speaker@ttidcb.UUCP (Kenneth Speaker) (12/09/85)
First, let me apologize for how long it has taken me to get back about a
super-Beta vs. VHS-HQ test. We had significant difficulties in getting
the JVC-566 deck for test. Seems everyone LIES LIES LIES LIES and LIES
about having it in stock for shipment. BEWARE. (DON'T buy from New York
Wholesalers!)
Tested machines: Sony SL-HF900 super-Beta, TEAC something-or-other
(JVC-566 with TEAC name on it), NEC 739E (plain 'ol Beta)
Monitors: "Average" 19" TV, Sony 25" XBR, Kloss Novabeam 1 (78" projector)
Tape speeds: Only beta-II and SP were compared formally as it is assumed
that if you are quality conscience, you only record at the highest speed
anyway. However, see note below about slower speeds.
The VHS-HQ was quite a surprise! It is MUCH MUCH MUCH better than any VHS
either of the participants had ever seen before. In fact, on the 19" TV
NO DIFFERENCE COULD BE SEEN between it and the super-Beta! On the XBR, with
your face 4 inches from the screen, you could see a small difference. On the
projector, viewed at 10 feet, you could see a difference. NOTE: ONLY direct
broadcast (news, sports, etc.) has a sufficiently good enough signal to see
a difference. Film or even tape source material just was not good enough
to tax the performance of the HQ or super-Beta.
The primary difference is in REAL resolution, rather than acuity. The edges
of QH are as sharp as they are in super-Beta. The only difference is that
at extremely high spatial frequencies, such as a tweed jacket on a news
caster, or the vertical stripes on a referee's shirt across the playing
court. There, the higher actual resolution of the super-Beta produced
better results. In addition, the HQ was SLIGHTLY more contrasty, with
compression of the dark tones. This could potentially be anoying, but only
with dark, sombre films ("Another Country" or "The Bostonians", for example)
or if you REALLY want to see the spectators in the stands!
A QUICK check of SLP showed that it was not much better than SLP on a non-HQ
deck, which is to be expected. At that speed, the primary degredation is
caused by track overlap, not writing speed and video frequency response.
The difference was in the slight noise reduction from the line averaging.
I would NOT recommend SLP speed for anything but the worst source material.
BTW: beta-III beat out SLP by a significant margin.
All in all, I, a confirmed Beta-phile, was quite impressed. I HIGHLY rec-
commend that if you are in the market for a new VCR, and you already have
an investment in VHS, and don't want to go multi-format, WAIT UNTIL HQ MODELS
ARE GENERALLY AVAILABLE, in about 2-3 months.
Why have Beta at all, I hear you cry? Well, Beta STILL has better tape
handling characteristics (tape load at cartridge insertion, giving tape
counters in hours:minutes:seconds, rather than arbitrary digits and more
rapid play/rewind/play sequences), better actual resolution (probably a
non-issue, very little source material has high resolution), usable slow
speed (beta-III was only slightly degraded from beta-II wheareas SLP was
the disaster it has always been), better tape lengths (I record ONLY at
highest speed, Beta gives 3 hours, VHS 2 hours, too many 2:05 movies out
there), possibly more reliable mechanics (tape load/unload is the major cause
of eating tape, Beta does it only once, VHS every time you enter play or
record) plus a host of over minor nits.
Will I get a VHS? Yes, an HQ model, just so I can trade tapes with friends.
In the past I would not have done so because the VHS quality was PAINFULL
to watch on the Novabeam. Now, as my friends buy HQ's, I will be able to
trade tapes without cringing.
--Kne