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Here is one of the finest portables ever made. And Sony sold a lot of them. So did Zenith under their logo. The • Refurbished product that meets or exceeds factory specifications • Standard Beta recording and playback in speeds  and  , plays  • Monaural audio recording and playback in speeds and , plays • Inputs and output for the audio/video lines with optional TT-2000 • Feather touch transport function controls for operation ease • LCD display with tape direction, counter, DEW indicator and tape speed • Display light button illuminates the LCD screen for night viewing • Programmable timer 4 events over 14 days with optional TT-2000 • Timer Indictor with programming and staging using optional TT-2000 • Power failure memory backup of 5 minutes when using optional TT-2000 • Express-tuning VHF and UHF channels channel using optional TT-2000 • AFT switch for precise tuning of broadcast stations using optional TT-2000 • Push button 14 position channel selection using optional TT-2000 • RF inputs for VHF, UHF connection when using optional TT-2000 • RF output selectable to VHF channel 3 or 4 with optional TT-2000 • Input switch for TUNER, CAMERA or LINE using TT-2000 • Dual pancake reel motor with electronic back tension control • Record review during pause when recording with a camera • Micro-timing-phase (µTP) circuitry for noise free Edits • BetaScan forward and reverse during playback • Freeze-frame with picture in pause and x2 playback • Swing search feature (Videola) in forward and reverse • Single gap video heads for solid recordings and longer life • PCM switch for making and playing PCM recordings using TT-2000 • Microphone input jack for adding external audio • Auto dub for adding separate audio to a recorded video • Earphone jack for monitoring audio during recording or play • DEW indicator with shutdown protection, VCR and TT-2000 • Drum warmer for removing moisture when using optional TT-2000 • Low battery alert when being powered as a portable • Idle shut-off automatically turns off the VCR to conserve battery life • Remote commander wireless control (included) with optional TT-2000 • 14-pin K-type side mounted camera input • 26-pin multi-connector for tuner/timer, VMC-220A, etc. • Observation window over the cassette compartment • BNR noise reduction to reduce hiss in the monaural sound track • Unswitched AC Outlet using TT-2000 tuner/timer for another device up to 400 Watts • 5-pin DIN socket 12-volts DC IN for powering externally • Manual tracking control for fine-tuning the best picture • Auto functions: modules 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 15, 19 and 21 apply • Operation, safety, and modifications: module 11 applies • Safety and protection features are standard • Reproduction of the original owner's manual • Highlighted wording in the features list • 711P chassis design group *NOTE: The tuner/timers for the TT-2001 and TT-2005 are also fully compatible with this SL-2000. |
Is this the Betamax you are looking for? To make selection easier I have put together a table that lists them by their pedigree. To see it click here.  About the portable Betas: These combo units are very desirable not just because the VCR separates from the tuner/timer to be a stand-alone portable, but also because of the special circuitry engineered into them for producing rock-steady recording. Extra filtering, low-noise electronics, special tape handling mechanics, and power-saving design ensure a clean picture regardless of how they are used. Their case structure is fortified inside and out so they can be handled in most any fashion and still remain protected inside. They can be operated in any position, even upside down. When coupled with the tuner/timer, together they make a great VCR because of their sophisticated electronics and added shielding that isolates this pair from outside interference and line noise. Power lines, transformers, or static interference have to be very nearby to have any significant effect. Small, impressive, and quiet, these Betas never fail to impress.Another  The first SL-2000 units were advertised as having a unique playback function called "Videola" tape search. No other Beta ever had anything like it before, and it was never to appear afterwards. It was perfect for a portable because it let you slow-search in either direction while in playback pause. This new buzzword was a tribute to its stellar tape handling prowess. The almost identical Zenith VR 9800 had the same feature, but it was called "Video Action." The VCR was later repainted and renamed the Sony SL-2005 after Zenith dropped Beta during mid-production. Videola was later changed and named Swing Search. There is a great story that goes along with this change and these little portables. If you would like to see the before and after Zenith episode, click here. Another The SL-2000 (and SL-2005) models were pressed into service in a unique way and made possible a musical fad. It was used in an entertainment device called the Videojukebox made by Rowe Manufacturing, a longtime maker of jukeboxes. It was an innovative video concept that gave public establishments the opportunity to earn extra income from their clientele. It did this by offering videos shown on a big-screen television of the band playing the music (currently) coming from the jukebox in stereo. To play these special selections on the Videojukebox with a video typically costs a dollar extra. Thus, the more income part. This feature was only possible back then because of the Betamax. With the Beta format the tape stays in the VCR's tape path during rewind and fast-forward. This allows reliable reporting of a tape's position, or point-in-time location. Some enterprising engineer at Rowe International recognized that this hours, minutes, and seconds data (H, M, S) could be used to find a specific location (section) in a cassette. Match a location to the music, and playing back from that programmed spot produced the video to match. It didn't always show the exact song, but you did see the group members going through the motions. To make this happen, the VCR had to be altered to permit control of some basic functions, and software was designed to carry out specific commands. Such as rewind, fast-forward, stop, and play. The Beta's regular monaural audio track wasn't used for playing the music; that was coming from a vinyl record, so it could be utilized for location indexing. This is where tones are placed at specific locations in the audio track. These could be counted by a processor as they passed by the stationary audio head during winding periods. When the right number came up, the VCR would stop and then find the beginning of the selection to be played. This would help shorten the hunting time in between selections. The system worked well, made money, and went through several upgrades during its life span. If you would like to know more about this marvel, click here. Sony was totally committed to its little portable Betas. But starting out, their very first portable wasn't small at all, and it weighed a ton. It was the SL-3000, and it was awkward, and it was bulky. It worked great, but it just wasn't very user-friendly. But it sold well enough to show Sony that they were on the right track. The public wanted a way to record on the move and see the results immediately afterwards. This confirmed Sony's original game plan to replace 8 millimeter movie film and its need for waiting for chemical processing before you knew if your results were worth the effort. So the next portable needed to be special. It needed to be reasonably light, small, and, most of all, easy to use. The SL-2000 (and its cousins the SL-2001, SL-2005, and the Zenith clones VR 9800 and VR 9500) were the right answer. They were well-designed and well-thought-out superstars. The new portable was a gigantic hit.
So big was the reception that they developed a complete support system that allowed the dedicated Betaphile to perform almost anything they desired when it came to recording video. You could use it not only to capture on-the-fly media events but also to chronicle family get-togethers. It would also double as a home recorder using the companion tuner/timer. You could even go diving underwater with it. Of course, many of these talents required an extra device or accessory, and Sony was there to provide you with everything you needed. If you could imagine it, they had a way for you to do it. This was no better illustrated by a national advertising campaign that bragged about this new little Betamax and what it could do. To see the ads, click here. There was also a great foldout brochure that featured the SL-2000 accessories and a whole lot more. To see it, click here.
There is a veritable treasure trove of support items that are available for this versatile portable. Check these out in the "Betamax Accessories" section by clicking here. PERFORMANCE DETAILS: The SL-2000 can record the standard Beta picture in the and speeds and play standard Beta , and . Beta tapes will play but might exhibit picture noise. This VCR was made prior to 1989 and should be unaffected by Copyguard encryption. To examine a Beta format compatibility chart click here. The stand alone SL-2000 MSRP was $1150.00 in 1983, that's around $3000.00 in todays money. The tuner/timer was extra but could be had at a bargain. The SL-2000 will also operate with these other tuner/timers: TT-2001, TT-2005, Zenith VRT-9550 and Zenith VRT-9850. This is because they were all manufactured by Sony using the same basic platform. The 
 
I refurbish all the Beta VCRs offered through my Website. If you would like to examine how this is accomplished, I have composed a special section that explains how it's done. To go to the "Beta Refurbishing" section, click here. Read an important message about my refurbished VCRs by clicking here. Do you have one of these premium Betas that isn't working? It is eligible for repair along with a lot of others. To see the list of candidates, click here. For service, click on "Getting It Repaired" in the right button array or click here.
 *These rating numbers are comparisons between the Beta VCRS within this particular design group. Contributing factors are engineering quality, popularity, aesthetics, execution, repair frequency, and the number of features and their benefits. Analysis is subjective and should not be considered an endorsement. |
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