I receive a good number of emails from folks wanting to know which Beta VCR they should purchase. Their uncertainty is understandable. The last Betamax rolled off the assembly line at Sony in Japan over twenty years ago. That's a long time in the past when it comes to electronics. The Betamax maker Sony has stopped making cassette tapes for Beta. But never fear, thousands are currently available from me and through the internet. I also have lots of refurbished Beta VCRs to choose from (more on that later). A lot happened during the fifteen year run of Beta. Many designs and models were made and improvements were ongoing, many special features were added too. Choosing from the wide selection of what is out there can be daunting. You need to be careful and choose what is right for you. A short refresher course in Betamax might be all that is needed. In the information that follows there are tips to help new and seasoned shoppers make the choice that is the perfect fit for them. To keep it short and simple I will cover only three simple things. They are the need, features and price. There are other things to consider but centering on these three things will make it quick and easy. After this I will list the models that are too old or problematic and why you should steer clear of them. In the text that follows the are words highlighted in blue. These are active links. They click to open other pages or bring forward an independent panel. Use them to gather more information or if you are curious. Before I start some people want to cut to the chase, so if you would like to open a listing of which Betas I currently repair or can still be purchased refurbished from me click here. (Availability of refurbished Betas models are subject to inventory conditions.) If you would like to jump forward to the information about which models CANNOT be repaired then you can go directly to that segment by clicking here. (Note: I only repair, sell and buy Beta VCRs made to operate using the NTSC 3.58 broadcast standard used in the USA.)
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         WHAT DO YOU WANT THE BETA VCR FOR?

       What is your motivation or need? Are you wanting to convert your Beta tapes over to DVDs? Do you have a box of recorded Beta tapes you want to watch but no recorder to play them? Are you interested in the Beta format and want a machine that is the best of what Beta has to offer? These are the more common reasons given in my emails so I will concentrate mostly on these. Converting your tapes over to DVDs is something that can be done for you by either a local service, or one found through an internet search. Its easy and using a professional service eliminates the need for a having a Betamax altogether. But, there is a worrisome downside to this option. You must surrender your tapes to a third party and they might be miles or weeks away. If you consider your memories to be irreplaceable then turning them over to a third party might make you a little more than uncomfortable. So you might want to consider doing your own transfers. YFor this you will need a Beta VCR, a computer, a DVD burner, writable DVDs and your Beta tapes. Dubbing, as it is called in the recording industry, isn't rocket science but it does require a little set up time and some attention to detail. For information on how to do this little trick click here. (This page will change but you can always click on the lower left button to come back.) If you don't own or want to buy a Beta VCR you can rent one from me by the day (seven day minimum). I have several special rental Betas available. They are all the same model and will play almost any BETA tape regardless of the speed in which it was recorded, , or . (Most Betas have recording speed options.) It also makes no difference if the tapes are recorded in standard Beta, SuperBeta or SuperBetahi-fi stereo. My rental will play them. (If you are unfamiliar with these terms simply open my floating dictionary panel by clicking here.) There are obvious drawbacks to renting though. The biggest is the time factor. Renting doesn't give you the freedom to work at your own pace. You're on the clock, so to speak. Also, the VCR it is not your property and you are responsible should it break or if it is returned dirty and needs servicing. But what if you still have your original working Betamax? You can use it after you have it serviced by me and running at its best. What if it isn't working? Getting it repaired is a great option, especially if your tapes were made on that very machine (better for tape compatibility). Having your own Beta available and ready releases you from the time restraint and it rewards you with convenience. Another great plus is that when you get done you still have your original tapes and your working machine as a back up. Who knows? You might want to add some finishing touches later or maybe make a few do-overs. To explore getting your Beta serviced or repaired go to: "Repairing Your Beta" in this Website (a new page will replace this one). Unfortunately not all machines can be repaired. They are either too old, there are no parts available or they are too expensive to fix to be practical. See the list included in this discussion to find out if yours is a good candidate or not. Having your own Beta is good whether you are wanting to transfer tapes, watch tapes or just want to explore the format. So let's examine how to purchase a Beta VCR, and do it wisely.

     JUST THE BASICS

         What features do you need? All Beta VCRs are not the same. There are some important basics you need to know when selecting a Betamax. Like any other electronic appliance they improved and were modified over the years. The first models recorded only one speed, called Beta one or just BxI and later identified by this symbol . But the public's thirst for more recording time soon demanded slower speeds so and were introduced, and became kind of an orphan. Almost all the tapes recorded were in either the or speed. But no fear, Sony conveniently made all their machines that came after so that they would still play their first speed, . Also, later on the audio was improved and Betahi-fi stereo was added to the original monaural. This boosted the sound to an unsurpassed level of quality. But for compatibility the mono track was still being recorded along with the Betahi-fi. This means that any Beta VCR will play either audio type, but only Betahi-fi recorders will play incredible stereo*. Most tapes out there were recorded in regular monaural. The next change was to the picture. About halfway through the life of Beta came the SuperBeta picture. It added about 20% more clarity to the video, when compared to the previous or standard Beta picture. Soon after it was introduced all Beta units were manufactured as SuperBetas. Any SuperBeta VCRs will play the original standard Beta picture just fine. They are backward compatible. Same with Betahi-fi, any mono unit will play them. However, playing SuperBeta tapes in standard Beta machines can result in picture over-modulation which can produce sparkles, black spots or color bursts. Something to be aware of when it comes to selecting the right Beta VCR for your tapes. Most tapes out there were recorded using standard Beta. For more information on the technical side of Beta go to: "Beta Technical Info" (a new page will open). Many upscale Beta models sported lots of nice extras like picture search, scan, freeze-frame, editing, digital effects and more, but these were icing on the cake. If you are interested in one of these higher-end units it will require some research on your part to decide which of these bonus features are important to you. For the purposes of this discussion we are just going to concentrate on which models have the right speed, sound and picture quality. These three basic things are the most important when it comes to shopping for the right VCR for you. Additional information on choosing a Betamax for transferring Beta tapes to DVD is available in the first question in the "ASK: MisterBetamax" section of this Site. To go there you can click here (a new page will open).
*There were a few linear stereo machines made.

     OWNERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES

         So are you wanting to purchase? So now comes where to buy, how much to invest and which model is the one? The best place to buy a Beta VCR is from me. My Betas require a little more investment but they are refurbished. They all are rebuilt and adjusted to meet or exceed the manufacture's high standards and they are fully operational. I can't stress how important this is when it comes to a device that is a minimum of twenty-five years old. All my Betas come with a 90 warranty. But the most important thing to consider is that a properly operating Betamax will not destroy your precious tapes. How much is that worth to you? There is plenty of information in my Website about how I refurbish the Betas I offer for sale. If you want to investigate what makes them the best then go to: "Beta Refurbishing" (new page will open). Other places for buying Betas are from newspaper ads, ebay, Craigslist, Goodwill, Salvation Army, electronic fairs and flea markets. Getting a Beta this way will be a gamble. There is a 100% chance they will either will be non-operational, in need of service or have been repaired on by someone you don't know or trust. Many of my repair customers still like to gamble and purchased from one of these sources. The lower prices are a great temptation. I don't see these buyers in a negative way because it did keep one more Beta from going to the junk pile and I get to recondition or repair it after the fact. Unless it can't be repaired, in which case they just wasted their money. A word of warning here, buying a non-working Beta can end up costing you a lot in the long run.

       SO WHICH BETA IS THE BEST FOR YOU?

         Decision time. Unless you want your recorder to have awesome stereo you are not going to need Betahi-fi. (Although Betahi-hi stereo is so perfect it is almost like recording to a mirror.) All Beta machines will play hi-fi and it doesn't alter the picture quality in any way. Eliminating this option means you only need to choose between whether you want or need the standard or SuperBeta picture. If your tapes aren't recorded using SuperBeta or you don't want it, then you can strike it off the list. SuperBeta machines will play standard Beta tapes just fine and even offer some improvement in the picture quality due to the added circuits and updated electronics. But if your tapes were all recorded in standard Beta then almost any Betamax will do, they all will play the non-SuperBeta picture. The last option is only important if you fall into the category of a late adopter and don't want one of the early machines. Or you are someone that prefers the highest quality of recordings. This category includes exotic picture performance. If only the best will do then you will want to consider a Hi-Band Beta VCR that records in the s speed or an Extended Definition Beta (ED Beta) VCR. This narrows the selection considerably but if this is for you then you are a true Betaphile with very exclusive taste. These high end units will cost you more but the rewards can be outstanding. You get picture quality second to none when using ultra-high quality tape and unmatched stereo high-fidelity sound quality. These unit deliver editing prowess when you want it and operational controls that allow you to manage every recording your own way. It is a good as it gets.

       BETA OVER THE YEARS

All those models! You should have a pretty good idea by now of what to shop for. What's left is factoring in your budget, taste, tape requirements and model expectations. Here it is again in order of importance: standard or SuperBeta, Betahi-fi or not, Super Hi-Band s or even Extended Definition Beta. As for price they increase as the features and benefits are added and the quality goes up. Early low-end models will cost less and later high-end models will be more. So how do you tell which machine has what features or plays which speeds, etc.? Unfortunately the model numbering doesn't help much. Almost all the Sony Betas start with the "SL-" prefix (examples: SL-20, SL-2400, SL-9090, etc.). In general the higher the number following the prefix the more sophisticated and more expensive the machine. If an "HF" come after the "SL-" prefix then the unit is a high fidelity stereo machine (examples: SL-HF500, SL-HF1000, SL-HF2100, etc.). In general the higher the numbers after the "HF" the more upscale the machine. To add a little confusion the first Sony Betahi-fi stereo machines had no "HF" in their numbers (they few, only the SL-5200, SL-2700 and SL-2710,). All "SL-HF" units are Betahi-fi. There are also some high end models with low numbers, yikes! The other Beta manufacturers provided even less info as to what they were up to. But this is how it has always been in the world of electronics. You simply will have to do a little research, frolic through what is available and decide what suites you. A good start is going to my "Betas For Purchase" section and browsing through the various models. Everything you need to know about the individual models is there. I can't tell you what to buy but I do make enough information available in my for purchase section so that you find a Betamax that will fill any need you might have. But there is still another important question that need answering. If you shop elsewhere how not to get burned? Being unaware of what is out in Beta land might get you a pretty nice boat anchor. Don't miss the next two paragraphs coming up because they are whoppers.

     WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

         The backstory. The last Betamaxes rolled off the Sony assembly line in August of 2002. Only two models were being made at the time, the SL-S600 and the SL-HF2000. This makes those and the ones before it, ancient in electronics years. Luckily most all models were built well and can be returned to full service simply by reconditioning (which includes a good cleaning and alignment). Almost all of the later models can be repaired. The Betas I offer for purchase are fully refurbished, it is a step above repair that requires regard for appearance and total commitment. But there are problems ahead. Age is catching up with the Betas. Some electronic components don't take aging very well and replacement parts are getting scarce. Some older Betas cannot be repaired. Some would be just too cost prohibitive to tackle. I have put together a short discussion of which Betas have the best chance of repair, rejuvenation and future survival, and which ones to don't. That is what follows.
         The prognosis. As you probably suspect by now all Betas were not created equal. Some have become especially troublesome to the point that they should be avoided. They have become simply too old, cranky or just too costly to try and bring back to life. This has become an inconvenient truth†. Age is tough on plastic parts. Capacitors also deteriorate and leak electrolyte, plus they lose their integrity and value. Some fair up worse than others and to replace them all would be a cost prohibitive nightmare. Most specialty ICs are no longer available. Mechanical parts can be a problem too because they are quickly becoming scarce. I have a treasure trove of good used parts but my supply is limited. So what follows is a list of the models that should be approached with caution. And the reason why. This applies to whether it is being considered for purchase, repair or for servicing.
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     THE LIST OF SUSPECTS
  • Be suspect or don't consider any Beta machine that loads cassettes in the front on the right side or into the top (portables are the exception). Most of these design Betas are simply too old to be reliably repaired or reconditioned (or refurbished). Unless you want to take on a major rejuvenation project yourself, or into restoration of vintage electronics or just want to have one around for show, avoid these units. Heres is the specifics. They are all going to have useless leaking capacitors and other electronic components that have gone out of specs. All the rubber will have degraded and replacements are impossible to find. Plus, all of the mechanical parts will be worn, broken, bent or seized up and most are irreplaceable. I will no longer repair or recondition these Betas, period. I have supplied a list of these demon models below so you will know who they are.
  • Be suspect of any Beta from anywhere that isn't or can't be tested. Assume that to mean it doesn't work. Saying it lights up only shows it gets power. It has nothing to do with the operation of the machine. If it is a newer model that helps a little, but a lot of time has passed since their manufacture. But some very late models have their unique problems that are now surfacing and avoiding these units requires a little detective work. Here are some clues. If the cassette loads but comes right back out then the loading or threading function isn't working and will need repair. If the tape stays in but doesn't move once it is inside or tape spills out when it's ejected, then the reel motor or capstan motor might not be able to turn. Most of these kind of problems can be repaired. It depends on the Beta.
  • Finally, be suspect of any Beta that loads but won't play. It could indicate something is seized up or that the capstan will not turn. Sony's latest model Betas have capstans motors with surface mounted capacitors (known as SMDs) soldered to their printed circuit boards. Over time these will all fail and when they do they will leak liquid electrolyte. This stuff crawls around the surface below it and eats away at the circuit traces on the boards, eventually destroying them. If caught early enough, before it gets too extensive, the traces can be rejoined and the capstans repaired. If it's too late the capstan will need replacing. Some very high profile Betas suffer from this sickness and as far as I know I am the only one repairing or replacing these capstans. Be sure to see the listings below for identifying the Betas that are subject to this malady. Once again I want emphasize that for the purposes of repairing machines for customers and refurbishing the units I sell I keep on hand a large supply of new and used parts. I work hard to find these. I forage through electronics houses, supplier sell offs, rubber suppliers, parts people, flea markets, yard sales and finally Sony parts wholesalers. I probably have more Beta parts than anyone, maybe even Sony. This is how I am able to restore the units I sell and how I am able continue my repair service. Please note, I do not sell parts.

I no longer accept the following Betas for repair or for adding to my inventory. To open a panel that lists the model numbers that I do accept for repair click here. Click on the model number to open a page showing the VCR. They include a link for returning back to here.
    (Note: I will no longer accept any of the Betas listed above for repair, reconditioning, trade-in or for parts. Any of these models that I currently offer for purchase have been refurbished, improved and upgraded where needed. Once they are sold out of my inventory they will not be restocked.)
  • To go to Betas available for purchase using a display grid click here.
  • To go to Betas available for purchase using a price index click here.
  • To go to Betas for purchase using an alphanumerical list click here.
If you currently own a Betamax or you are thinking of buying one from someone other than me then be sure to have me recondition* it for you (so that it performs up to factory standards and doesn't ruin your tapes). And if you are transferring your memories to DVD consider holding on to your machine and the tapes once you're finished, rather than just throwing it all away. To find out why this is important go to my "ASK: MisterBetamax" section and look at the first first entry.

†An Inconvenient Truth was a film presentation given by former Vice President Al Gore. Since the films release, An Inconvenient Truth has been credited for raising international public awareness of global warming and reenergizing the environmental movement. The documentary has also been included in science curricula in schools around the world, which has spurred some controversy. It will get you thinking.

 Every Beta manufacturer recommended that their video cassette recorder be serviced every 500 hours or at least every year. Your Beta needs service and reconditioning now in order to restore it to its prime operational quality. Beta VCRs are finely tuned thoroughbreds and they need to run in top form so they can produce the best results. There is lots of information in my Website on why this necessary.

Please note: This list of Beta VCRs is subject to change at any time. The symptoms, failures and repairs listed are based upon a multitude of observations over an extended period of time. It should be understood that any Betamax can fail. They are electromechanical devices with moving parts. It is the repetition of troubles and failures, due to the reasons mentioned above, that form the foundation for the LIST OF SUSPECTS. There are probably some models that do not appear here because they are either not normally sold in the USA or they are unknown to me. If you are not sure about a particular model you can always e-mail me about your concern. This list is intended as only a help guide and is not a mandate. There could exist an ancient Beta out there that is "new old stock" and runs perfect. But that would be the rare exception. Please be aware that I only purchase, offer for sale, recondition and repair units made for the NTSC 3.58 (USA) broadcast system. I DO NOT accept or deal in PAL, SECAM, NTSC 4.43 (this is not an American format) or any other foreign television systems.

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