Super VHS (S-VHS) was introduced by JVC in 1987 as an advanced version of the standard VHS format. Designed to provide improved video resolution, signal clarity, and overall picture quality, S-VHS was intended for enthusiasts, professionals, and broadcasters who required higher performance while maintaining compatibility with VHS technology. This article delves into the technical specifications of S-VHS, including its enhanced resolution, improved tape formulation, and specialized connections such as the S-VHS cable.
Video Resolution and Encoding
- Native Analog Resolution:
- NTSC: 400–420 lines (compared to 240 lines for standard VHS)
- PAL: 420–440 lines (compared to 288 lines for standard VHS)
- Equivalent Digital Resolution:
- NTSC: ~560×480 pixels
- PAL: ~560×576 pixels
- Colour Encoding Systems:
- NTSC (North America, Japan)
- PAL/SECAM (Europe, Asia, others)
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Standard Definition (SD)
Tape Speed and Recording Modes
- SP (Standard Play): ~1.31 inches per second (~33.35 mm/s)
- LP (Long Play, available on some models): ~0.66 inches per second (~16.67 mm/s)
- EP/SLP (Extended Play/Super Long Play, limited use): ~0.44 inches per second (~11.12 mm/s)
Tape and Cassette Specifications
- Tape Width: 12.7 mm (0.5 inches)
- Cassette Dimensions: 7.4 × 4 × 1 inch (187 × 103 × 25 mm)
- Magnetic Tape Composition:
- Enhanced ferric oxide or metal particle formulation for increased bandwidth and reduced noise
- Rewind Time (T-120 Tape): Approximately 3-4 minutes on high-speed rewind VCRs
Signal and Video Quality Enhancements
- Luminance Bandwidth: ~5.4 MHz (compared to 3 MHz in standard VHS)
- Chrominance Bandwidth: ~1.3 MHz (compared to 600 kHz in standard VHS)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: ~45dB (compared to ~40dB in standard VHS)
- Colour Signal Enhancement: More stable chroma signal, reducing colour bleeding and distortion
S-VHS Cable and Improved Connectivity
One of the defining aspects of S-VHS was its support for an S-Video (Y/C) connection, which separated the luminance (Y) and chrominance (C) signals to avoid composite video blending artefacts. This allowed for:
- Sharper image quality with less colour bleeding
- Reduced dot crawl and cross-colour interference
- Better contrast and fine detail reproduction
S-VHS Cable Specifications
- Connector Type: 4-pin mini-DIN S-Video connector
- Signal Transmission:
- Y (Luminance): Carries brightness information
- C (Chrominance): Carries color information
- Supported Devices:
- S-VHS VCRs
- High-end televisions
- Camcorders and professional video equipment
Audio Capabilities
- Mono (Linear Audio Track) – Standard on early S-VHS tapes
- Hi-Fi Stereo (Improved from standard VHS) – Delivers better frequency response and dynamic range
- Dolby Noise Reduction – Available on select models for improved audio clarity
Special Features and Variants
- Super VHS ET (Expansion Technology) – Allowed standard VHS tapes to be used with S-VHS recording quality
S-VHS was a significant improvement over standard VHS, providing a higher-resolution analog video format that was used in both consumer and professional applications. While it never achieved widespread adoption like VHS, its technical advancements influenced later developments in digital video and high-definition recording. Today, S-VHS remains a niche format valued by collectors and video enthusiasts for its superior analog recording quality.