Sylvania VP-7200
North American Philips
Consumer Electronics produced two different model Videodisc (as they called
them) players as part of the 2nd generation of
players. One unit under each of the brands then
available from NAP, Magnavox produced the Model VC-8010 and Sylvania produced
the VP-7200. Let's be clear about one thing to begin with - Philips had nothing
what-so-ever to do with the actual manufacturing of these players. Both units
were produced by Pioneer Electronics in Japan and are essentially the
same as Pioneer's LD-1100.
All part numbers are even Pioneer numbers on everything from the remote to the
users manual.
There are however, very distinct differences between these two units and the
Pioneer model. These units were dark grey in color and sported a completely
different face. The controls, rather than clustered together in a single area
with the rest of the space used for lights, they are set across the entire front
of the unit, with the lights for each function directly above the corresponding
button. The layout is very similar to the original VH-8000 Magnavision unit
produced for the launch of DiscoVision. But cosmetics alone are not what
separates this unit from those Pioneer manufactured under its own name. Under
the hood, these machines sported a totally different pickup
and tracking system, designed for punishing industrial applications. The
mechanics were all the same, but these units boasted a much better picture and
significantly improved tracktability on all discs. The unit also included a
completely different audio board which adhered to the original specifications of
the CX noise reduction system, retaining the full 20db of headroom. Pioneer's modified
circuit cut the headroom to only 13db.
The standard array of features available at the time made the unit feature
identical to all other players available at the time. Some features were
enhanced, such as automatic picture stop, which used the now standard Philips
code. This makes the unit incapable of playing the incorrectly mastered Frenzy
Side 5. The unit will also play all GM discs, but due to the absence of the
Philips code, will stay in "limbo" mode, neither identifying the discs
as CAV or CLV. All player functions such as frame display, search and special
effects normally found on CAV discs will not work at all. On startup of a disc,
the pickup will simply begin playback from the players inside limit
setting. This can cause some problems on older CLV titles where the player will
refuse to play the beginning of a side.
The industrial pickup in this unit gives the player a unique feature that no
other player has had, either before or since. Philips, feeling rather burned by
Pioneer and MCA for their tweaking of the system to overcome troubles in
manufacturing of the discs, gave their 2nd
generation players the ability to play nearly every DiscoVision disc. Overall,
these units will properly track even the most defective discs produced. Discs
which refuse to track or experience laserlock usually play without flaw
of any kind in the unit. While it would be presumptuous to say it will track
"every" disc, it tracks almost all discs.
In summary, the Sylvania VP-7200 is possibly the very best LaserDisc player ever
produced for playback of MCA DiscoVision discs. I highly recommend picking one
up if you are a collector and wish to have playback as flawless as the discs
themselves can provide.
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|
Gas Tube Laser for superior
tracking |
|
Industrial grade Laser
pickup |
|
Superior audio reproduction |
|
Plays GM discs |
|
|
None |
|
Last Updated: September 17,
1999
Copyright ©1998 Blam Entertainment Group
Thanks to Blain Young for use
of the material.
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