View Full Version : VHS tapes 120, 140, 160, 180
mikehbkwm
03-29-2003, 03:47 PM
Im sorry to ask this ? but seriously Ive always wondered WHAT THE HECK IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE VHS TAPES. lol. Ive just never understood is it a differenct in PQ or just a way for a person to buy more expensive blank VHS tapes.............
The longer ones are thinner and therefore not as durable. They also don't provide the picture quality. I only use them if I need the longer recording time if I'm away.
There are also various formulations. The higher grade ones usually last longer and are better for repeated usage (timeshifting).
Since tapes are so very cheap these days compared to what they used to be (when I started taping 25 years ago they were $30 each - that would be almost $100 in today's money.) you might as well spend a little more to get the better grade. At least stay away from the cheapest ones.
The "mid-priced" ones will probably be fine if you're not timeshifting.
I tried using the best standard grade in my S-VHS machine and although they are supposed to work fine, I noticed a large difference in the amount of noise, especially at the slower speed. I now only use S-VHS tapes in my S-VHS machine.
Sometimes I'll by a T-130 to tape a movie for archiving at the higher speed if the movie is just over 2 hours long. If the movie is less than 2 hours, of course the T120 is just fine.
For timeshifting I only use the slower speed, since I timeshift a lot of programmes...
mikehbkwm
03-29-2003, 09:20 PM
well the only reason i was asking is also im taping Wrestlemania tmw and its a 4hr event. Im going to record it in SP now I know itll take 2 tapes but will the T120 be fine as far as PQ goes......................
DTC mac
03-29-2003, 11:04 PM
standard VHS even @ SP has very poor PQ. I don't know that I would go to the trouble or expense to tape Wrestlemania in S-VHS or other higher quality format but that is the ONLY way to get decent PQ on the recording.
Ohm-Bob
03-31-2003, 10:13 PM
Well, just my 2 cents worth, but I have to agree with discussion elsewhere on this forum... use the appropriate tape for the job.
Got a deal on a bunch of cheap SVHS tapes (prob. OK for recording Standard Def) but horribly inadequate for sustained high-quality SVHS. These tapes are loaded with long-term (nearly 1/2 second) dropouts, especially on slower rec. speeds. Not only that, but I've found that the effing things severely clog the digital heads on my DVHS VCR. Which brings up another point: If you really want to be assured of quality, you *can* use DVHS tapes to record in standard VHS or SVHS - they work extremely well, plus they are available in the longer tape lengths. I guess it all boils down to how important your recordings are, plus how long you intend to keep them (not to mention how much dough you want to spend on them). I have found that DVHS tapes (although considerably more expensive) have yet to let me down, even with "important" HDTV recordings with repeated playback. I just *cannot* imagine them letting anyone down who would be using them for recording in Standard VHS or Super VHS (unless your machine is old and cannot handle the longer, more delicate tape lengths, which even the cheaper VCRs that aren't more than a few years old can handle).
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Ohm-Bob
