I have a Sony reel-to-reel Tape Deck (1960s vintage) whose pre-amp has failed (the capacitors have fallen apart). Mechanically, the deck works OK. I no longer need to use the deck for recording but I'd like to play all my old tape recordings and convert the ones I want to keep into digital. To do this, I think all I need to do is take the 4 wires (2 each for the L and R stereo channels) from the playback head and feed them into my modern Marantz amplifier/receiver. However, I expect I'll need to feed them through a suitable preamp. If so, where can I get one?
A tape head preamp is similar to a phono preamp, and requires proper NAB equalization.. Here's an example.
https://sound-au.com/project247.htm
https://sound-au.com/project247.htm
Thanks so much, and such a quick reply too! However, this is clearly way beyond my capabilities and confirms advice I got from a local electronics repair technician who could not repair the tape deck.
Then it would be easier to find a working tape deck to use for the playback.
Maybe a local pro audio store could rent you a deck to use.
Maybe a local pro audio store could rent you a deck to use.
Replace the dead capacitors with mylar
Electrolytic cans are easy to replace.
You could also replace the resistors with 1% low noise metal film.
Do you have a pic of the preamp board?
Electrolytic cans are easy to replace.
You could also replace the resistors with 1% low noise metal film.
Do you have a pic of the preamp board?
Something like this from eBay probably would be good https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25471478...l/8GqPa+7c8gCJ1AsCWfBCaqf2|tkp:Bk9SR8iJmIfXYw