Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihuxe.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ihuxe!newlin From: newlin@ihuxe.UUCP (Doug Newlin) Newsgroups: net.video Subject: Super-BETA vs HQ VHS Message-ID: <1240@ihuxe.UUCP> Date: Mon, 11-Nov-85 12:29:28 EST Article-I.D.: ihuxe.1240 Posted: Mon Nov 11 12:29:28 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 12-Nov-85 04:38:20 EST Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 32 Recently, VCRs have improved their picture for the first time since they became available in 1975. BETA was first (as usual) with their 20% frequency response improvement (aka "Super-BETA"). VHS later announced their "HQ" improvements, mainly achieved through improved filtering (i.e., they improved their Chroma and Luminance noise levels by adding two adjacent lines together giving them twice the signal strength (amplitude) whereas the noise (which is considered random) is only increased by the square root of two (1.4). Hence, an improved Signal/Noise. HQ also raises the White Clip level to approx. 200% (although this is still reportedly lower than BETA's white clip level). I just recently traded my Sony SL-2710 Beta Hi-Fi in on Sony's HF-900 Super-Beta Hi-Fi, and am quite impressed with the improvement in the Video. The HF-900's slow speed (BETA III) recordings look as good as my former 2710's fast speed (BETA II) recordings ! The built in MTS decoder, along with the special effects "shuttle ring" round this VCR out as the best BETA VCR I've seen. Now, what I would like to know is has anyone been able to compare the Super-BETA picture with the HQ VHS ? My understanding is that JVC has already released some of its VCRs with the White Clip improvement, and will soon release the "full" HQ "package". I would think that BETA would be able to incorporate the HQ improvements quite easily, whereas I have heard that VHS cannot raise their frequency response and be compatible with present VHS machines. If this is true, has anyone heard of any plans by the BETA group to incorporate any/all of the HQ improvements ? Also, as a footnote, the HF-900 Super-BETA is completely compatible with non-Super-BETA VCRs that I have encountered. That is, non-Super-BETA recordings play perfectly on the Super-BETA VCR and Super-BETA recordings play perfectly on non-Super-BETA VCRs. Of course, I could not test out every BETA VCR, but the ones I did test played just fine.