Video Asylum

Posted by choppi@mac.com (A) on November 14, 2004 at 11:18:18

I tried to post this but do not think it went through, please excuse double post if it did.
Part One: Problem with VHS player:
I have been using a Sony VHS player, model SLV-778 HF, for ten years. It has about 7,000 hrs on it ! It plays the used (previously rentals) tapes well enough and it sounds very good through my tube-amplified system. Except for a sort of buzzing distortion on some transients. Especially on telephone ringing out of silence (picture hero asleep in bed, suddenly the phone rings). Is this a normal artifact of the VHS system ? How would I have to modify the player to eliminate this ?
Part Two: Please advise.
Since the player is so old now, I will have to replace it at some point. What is the best VHS player currently available - best sounding, I mean - to play these old VHS movies ? I have a huge collection of them (1,500) and still enjoy watching them - And I think they sound very good (to my ears).
Thanks for any replys. Please answer directly to choppi@mac.com
I am not too whippy on the computer and may not find your answer here.
Thanks !