This has nothing to do with sex

[Warlady]

Could someone please tell me the difference in a 2 head and a 4 head VCR? My VCR just broke and I ordered a Panasonic 4 head VCR. Does anyone know what that means? It also has commercial skip. I think I have that one figgered out. I didn't want to spend a fortune so this seems like a good price to me. Here is the link to what I bought.

http://www.circuitcity.com/display_review.jsp?c=1&b=g&u=c&OID=88107&catoid=-8044

Do you think I got a good deal? Shipping is free.

[Rhino]

The difference is mainly a better picture and better tracking, theoretically. That one seems to get good reviews, so I'd say you did fine.

[Rink]

the 4 head VCR has better quality recording and as Rhino says picture tracking and, when you fast forward and reverse while viewing the picture your picture is better quality than what you would see with the 2 head VCR while doing FF and reverse while viewing.

What brand is it? Just curious

[Peachdiane]

[ QUOTE ]
Rink said:

What brand is it? Just curious

[/ QUOTE ]

I think Panasonic....

WL, you sure as hell did good. I have the Panasonic 4 Head and paid a hell of a lot more.

[Rink]

They're nice ones, got an old Emerson, its passable but Panasonics are good.

[DoctorDoom]

For normal playback at the SP speed (two hours for a T-120 tape), there is no difference between 2-head and 4-head machines. The benefit to 4-head units is in the image quality in LP and EP speeds, and in slow-motion, frame-by-frame or freeze-frame. With two heads, the image is usually badly torn and distorted. A four-head unit will do slow- or stop-motion with a solid, clear picture. Four heads also provide better images for fast-forward and rewind during play.

If one is only going to view and record at the SP speed, and not use slow-motion or freeze-frame, a 2-head machine will be perfectly fine. But, if the slower speeds and effects are desired, go with a 4-head box. These days the prices are not much different.

For the curious who want to know everything, and for those who love to impress family and friends with arcane lore, here's a good article on how VCRs work.

How VCRs Work (http://www.howstuffworks.com/vcr.htm/printable)

Its mention of a "tracking control" dates the article, but the basic technology hasn't changed.

[Rink]

I still think them real old VCR's were the best when it came to slo-mo rewinding and forwarding.

I got a Real old Mitsubishi VCR with a 24 hour clock in it, still works cept the vcr part decided to slow down and die, the clock still works tho LOL