scott@hou2g.UUCP (Mr. Berry) (02/05/86)
Here is the (LONG!) summary of the responses I received to my VCR
query. Because of the length, I'm posting it in two parts.
Thanks again to all who wrote in with info and suggestions.
For your information, I decided on a Toshiba 4-Head model (M-5420),
for the price (~$360) and because it had all the features I wanted.
(VHS, cable ready--works fine with my system, wireless remote, 4 event
and one-touch recording, etc.)
Scott Berry
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1) The difference between Beta and VHS quality is due to the system used. VHS
CANNOT give as good quality as Beta, for technological reasons. Tape
availablit
availability is the same for purchasing, but VHS is more popular, ergo easier
to rent.
2) "stereo" VCRs split the mono edge track so give much lower fidelity in
stereo than in mono. Hi-Fi uses different technology, and the sound
improvements are also noticable over a mono TV with reasonable audio section.
3) 4 heads give you slow-motion, clear stop-frame, etc.
4) You don't "need" cable-ready VCR. It is more convenient, though. It still
won't decode scrambled channels, and less-expensive VCRs have only 12 or 14
presets which limits their usefulness for timer recording. Only you can
decide how important this is for your situation. You will have problems
watching one channel and recording another depending on many things, and
the problems can (or cannot) be resolved with splitters and A/B switches.
5) I like Sony for Beta, I have a friend who likes Panasonic for VHS,
I prefer Maxell standard grade tape. Look for sales and buy tapes in
quantity (I buy in lots of ten). You should pay less than $5.00 a tape
for L-750 or T-120 Maxell standard grade.
STAY AWAY from non-brand tapes unless you know what you are doing. They
are normally very bad quality (brand name rejects).
6) You seem to be asking the right questions. Ask friends about what they
have, go to the library and read Video and Audio magazines for their opinion,
and don't pay TOO much attention to Consumer Reports. Try to decide on
the brand and model you want and then look for a good price before you buy.
Don't buy "gray-market" because with VCRs you frequently will NEED that
warranty. (My first VCR was defective right out of the box. I took it back
and they replaced it. Works fine. I have a Sony SL-HF400 Super-Beta Hi-Fi,
by the way, which I am very happy with. It cost me $549 + tax, and I also
purchased Pacific's (!) extended warranty (which was cheaper than Sony's
extended warranty)).
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Hi. I'm not an expert but I bought a VCR with the same goals as you - cheap,
no stereo, only for time shifting and movies. I got a Fisher 820, which
happened to be on sale for $349. It is programmable for three shows over a
2 week period. I have only very rarely (maybe once in the 6 months we
have it) wanted more. It is cable ready I think, but we don't have cable
so I don't care. It has 2 heads, from what I understand by reading
consumer reports more heads are only useful for fancy editing. The most important
feature was wireless remote. (I watch from a couch across the living room,
and I trip easily).
I bought mine when I got some money from previewing an IEEE tutorial. I didn't
think I'd use it too often, but use it every day, mostly for taping decent
shows for my 4 year old to watch. By having a backlog off the tv I can keep
her from the junk without any conflict. Now that Ch. 11 in NY is showing
1st season Star Treks I'm taping them, but just to watch, not to keep.
You might want to read Consumers Reports, but the conclusion is that extra money
gets you extra features, not better quality. Same thing goes with tape, they
rated cheaper tape better in some cases than more expensive tape. Real cheap
tape may be no good, though. We use Scotch, and have just about worn out one that we
have cycled through about 50 - 100 times.
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My brother-in-law fixes VCRs for a living, and he likes NEC.
NEC makes both VHS and Beta.
Beta is supposed to be technically superior, but I doubt many
people can tell the difference. The main difference is that
your friends are more likely to have VHS.
4 heads gets you better special effects, like freeze-frame,
slow motion, fast search. And it is usually bundled with other
features, like wireless remote and 3-week 8-event programming.
By the way, 8-events is hardly ever necessary, but I tend to
have several programs stored at all times, mostly recurring
events that I don't want to reprogram every week.
Whether cable-ready makes a difference depends on your cable company.
Around here, all the high-channel stations are scrambled, so it
doesn't do me any good; only 2-13 can be received without going through
the external selector. Check with your cable company.
Have fun.
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Oh, boy, what a load of responses you're going to get. Bear in mind
that some of your questions, particularly the "Beta vs. VHS", have
religious overtones to many, so try to understand where the sender is
coming from. I'll try to keep my answers short and simple.
Steve
1. What difference is there (quality-wise, as well as in operation)
between Beta and VHS? Is any quality difference intrinsic to the
format, or does it vary solely by manufacturer? What about tape
availability (pre-recorded, mostly)
Most videophiles agree that Beta is technically better than VHS.
The major advantages are:
1. Better picture (much better with SuperBeta)
2. Simpler tape path - allows more "special effects" with
less complicated mechanics, lets your tapes last longer.
3. Simpler head drum design - VHS machines need as many as SEVEN
heads to achieve the same functions as a Beta deck can do with
three or four. This translates to higher repair costs for
VHS.
4. Cheaper - for the same level of features, a Beta deck will
be at least $100 cheaper than a VHS.
The quality issue is not, per se, a format issue, but the major force
in Beta is Sony, and Sony VCRs are, in my opinion, higher quality than
any of those in the VHS camp. The other major Beta maker, Sanyo, makes
VHS decks too.
All prerecorded tapes put out by the studios are available in both
formats. While you may be able to find many rental shops that are
VHS-only, you only need one or two good stores with the selection you
need. Admittedly, Beta is harder to find in some areas, though not
my local area (New Hampshire/Mass.). You can easily buy prerecorded
tapes in either format - you would usually have to order a tape even
in VHS - few stores have a large stock for sale.
2. Is there any difference between "stereo" and HiFi VCRs?
Yes - "stereo" VHS VCRs are really low-fi. The difference is
incredible.
3. I notice "4-head" models are invariably more expensive than "2-head"
models. What is the difference? (explanations along the lines of
'One has 2 more heads' will be cheerfully flushed down the..er..head.)
Is this difference REALLY worth the extra bucks?
Decks with more heads can do special effects better, such as still-frame,
slow motion, etc. For example, pausing a 2-head VHS deck will get you
a screen full of noise. With a good 4-head deck (or a Beta 3-4 head),
you will get a clear picture. Whether it is worth it depends on whether
you want to be able to see a paused or fast-forwarded picture clearly or
not. (All VCRs introduce some noise on FF and rewind, but better
decks are viewable.)
4. I have cable TV. Do I need a "cable-ready" VCR? What kind of
switching arrangement (black box?), if any, will I need to go
between TV, taping from TV, playing VCR. Does cable present any
problems with watching one channel while taping from another?
It depends on what kind of system your cable uses. If they just transmit
unscrambled on normal cable channels, then you are well off to get a
cable-ready VCR. Depending on what VCR you get, you may need a switch
box. Your dealer should be able to tell you about this. It's too complex
to describe here. Watching one while recording another can be done unless
they scramble.
5. Which manufacturers (models too, if you're so inclined) do you recommend,
keeping in mind my stated requirements?
What about tapes? Any kind SIGNIFICANTLY better? Prices?
I recommend Sony in Beta, Panasonic or Hitachi/RCA in VHS. In your
price range, you can do quite well with a Sanyo 7250 SuperBeta Hi-Fi
VCR (about $350) or the Sanyo 7500 Beta Hi-Fi (maybe $250). VHS
machines in the $300 range aren't worth spit.
Good tapes are TDK, Sony, Maxell. Use "High-grade" tape - about $7 for
the popular length (L750 or T120) on sale.
6. Are there any other questions I *should* be asking? Care to skip the
"middle man" and just provide the answers to them?
Read the video mags (like Video and Video Review) to get a feel for
what the market is like.
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In article <779@hou2g.UUCP> you write:
>1. What difference is there (quality-wise, as well as in operation)
> between Beta and VHS? Is any quality difference intrinsic to the
> format, or does it vary solely by manufacturer? What about tape
> availability (pre-recorded, mostly)
Beta is better according to my Dad who notices such things,
the format has the ability to be, but of course it depends on the
VCR. The best thing to do is, like with audio equipment, get a tape
and try it on the machines you are thinking about. Ask them to let
you record a section on a blank tape and compare them. When I get
a VCR I will get a Beta deck
>
>2. Is there any difference between "stereo" and HiFi VCRs?
From what I have heard HiFi is a better stereo version
>
>3. I notice "4-head" models are invariably more expensive than "2-head"
> models. What is the difference? (explanations along the lines of
> 'One has 2 more heads' will be cheerfully flushed down the..er..head.)
> Is this difference REALLY worth the extra bucks?
>
4 heads are better than 2, but if you are not going to use special
effects it might not be needed, all it means is that you will get a
higher picture quality, which might not be noticed on slower speeds.
Try the above tape compare.
>4. I have cable TV. Do I need a "cable-ready" VCR? What kind of
> switching arrangement (black box?), if any, will I need to go
> between TV, taping from TV, playing VCR. Does cable present any
> problems with watching one channel while taping from another?
>
You might have problems if you set is not cable ready. Does
you set have a direct cable input? or does you cable only have 12 ch.?
Most VCR are cable ready, I would suggest a VCR with electronic tuning
instead of little dials and such, much easier to tune. You don't
have to be able to store all the channels but it is nice. If the
VCR is cable ready and you set is not you might need to hook it up
strangely to watch & record at the same time. Without knowing
more about the cable you have it's hard to say, but you might need
a co-ax switch or limit what you can do, tell me more and I will tell you
more.
>5. Which manufacturers (models too, if you're so inclined) do you recommend,
> keeping in mind my stated requirements?
> What about tapes? Any kind SIGNIFICANTLY better? Prices?
I like Sony, but alot of them are good and may be made by the
same company. Don't buy cheap, you get what you pay for, and don't
buy Fisher, you don't get what you pay for. Other than that I don't
know.
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Buy a Beta machine. Picture quality is better on Beta than on VHS.
I bought a Sanyo machine about 1 year ago for about $289 or so.
It worked fine with cable and with the TV since the VCR was in the signal
path between the cable outlet and the TV - you could switch between TV and
VCR.
I have no problem getting movies on Beta. In fact, there is a local video
store that specializes in Beta only: no VHS in sight!
Prices are even cheaper now than they were a year ago! Happy looking!
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Some answers to your vcr inquiry,
1. There are stereo vcr's and there are stereo hi-fi vcr's.
Usually the stereo vcr's are cheaper and simply have 2 audio channels to
record stereo. They may have a stereo broadcast receiver (MITS) but make
sure. Ther stereo hi-fi systems have a high fidelity capability for stereo
recording and playback but may not have a stereo broadcast receiver.
2. A 4 head vcr differs from a 2 head in that fast forward/reverse
searching can be done at all speeds and with minor video obstructions. The
2 head models wipe out 1/3 of the video when doing fast forward/reverse
searching. If this is not important to you then get the 2 head.
3. A wireless remote is very convenient for skipping over comercials
that are on the tape. You can also use it as a remote control for channel
selection.
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> 1. What difference is there (quality-wise, as well as in operation)
> between Beta and VHS? Is any quality difference intrinsic to the
> format, or does it vary solely by manufacturer? What about tape
> availability (pre-recorded, mostly)
VHS has more recordings available. VHS has longer recording times per tape.
The latter is important to me. I record at the slowest speed, and to
heck with the quality. On VHS I could get 6 hours when I bought the
machine and I think there are now 8-hour tapes at slowest speed. At
fastest speed you get 1/3 this. On Beta the longest tapes are 5 hour
on slow, 1/2 that on fast.
> 3. I notice "4-head" models are invariably more expensive than "2-head"
> models. What is the difference? (explanations along the lines of
> 'One has 2 more heads' will be cheerfully flushed down the..er..head.)
Well, it DOES.
The extra heads are supposed to give better quality in the special
features modes, I think. Ask a salesman to demonstrate the difference.
Hold on to your money with both hands --- once you've decided on buying
an expensive appliance it's easy to be talked out of extra $ for features.
> Is this difference REALLY worth the extra bucks?
See, and make your own decision. When I bought, they didn't HAVE 4-headers.
> 4. I have cable TV. Do I need a "cable-ready" VCR? What kind of
> switching arrangement (black box?), if any, will I need to go
> between TV, taping from TV, playing VCR. Does cable present any
> problems with watching one channel while taping from another?
This depends on the particular arrangement of your cable company.
Trust no replies who say otherwise. Basically the idea of a "cable-ready"
VCR or "cable-ready" TV is that it is an extra-channel converter and a
VCR or TV in one package. If you have extra channels THAT ARE NOT SCRAMBLED
then you can tune them directly through your advance programming. There is
more to this than I am willing to take the time to go into without knowing
your cable system (a few more paragraphs, anyway) so ask a knowledgeable
local person, if necessary at your cable company.
> What about tapes? Any kind SIGNIFICANTLY better? Prices?
A recent Consumer Reports said regular grade Scotch was as good as any,
and reasonably priced. Look it up in the library, it was within the
last few months, and you'll get the complete table.
> 6. Are there any other questions I *should* be asking? Care to skip the
> "middle man" and just provide the answers to them?
If you plan to record shows off-the-air and view them later ("time-shifting";
it's all I use mine for), the feature called cue/review by some makers
and speed-search by others is ESSENTIAL (for skipping commercials); but
it may be standard by now anyway. A cordless remote control is a good idea
too (to activate the cue/review, of course). Note that if you get a model
where the remote is the ONLY control (clips to unit to use non-remotely)
then if your batteries run out, you are stuck.
No comment on your other questions.