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 into 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 were 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 hole to accommodate a flat 32-conductor 28 AWG multi-colored ribbon cable. Inside the VCR the cable was hardwired to various switch locations internally. 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 evidently 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 publicly announced that they would no longer offer any standard Beta (picture) 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 pledge, 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 last statement turned out to not be entirely accurate. While it was true for most 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 to be made (to obtain the best quality sparkle-free video playback*). The last standard Beta 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 model 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 (light well) that has a set amount of semiconductor material. The cup is parabolic in shape to reflect the light that 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 coating was used. It turned out to be sensitive to both temperature and mechanical stress. These LED assemblies are 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 feed wire breaks and this 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. (In all fairness the meters did last a good long time before they started to fail.) But at this late date, most of the SL-HF750s have one or more LEDs that do not light up. The same goes for its Japanese counterpart, the SL-HF950. 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 ones still used LEDs printed on a separate circuit board but they are encapsulated in a clear epoxy. Replacements? Unfortunately Sony ran out of this part 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 solder new LEDs in place of the bad ones. But they are super tiny and very 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 the others. 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 removed from a common model that I have plenty of in my parts can be made to work. A circuit to drive the meter had to be 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 through 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.

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*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.