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Created by JVC, Hitachi, Philips, and Matsushita, D-VHS was introduced in 1998 as the first high-definition home video format available to consumers. Capable of playing movies in high resolutions, including 1920×1080 and 1280×720, D-VHS VCRs could also record in formats ranging from 480p to full 1080i when paired with an external DTV tuner.
Importantly, D-VHS was backward compatible with the existing VHS and S-VHS tapes that were widely used at the time, ensuring that consumers could still play their older collections.
The “D” in D-VHS originally stood for “Data,” reflecting its capacity for data storage beyond standard video. However, JVC later renamed the format to “Digital VHS” to emphasize its video capabilities. A single DF-480 cassette could store approximately 50 GB of data or 4 hours of 1080i video on its 500-meter (1,640 ft) tape.
D-VHS used the MPEG data format, and at the time of its release, no other consumer-grade recording or playback system could handle high-definition video. Standard DVD players, which were popular then, could not support high-definition content, and it wasn’t until 2004 that prototypes of consumer high-definition DVD recording and playback devices began appearing at trade shows.
In the event that you ever attempt to watch an old D-VHS tape, note that manufacturers JVC and Mitsubishi never resolved compatibility differences and tapes recorded on hardware made by one can’t be played by the other. Additionally, after 2002, prerecorded D-VHS cassettes were marketed under the brand name D-Theater. These D-Theater tapes won’t play on D-VHS decks that lack the D-Theater logo, further complicating playback for modern users.
