caf@cdi.UUCP (caf) (11/27/83)
The Beta Hi-Fi system used FM subcarriers recorded by the video heads. Reports in magazines indicate great sound: 20-20000, 80 db dynamic range, distortion and flutter nil. Because the sound and video are recorded by the video heads, "dubbing" where only the audio is replaced is impossible with Beta Hi-Fi, likewise with the video. You'd have to make a copy between two VCR's to substitute either the audio or the video. The VHS camp is coming out with a similar system, supposedly already available in Japan. Standardization of the VHS specs and US availability should happen in 1984. There are some subtleties to Beta Hi-Fi; check the recent Audio and/or High Fidelity issues for more discussion. -- Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX CDI Portland OR (503)-646-1599 cdi!caf
stever@tektronix.UUCP (Steve Rogers) (11/30/83)
Recent statements about "dubbing" with Beta Hi-Fi machines seemed to me to be unclear. Chuck Forsberg is correct in saying that dubbing video and audio together requires two VCR's when making substitutions for either video or audio or both. This is due to the overlay of the video signal onto the audio. However, one can record either video or audio sound by themselves from any source. This apparently gives us audio sound only bettered by CD's. Beta Hi-Fi should be an excellent place holder until digital audio tape technology is reasonable in price. This is my understanding of the situation; corrections are appeciated.
daemon@decwrl.UUCP (02/04/84)
From: akov68::boyajian To Dave Barrett: Buying a Beta Hi-Fi and color monitor might be a good idea. I currently have a(n inherited) Beta Hi-Fi, and I've been giving thought to getting a good color monitor. Right now, the only advice I can give as regards a monitor is that, through the kind graces of a friend, we had a Zenith monitor at home for a weekend, and it displayed a better picture than I have seen on any standard tv screen (one advantage it had was that it was a 13", rather than a 19"). I'd like to take a look at some Sony monitors before I bite for one, though. I have little idea what the cost of a color monitor is, though I suspect that it would be in the neighbor- hood of $500. I can tell you some things about the Beta Hi-Fi. Here are some of the audio specs from the operations manual: Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz (on either BII or BIII speed!) Wow and flutter: <0.005% WRMS Dynamic range: >80 dB (I seem to recall from an article in a magazine that it was about 85 dB) Signal/noise ratio: (Isn't given, but I think that it was given in the same article. I don't recall what it was, but it was an impressive figure) From a subjective viewpoint, it puts out incredible audio! When normally viewing cable programming, I feed the audio through amp & speakers, a quantum jump from the tv speaker. I recently bought a hi-fi tape of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK to play on the machine, and the sound is yet another quantum jump. I was truly astounded at the difference it makes. The video signal also is better than any other I've seen, even the previous two Betamax (7200 & 5800) models I've had. When you consider the audio specs it has -- as good as most cassette decks on the market -- you realize that for the cost of, oh about $8 a cassette (if you buy in quantity), you can record 4-1/2 hours of just audio on the Beta (and I'm talking about good Beta tape brands, too; I've found Sony and Maxell to be the best), and get terrific sound. The drawbacks to this are that one 4-1/2 hour Beta tape (L-750) is larger than 3 C-90 cassettes, and, of course, they can't be played in the car stereo. The cost of a Beta Hi-Fi is roughly $12-1300 (this is for the SL-2700 model -- the SL-5200 model, which has less features (mostly, if not completely, video features) is prob- ably about $200 cheaper). As far as finding one goes, they aren't just hard to find in Northern Colorado; they're about as common as hen's teeth anywhere in the country. When my father was shopping around for this one, he found out that Sony wasn't manufacturing a very high volume of them and that what ones were built were going only to "authorized" Sony dealers, so that the random video store, even if they carried other Sony products, wouldn't necessarily be carrying these. I can't help but recommend the Beta Hi-Fi; it's worth the price (that's easy for me to say, since I didn't have to pay for mine, but I had been planning to get one of my own anyway). And as someone else in this newsgroup said, with Sony, you be sure of getting a good solid product. On the other hand, I can also see waiting a bit and seeing what happens with the VHS Hi-Fi. I haven't read anything on them, though a friend passed on the information that Jensen was working with, I think Magnavox, on a VHS Hi-Fi. That could be worth investigating. Personally, I think that Sony's Hi-Fi recording method seems better than the VHS method, but who knows. I'll be interested to see what VIDEO REVIEW has to say about them. Well, good luck. ---jayembee (Jerry Boyajian @ DEC Maynard) (decvax!decwrl!rhea!akov68!boyajian)
terryl@tekchips.UUCP () (10/16/84)
I'm in the market for a VCR, specifically a Hi-Fi version. After waiting
for the VHS Hi-Fi's to come out, I've made up my mind that I want a Beta Hi-Fi.
I think the Betas have a much cleaner sound than the VHS's. MY question is,
then, is which Beta Hi-Fi unit to get. I've looked at the Sony SL-2700, and at
$1349 is a little more than what I'm willing to spend. I've looked at and
heard an NEC VC-739E which a local audio/video store had on sale for $839.
Frankly, I really couldn't see any difference in the picture quality between
the two models, and the sound quality was almost as good. Anyone have any
opinions on these models(ha, ha, he asked)??? Are these good prices???Any
other units out there I should look at???Any mail order houses I should inquire
about before purchasing ANYTHING???Please reply by mail to me and I will
summarize.
Terry Laskodi
of
Tektronix
{dec,ucb}vax!tektronix!tekchips!terryl