Editorial Review:Product Description:This Toshiba four-head VCR with VCR Plus + has extraordinary quality, giving you every reason to dust off and pop in all your favorite VHS tapes of Hollywood and family movies. Optimized with cutting edge technology, you can have eye-popping video and crystal-clear audio. You'll never believe how good you looked on your wedding day. Features include Hi-Fi stereo recording and playback, MTS/SAP audio tuner, high speed rewind and fast forward, full size audio cabinet and front and rear AV inputs.The W603 has two separate pairs of playback/record heads. The result is a high-quality picture during playback and recording plus clear, distortion-free images in slow motion and still modes. Toshiba Pro Drum with Flying Pre-Amp award-winning technology is exclusive to Toshiba VCRs, delivering the best VHS quality available. Toshiba completely redesigned the heart of the VCR - the head cylinder (or drum) -for the sharpest picture and clearest sound ever. The pre-amplifier is built directly into the head cylinder - just like in professional broadcast equipment - eliminating wiring that introduces 'noise' into the audio and the video. The result is a remarkable improvement in picture and sound quality during playback and recording. Prerecorded movies come alive with Hi-Fi stereo sound. Tapes with Hi-Fi soundtracks have wider stereo separation and fidelity comparable to a compact disc. With Toshiba VCRs, a coating of ions is applied to the Head Drum to give it a negative charge. This helps to repel the dirt that would normally adhere to typical Head Drums. No more missed endings of TV shows or important games. During preprogrammed recording, the VCR automatically switches to EP (long play) mode if you're running low on tape. The large read-out makes it easy to see your VCR status indicators from across the room, even in dim lighting.
Amazon.com Review:With the W603, Toshiba makes a strong argument for not spending big bucks on a VCR. Unlike the typically tiny players that dominate the entry-level market, the W603 is a full-sized machine that looks at home in a rack full of fine equipment. The handsome, dark gray faceplate has its controls laid out symmetrically around a fluorescent display, which makes it intuitive and easy to operate.
For starters, a small hinged door in the lower left-hand corner swings down to reveal a second set of gold-plated audio-video connections for easy hookup of a camcorder, video game or other entertainment device. There's also a round button that allows convenient one-touch recording. When these features are not in use, returning the door to its upright position restores the W603's simple, elegant appearance.
Still more impressive are the W603's technical credentials. Compared to similarly priced two-head machines, this four-head deck offers superior fast-, slow-, and still-frame performance.
We were impressed with the W603's rich color capability and clean, noise-free picture quality. However, images were a bit too reddish with our television's picture controls set to their normal position. Reducing color and tint levels yielded a more natural color balance. It should also be noted that some--though certainly not all--higher-priced models offer better image detail and color performance.
Sound hounds will also find the W603 a supremely satisfying home theater companion. The entire frequency range came through with crystal clarity and effortless dynamic impact on rental tapes, as well as through the Toshiba's unusually good television tuner. Bass was deep and powerful, while vocals were crisp and perfectly articulate. For consumers who either own a Dolby Pro Logic receiver or are planning to upgrade in the future, this VCR represents a great investment.
Toshiba has outfitted the W603 with a 'universal' remote control that is preprogrammed to operate most TV brands. Unfortunately, the remote includes 39 keys, all of which are of identical size, shape, and color, making it almost impossible to operate without looking directly at the remote. The omission of a backlight makes operating the remote in the dark an excruciating experience.
Although there are a few areas in which other VCRs outperform the W603, those products all carry significantly higher price tags. Given its low cost, competent performance and abundant features, this Toshiba VCR clearly qualifies as a 'best buy.'
--Anthony Chiarella Pros: - Sound and image quality rival more expensive models
- Abundance of features for an entry-level product
- Attractive front panel offers intuitive control layout
Cons: - Remote control is difficult to master
Amazon.com Product Description:The Toshiba W603 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR offers an MTS/SAP audio tuner, a 181-channel TV tuner, digital auto tracking with channel memory, and front and rear audio-video inputs. Convenience features of this model include auto setup, auto clock set, and one-touch recording. It also features high-speed (180x) fast-forward and reverse. The W603 features standard-size dimensions for fitting in your cabinet, and it includes a remote control with batteries. This unit is Energy Star compliant and comes with a warranty for a year on parts, 90 days on labor.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Great inexpensive machine
I have read some of the reviews and was puzzled to see that so many people were disappointed in the W-603 Toshiba VCR. I have had mine for almost two years and it has performed well for me. I have not had any problems with hookup, video clarity or sound. It seems to have good audio and resolution. I have it hooked up to an older tv (almost 20 years old) and I have not had a problem. However, I do not like the remote control and I do agree that there are too many buttons crowded on a small remote. I use a universal remote and that controls my tv and vcr. However, I just inherited a GE fullsize camcorder and am trying to figure out how to playback my tape from the camera into my tv using the vcr. My tv does not have the audio and video jacks since it is quite old. Any suggestions. I seem to have lost my vcr manual also, so I am at a complete loss. Any suggestions or tips will be greatly appreciated.
Rating: -
Functional VCR, not much more
With the Toshiba W-603 you get what you pay for; an inexpensive VCR that will play and record. It performs these functions ably, but when its drawbacks are taken into account, the consumer may well decide to spend a little more money and purchase a better product.
I purchased this VCR three months ago and have found it serviceable at best. The drawbacks:
1)The remote control is a joke. It's very small and gets lost easily. It's more complicated than most remotes, cramming nearly forty buttons into a three-inch-long area. Most egregious however is the lack of a volume control. You need two remote controls, a TV and a VCR remote, or you need to purchase a Universal Remote to operate this VCR.
2)The VCR emits a whining noise during playback. It's not as pronounced as other reviewers have noted, but still noticeable.
3)The machine's fastforward and rewing functions are subpar. It's difficult to stop the video at a precise place, often requiring the viewer to rewind the video to watch something that's been missed.
4)The automated timer will eventually work, occasionaly setting the time for inaccurate time zones (though in fairness this may be related to my media configuration and not the VCR). The length of time it takes for the timer to set is ridiculously long. It would be easier to set the clock manually.
5)The VCR LCD display is unnaturally bright. It doesn't have a nighttime dimmer function as other VCR's do. This is particularly annoying for me because the VCR is directly in my line of sight at night. I'm forced to unplug the machine every night.
I'm satisfied with this VCR's playback ability. In buying it, I was looking for a cheap machine that would play my videos. I have not been disappointed. I would recommend it to others looking for a cheap secondary VCR. If you want a quality unit, you'll need to look elsewhere. This is an inferior unit.
Rating: 
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Very Good Machine from Toshiba
This machine is excellent for playback of pre-recorded VHS tapes. The picture is crisp and sharp. One great feature is the very quick time for fast-forward and rewind. Highly recommended!
Rating: 
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Can anyone explain?
I run this VCR through a Bose home theatre. All dialoge sounds "gated" or there is a buzz that follows speech. I am using high quality cables. If not for this I would say it's a good deal. bhasinc2@yahoo.com
Rating: -
Very Satisfied
The W603 VCR is a great value. The auto setup went without a hitch. The auto-tracking actually works too(you can override it if you wish). Picture quality is fine and is especially much better on SLP than on the deck this replaced. In the fast modes there is an audible whine, but that's just because it's so speedy. And it's even got front panel A-V jacks. There are lots of buttons on the remote since the maker chose to make a lot of functions directly accessible instead of burying them in on-screen menus. I have 4 other VCRs (Panasonic, Quasar, Sanyo) and have decided that this one is my favorite.