The S-VHS Recorder

Since 1977 the basic 1/2-inch M-loading design for VCRs has not changed much, except for becoming smaller in size, cheaper, and easier to program. The quality of the image, however, has remained pretty much the same. Up to 1977, quality was a major factor in which brand VCR would continue to exist, but the Betamax vs. VHS reversed this trend. Once the quality reached a reasonable level, other factors took over, such as tape length and cheap prices instead of quality. Once, Betamax was virtually eliminated from the market, JVC began to market a higher quality VCR. In 1987, the S-VHS (Super VHS) was released by JVC offering better quality picture for a slightly higher cost. S-VHS used 400 lines of resolution instead of the normal 240 because it had three color input. Instead of having two cords, one for audio and one video, S-VHS instead used one audio line and three video lines, one for red, green, and blue. The VHS blended all the colors into one signal, while VHS had an exact value for the three primary video colors.

Consumers, however, did not invest in buying this new system and S-VHS systems never gained a large market share. Instead they turned out similarly to the U-Matic, where S-VHS’ are found in educational and industrial facilities, but not in the home. In Ann Arbor, Michigan the only store to carry S-VHS VCRs is Big George’s and even there only one model is offered compared to the multiple choices of VHS players. With VCR sales still healthy at 78 million sold last year (Gertner p.10A), households seem to be buying multiple VCRs instead of higher quality ones. This raises many interesting social questions on VCR use.

Sources

--Gertner, Richard. International Television & Video Almanac. Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. New York, NY. 1997.