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SONY vcr with stereo problem

Hi all,

I have a Sony Hifi VCR from about 1998. It's a 4 head machine and the model number is SLV-X825. It no longer plays or records in stereo. It still receives broadcasts in stereo, and the sound is excellent, (in fact better than my brand new digital set top box) and the picture remains crystal clear, but tapes are all in mono now. If I put a factory made movie in it, the stereo light flicks on for a split second and then dissapears. It's not a fault with the stereo light, as the equalizer on my amp indicates both channels working on identical levels all the time when a tape is playing.

Does anybody know what this might be? If so is it an expensive repair? I'd like to keep it going as it's an otherwise excellent machine and I have heaps of tapes.

cheers

Bill

Reply to
Bill
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Bill ha escrito:

first check the menu options. then see if you can play one of your recordings on a friends stereo vcr.

-B.

Reply to
b

Thanks for your replies, Played around with tracking, menu settings, no change. Also played a tape I made in a friends hifi vcr, and no stereo. So definately both recording and playback affected. Any more ideas?

Bill

Reply to
Bill

Does it playback ok at all speeds? How bout the special effects (freeze frame, slo-mo)?

Reply to
Ray L. Volts

yes, VHS Hi-Fi will sound much better than anything coming from your digital set up box, due to the amount of digital compression your cable or satellite provider uses.

From your description (which is a very good one I might add), it sounds like quite possibly your Hi-Fi heads are either dirty or worn. Have the heads and tape path professionally cleaned first and see if that cures the problem.

Reply to
David Matthew Wood

VHS HI-FI sounding better than Dolby Digital 5.1??? Don't think so. Your right and my right to disagree, not trying to start a flame here my friend.

Reply to
GMAN

Just because he has a digital set top box, doesn't mean the stuff he's listening to is in 5.1, and most of it won't be anyway. Actually there is one recording that comes to mind, in which case the VHS tape does sound tons better and that is the first TMNT movie. Why they always feel they have to "remix" the audio for a 5.1 DVD release, I have no idea.. but they completely botched it up! They cranked the midbass way up and also added extra reverb to the vocal. It sounds like complete and utter shit! I am never a fan of any kind of audio tampering like that anyway. I say if it's 5.1, great! If it's mono, leave it that way - don't try to simulate stereo. If it's two channel stereo, great! Leave it that way

- don't try to remix to surround, etc.. And for Gods sakes, if you do need to go from stereo to mono for any reason, DO IT RIGHT and use a Y-cable or something to mix left and right. Don't be like my local cable company, who before they upgraded to stereo modulators, would take ONLY the left or ONLY right channel lol

BTW, I'm a DTS guy myself ^_^ hehe

Reply to
David Matthew Wood

Probably a fair call, only I'm using a ancient amp (pre pro logic) so I wouldn't know. I guess I should bite the bullet and join the 21st century.

Reply to
billby

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