Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-eiffel!lionel 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 Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 38 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