Here is one of the most interesting and sought after SuperBetahi-fI stereo video recorders to ever hit the consumer market. From it's innovative mechanical design you would think that Sony assigned a special team just to develop something totally different. Something that would make the world notice how unique Beta is. Their engineering logic may have gone something like this: "We've had top loaders and front loaders, why not one that hands you the cassette?" Plus it will not look like a VCR at all, but just another fine entertainment component. So here it is, the SL-HF750 (SL-HF950 in Europe) and the only model of its kind. It also is one of the best selling Betas of all time. Using a system called linear-skating it does literally bring the tape out and hand it to you. Just a gimmick it might seem, if it were not for the fact that it is also one smart, strong performing Beta! Almost every feature you can think of is here. This is a SuperBetahi-fi VCR that records and plays all three tape speeds: , , and even s Hi-Band. It receives NTSC stereo broadcasts, along with SAP and CATV channels. It has index marking, erase and search, auto playback, sharpness control, linear time display, auto tape return, BetaScan, BetaSkipScan, on-screen display, LED peak-level meters and a crystal clear picture in pause, 1/10 speed,1/5 speed and double speed in both forward and reverse. More features include editing function switch, auto-rewind in play, "Quick Timer" record, headphone jack with volume control and the programmable timer does 6-events over a 3-week period. PCM and edit switches for making better copies and playing PCM recordings. Virtually everything is duplicated on the remote, plus it has a jog control wheel with a shuttle ring. Now I ask you, did they pull out all the stops or what? The Sony SL-HF750 will make a great addition to any home studio. 1 fine beta! Links to more information is available from the features listing below.
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Refurbished product that meets or exceeds factory specifications
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SuperHi-Band s speed 5.6 MHz recording and playback
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Betahi-fi stereo recording and playback in speeds , , and s
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Monaural audio recording and playback in speeds , , and s
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Input and output connectors for the audio/video LINE IN and OUT
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Upgraded peak meter for volume level indication
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Input switch for selecting source from TUNER, SIMULCAST or LINE IN
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RF input for VHF, UHF and for off-the-air antenna and cable connection
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RF output selectable for VHF analog channel 3 or 4
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DA4 video heads for clear special effects in pause and step
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BetaScan high-speed viewing in forward and reverse during playback
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BetaSkipscan high-speed viewing during fast forward and rewind
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Freeze-frame single frame and step-motion x1/10, x1/5, x1, x2 and scan
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Still adjustment for stabilizing pause and step picture
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Stereo broadcast reception multichannel tuning with SAP reception
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Edit switch for minimizing picture loss when making copies
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Editing indicator verifies that the VCR is operating in the edit mode
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Micro-timing phase (µTP) circuitry for noise free edits between scenes
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PCM switch for making better copies and playing PCM recordings
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Tape return to all zeros with playback in fast-forward and rewind
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Sharpness control for customizing the playback picture
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Programmable timer with 3-week/6-event or every day
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Quick Timer recording in 30 minutes segments up to five hours
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On-screen display with timer settings, tape location and editing info
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Express-tuning channel selection for 1-125, A-8 to W+84 channels
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Wireless remote commander (included) duplicates most VCR functions
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Jog dial and shuttle ring on remote for tape added control
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Mode selector for matching VTR and remote to channel 1 or 2
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Still adjustment for fine tuning picture stability in pause
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BNR noise reduction to reduce hiss in the monaural sound track
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Feather touch transport function controls for easy operation
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Index functions: mark, search and erase for tape location management
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Fluorescent multi-display for time, timer settings, and more
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Linear time display of hours, minutes and seconds
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SuperBeta on/off switch for making standard Beta recordings
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SuperBeta indicator shows a recording is being made in SuperBeta
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Timer Indictor with programming, function and operation stages
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Betahi-fi indicator shows a recording is in Betahi-fi stereo
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Normal/CATV button used to change the tuner to cable reception
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MPX filter selector used to record FM broadcast programs
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Control-S IN and OUT for wired operation of Sony electronics
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Control-L management using a compatible device
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Headphone jack with volume control for monitoring audio
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Power failure 5 second back up to protect clock and timer settings
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AC outlet convenient 400 watt rear power source for auxiliary equipment
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Manual tracking control for fine-tuning the best picture
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DVD friendly performance provides extra control over playback video
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Auto functions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19 and 21
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Operation and protection features are standard
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Corrections and modifications: modules 1, 7 and 12 apply
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Reproduction of the original owner's manual
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Highlighted wording in the features list
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711CX chassis design group

Be sure to check out the upgraded video head version in the pricing panel.

Is this the Betamax you are looking for? To make selection easier I have put together a table that lists them by their pedigree. To see it click here.


To see a Video Magazine technical review click here.
To see a magazine article critical of Beta click here.
To see a national sales distribution map click here.
To see a popularity graph by model click here.

To look at the huge selection of support items available for this Betamax visit the "Betamax Accessories" section by clicking here.

The SL-HF750 is like no other VCR. Its design purpose is to not look like a VCR. This way it could blend in with other high-end audio and video equipment. It succeeded in every way. It is great looking and was extremely popular. To make it even more valuable its performance is second only to the most high-end of Beta machines. All of the exceptional features of this VCR are highlighted in the description above but what the average consumer doesn't know is what Sony went through to make this one-time Beta the treasure that it is. To design the SL-HF750, with its unique skating (linear)cassette receiver/compartment, must have required a lot of time developing and testing. Sony had to have gone through many design modifications before they got it right. They almost completely reinvented the tape loading system and threading mechanism. And all the time still maintaining tape interchangeability with all other Betas. They did it right. Same tape path but without the front loading mechanism like all the others. Here you just insert a cassette in the special uplifted tray and press the close button. To access the tape for examination during operation you press the open button. The compartment slides out only part way. Press close again and it disappears back inside the machine. Wow. Performing this operation required a unique drive mechanism to move the compartment, and then to also lift the cassette receiver upwards for insertion or eject. This special loading machinery occupies the whole left half of the VCR cabinet. The power supply fits snuggly behind the loading assembly. But all the circuitry for operation, video, sound, tuner, and communication processing is located on the right side. An added plus to this is all the various circuit boards are easily accessible during a repair. This makes the 750 all the more amazing. It is very well thought out, very well designed and well constructed. It is a wonder. How did Sony manage to do this? Think so completely out of the box? How long did it take to get perfect? Talk about Sony's promise to prove Beta's superiority! This VCR gives the true Beta lover everything they want and delivers it in a well thought out and unique package. It truly is a testament to Sony's total commitment to Beta.

The SL-HF750 was one of the most popular Betas ever made. But it was its unique and clever cassette loading design that prompted an enterprising recording studio to press it in to service as a duplicator. This was done in the absence of the SLO-1800, which was no longer available. See it by clicking here (you can return here from its display page). A number of these were purchased and the electronics modified so that the VCR could be operated almost completely by a wired remote cable system. To do this the studio electrical engineers modified the back cover plate. They cut out a large enough to hole to accommodate a flat 32 conductor 28 AWG multi-colored ribbon cable. Inside the VCR the cable was hard wired to various switches. This way the VCR could be remotely operated to eject, open/close the drawer, record, wind, etc. This would be extremely convenient for one operator to control a large array of machines. One must assume that this was done to make prerecorded movies. I have a picture of the back of the VCR where the hole and cable were located. To see this click here. These recorders evidentially didn't get used much. The ones I've encountered were almost new so this Beta project must have been limited. The SL-HF750 wasn't the only Beta to be pressed into the duplication service. Check out the modified Sony SL-HF360 by clicking here.

In 1985 Sony announced that they would no longer manufacturer any standard Beta (only) VCRs. Going forward all new Betamax models would be either SuperBeta or SuperBetahi-fi. Even the Betamovies would become SuperBeta capable. In keeping with Sony's compatibility promise the new models would still play back recordings made using the previous standard Beta (and Betahi-fi) machines. There also would be a switch provided for selecting between standard and SuperBeta for both recording and playback. This pledge turned not to be entirely accurate. While it was true for almost all models a few did not come with a switch. This was either done as an economy measure brought on by the pressures in the marketplace. Or it could have been that these machines were sophisticated enough not to require a selection be made (to obtain the best quality sparkle-free* video playback). The last standard Beta only unit was the SL-HF500.
* Now what does this mean? For information on this phenomenon click here.

This terrific Beta has one irritating flaw. For this stereo unit Sony used a VU meter that had light-emitting diodes that were protected by a rubbery gel material. The LEDs construction is made up of a reflective cup that has a set amount of semiconductor material. The light well is parabolic shaped to reflect the light the diode produces outward. To excite the semiconductor a super thin wire dips into the center of the material. To maintain the integrity of this diode construction a super clear gel was used. It turned out to be sensitive to temperature and mechanical stress. These LEDs welded to a circuit board that can pick up every vibration. When the gel shakes from impact or the conditions are right for shrinkage the wire breaks and kills the illumination. Not good, as Sony discovered, when this design meter was mounted in the SL-HF750 moving cassette assembly (called the linear skating cassette loader). This construction had been used many times before with great success but these devices were not subject to quivers and shocks during operation. (Reality is the meters did last a good long time before they started to fail.) But at this late date most SL-HF750s have one or more LEDs that do not light up. Same goes for its Japanese counterpart. This is a real shame when you have a Beta as nice as this one. One that not only looks so good but delivers such stellar performance. Sony learned their lesson and never used this type of meter in future Betas. The newer meters still used LEDs printed on a separate circuit board but they are encapsulated these in a clear epoxy-plastic. Unfortunately Sony ran out of replacement meters for the 750 not long after they started going bad and its design and circuitry is unique to the VCR. Too bad they didn't continue to make replacements or issue an improvement. Economics I guess. Up to now the only way to bring back the dead spots was to take the meter assembly apart and soldering in new LEDs in place of the bad ones. But they are tiny and difficult to handle. This is time consuming, delicate work and didn't always end in success. Plus the replacements were alway too bright and had to be shaded to match those remaining. A better solution to all this would be to use a later design meter in place of the original. Turns out that wasn't easy. Replacement meters of any design close to the original are not available from Sony. So a substitution has to come from a later design (stereo) parts machine. To make a long story less long a meter out a common model that I have plenty of can be made to work. A circuit to drive the meter had to designed because it works on a different voltage and response frequency. And there is a slight design change so it will mount in the VCR but the spacing is correct and it look great. All the LEDs in this meter are stabilized in epoxy. My SL-HF750s now come with this upgraded meter that is mostly immune to shocks and weather. To see the meter repair click here.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS: The SL-HF750 can record and play SuperBetahi-fi in the and speeds. It can also play and record SuperHi-Band Beta 5.6 MHz s and standard Beta . Tapes recorded in standard Betahi-fi and monaural will also play. This VCR was made prior to 1989 and should be unaffected by Copyguard encryption. To examine a Beta format compatibility chart click here. The SL-HF750 MSRP was $1300.00 in 1986, that's around $3050.00 in todays money.







I refurbish all the Beta VCRs offered in my Website. If you would like to examine how this is accomplished I have composed a special section that explains how it's done. To go to the "Beta Refurbishing" section click here. Read an important message about my refurbished VCRs by clicking here. Do you have one of these premium Betas that isn't working? It is eligible for repair along with a lot of others. To see the list of candidates click here. For service click on "Getting It Repaired" in the right button array or click here. This page will be replaced by the repair form.

*These rating numbers are comparisons between the Beta VCRS within this particular design group. Contributing factors are engineering quality, popularity, aesthetics, execution, repair frequency and the number of features and their benefits. Analysis is subjective and should not be considered an endorsement.