I've been watching Robotech again because it popped up on Netflix and reminded me that it had been over a decade since I've watched it. But I busted out my DVDs because the video quality was terrible.
My wife is watching it with me.
I am not going to call it 'good' as the bad voice acting and odd sound bed just further exposes what a budget show Macross truly was.
But I've also been going back and comparing the Macross episodes (I have the Animeigo box set that was crowdfunded before crowdfunding was a thing) to the Robotech episodes and it's like night and day. The Animeigo transfers are vastly better looking because they're from the original Japanese masters, whereas the Robotech DVDs are working off of a later generation transfer, as I recall.
Also, it's astonishing just how different the tone of the two series is. It's not just the English language or weird soundtrack ques in Robotech, which are often tone deaf. It's also in how Robotech fills intentionally quiet moments with narration or static dialogue. Macross has production value shortcomings but it has an earnest heart and is well intentioned.
One thing I am astonished about in Robotech is just how much mature/adult content is still in there. When Lisa and the bridge bunnies embarrass Rick after catching him in the lingerie shop with Minmei or when Claudia privately hopes for 'breakfast' with Roy Fokker. It's just bizarre to me that in 1985, young audiences were trusted to comprehend the material.
Also, every time I see Sammy I think 'hey, it's fakexsound!'