By the end of 1987, the first S-VHS VCR models from other competitors included the Hitachi VT-2700A, Mitsubishi HS-423UR, Panasonic PV-S4764, RCA VPT-695HF, and Toshiba SV-950.

The often quoted horizontal resolution of "over 400" means S-VHS captures greater picture detail than even NTSC[4] analog cable and broadcast TV, which is limited to about 330 television lines (TVL).

This is performed by using a high carrier frequency of 3 MHz for the digital audio with O-QDPSK (Offset Quadrature Differential Phase Shift Keying) modulation and PCM encoding[11][12][13] which is then recorded onto the same helical tracks as the video.

[17][18][19][20] O-QDPSK is based on QDPSK (Quadrature Differential Phase Shift Keying), also known as DQPSK (Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), and is very similar to it, except O-QDPSK signals are free from zero crossing; the signals never cross the 0 voltage point.

[21] The bandwidth of S-VHS allows PAL recordings to contain Teletext data along with the normal video signal, which then can be displayed as an overlay of the conventional TV picture (though not on standard VHS machines).

displays the recorded Teletext data information as if the video were a television transmission being received at that moment.

[22] Newer VHS VCRs, depending upon their specification, offered a feature called S-VHS quasi-playback or Super Quasi-Play Back, abbreviated to SQPB.

Digital camcorders generally outperform S-VHS-C units in most technical aspects: audio/video quality, recording time, lossless duplication, and form factor.

The videotapes themselves are available, mostly by mail order or online, but are vanishingly rare in retail channels, and substantially more expensive than high-quality standard VHS media.

In the camcorder role, the smaller form S-VHS-C enjoyed limited success among home video users, competing with Hi8.

Full-size S-VHS was more popular in the amateur video industry, as it allowed for at least second-generation copies at reasonable quality, which was necessary for editing.

JVC, Panasonic, Sony and Mitsubishi sold industrial S-VHS decks for amateur and semi-professional production use.

S-VHS was used in some TV stations for inexpensive "on the spot" camcorder capture of breaking news, however, it was not suitable for multi-generational (studio) use.

In terms of audio performance, both VHS and Beta offered analog Hi-Fi stereos of outstanding quality.

Sony discontinued the ED-Beta product line in the U.S. market after less than two years, handing S-VHS a victory by default, if it can even be called that.

There is anecdotal evidence that some TV stations purchased ED-Beta equipment as a low-cost alternative to professional Betacam equipment, prompting speculation that Sony's management took steps to prevent its consumer (ED-Beta) division from cannibalizing the sales of its more lucrative professional video division.