I would try the original Hauppauge Colossus. There are still some good Firewire add-on cards available if someone has a desktop and a spare PCI-e slot. If you actually had a DV camera, I would strongly suggest that you find some way to transfer the digital video on the tape via Firewire out from the camcorder instead of using a capture device. DV is a digital tape format, and DV cameras have a Firewire out port. I googled "Sony Handycam TRV16" and it appears to be a Video8 camera, not a DV camera.
I should mention, result is same when I go to TV, the dvr produces poor result, but the Camcorder to TV is very good, or much better. So is the Hauppauge capture a good way to go? It is HDMI /composite in only, so need something that will output that.
Right now at trial & error, will try another VCR as pass thru when I get home. What do you recommend? At this point I am willing to pay for something decent, as long as I get decent quality. I tried the sabrent usb capture, but the quality is not great, and I would prefer going directly to card as the quality will be better? I don't have firewire either. I need pass through device to stabilize, but my Panasonic DMR e75v is not working, washed out colors is the result. I know I can't go right from my sony handycam trv16 to the card, result is choppy, shaky video. Now I am going ape trying to find the best solution to capture my VHS and MiniDV with similar quality to source. The capture quality is smooth and great from the TV. Both are great for watching TV remotely and capturing the TV episodes and news bits. I have two video capture cards from Hauppauge, Colossus and Colossus 2.