Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!mhuxn!houxm!ihnp4!bbncca!sdyer From: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) Newsgroups: net.audio,net.video Subject: Re: why *NOT* VHS-HiFi?--Sony propaganda Message-ID: <1188@bbncca.ARPA> Date: Wed, 5-Dec-84 06:38:48 EST Article-I.D.: bbncca.1188 Posted: Wed Dec 5 06:38:48 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 6-Dec-84 05:28:24 EST References: <267@aesat.UUCP> <327@tymix.UUCP> Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma. Lines: 34 Xref: watmath net.audio:3643 net.video:783 >> 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. This is a falsehood. All VHS recorded tapes use the VHS standard audio track. In VHS "stereo" that track is split into two thinner parallel tracks, just as on a stereo cassette. VHS Hi-Fi decks ignore the audio track in playback if there is a HiFi signal present. Otherwise, it uses the audio track, and plays it back as mono. A VHS HiFi recording has the standard mono audio track AND a HiFi signal. I believe there are VHS models which are both Dolby stereo and HiFi--that is, they will play older stereo tapes in stereo, if that's what you want. It's a bit of a frill. >2. VHS blank tapes are more expensive than Beta tapes. Therefore, you'd be >spending more money for the same outcome. I don't know where this guy shops, but I have found that competition is so great that the difference in price between Beta and VHS blank tapes is very small, certainly not a factor in determining which type of machine to buy. >3. There have been problems with producing (duplicating) VHS Hi Fi tapes; this >is why you will find so few of them in your video stores. You'll see so few because VHS HiFi is only a 6-month-old consumer marketing phenomenon. Where were the tapes for Beta HiFi when it was first announced? -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca.ARPA