FINE-TUNING A VCR PURCHASE.(LIFE & LEISURE)

Electronics stores are stocked with dozens of VCR models that are promoted as being easy to use. But take one of these machines home, and you may be deep into the instruction manual before you can figure out how to program it to record a television show when you're out.

While people continue to complain that VCRs are too complicated, manufacturers continue to load their black boxes with features -- and we continue to search for a VCR that offers excellent overall convenience. For our 1997 tests, we focused on hi-fi models -- the fastest growing part of the VCR market.

Compared with VCRs with monophonic sound, hi-fi models generally cost about $10 to $40 more, …