The 711 chassis replaced the larger 710 type that was used up until 1980. This new design was more compact and allowed machines to become lighter, slimmer, and more versatile. It also made a super small, lightweight, portable Beta VCR possible. There were a number of style variations of this new chassis. This was noted on the front of the model's service manual by the addition of a suffix to the base number. It indicated the type of cassette loading method, the entryway door used, the kind of threading drive mechanism, the reel table design, plus a lot more. This helped the technician know what kinds of additional service requirements to expect. But the basic drum, path, and recording process remained the same for the remaining life of Beta. Having this basic chassis to modify made the Beta format more affordable and fully harmonious. Several noteworthy improvements and refinements were made possible by using the versatile 711 chassis. Listed here are the different variations with a few of their notable traits in italics. Click on the design number to open a page on that particular chassis type. Clicking on their model numbers will display them in the browser's center frame.
- 711A.—.SLO-1800 unique loading assembly dual pancake reel motors.
- 711B.—.SL-90, SL-9090, SL-HFR90, SL-2300, SL-2305, SL-2400, SL-2401, SL-2405, SL-2406, SL-2408C, SL-2410, SL-2415, SL-2710, SL-T50ME belt drive loader with dual door entryway. Included the SL-2001 top-loading portable.
- 711B2.—.GCS-50, SL-10, SL-20, SL-25, SL-30, SL-40, SL-60, SL-3030, SL-HF300, SL-HF400, SL-HF450, SL-HF500, SL-HF550, SL-HF600, SL-HF650, SL-HF900, SL-HF1000, SL-HFT7 belt drive loader with top hinged entryway door. Includes the EDV-9300, EDV-9500 and the EDW-30F with motor-driven reels and loader.
- 711B3.—.SL-100, SL-250, SL-300, SL-330, SL-340, SL-390, SL-S500, SL-S600, SL-810D, SL-HF840D, SL-HF860D, SL-HF870D, SL-HF350, SL-HF360, SL-HFR30, SL-HFR50, SL-HFR60, SL-HFR70 motor driven reel table with top hinged entryway door. Included the EDV-7300, EDV-7500 with capstan-driven reel table and motor-driven, top-hinged entryway door.
- 711B4.—.SL-40, SL-50, SL-55, SL-66, SL-P22, SL-P30R, SL-P44R, SL-P200, SL-P201, SL-P400R reels driven by the capstan motor with a top-hinged entryway door.
- 711CX.—.SL-HF750 linear skating design with motor-driven reel table.
- 711D.—.SL-2500, SL-2700, SLO-420 dual pancake reel motors and top hinged entryway door with lift up concealment.
- 711P.—.SL-2000, SL-2005 top loading portables with dual-pancake reel motors and motor-driven path threading.
- No notation.—.SL-HF2000, SL-HF2100, SL-700 separate motors for loading, reel table and path threading, and top-hinged entryway door.
To see the different chassis designs illustrated in the Sony service manuals, go to the "EXPLODED VIEWS" section in the left button array or click here.
*Note: This information only applies to those Betas that I normally keep in my inventory, have carried in the past, or accept for repair. Only Sony models are represented. 710 and older chassis design Betas are not included. Not all models are depicted. To examine the 710 and 711 chassis designs side by side, click here. To return to a previous panel, click here.
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