the TV and VCR was cumbersome–especially in the dark. We also found the tiny buttons hard to use and illogically placed.

With studio-manufactured VHS tapes, video quality is about average for a VCR in this price range. If you’re buying this deck for the kid’s room or as a backup model, the W-403 is sufficient. If you rent a large number of tapes, alternatively, or you have an extensive VHS library, we recommend spending another $30 or $40 for a superior model with hi-fi sound and better video-resolution capability.

Before purchasing a mono VCR, you should be aware that you are going to not be able to decode Dolby Surround sound VHS tapes. It should also be pointed out that unless you do a large number of recording, or you like to take advantage of the pause, slow motion, and single-frame advance features, you don’t in reality need a four-head deck for mono-only playback.

That said, if you’re in the market for a basic VCR for playing and recording tapes, and you don’t intend to hook it up to a surround sound system, Toshiba’s W-403 is worth considering. –Eric Gill

Pros:

• Good price
• Impressive build quality

Cons:

• Confusing remote with tiny buttons
• Average video quality

4-head VCR with monaural sound
High-speed 180x rewind/fast-forward
Digital auto tracking
Auto setup with channel memory and auto clock set
Preprogrammed universal remote control included