Here is a close-up look
at some selected Betas, as chosen by your author. Many of the
pictures are quite large, so please allow time for them to load. |
The Pioneer VX-90 SuperBeta was an interesting machine. It was an EXACT clone of the highest-selling Sony Beta of all time, the Sony SL-HF900 SuperBeta. Both were released in 1985, both were the first Beta to have a jog/shuttle wheel, and both could be modified to record and playback SuperBeta I (B-Is). Here are some detailed pictures of the VX-90. |
Front of the unit...notice tri-colored
"V" logo on front door
Left side of unit, showing Pioneer nameplate
Rear of the unit, showing connections
The Sony SL-HFT7 was an unusual Beta as well. First, it had a name, the SuperBeta Theater. Secondly, it had a built-in stereo amplifier; all you added was speakers! Next, it had different "sound fields", such as Concert, Stadium, etc., as well as a Bass Boost! Check out the pictures below! |
The Sony EDV-30F was an unusual ED-Beta. Released in 1988, it was the industrial version of the EDV-9500. This one has the same editing features as the 9500, but loses the tuner, the remote, and the timer. (Note: See how to modify this machine to approach a 9500 on the BetaTips page!) Also, it was white. It did have a wired remote as an option. It also had a Tone control! |
The Sears "Proformance" Beta Hi-Fi was an EXACT clone of the Toshiba VS-36 Beta Hi-Fi, except for its pewter color, and was made by Toshiba for Sears. A high-end unit, with 4 heads, a linear time counter (which worked in Playback and Record only, and with hours/minutes, no seconds), cable-ready, 8-event programming, and an audio-only setting to record Beta Hi-Fi audio with no picture. |
(This is a unit your
author used to own, and it was missing the right-hand door.)
Front of machine, with
left-hand drop-down door opened.
"Proformance" plate on the front of the
machine...
(on the Toshiba VS-36, this area says "Beta Hi-Fi")
Controls behind the drop-down
door...quite an array, for 1983!
Tuning controls. |
Main function buttons. |
|
The displays....double-speed
playback indicator, Beta HiFi indicator, tape counter, random-access tuning,
etc.
Settings on the right side of the machine, for clock, timer, etc. |
For you purists....there's the
model number!!
Rear inputs and outputs
Sticker on top of the unit
The SL-2410 and 2415 were two Sony Betas that had a voice synthesizer circuit, that actually "spoke" to you when you performed certain functions on the machine...setting the timer, setting the clock, etc. Here are some pix of a 2410. Sound bytes of actual messages from this machine will come later. |
Front of the unit
|
Shot of the left side of the unit, showing voice volume controls and record speed controls. |
Showing the speaker on the front of the unit
Showing tuner and controls
behind flip-down door
Rear of unit...notice connection for optional changer!
Rear plate
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