augeri@regina.DEC (12/05/84)
> > Why should I not spend $1100 or so on a VHS-HiFi unit instead? > > > Several reasons: > > 1. VHS Hi-Fi is NOT compatible with VHS Stereo. This means that you won't > be able to do anything with your friends' tapes or rental tapes other than > look at the boxes. > I believe that the latter statement is incorrect. According to the December 1984 issue of Video magazine (article titled "Hi-Fi Standoff" starting on p. 106) "To insure compatibility, all VHS Hi-Fi machines can play back Dolby stereo tapes as well as record split-track stereo in addition to the Hi-Fi tracks." (pp. 107-108). I recommend the article. In summary it says that both VHS and Beta Hi-Fi systems have their anomalies, faults or quirks, but "they're still a quantum leap beyond the old mono/Dolby stereo tracks of yesteryear..." (p. 184). The article deals mostly with "subjective" reactions rather than "objective" measurements, which is ok with me since it is what you hear that really matters. They used a double-blind test procedure where neither the tester nor the listener knew which system they were hearing until after the listener had selected the system they thought sounded better. I own a Sony SL-2700 which I think is a great machine, but I don't think you can go wrong buying either VHS or Beta. Mike UUCP: decvax!decwrl!rhea!regina!augeri ARPA: decwrl!rhea!regina!augeri@SU-Shasta