Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttrdc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mgnetp!ltuxa!ttrdc!fjo From: fjo@ttrdc.UUCP (Frank Owen ) Newsgroups: net.video Subject: Re: DAK stereo-VHS-hifi VCR? Message-ID: <575@ttrdc.UUCP> Date: Thu, 14-Nov-85 16:25:44 EST Article-I.D.: ttrdc.575 Posted: Thu Nov 14 16:25:44 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 16-Nov-85 00:57:20 EST References: <1884@orca.UUCP> Organization: AT&T, Computer Systems Division, Skokie, IL Lines: 91 In : <1884@orca.UUCP> (Andrew Klossner) writes: >The latest DAK catalog lists a VHS-hi VCR from "Emerson", with all the >usual features including a stereo-TV tuner, for $400. Normally I'd >expect to pay closer to $1000 for such a system from a reputable >manufacturer. This sounds like trash to me ... does anyone have any >experience with this machine or with "Emerson"? > >I know all about DAK cassette tapes. > > -=- Andrew Klossner (decvax!tektronix!tekecs!andrew) [UUCP] > (tekecs!andrew.tektronix@csnet-relay) [ARPA] > I have had one of these "Emerson" VHS Hi-Fi units for about a month now. I paid $499 locally for it. I think the $399 is an exeptionally good deal. (I think the list is around $900 for the deck). "Emerson" is an American company, but as you are probably aware, there have NEVER been ANY consumer VCRs built in the USA. I was told by the salesman that the unit was manufactured by Mitsubishi. (It DOES say "Made in Japan", so it's not one of the Korean, Taiwanese made units.) Here are some factors you may want to know: 1.Only 2 video heads. This means you don't have as many or as fancy special effects.(No special effects at the high speed). Actually, you can use the special effects at the higher speeds, but the resulting picture quality is very bad. The extra video heads on 4-head decks (I am told) are used only for special effects and that for normal playback only 2 heads are used. This was not such a bad thing for me personally because I really don't use the special effects. You do have a fast scan forward and backwards that work at the slow (SLP) speed. I DO use this for deleting commercials during Letterman etc. There is also a still-frame and slow motion feature. (All special effects availible from IR remote) 2.Can only record at the fastest or the slowest speeds. (e.g. get either 2 hours or 6 hrs on a T-120 tape). Plays back all speeds. 3.Tuner is the pre-set type (No random access). You do get 16 presets though and the tuning is electronic voltage- controlled as apposed to the seperate-varactor-for-each- preset type. I have cable (but no Movie stations) and have not run out of presets yet. If I got 2-3 Movie stations though, I would have to bump something. 4. ONE COMPLAINT: I feel that the rotating drum that holds the heads makes too much noise. Apparently all VCRs make some noise, due to the high speed motor used for this drum, but I think the Emerson makes more noise than most. The solution is to put the unit in a cabinet with a glass front door. 5. The manual says that audio only Hi-Fi should not be done at the slow speed. However, I recorded a record on my dbx cassette deck and on the Emerson (SLP speed) simultaneously. When I compared the products (true volume-matched A-B testing) I found the results to be quite comparable. In fact, I think the Emerson was a bit better (you could hear a little bit of "breathing" on the dbx cassette copy.) It is certainly FAR superior than any non-dbx cassette deck. At the high speed, I imagine the performance is probably even better. 6. Does NOT have the old-style VHS Dolby-stereo on the linear audio track. It records and plays back mono on that track. You can get the "missing" features, but you'll pay for them. A GE deck (actually made by Matsushita/(Panasonic)) that Has a quartz random- access tuner and all sorts of fancy special effects, will cost you about $1000. I imagine the prices for these fancy decks will come down, but right now the Emerson deck is a bargain. The first movie I rented was Amadeus. The soundtrack was made from digital masters and sounds FANTASTIC! I think the Hi-Fi adds very significanty to the enjoyment of most films. Frank Owen (..ihnp4!ttrdc!fjo) >