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#1
11-11-2014, 04:27 AM
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Quick Q about LINEAR STEREO VCR
Hi,
Can someone please tell me if it would be possible for a VCR, with only linear stereo, to playback modern tapes? What I mean is, do all factory pre-recorded VHS movie tapes also have linear stereo tracks or did manufacturers abandon that when they switched over to the Hi-Fi audio system? Or did they keep both the linear stereo and hi-fi? Reason I ask is because I found a new old stock VCR (heavy, well built - probably early 80's) locally for cheap but it'll only do linear stereo (has dolby b which can be turned on or off). I don't mind that as long as it'll playback my modern tapes in stereo. Thanks in advance. Last edited by cjacek; 11-11-2014 at 04:33 AM. 
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#2
11-11-2014, 06:13 AM
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Dolby Linear Stereo continued for a few years after the introduction of ""Hi-Fi".
But afterwards the linear tracks went back to mono.
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#3
11-11-2014, 08:36 PM
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Yes, most modern VHS tapes will only have linear tracks in mono. You need a VHS HiFi machine for most newer than early HiFi era tapes to play Stereo.
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#4
11-11-2014, 10:51 PM
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My old NEC N965U has linear Dolby stereo on it with HIFi sound.
The machine was like a fancy sports car that needed a repair or a tuneup all the time.It ran great when it works. I can just switch off the Hifi track and listen to the linear track with the NEC. I think Panasonic,JVC and Hitachi made VCRs with linear stereo then.They are probably others I forgotten about. I agree most of todays VCRs if they are still selling any are more likely are mono.
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#5
11-12-2014, 02:16 AM
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Yeah, thank you very much everybody. I feared that it might be the case. The stereo linear tracks probably don't sound as good as hi-fi, I can accept that but that I would have to deal with mono linear on many VHS tapes, would kind of suck. I have VHS tapes from the late 80's to 90's so these probably have only the mono linear track (in addition to hi-fi). I think I'll pass on that VCR. It's a nice one but, like I said, only has linear stereo and, as you guys mentioned, many VHS tapes have only mono linear, which I assume wouldn't sound all that good. Thanks again.
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#6
11-12-2014, 08:00 AM
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Nos so sure about pre-recorded tapes. Some probably do have linear stereo as well as hi-fi. My old Mitsubishi HS-430U, a mid-'80s VCR, has both. There will definitely be an audible difference in audio quality. Consider to make two linear tracks they had to split an already very narrow 1 mm wide mono audio track into two WITH a guard band in between so basically about 1/3 of a mm track width for each track!
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#7
11-12-2014, 12:28 PM
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Disney and MCA/Universal put Dolby encoded linear stereo tracks onto prerecorded taps well into the 90's. Most other companies did the same until at least 90-91.
The tapes will be marked not only withe the HiFi lof but it will also say Dolby NR on linear tracks.
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#9
12-04-2014, 12:00 PM
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Quote:
 Personally I love Mono.........To me it sounds even BETTER (I listen to my cassettes in Mono also)
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Linear Mode
