The biggest injury that the Beta format suffered happened very early in its history. It was over the recording time per cassette. Simply put VHS could cram more recording time in their ugly cassette than Beta could. In peoples minds this seemed to make VHS cost less to go along with their cheaper VCRs. To answer this stumbling block Sony tried a bold experiment. Their engineers came up with a cassette changer that would automatically eject a tape at the end and insert a fresh one. This was a very clever idea and the first model (the test unit AG-120) was designed to be used with the first Betamax, the SL-7200. It was a stand-alone mechanical device that used a spring loaded flywheel. It would only change one cassette and it was basically an experiment to see if the Betamax owners were interested. Unfortunately, it failed to operate much of the time because it was tricky to use. But it was received well enough to inspire Sony to make an improved version going forward. The second model was the AG-200 Betastack auto changer and it was motor driven. From this model on all future designs would be motor operated, require an adapter to fit it to the VCR and could be easily removed. Made for use with the new SL-8600 it was also backward compatible to the SL-7200A and SL-8200. This time it changed two cassettes and it worked all of the time. When the SL-5400, SL-5600 and SL-5800 series Betas came out there was a new, much improved auto changer available. Designated the AG-300 this one was smart, responded to the VCR, could be programmed, changed three cassettes and worked like a dream. All of these models so far were designed to work with top loading VCRs. But soon front loaders were introduced and the top loading VCR was history. This required a complete redesign for a new changer. The first front loading changer was the AG-400 and it was made just for the high end SL-2500. It was innovative, quick and could now handle three cassettes, four total counting the one in the machine. Next came the AG-500. It was made to fit the SL-2700, SL-2710, SL-2410 and SL-2415. The two Betahi-fi units (SL-2700 and SL-2710) were taller than the SL-2410 and SL-2415 so a spacial adapter plate and three extra bosses were included with the changer so the mounting plate could be altered to fit the taller models. I have a feeling that many people called it quits right there. It's one thing to ask that you mount this plate on your VCR but quite another to have you build it first. Many of these units were never used because of this. The AG-400 and AG-500 were basically the same unit. The elapsed time indictor of the SL-2500 and duplicated on the front of the AG-400 was missing (covered over by the faceplate) on the AG-500. Other than that they are identical. The auto changers never really gained traction. They evidentially didn't sell well enough so Sony abandoned them altogether and conceded the recording time war to VHS. They chose instead to concentrate on better design, better picture, superior sound quality and other innovations.
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