Sonel Macrovision 'stabiliser' review

OK, been trying this out.


First impressions? Very cheap and nasty.


Definite ghosting problem which I had not seen in at least 10 years. Reason? ****e
componets and/or no decent grounding/cable shielding in the SCART. Also, I had to
connect a 9v power source (anything does -like those £2.99 types etc) to get a
stable picture that was acceptable. It mentions in the instructions you may have
to do this. Don't recall it on their website.



Test 1 NTSC

Tried it with NTSC VHS (I have only one VHS to backup (and I don't think it has
Macrovision on the tape (see comments below about PAL camcorder tapes))) and it
does not work. Tested it with [pure] NTSC DVD and it does not work.




Test 2 PAL

Worked fine with composite, RGB and s-video. Picture was *VERY* dark. Far too dark
for my liking so to use it to watch stuff (that's the idea) it would be completely
useless. Could not record sound for some reason either. Tried everything but to no
avail. Meaning I'd need to take a flylead off the SCART -which I would NOT
recommend as the SCART looks like it came from Poundland where it cost err... a
£1. If you're using an amp/receiver then you could maybe wire up something with
audio.



Test 3

I have some PAL VHS tapes (off the TV and camcorder stuff) from 1986 or so. Since
they're off the TV and an old JVC camcorder they obviously don't have any
Macrovision. There must be something strange with my Panasonic E50 recorder
because it won't let me copy them. It thinks they're copy protected. Maybe it's
too sensitive, either way I find it rather annoying. My SUX6000 does remove the
problem http://tinyurl.com/3ufav thank ****.




So, the only good point is the SCART is 'gold' plated. I may throw it in a smelter
to get some of my money back. If this is the premium Sonel cable (non-gold one is
'out of stock') **** knows what the other one is like.

Overall impressions? Piece of ****.

Do I blame Sonel? Not really as I'm sure it's the best they can do.


Sadly Macrovision isn't a problem for people who rip DVDs (half the planet no
doubt with simple little free apps) but it is annoying for people who want to
genuinely watch things with a stable picture where they have problems with their
set up (other 'stablisers' will do a better job). Or of course people backing up
some old VHS tape they want to literally save from wear and tear.


The Sonel cable offers nothing for anyone wanting a same as source quality
picture.

"APPRIA40WR" wrote in
message ...
OK, been trying this out.

Strange, read all that and completely different to my experiences with the
one I bought from them a few years ago. Used it a few times to record DVDs
to VHS from my old Bush player that had macrovision (my current Pioneer
doesn't), and recording Sky Box Office movies to VHS. Each time the pic was
clear, I'd say as good as without the stabiliser in the chain, and
definitely wasn't dark, and had no ghosting. Never got to test the NTSC bit
as I had the cable as the SCART connection between my switched and VCR, and
my VCR doesn't record NTSC so I never bothered to try it.

Sounds like the new model cables are just complete crap. Mine also has a
power supply, but in the instructions says it has to be used, none of the
maybe they have now. I guess the new ones try and tap power off the SCART
socket and end up messing it up. I don't use the one I have right now, I
might be prepared to sell it to you and if it doesn't work then you can send
it back and I'll refund you. Let me know if you want to give it a go. I'll
dig it out of the drawer and check it still works OK first though.

Dan

"Spack" wrote in message
...
Sounds like the new model cables are just complete crap. Mine also has a power
supply, but in the instructions says it has to be used, none of the maybe they
have now. I guess the new ones try and tap power off the SCART socket and end up
messing it up. I don't use the one I have right now, I might be prepared to sell
it to you and if it doesn't work then you can send it back and I'll refund you.
Let me know if you want to give it a go. I'll dig it out of the drawer and check
it still works OK first though.


Ta but no ta.

Like I say I'm not even sure my NTSC tape has Macrovision on it. My SUX6000 VHS
player won't touch NTSC sadly.

Thus spaketh APPRIA40WR:
"Spack" wrote in message
...
Sounds like the new model cables are just complete crap. Mine also
has a power supply, but in the instructions says it has to be used,
none of the maybe they have now. I guess the new ones try and tap
power off the SCART socket and end up messing it up. I don't use the
one I have right now, I might be prepared to sell it to you and if
it doesn't work then you can send it back and I'll refund you. Let
me know if you want to give it a go. I'll dig it out of the drawer
and check it still works OK first though.


Ta but no ta.

Like I say I'm not even sure my NTSC tape has Macrovision on it. My
SUX6000 VHS player won't touch NTSC sadly.

We have three of them, and all work fine, even copying NTSC tapes in NTSC mode
or transcoded to PAL from a Samsung multi-format player to both a Panasonic
E30 and E55.

APPRIA40WR wrote:
OK, been trying this out.


First impressions? Very cheap and nasty.


Definite ghosting problem which I had not seen in at least 10 years.
Reason? ****e componets and/or no decent grounding/cable shielding in
the SCART. Also, I had to connect a 9v power source (anything does
-like those £2.99 types etc) to get a stable picture that was
acceptable. It mentions in the instructions you may have to do this.
Don't recall it on their website.


Test 1 NTSC

Tried it with NTSC VHS (I have only one VHS to backup (and I don't
think it has Macrovision on the tape (see comments below about PAL
camcorder tapes))) and it does not work. Tested it with [pure] NTSC
DVD and it does not work.



Test 2 PAL

Worked fine with composite, RGB and s-video. Picture was *VERY* dark.
Far too dark for my liking so to use it to watch stuff (that's the
idea) it would be completely useless. Could not record sound for some
reason either. Tried everything but to no avail. Meaning I'd need to
take a flylead off the SCART -which I would NOT recommend as the
SCART looks like it came from Poundland where it cost err... a £1. If
you're using an amp/receiver then you could maybe wire up something
with audio.


Test 3

I have some PAL VHS tapes (off the TV and camcorder stuff) from 1986
or so. Since they're off the TV and an old JVC camcorder they
obviously don't have any Macrovision. There must be something strange
with my Panasonic E50 recorder because it won't let me copy them. It
thinks they're copy protected. Maybe it's too sensitive, either way I
find it rather annoying. My SUX6000 does remove the problem
http://tinyurl.com/3ufav thank ****.



So, the only good point is the SCART is 'gold' plated. I may throw it
in a smelter to get some of my money back. If this is the premium
Sonel cable (non-gold one is 'out of stock') **** knows what the
other one is like.
Overall impressions? Piece of ****.

Do I blame Sonel? Not really as I'm sure it's the best they can do.


Sadly Macrovision isn't a problem for people who rip DVDs (half the
planet no doubt with simple little free apps) but it is annoying for
people who want to genuinely watch things with a stable picture where
they have problems with their set up (other 'stablisers' will do a
better job). Or of course people backing up some old VHS tape they
want to literally save from wear and tear.

The Sonel cable offers nothing for anyone wanting a same as source
quality picture.

Looks like their web site is a fair representation of what to expect then!

Rolo

In article ,
says...
OK, been trying this out.


First impressions? Very cheap and nasty.

I have two devices that can strip macrovision off pure PAL & pure NTSC
signals, first one is a Canopus ADVC-100 which has an 'undocumented'
macrovison removal option, the 2nd is my old Matrox Mystique PCI gfx
card with the Rainbow Runner add-on board.
The Matrox with RR card almost works as a TBC because it digitises the
video and the output is given a new 'header', it can help me capture some
VHS tapes with my ADVC-100 that the ADVC-100 on it's own will drop the
frames because of the bad signal from the VHS.


--
Rid

"{{{{{Welcome}}}}}" wrote in message
...
Thus spaketh APPRIA40WR:
"Spack" wrote in message
...
Sounds like the new model cables are just complete crap. Mine also
has a power supply, but in the instructions says it has to be used,
none of the maybe they have now. I guess the new ones try and tap
power off the SCART socket and end up messing it up. I don't use the
one I have right now, I might be prepared to sell it to you and if
it doesn't work then you can send it back and I'll refund you. Let
me know if you want to give it a go. I'll dig it out of the drawer
and check it still works OK first though.


Ta but no ta.

Like I say I'm not even sure my NTSC tape has Macrovision on it. My
SUX6000 VHS player won't touch NTSC sadly.

We have three of them, and all work fine, even copying NTSC tapes in NTSC mode
or transcoded to PAL from a Samsung multi-format player to both a Panasonic E30
and E55.


You have 3 SUX6000s or Sonel stabilisers? Is it the exact same SCART cable
stabiliser? Do you use a separate power supply? How have you connected the SCARTs?


Overall, the box may 'work' (just about) but it's not the same as watching the
original source. Which is useless for most folk.

"Ridwan Hughes" wrote in message
.. .
In article ,
says...
OK, been trying this out.


First impressions? Very cheap and nasty.

I have two devices that can strip macrovision off pure PAL & pure NTSC
signals, first one is a Canopus ADVC-100 which has an 'undocumented'
macrovison removal option, the 2nd is my old Matrox Mystique PCI gfx
card with the Rainbow Runner add-on board.
The Matrox with RR card almost works as a TBC because it digitises the
video and the output is given a new 'header', it can help me capture some
VHS tapes with my ADVC-100 that the ADVC-100 on it's own will drop the
frames because of the bad signal from the VHS.


Any broadcast or semi-professional equipment (or running a signal (no
cassette/playback required) through Betamax apparently or my SUX6000) will kill
off stabilisation problems.

Loads of stuff under £50 on Ebay but it's not advertised as a 'stabilser'.

Thus spaketh APPRIA40WR:
"{{{{{Welcome}}}}}" wrote in message
...
Thus spaketh APPRIA40WR:
"Spack" wrote in message
...
Sounds like the new model cables are just complete crap. Mine also
has a power supply, but in the instructions says it has to be used,
none of the maybe they have now. I guess the new ones try and tap
power off the SCART socket and end up messing it up. I don't use
the one I have right now, I might be prepared to sell it to you
and if it doesn't work then you can send it back and I'll refund
you. Let me know if you want to give it a go. I'll dig it out of
the drawer and check it still works OK first though.


Ta but no ta.

Like I say I'm not even sure my NTSC tape has Macrovision on it. My
SUX6000 VHS player won't touch NTSC sadly.

We have three of them, and all work fine, even copying NTSC tapes in
NTSC mode or transcoded to PAL from a Samsung multi-format player to
both a Panasonic E30 and E55.


You have 3 SUX6000s or Sonel stabilisers? Is it the exact same SCART
cable stabiliser? Do you use a separate power supply? How have you
connected the SCARTs?

Overall, the box may 'work' (just about) but it's not the same as
watching the original source. Which is useless for most folk.

Sonel ones.

One is powered by an adaptor, the one used from VCR to E55.

One is used from a Sky Digibox to E55

One is used from a Sky Digibox to E30

2 DVD players are macrofree.

Don't get as much use as they used to, due to it being easy to rip discs on
the PC, but ideal for when transfer VHS to DVD, or Sky Box Office.