lionel@eiffel.DEC (Steve Lionel) (08/21/84)
Jeff Meyer wanted opinions regarding Beta Hi-Fi units, and wanted to know what Video considered the number 1 and 2 units. Well I know for certain that the number one position is held by the Sony SL-2700. This VCR, in my opinion, is the best you can buy today in any format. (And, yes you can find them, if you ask your dealer nicely enough.) I've had mine for about a year now and have never seen anything to match it. I don't know what Video might think the number 2 unit is, but the SL-2710 would be a good bet. As for the 2-head vs. 4-head issue - the SL-2700 has only two heads but delivers crystal clear freeze frame, slow and fast motion, in both forward and reverse. I guess it's what you do with those two heads that counts. I wouldn't worry too much about it; try out the various units in their special effects modes to see how they look. Note that the 2710 only has double-speed forward with sound; no BHF VCR I know of other than the 2700 has freeze frame, slow motion and reverse. I suspect that the Sony SL-2710 and the NEC unit are similar in performance; the 2710 has a very nice programmer, but not as much input and output flexibility as the 2700. Personally, I'd go with Sony, but that's just my prejudice. The other thing to consider is price. My local dealer tells me that the days of bargain SL-2710s (at around $850) are over - the dealer price is now over that. Given that, you might want to spring for the SL-2700; it is available for $1200 here. However, if the SL-2710 and NEC prices are considerably below that, then they're a good buy. One more point. Check to see if the NEC has an MPX OUT jack for a stereo TV decoder. The SL-2710 does. That would make up my mind for me if nothing else did. Steve Lionel ARPA: lionel%orphan.DEC@decwrl.ARPA UUCP: decwrl!rhea!orphan!lionel MCI: Steve Lionel (177-0623) Tue 21-Aug-1984 08:02 EDT
rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (08/23/84)
[*] When recently searching for an SL-2700, I found lots of SL-2710's mail order for around $740. I located an SL-2700 for $1045 plus tax at "TOPS" in central jersey near Edison. They are not a mail order outfit to my knowledge. Wisconsin Discount Stereo told me that SONY (once again hell-bent on suicide in the market place) ruled last march that it would no longer allow its equipment to be sold mail order. I did not believe it at first, but look at the ads nowadays. I now believe. Over the years I have bought an unusual amount of Sony stuff either at deep discount from stores, or, most often, at even deeper discount from mail order. I would not have bought any of it at list. Sorry, Sony. It's been nice knowing you. I especially liked your SL-2700. Maybe I can afford your stereo decoder if you ever make one (for TV). Dick Grantges hound!rfg
dhc@exodus.UUCP (David H. Copp) (08/24/84)
I have bad vibes about TOPS, in Edison N.J.. I think they are a classic bait-and-switch operation. -- David H. Copp