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Originally Posted by timtape
I'm unsure about this one. SVHS records the luminance signal to tape at higher frequency than VHS to capture a greater horizontal resolution. SVHS also used a higher coercivity tape formulation than standard VHS, allowing the higher frequency luminance signal to be recorded. The playback circuitry obviously needs to play that higher frequency to resolve the greater resolution. But of what point is the SVHS deck's ability to resolve higher frequency information that (on a VHS recording) is not there?
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That's not it at all.
S-VHS decks separately process the luma and chroma, which was separated recorded (and stored) on the tape. s-video is "separated video".
VHS decks smash it all together (ie composited together, using the yellow composite cable), and whatever happens happens (and it's not pretty). The data not only lowers in visual quality, but can be mangled in multiple ways.
It's not about higher resulution when using S-VHS decks to play VHS tapes.
Yes, S-VHS tapes can have more/tighter/higher luma data recorded, using S-VHS decks. But that's not why S-VHS decks are needed to play VHS tapes.
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I also dont understand why most VHS machines only provided composite out rather than S video output.
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It's cheap.
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Wouldnt they have only needed to add another connector
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No. Internal signal processing is twice as complicated, thus more costly.
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An option for those who didnt want to go SVHS (as most people didnt) but wanted to enjoy in playback the full picture quality of VHS recordings?
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Nothing. S-VHS decks have s-video, VHS decks do not. The end.
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More thoughts...
What I find really stupid is valuations given to VCRs in modern times. A quality VHS deck was about $200 in the early 1990s. Go back to the 80s, and double or triple it. I still have some receipts for our first VCRs. Remember that inflation would make those costs exponentially more using modern dollars.
But now you can pick up a better S-VHS deck, at the same price ranges of the VHS decks in the 80s-90s. IT'S A FREAKING BARGAIN!
Too many compare a good VCR to some POS at Goodwill ($10). The late 90s and 00s had lots of VHS junk for <$100, and that also should not be a basis for price comparison. By contrast, late 90s/00s is when the best S-VHS decks were being made at 2x+ the price (again, remember inflation) to what the decks can be had for now.
- AG-1980 = $2k new in 90s/2000 dollars, now under $1k recapped in 2020 dollars
- JVC with-TBC models = ~$500 new in 90s/2000 dollars, still about ~$500 in 2020 dollars (less if not in prime condition)
- JVC non-TBC model = ~$250 new in 90s/2000s dollars, now under $200 in 2020 dollars
Used/new plays some part, but the best photo/video gear commands 50% to 200% of new prices, and non-adjusted for inflation. (Which is why I often say to buy it, use it, and resell it. It holds value.)
Being thrifty is one thing. An admirable trait! I'm thrifty! I like bargains!
But being too cheap is often just being ignorant (either willfully or unknowingly), and often also exercising negative economics (you'll spend more later because of wrong choices now).
So remember: I don't buy this gear because I like spending money. I do it because it's the tool we need to do a good job. Not "perfect" (OCD) or "professional" (mythical quality grade that doesn't exist), but simply because it does a good job.
