Sony Betamax SL-5200 (the first Hi-Fi VCR)

Unboxing a "complete in box" Sony Betamax to celebrate 1000 subs.

0:00 Intro
0:15 The VCR
1:43 Unboxing
3:45 Front Controls Overview
6:19 Testing it out
10:04 Looking inside
12:20 Bad caps & stuff
25:33 A tangent about TV channels
28:00 Clock/Timer
32:05 Rear Connections
33:23 Original Invoice/Documentation
39:57 Old Parts/Outro

Video footage at the beginning:

Video that I used to adjust the servo circuits:

Previous repairs on a similar VCR (SL-5000):

[JohnRedshaw]

My first VCR. It was great. I spent a lot on it in 1984, and it lasted five years. But when it worked, it was amazing. Movies like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was where it shined. I alao remember hooking it up to a stereo TV decorder of some kind, and watching the first stereo TV show through it, which was the Tournament of Roses Parade on NBC. Sadly, this VCR died about five years later. I decided that it was then the time to go to VHS HiFi. But this Sony was my first home theater equipment. I hooked it up to a Panasonic stereo with a built in turnatable, nice pair of speakers. No subwoofer. It was a whole new aural experience! It was, at the time, a big upgrade.

[michaeljohn]

Hey buddy from Winnipeg!! I have to say...I really like your videos and your presentation!! Keep up the great work!
From a buddy in Thunder Bay :)

[tambarskelfir]

Awesome Sony tank, they had such ambition. Why do we subscribe? To support excellent content

[oldtechdudes]

Great old machine...enjoyed this video!

[richiereyn]

I wish they introduced a PAL HiFi version of this machine. In this design we had the SL-C6 MkI and II, which were linear mono. We had to wait for the SL-HF100 and SL-HF950 SuperBeta. Sanyo I believe introduced a HiFi Beta, I think it was the M40, but I was never a Sanyo fan.

[RetroGadgetMan]

Lovely looking machine. Don't remember seeing this series here in England. We had the monoral SL-C5

[mehmethakangokbulut]

Bu cihazlar bu dünyanın işi değil bunlar harika başka bir alemden gelmiş gibiler.

[ethan]

I hope one day we see a beautiful Panasonic PV-1730 revived on your channel!

[KylesDigitalLab]

I found an SL-2710 which is on Facebook Marketplace in my state for $20, I bet it works and it's HiFi but I don't have any space in my room anymore haha

[simtitan]

ItsMyNaturalColor found a similar machine with the same servo problem. I wonder if he ever got it fixed.

[davestva]

I just had to go watch that Wang Chung music video on YouTube. Hahaha! Gotta love the 90s!

[NigelMontezuma]

Now find the world's first Hi-Fi VCR on VHS!

[royalthird]

What were the exact size of the belts? I believe one is 11.0 If you can list all of them.

[SRN]

Where do you find all these cool vcrs lol

[hopperklopper]

What kind of rf modulator do you use for the built in tuner?

[金準燮]

Does it work if I put beta-cam tape in the beta-max player? And does beta max tape work on beta cam player?

[bobsbits]

hi i bet this was usa only the only good beta system was the betacam i pickrd up a betacam (SMALL TAPE) in the uk wow the audio can out do this easy
this you would get drop out with old tapes

i have some 100ub the black one made for the uk market place betacam sp came later

[michaeljohn]

Alright....seeing as how you're talking about ET playing quiet and louder on one channel I have in my hand an original MCA Home Video made in 1988 and the sound is CRAP!! Always has been!! It louder on the right side AND you have to have the volume turned up to hear 90% of the movie BUT the action scenes are far too loud!! DO NOT USE "ET" AS A TEST TAPE!! It says right on the tape BETA HI FI STEREO "Dolby Surround" AND Digitally Recorded. Whoever engineered the sound on this tape should be fired because it is by far the WORST bought tape I've ever owned!! I have a Sony SL-HF360 Super Beta HI-FI (Mid-line $850 Canadian brand new in 1989). The Mono track actually sounds better is you can figure that out LOL. All I'm saying is MCA did a terrible job on making this tape and PLEASE save yourself the headache and find a better test tape because these ALL have the same problem apparently!!