Alex F.
Second Unit
- Joined
- Aug 29, 1999
- Messages
- 377
My wife and I have been looking for a blank tape that gives excellent video performance using JVC's S-VHS ET mode (we do quite a bit of timeshifting with a JVC 7500).
Unfortunately, all of the latest T-120 blank tapes purchased locally yielded very poor performance (e.g., JVC SX, Maxell GX-Silver, TDK Vivid).
So, about 10 days ago I telephoned Tape World (800-245-6000 or tapeworld.com), a mailorder dealer I've dealt with for many years, and ordered a bunch of tapes--S-VHS and regular VHS--for comparison.
The testing was conducted using a JVC 7500 deck (time-base correction and digital noise reduction "on"), feeding a "Video Essentials"-calibrated Sony 36FV15 Wega, connected via a 2-meter length of Monster Video 2 S-video cable.
My subjective ranking (graded "A" to "F") of blank T-120 tapes, in order of descending video performance--unless stated otherwise--is as follows (note: asterisk indicates a "pro" tape):
"A":
Fuji ST120 (S-VHS)
JVC SV (S-VHS)
"B":
Fuji Master
Maxell P/I*
"C":
(None)
"D":
Maxell HGX+*
"F" (in order by brand only):
Fuji HQ
JVC SX
Maxell GX-Silver
Maxell HGX-Gold
Maxell XL HiFi
TDK Vivid
TDK Pro VM*
It quickly became obvious that in order to reduce prices to an absolute minimum, the leading companies are producing tapes with very dismal performance (and cheap, low-precision tape shells).
I was glad to see that the latest S-VHS tapes perform as well as their recent predecessors, which is exceptionally fine indeed (I've owned several Super-VHS decks since the format was first introduced). The Fuji ST costs $5.49 and the JVC SV costs $4.49. Although I didn't purchase any for this comparison, based on past experience I'm confident that S-VHS tapes from Maxell and TDK are still superb.
As for regular VHS tapes, the Fuji Master ($3.29) delivered the best performance I've ever seen from a non-S-VHS tape. On occasion it was hard to differentiate it from a Super-VHS tape. The Maxell P/I ($2.49) was also very good, although not quite as stellar as the Fuji Master.
Certainly, videotape doesn't hold a candle to DVD, but I feel that S-VHS is still the best way to timeshift programming. I hope my friends at HTF find the above info helpful.
Unfortunately, all of the latest T-120 blank tapes purchased locally yielded very poor performance (e.g., JVC SX, Maxell GX-Silver, TDK Vivid).
So, about 10 days ago I telephoned Tape World (800-245-6000 or tapeworld.com), a mailorder dealer I've dealt with for many years, and ordered a bunch of tapes--S-VHS and regular VHS--for comparison.
The testing was conducted using a JVC 7500 deck (time-base correction and digital noise reduction "on"), feeding a "Video Essentials"-calibrated Sony 36FV15 Wega, connected via a 2-meter length of Monster Video 2 S-video cable.
My subjective ranking (graded "A" to "F") of blank T-120 tapes, in order of descending video performance--unless stated otherwise--is as follows (note: asterisk indicates a "pro" tape):
"A":
Fuji ST120 (S-VHS)
JVC SV (S-VHS)
"B":
Fuji Master
Maxell P/I*
"C":
(None)
"D":
Maxell HGX+*
"F" (in order by brand only):
Fuji HQ
JVC SX
Maxell GX-Silver
Maxell HGX-Gold
Maxell XL HiFi
TDK Vivid
TDK Pro VM*
It quickly became obvious that in order to reduce prices to an absolute minimum, the leading companies are producing tapes with very dismal performance (and cheap, low-precision tape shells).
I was glad to see that the latest S-VHS tapes perform as well as their recent predecessors, which is exceptionally fine indeed (I've owned several Super-VHS decks since the format was first introduced). The Fuji ST costs $5.49 and the JVC SV costs $4.49. Although I didn't purchase any for this comparison, based on past experience I'm confident that S-VHS tapes from Maxell and TDK are still superb.
As for regular VHS tapes, the Fuji Master ($3.29) delivered the best performance I've ever seen from a non-S-VHS tape. On occasion it was hard to differentiate it from a Super-VHS tape. The Maxell P/I ($2.49) was also very good, although not quite as stellar as the Fuji Master.
Certainly, videotape doesn't hold a candle to DVD, but I feel that S-VHS is still the best way to timeshift programming. I hope my friends at HTF find the above info helpful.