Additional Information

Warning

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.

To avoid electrical shock, do not open the cabinet. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.

The mains lead must only be changed at a qualified service shop.

Precautions
Safety

This unit operates on 110 – 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz. Check that the unit’s operating voltage is identical with your local power supply.

If anything falls into the cabinet, unplug the unit and have it checked by qualified personnel before operating it any further.

The unit is not disconnected from the mains as long as it is connected to the mains, even if the unit itself has been turned off.

Unplug the unit from the mains if you do not intend to use it for an extended period of time. To disconnect the cord, pull it out by the plug, never by the cord.

Installing

Allow adequate air circulation to prevent internal heat buildup.

If the unit is brought directly from a cold to a warm location, moisture may condense inside the unit and cause damage to the video head and tape. When you first install the unit, or when you move it from a cold to a warm location, wait for about one hour before operating the unit.

Caution

Television programmes, films, video tapes, and other materials may be copyrighted. Unauthorized recording of such material may be contrary to the provisions of the copyright laws. Also, use of this recorder with cable television transmission may require authorization from the cable television transmitter and/or programme owner.

Compatible colour systems

Check the colour systems of your unit using the table below.

Model name
Colour system
Recording
Playback

 

 

 

 

SLV-GA55ME/

PAL

PAL

MES/PS/SG/TH

MESECAM

MESECAM

SLV-GA65MJ

NTSC 4.43

NTSC 4.43

 

NTSC 3.58

NTSC 3.58

 

 

 

SLV-GA35ME/

 

PAL

PS/SG/TH

 

MESECAM

 

 

NTSC 4.43

 

 

 

Troubleshooting

If you have any questions or problems not covered below, please consult your nearest Sony service facility.

 

Symptom
Remedy

 

The ?/1 ON/STANDBY switch does

• Connect the mains lead securely.

 

not function.

 

 

 

 

 

The power is turned on but the

• Moisture condensation has occured. Turn the power

 

unit does not operate.

off, unplug the mains lead and leave the unit to dry

 

 

for over an hour.

 

 

 

Power

The unit enters standby mode

• The auto safety system is triggered to protect your

or turns off automatically.

tape and the unit’s mechanism when there is

 

something wrong with the tape or when the

 

mechanism is overloaded. Press ?/1 ON/STANDBY

 

 

 

 

to restart the unit. If the unit does not work after

 

 

pressing ?/1 ON/STANDBY again, disconnect the

 

 

mains lead from the mains. Wait for at least 15

 

 

seconds. Then reconnect the mains, and press

 

 

?/1 ON/STANDBY again. If the unit still does not

 

 

work, please consult your nearest Sony service

 

 

facility.

 

 

 

 

The playback picture does not

• Make sure the TV is set to the video channel. If you

 

appear on the TV screen.

are using a monitor, set it to video input.

 

 

 

 

The picture is not clear.

• Adjust the tracking with the V/v NORMAL/SLOW/

 

 

STILL ADJUST buttons.

 

 

• Make sure the COLOR SYSTEM switch is set to the

 

 

position corresponding to the colour system which

 

 

the tape was recorded with.

Do not place the unit on surfaces (rugs, blankets, etc.) or near materials (curtains, draperies) that may block the ventilation slots.

Do not install the unit near heat sources such as radiators or air ducts, or in a place subject to direct sunlight, excessive dust, mechanical vibration or shock.

Do not install the unit in an inclined position. It is designed to be operated in a horizontal position only.

Keep the unit and cassettes away from equipment with strong magnets, such as microwave ovens or large loudspeakers.

Do not place heavy objects on the unit.

Recording of video sources based on other colour systems cannot be guaranteed.

To play back tapes recorded with the PAL and MESECAM colour systems, you need a TV or colour monitor compatible with these systems.

Tapes recorded with the NTSC colour system can be played back on this unit using a TV or a colour monitor for the PAL colour system.

 

 

• The video heads are dirty (see below). Clean the

 

 

video heads using the Sony T-25CLD, T-25CLW or

Playback

E-25CLDR video head cleaning cassette. If these

cleaning cassettes are not available in your area, have

the heads cleaned at your nearest Sony service facility

(a standard service charge will be required). Do not

 

 

use a commercially available liquid type cleaning

 

 

cassette, as it may damage the video heads.

 

 

• The video heads may have to be replaced. Consult

 

 

your local Sony service facility for more information.

 

 

 

 

The picture rolls vertically

• Adjust the vertical hold control on the TV or monitor.

 

during picture search.

 

 

 

 

 

The picture has no sound.

• The tape is defective.

 

 

• If you made A/V connections, check the audio cable

 

 

connection.

 

 

 

 

The tape starts playing as soon

• The safety tab has been removed. To record on this

Specifications

System

Colour system

PAL, MESECAM, NTSC 4.43

NTSC 3.58 (SLV-GA55ME/MES/PS/SG/TH and GA65MJ

only)

RF output signal

UHF channels 30 to 39 (B/G, D/K)

Aerial out

75-ohm asymmetrical aerial socket

Inputs and outputs

LINE IN (SLV-GA55ME/MES/PS/SG/TH and GA65MJ)

VIDEO IN, phono jack (1) Input signal: 1 Vp-p, 75 ohms, unbalanced, sync negative AUDIO IN, phono jack (1) Input level: 327 mVrms

Input impedance: more than 47 kilohms

LINE OUT

VIDEO OUT, phono jack (1) Output signal: 1 Vp-p, 75 ohms, unbalanced, sync negative AUDIO OUT, phono jack (1) Standard output: 327 mVrms Load impedance: 47 kilohms

Output impedance: less than 10 kilohms

Demonstration mode

The demonstration mode will activate when you press STD PICT and the RESOLUTION CONTROL II down button on the unit at the same time.

When demonstration mode starts during playback, RESOLUTION CONTROL II menu appears and the level of picture adjustment changes automatically.

General

Power requirements

110 – 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz Power consumption

10 W (SLV-GA35ME/PS/SG/TH)

12 W (SLV-GA55ME/MES/PS/SG/TH and GA65MJ)

Operating temperature 5°C to 40°C

Storage temperature –20°C to 60°C

Dimensions

Approx. 355 ⋅ 96 ⋅ 293 mm (w/h/d) including projecting parts and controls

Mass

Approx. 3.8 kg

Supplied accessories

Remote commander (1)

R6 (Size AA) batteries (2) Aerial cable (1)

Plug adaptor

(SLV-GA35ME, GA55ME, GA55MES and GA65MJ only)

(1)

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

When demonstration mode starts during power off and Synchronised Recording off, the indicator lights on the unit flash.

To cancel the demonstration mode

Press STD PICT.

Recording*

as it is inserted.

tape, cover the tab hole.

The tape is ejected when you

• Check that the safety tab has not been removed.

press z REC.

 

 

 

Nothing happens when you

• Make sure the tape is not at its end.

 

 

press z REC.

 

 

 

 

 

A tape cannot be inserted.

• Check that a tape is not already in the tape

 

 

compartment.

 

 

 

 

The remote commander does

• Make sure you are pointing the remote commander at

 

not function.

the remote sensor on the unit.

 

 

• Replace all the batteries in the remote commander

Others

 

with new ones if they are weak.

The unit needs to be cleaned.

• Clean the cabinet, panel, and controls with a dry soft

 

cloth, or a soft cloth slightly moistened with a mild

 

 

 

 

detergent solution. Do not use any type of solvent,

 

 

such as alcohol or benzine.

 

 

 

The indicator lights on the unit are flashing. • The demonstration mode has been turned on. Cancel

 

The RESOLUTION CONTROL II

the demonstration mode by pressing STD PICT.

 

menu appears automatically.

 

 

 

 

* SLV-GA55ME/MES/PS/SG/TH and GA65MJ only

Auto head cleaner

The unit incorporates an auto head cleaner which cleans the video heads when a tape is loaded or unloaded. When the heads are not sufficiently clean, even after a tape has been loaded/unloaded several times, use a video head cleaning cassette.

Symptoms caused by contaminated video heads
• Normal picture
• Rough picture
• Unclear picture
• No picture (or

 

 

 

black & white

 

 

 

screen appears)

initial
terminal
contamination

 

Sapphire tape cleaner

The unit incorporates a sapphire tape cleaner which cleans a video tape when it is loaded. This cleaner can prevent the video heads from contamination by removing dust or mold from a tape with the sapphire edge.

Sony Corporation