Here's a tread about it..
https://www.tapeheads.net/threads/wa...an-svhs.93816/
Seems like a VCR that can play higher quality tapes than a normal VCR could.
JVC could not have just switched to S-VHS in 1987 because there was a huge market for VHS. Since the machines cost more, it may have killed the whole VHS format. If people wanted the higher quality, it was available. Remember, back then almost nobody cared about picture quality. Most recorded in 6 hour mode! Also CRT TVs (mostly 27" or under) seem a lot more forgiving for picture quality than your big 65+" flat screen!