Two FS200's with diferent results!!

[JoseD]

Ok, I know this is completely insane but I got another FS200
I'm just posting this as proof that the experience one has with a particular model can't be generalized, specially with older machines....

After cleaning the heads on both various times (only wet/dry tape cleaner though but cleaned a whole bunch of times) the new one is still clearly more noisy. The only difference I can see between both, visually is that the 2nd seems to be a different production since the front panel's lights have a different luminescence, kind of more glowy, while the other is more sharp.
The weird thing is that the one I already had still has the same intermittent problem of showing noise for 1-2 seconds sometimes.
Another difference is that the head cleaning problem I was having (cleaning the heads of the 1st one just rendered the image completely er.. gone, just rain! Had to play a tape for hours to gradually disappear) doesn't happend with this one!!! (Thought the tape cleaner wasn't adequate for these types of heads and was screwing them) And yet the image is general more noisy.
I already tryed with different settings (noise filter on/off, sharpness and TBC) and can say for granted that the settings have the same calibration, just the new second one is more noisy. It's also not the the recording which was made on the 1st one, since I've tryed with various sources.

Now I have to make the decision on which one to repair. I don't fancy taking them to a repair house, the machines are in such great visual condition and they normally treat old stuff badly but hey, the 2nd didn't solve the problems...!

Also considered getting new heads just to give it a try but I think 1st the logical next step is cleaning the heads with that isopropyl alcohol / chamois (what the hell is chamois anyway ?) I've seen mentioned here various times..

[JoseD]

Using test patterns from Digital Video Essentials I found interesting results , but unfortunately my Panasonic EH60's copy protection kicks in when recording back the recorded SVHS tapes! (Was gonna save some images to post here).

All tests were made with high grade and expensive TKD XP SVHS tapes, in good condition (only recorded twice).
Test results follow:

I found the newer one (2nd machine I bought) to have much better (!!!) recording with SP, while the 1st one's sucks, full of noise. Yet the 1st one's SP playback is much better, much less noise, specially with the 2nd's recordings, which play better than recordings made the machine itself!!. One advantage I found on the 2nd's SP playback is that the color is more saturated. This is probably something you can adjust in the electronics on the machine as I took a look into the service manual and saw the adjustments for that.
(TIP for those complaining about washed colors on this machine)

Now the surprise, I was looking at the service manual and stumbled across the specs where it says it has 2 separate heads for SP and for LP (total of 4 video heads). So I recorded all the test patterns again in LP and compared the results. The recorded image in LP is actually better than SP on the 1st machine! Comparing to the 2nd they're much closer, though the 2nd's is still slightly better but not much. Regarding the playback, the 2nd's has less noise than it's SP playback, and it's practically on par with the 1st one's, though recordings made on it played on the 1st machine were probably still the best combination, though not so much difference.
Color saturation remained more or less the same as the tests made with SP.

So now I'm again puzzled and undecided on what to do by the results and would like you guys feedback...

Regs
José