MiniDV artifacts, head alignment

Had some MiniDV tapes I needed to import on the PC but my old MiniDV recorder was out of commission. I found a used MiniDV recorder on E-Bay but the tapes suffered vertical artifcacts and sound cut-out when played on this unit. Video recorded by this unit was perfect however. The cause turned out to that one recorder's alignment was different from the other. Now, as to which recorder was in 'True' alignment? I have no idea, I just know what works for me. Maybe this will help you too.