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From: lionel@eiffel.DEC (Steve Lionel)
Newsgroups: net.video
Subject: Comparison of Beta Hi-Fi VCRs
Message-ID: <3412@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Aug-84 08:11:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.3412
Posted: Tue Aug 21 08:11:21 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Aug-84 03:40:57 EDT
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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