NEW in sealed box 1983 Sony SL-C9ES Betamax VCR - unboxing and test

Here is a good friend unboxing a brand new 1983 Sony SL-C9ES Betamax VCR. In this video the box is opened for the first time ever, this is the original experience people had in the early 80s. Will the Betamax VCR work?
My friend's KZbin channel:
/ halterung01
Follow me on Instagram:
/ drcassette
Check out my KZbin channel:
/ drcassette
Also check out my other KZbin channels:
/ vistavox
/ plustotal

[@DrCassette]

No, this is not me in this video. It was recorded by a good friend of mine. We thought it would be better to publish this video on my channel, where there is a bigger audience. You are still welcome to visit my friend's KZbin channel: kzbin.info

[@klauskillski3881]

subscribed

[@axxxxman]

There can be only 1 DrCassette, but it was a nice video.

[@Lachlant1984]

Just as well I read the video description before commenting. I was just thinking to myself "you're not DrCassette, you don't sound like him".

[@titaramirez378]

Excuse me, was box closed amost 40 years ??? This is right???

[@SamsungS-or1qf]

What is the difference compared to SL-F11, is it also in the "Profeel" line? Amazing find, you are so lucky 😊

[@rusuclaudiu1988]

You have no idea how good it makes feel seeing somebody else getting so enthusiastic when dealing with old stuff. For 99% of the people is just some old stuff with no use. For us is a piece of life when days SEEMED simpler.

[@revokdaryl1]

Not just seemed, WAS simpler. Life had so much more mystery to it back before the internet and smart phones. If you wanted to research something, you needed to go to a place called a library and read BOOKS.

[@DrCassette]

@@revokdaryl1 Nostalgia seems to have gotten to you a bit - I am old enough to remember having to go to the library to do research. Terrible! Their choice of books about electronics was very limited, and most of the books dated back to the 1970s. Because of this, some of my fist electronics experiments were done with old Germanium transistors. Nothing worked, the transistors were probably dead on arrival due to their age. Life would have been simpler with the internet, where datasheets and circuits for almost any electronic component are readily available.

[@revokdaryl1]

@@DrCassette Yes, I tend to let nostalgia take over and make the past seem better than it probably was at the time. I imagine it would have been terrible having to read outdated books when trying to build something new. I am barely old enough to remember researching in the library.

[@chaosflower4892]

and when things were much better made.. though it should be noted that electrolytic capcitors degrade even when not in use.. luckily Japanese caps can last decades regardless.. if you are lucky......

[@rusuclaudiu1988]

@@DrCassette I have specifically written with Caps lock seemed. But overall the wuality of life must have been better. I mean, allright, now we have every info we need at a fingertip, including your great videos. But we are sleeping with the phones near us, the phones are constantly buzzing including non working hours, the overall pressure and the noise of a running clock has never been so big. Regarding the music specifically, I have more then one terra of high quality music and for sure the quality of good flac overpasses a tape (even if, in my opinion, not mandatory true, sounds a little sterile) but for my limited time I am spending more time choosing the music rather then listening. With a tape, Is easier. I sit in front of the shelf and I choose one. In conclusion, overall, the ease of access for everything in vastly improved, the technology is unbelievable but the pace of the life has increased so much that we physically feel it. This is why I am using a fountain pen, a non disposable double edge razor, a film camera, a tape deck, a record player and in the near future a reel to reel recorder (I have seen some videos made 10 years ago by you so I can say that you are probably my age or younger) or nice mechanical wristwatch. Basically I am lying myself that there is time and I am obliging myself to slow down a little. Also, by choosing not to use only disposable stuff you feel less disposable as a human beeing.

[@borysandreyev9717]

Made in Japan means works forever!

[@rich_edwards79]

"What do you mean Doc, all the best stuff is made in Japan".

[@zdw306]

Rubber parts and electrolytic capacitors though.

[@gutz1981]

Yep, my two Mitsubishi cars are a testimate to that. The plastic and wires may be cheap, but the engines never stop.

[@cineffect]

Absolutely true! My HVX-200 3CCD hybrid camera which uses both, digital tapes and P2 cards keeps on filming without any problems!

[@marcellomedeiros9078]

Made in China means throw your money in trash bin.

[@gavincurtis]

Nothing will ever exceed the magnificent experience of smelling super expensive early 80's Japanese equipment right out of its factory sealed box. NOTHING. :)

[@predragpopovic5056]

true :)

[@Mr_Kenneth]

So true

[@Lcky-gu2gi]

Id Buy that for a Dollar 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@caturlifelive]

Agreed

[@jmi5969]

Nothing? hmm... I'd take Swiss and German above the Japanese. Imagine a NIB EMT turntable or something from Studer/Revox...

[@radon222u]

Unbelievable. Looks like you found a time machine.

[@aaronlane8276]

More like time capsule

[@predatorcube]

The era when the equipment was made with precision for a long time to use!

[@NetsatHD]

Yes bro

[@dutchcinephile1362]

True nowadays Everything breaks after using the manual

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Stuff Made in Japan is STILL made for long use.

[@NikHYTWP]

It's crazy to think that when this was sealed the Soviet Union still existed

[@joeygonzo]

and Germany was divided . and the LA Olympics had not happened yet

[@philip4658]

And you'll not beleive if I say how much this luxury thing could cost in 1983 at USSR. : )

[@johnrauner2515]

When it was sealed I was 14

[@philip4658]

@@renekauts8323 , such type of devices were sold in USSR by diplomats or sailors who had access to other countries. The price of this thing (Sony, made in Japan) could be about 15 000 roubles at 'black market'. Lada 2101 (middle class auto) had cost 5 500. You can imagine how valuable this VCR was at 1983 in USSR. It was possible to buy a house at seashore for this money.

[@aivarandressoo6721]

Soviet Union was anus!!! The scariest place the person could have been born!!!

[@arricammarques1955]

Beta-max analog technology was built to last. Work of art regardless.

[@trevorbrown6654]

Those Betamax players were so well engineered, especially the Sony ones, so I'm not surprised it still works. They are also works of art and substantially built hence why they weren't cheap. I remember the one we had back in 1981, it was pretty heavy and built like a tank. That was a top loading Sony model. In many many ways Betamax was technically superior to vhs but vhs won out in the domestic market because it was cheaper and therefore the video rental business started backing it. A shame in many ways as Beta was the Concorde if home video whilst VHS was the 747.

[@tonymontana897]

We had several over the years too, but our first one was in 1980 I believe and it was the Sony C5. It had a corded remote control too. What a wonderful era that was, unlike the rubbish we have today.

[@arricammarques1955]

Film & Video labs used Beta-Max for transfers in the early 2000's.

[@ozpopjazz]

This is the legendary Sony quality, almost 40 years later it worked like charm. Beautiful design and very good engineering.

[@DarthVader1977]

Imagine being on the production line and turning to your co-worker and pointing at the box and saying "This won't be opened for 40 years".

[@user-is4jf8yr4z]

Wow, what an absolutely amazing find. Congratulations are in order!!!

[@ydmf2]

Whoaaa! Insane find! What a score! BTW, the whole time I was watching this video I was thinking your voice sounded different. My mind was racing with the mystery then I read in the description that this is a friend of yours LOL!

[@valentinion7879]

Lol, i was about to say that has been awhile since I didn't watch his videos...and his voice changed alot :)))

[@reggiebenes2916]

Gotta set that baby to record "Dallas" on Friday night. Somethings going on with J.R. Ewing and don't wanna miss it.

[@dennisschnobrich9288]

Me too, I recorded Dallas back in in 1982 because I worked second shift.

[@mrtunapie6653]

I was more a Dynasty fan myself :)

[@pierrejeanf.dupuis4150]

U gotta B in sane. This belongs in a museum.

[@crt0512]

Indeed this is beautiful :)

[@Bulletguy07]

After VHS won the tape "war" Sony went on to make the SLV-715 which was the best deck i've ever owned. They retailed around £450 when first on the market which was damn expensive as by then you could buy a new VHS machine for much less. But the 715 had full edit facility and was built like a tank! Also components were easy to replace making the machine serviceable long after cheaper machines had gone in the bin! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHOQkH9pbpWmr80 They still come up on ebay occasionally.

[@madangopalbhavsar8468]

This is a piece of workmanship, craftsmanship and perfectionism. In golden Era of humanity every thing produced with utmost care, love and softness.

[@maxwelltlmm4583]

Yes,however manhood doesn't value this great machine,almost nobody records in these days.

[@maverickdallas1004]

A time capsule that harkens back to better times!

[@dombarton2483]

The best betamax ever! I owned one of these in 1983. At the time its still picture quality was unsurpassed. Loved this beauty!! Miss it.

[@rich_edwards79]

Very nice find. One year newer than my car and in infinitely better shape! The fact that this just worked out of the box, without needing so much as a new cap or belt, having never had power applied to it in its 38 years of slumber is a testament to the quality and reliability of Japanese electronics (and particularly Sony) in the 1980s and 90s. We've lost so much with the shift away from physical media.

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Umm they STILL make quality products, the best... what ate you talking about??

[@deeppurplefan9648]

I had japanese equipment that was very durable and lasted long but some other that were short lived and had flaws. japan isnt the only country capable of producing high quality electronic that is long lasting and durable . I owned other stuff from foreign brands like danish, german and british that were just as good in quality and durability as the japanese stuff I owned. I unboxed twelve years ago an unused Nad 3060 amplifier from 78 that was in perfect condition and worked perfectly which still does to this day . To think that only one country makes best things while dismissing the rest of the things in world is based on ignorance that often fuels nationalistic thinking.

[@postmanpat6]

Seeing the box open really is a wow moment. That box has been sealed for close to 40 years.

[@thumperjdm]

+1. Box staples are those "clamps" he pried open. I remember using the box stapler, and that type of shipping tape (you pull a lever, and the bottom of the tape drags across a wet sponge, then cuts when you release the lever) while working a warehouse job 32 years ago. Good memories!

[@ZenithClarity]

What a find that is!!! Im sure like me everyone is wondering what he paid for it? Cant believe even the box seems mint to. No moisture damage at all! Just like it was purchased yesterday right off the shelf. Amazing.

[@AlexEssex8]

Amazing that the belts hadn’t deteriorated! Seventies and Eighties Japanese equipment was so great!

[@DrCassette]

There is only one rubber belt in this VCR, most of the mechanism is Direct Drive. But indeed that one belt still works fine, and that's quite impressive! :)

[@CaptainZuurpruim]

@@DrCassette Why does some old rubber last forever, but other rubber falls apart after 35 years? I never understood why. Were all the small rubber belts from inferior material?

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Umm they STILL are great wtf you talking about???

[@directrix101]

Nice, anyone can unbox a phone. Unboxing a Betamax now that is awesome!

[@HelloAllegro]

The VCR was truly a thing of wonder in the early 80s. In all honesty, it still is.

[@thumperjdm]

+1. I remember our first VCR (a top-loading, VHS machine with fake wood-grained paneling) cost $1,200 back then...probably about $3---4,000 in today's money. Our first microwave oven (microwave/convection oven--top of the line!) cost about the same.

[@Mr_Kenneth]

I bought a SL C9 in 1984. Timeless design and perfect companion to the Sony F1 portable

[@MrBetaByte]

What a find! I've dreamt of finding a new old stock Sony Beta and it's great to have this shared and enjoy the experience. A great video and an excellent find. Living the dream! :-)

[@dykodesigns]

Wow! That recorder is just as old as I am and it has never been taken out of the box. It’s like a time capsule, completely mint and untouched. It’s definitely a museum worthy specimen. I find it quite fascinating why it was never opened and just left in a basement for over 3 decades.

[@kenmore01]

It was probably a gift to a VHS fan. 😁

[@myleswillis]

Just imagine what other electronic gems are hiding out there.

[@PeterMilanovski]

That's a lucky VCR! I have been trying to get back into a box ever since I got out! Had I known better, I would have stayed in much longer LoL...

[@S500-]

Its Like You Born And Still In Hospital Cradle 😅

[@cirebyte7588]

Wow! It's great to see just out of box picture quality. Lovely machine.

[@Oldgamingfart]

Lol, I thought this was Jan Beta at first.. hey, that's not a Commodore 64! Nice find! Even twenty-odd years ago this would've been quite something! Amazing how it just powered up and..worked! I don't think I could instil the same level of confidence in a similar-spec new-in-box VHS machine..

[@MMWA-DAVE]

Absolutely magnificent

[@jeffperteet2327]

Damn I think that you won the 80s for the year, with this!

[@fapibunga9209]

there's no other like Sony..

[@salaamkassim]

Very nice I had such a device 30 years ago 😁😁

[@JustPeasant]

A proper time capsule. The air in you room must be full of 1983 smell! :-))) 1983 and a front loader to booth. Talk about fancy (model). Googling, I couldn't find solid specs. Timer, recording modes (ß I, ß II or ß III support). I'm having a hard time believing this was indeed a sealed unit, all the way from 1983. Rubber belts would have turned to tar by now, sealed or not!

[@DrCassette]

This is a PAL Betamax VCR. The PAL models don't have different speeds. There is only one speed which is equivalent to βII. Belts are always a game of hit and miss. Some turn to tar, some get hard, and some just keep on working fine.

[@JustPeasant]

@@DrCassette Ah... plethora of Japanese companies seems to suck up to US market. There are number of rubber sources, I guess. Latex, Silicone, Synthetic (oil derivates), etc. Latex seems to be predominant for one reason or another...

[@osmanyldz9096]

Arkadaşlar cihaz çok güzel bendede aynısı var ve şuan aktif kullanıyorum fakat tek birşey var bu cihazlarda display ve mekanik hata çok çıkıyor çok şükür benim cihazda böyle birşey yok DIMER tuşunu aşağı pozisyon da kullanırsanız display ömrü sahada uzun oluyor mekanik sistem güzel fakat üsteki küçük millin sağ ve solundaki minik dişliler zaman ile kuruyup çatlıyor fakat güzel cihaz bende siyah rengi var ve şuan gayet güzel çalışıyor temizini bulmak çok zor saygilarim ile

[@GustoTheGamer]

Still works is insane. No bad caps...no bad Belts.......insane your lucky

[@andyhowlett2231]

That is astonishing! After sitting in its box for 40 years it works first time!

[@renekauts8323]

3.15: And it looks like 2 batteries too! For the remote control, obviously. I wonder if they had power in them after 38 years? *** Anyway, gorgeous looking Betamax VCR! I'm so jealous but at the same time very happy for you! 4.33: Wow! This is ultimate perfection! Sony= top quality! And it's made in 1983! It's insane how items made 40 years ago are much more beautiful than items made today...

[@lee120458]

So where exactly did you buy this beta machine? Was it on eBay or Amazon? Hard to believe that machine has not been open in over 40 years. I like using the old way of recording shows using a VCR and not this DVR they use today. Can you give me a website on where I can get a beta machine like yours? Thanks.

[@DrCassette]

This VCR was offered on a local classifieds website. There was only this one.

Wow, i just couldn't stop smiling while watching this! What a lucky guy you are, what a beauty of a machine this is!

[@tuanbe]

This was *not* a cheap machine back then.

[@thesouthamericallc253]

Those machines were build like tanks.!!! I have PCM tapes from 1982 and they play without error. I have too the PCM adapters the 501 and the 601 with spdig in/out connections... Betamax was a solid system and build on the best times of Sony

[@S500-]

Oh my god , Its Indeed Beautiful Piece of Tech, by The Way You are German I think by hearing Your Accent

[@Joe_From_IT]

Finding that was a nice bit of luck- be interesting to know the story of how it got squirreled away & forgotten for nearly 40 years. In 1983 someone spent substantial money and likely had big plans-- ones that never came to pass. No way to know, but it's great that such a solid piece of equipment finally gets to come to life!

[@lajosz1]

Look at the quality and the working culture of this device, and even the design. Those green BEAUTIFUL LEDs. ... they do not hit the eyes with some corpse blue light. Those physical buttons. Everything thought out, arranged and made FOR PEOPLE. A great device.

[@aslansezen7423]

Our family first ever vcr purchase costing £699 back in the early 1980's ! lovely vcr came with simon and garfunkel in the park video in the box! The vcr soon started struggling with eject until it completely jammed as did the replacement for which i both got the blame for..!! LOL

[@brunoch1987]

Unbelievable!! It's like a time travel!

[@jluisgoodyear4404]

Aproximadamente cuanto podría costar ese equipo de video Betamax quizás la tenía Marty mc Fly en su epoca

[@davidjewood]

My first job was working in a TV / Video store in 1983. We went to the UK launch of the Sony C9. At the time is was by far the best video recorder on the market. If I remember correctly it cost £900. That's £3,115 in today's money!

[@judasmaiden1709]

👍

[@miguelnglopes]

THE best VCR of it's time!

[@myronachtman4304]

its... not it's

[@Aroo_0]

It is just BEAUTIFUL……. No words to describe

[@davestohs]

What an amazing machine! Betamax was not as popular in the US but my family bought a system when we lived in the UK for a short time when I was 9 years old (back in 1995!). The picture was superior and felt exotic to me. Thank you for sharing this!

[@ramonvaldez5870]

¿Cómo consigo uno?Yo tuve uno por esa década, pero se me dañó.Y quiero comprar otro si lo hay.

[@tremayne3]

A gorgeous relic from 38 years ago...stunning ! !

[@paulibarra5449]

the best technology from the past, this days we only have garbage technology whos dies in 1 year

[@kartdb]

Está hermosa, espero la sigas disfrutando 😊 me hizo recordar mi niñez. 🙂

[@jitrapornpha5104]

37 years and the Caps still work . And my wife wonders why i cant stand made in China HI FI

[@jsatv7443]

Thank you for Sharing. That‘s a small Time capsule

[@renegonzalez6755]

Beautiful machine. You did a wonderful job showing this incredible find. In a day and age of cloud based entertainment it is nice to be able to record onto magnetic videotape for old times sakes.

[@stepheng8779]

Brought back feelings I had when I tracked down my sealed Pioneer Kuro TV just over a year ago. Magical 👍

[@andrekleyn727]

Wow! This is thé find of the century. The C9 was the pioneer in early video technologies. Would not mind to have a brand spanking new machine in my possession.

[@mbvideoselection]

All that and it's a PAL machine aswell! Amazing!

[@shaunboden6951]

WOW that brand new player is so cool, I love betamax and have two refurbished players myself, which cost me a small fortune though :) thanks for sharing.

[@TheBudgie29]

My Sony C7 died a few years ago. The Heads went on It. I had to give It away for parts, because new ones are like gold dust to find. I sat My kids down and we all watched Live aid (Recorded at the time on Two Sony C7's) In full (UK and USA) and they loved It. What a find this Is.

[@RetroworksMusic]

Awesome!.. This was my favourite and the Best video recorder money could buy back in the Day.. And the thing was pretty expensive.. Its Amazing the belts still work after nearly 40 years 😱

[@DrCassette]

There is only one rubber belt in this VCR, most of the mechanism is Direct Drive. But indeed that one belt still works fine, and that's quite impressive! :)

[@gutz1981]

That metal clip on the box brought back memories. Have not seen that method used perhaps since the 80s or at least the early 90s. Wow.

[@DrCassette]

Seems like they didn't trust the packing tape alone back then. But of course in following years equipment got lighter and lighter, so maybe the clips are only required when the contents of the box has a certain weight.

[@gutz1981]

@@DrCassette I just remember how that part of the unpacking was the hardest. Pliers, ripping the box apart, you name it. But honestly, I can't believe I remembered it once I saw this. It just goes to show some of the "norms" of the past we forget as time fades things out.

[@joeygonzo]

That was a high end betamax for sure . Loved my 830 model

[@ct1216]

I have an unopened phillips vhs recorder. Never used.

[@YACW]

It is very nice to find such a well-preserved treasure. Greetings from Turkey.

[@WHOHATESTOWORK]

I remember the 80s when the beta vs vhs, we had both so the old man had it covered😆😘

[@davebain5007]

I had this when they first came out, fantastic video for the time

[@tarasrynza]

Oh my God!!!!! Beautiful! Amazing! Wonderful! ❤👍 I'm impressed )

[@johnbateman4255]

Wow that is the exact same model that my brother had.

[@gobindram7052]

Old is Gold

[@cessnaace]

I have a ton of Betamax prerecords, many of them still sealed. No longer have a way to play them though. You're lucky it still works. The belts can go bad with something this old even if never used.

[@hydroxan1508]

Absolutely food for my eyes!

[@edwincancelii2917]

Vintage & beautiful.

[@CanonPanasonic-ProUser]

From 1984 and later i repaired all Betamax recorders for Sony Netherlands. The SLC9E, SLC9ES and SL-F1 had the most standard problems. Plastic gear (lift compartment) and loading gear / loadingring had stsndard issues. Power problems with DC-DC converter. In some cases the reelmotor drivers where burn out on servo board (very bad fuse protection). But it was a great time for me. Seeing this almost unused Betamax recorder brings back good memories. Take good care and don't damage the videoheads. Btw does anyone own the Betamax videocassette changer the AG-90 specially made for the SLC9e/es ?

[@david92797]

Excelent video, so amazing

[@hifismiffy]

The very first VCR that I bought after renting a monstrous SL-C7 - what a little beauty it was too. So much stylish hardware came out in this era. My other love was my Aiwa ADF 990 cassette deck. Nice one, Doc !!

[@Life_Is_A...]

I miss when plastic wasn't the default choice by factories. This thing looks like it'll outlast the house. I mean it still works after 39 years!

[@metingokbulut837]

💯⭐️🇹🇷👍 I have about 100 betamax and vhs devices in stock, I have about 10,000 betamax and vhs tapes, these are excellent devices and cassettes.

[@matthew6994]

Worth it just to see how pristine that outside packaging still looks, must of been kept securely locked away in a dust and damp free environment. I couldn't guess how much that's all worth to a collector, and must of cost a lot back in the day... looks incredible

[@epicchris1985]

What an awesome and amazing find! Ohhh the old electronics I would love to own brand new in 2021 and most importantly in fully working order! Amazing!

[@ReRey]

Your video Is like a time machine😭 It took me to my childhood. The joyful moment of unboxing a Sony

[@thx2468]

The smell must be wonderful. It's a PAL, European model. Lovely and amazing!!❤❤❤

[@lemonherb1]

Wow, that brings back memories. We bought a Sony Betamax VCR in the early 80s and while it was a different model, the packaging style was right on point, even to the copper staples that were commonly used back then.

[@Witheredgoogie]

People struggling to restore those C5 and C7 basket cases are probably crying right now LOL.

[@fadhlematrook1248]

you are lucky to get this model new in this time..hard to find.

[@anndeefam]

Betamax was much better than VHS

[@fretboardmaster70]

I bet that smelt fantastic when you took it out of the box and plugged it in? That vintage electronic smell

[@emineceylan6242]

0tomatik olarak arıyor kaset sùresini filmin nekadar olduğunu gósteriyor harika bir sony betamaks video

[@shinryufox2902]

Beautiful moments from the past 👍👍

[@ackamack101]

What a find! So awesome! 😮

[@lucasrem]

Nobody needed them back then, i guess this model is Sony Brandsteder import you found,. 240V 50hz, Central Europe. VHS was the only standard, this the better tech.

[@ReneRodriguez-uz9qb]

Hola.. Yo en los años 80 conocí los betamax cámara video. Un extraordinario producto para la época y que se conserve!!!!! estaba en una bodega por olvido... Jajaja

[@EliteRock]

Even your little demo shows that Betamax had a better, more stable image than VHS. Thanks to people cheaping out en masse at a critical moment we all ended up deprived of a better way of watching TV and movies for a couple of decades. C'est la vie. BTW, that tearing at the bottom was nearly always present in consumer-grade decks but it was in the 'overscan' area of the screen and hence never actually seen.

[@PeterMilanovski]

Honestly, when the sticky tape started to come off and I saw the staples! I got excited!!! But when he flipped open the flaps of the box (that last line somehow seems wrong?) and I saw the styrofoam and the way that it was packaged, I could already tell that this has never seen the day of light! I was freaking out more than the owner of this beautiful machine and it's not even mine! I would have been dancing around in circles while wetting myself uncontrollably! I really don't know how he kept so calm!!!

[@samiam9059]

Always thought those were much better made machines and the cartridges were better designed. I calibrated VCR's way back for a some part time cash and they were disposable looking grinding apart from the first day unlike betamax