Panasonic NV-8950 on eBay. Remember these?
 

Scanning around eBay for memories, I ran across a Panasonic NV-8950. Searching here for that machine comes up empty. For those who may not know, these came out in 1982, and were very ahead of it's time for having piezo movable heads to provide almost perfect slow-mo play. Think of this as a consumer version of Dynamic Tracking ("DT" - as used on broadcast tape machines).

Unfortunately, they were very expensive for it's time also. Hence very few were sold. I had the money for one, but decided to go with a then new Toshiba VS-36 Beta HiFi (also in 1982). I have lots of C-Band satellite MTV stereo tapes on that machine I will transfer as soon as I get my EDV-9500 shipped to Mr. Beta for service.

Back to the NV-8950. It is non-HiFi and non-S-Video. And there were many complaints of premature wear (breakage) of the pizeo heads (they were too small?). But do those heads lend themselves to better tracking??? And if they are that small/thin (to "bend" up and down), does that mean it has reduced video frequency bandwidth? Also because of the special heads, I am sure they are virtually un-serviceable.

Early 80s MTV? What about early 90s Beavis & Butthead, Liquid Television, and other animation?
You have me curious for sure. My collection has some holes.

Smaller heads = worse tracking for playback.
Smaller heads = potentially, maybe, slightly better tracking on recording, when playing in another deck

I don't think it would affect frequency. I'd assume it was simply concentrated more.

Yeah, the only way to "service" such old equipment is to scrap another for parts.