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.

Dolby Linear Stereo continued for a few years after the introduction of ""Hi-Fi".
But afterwards the linear tracks went back to mono.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

I had a Fisher from the late 80's that was both HiFi and Stereo Linear both record and playback. It might have been an FVH-5550 but it's been so long I am not 100% sure of the model.

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.Try it and see buddy :)

Personally I love Mono.........To me it sounds even BETTER (I listen to my cassettes in Mono also)