Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (
More info?)
On 10 Jan 2005 14:53:57 -0800, "Frankie739" <frank@mrtwochannel.com>
wrote:
>I have just come back from CES 2005, and heard some fantastic sound
>where the source was vintage 60-70's reel2reel decks. The music was so
>lifelike, and so much more information than CD's/SACD/DVD-A's.,
>
>I have no knowledge of what reel2reel I should purchase, nor the
>differences between 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch, and multi tracks. Reading some
>of the forum posts, spare parts could be a problem......so ANY
>suggestions and recommendations would be appreciated.
>What I am looking for is that "live music" sound with all the magic,
>that seems to be missing from the current formats.
>
>My budget I wish to spend, that I suppose will have to include an
>amount for post purchase adjustment can be up to $500.
>
>Thanks
-- Oh, given your aims to listen every 1/4" tape obtainable, you'd
need something the Germans would call "Eierlegende Wollmilchsau", "A
Milky Egg-Laying Pig" or so
)
Nevertheless, Technics tape recorders would give you, in addition to
1/2 track, 1/4 track reproduction posibility too and they cover the
most interesting 3 speeds. Revox B77 is easier obtainable, but you'd
have to buy say 1/4 "Low Speed" model and 1/2" "High Speed" model,
also 2 machines to cover it all. There is a possibility to play also
quarter track tapes on a 2-track Revox B77 too, I've seen a pictures
where the 4th 1/4 head has been aded into the place foreseen for
sync-head option and you'd change the signal by a switch, but this is
a rather unique, albeit viable, idea. There were some models which had
interchangeable head blocks too like some Uhers and some today quite
hard-to-find German ASC 6000 machnies (which had some similarities to
Revox).
I'd suggest Revox because you still can obtain a new set of heads,
it's not cheap though, and adjusting the azimuth -- which would be
obligatory -- is easily done by a hex screw. Whichever tape machine
you choose, please pay attention to the stand of heads first (a Revox
head is still good up to some 5 mm of the area polished ie. worn out
by the tape albeit Revox always suggested changing at some 3,5 mm --
marketing I think) and then pay attention to the pinch roller. The
tape counter belt is now always broken into pieces at B77 machines but
it can be easily replaced by some rubber belt(s) from, say,
videorecorders.
Generally, Revox spares are easier to obtain. This is of course the
semi-pro realm, Studers, Ampex machines etc. are somewhat different
story and as to Tascam, chances are to obtain a new machine still
today.
Now a quick question to all -- do newer Studer heads fit in Revox B77
too? -- I know that you can get a glass-and-metal Studer head for, say
an A 807.
In such a case, the part numbers would be for that particular head
1.318.xxx.xx; the "x"es being batch numbers. This head is lasting many
times more compared to standard heads so I'm interested.
Edi Zubovic, Crikvenica, Croatia
/www.bridgeclassicalguitars.com/
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