Halllo ! I have a 30 year old RE-201 echo. Wonder if You can recommend any improvements ? For example: can I change some transistors to low noise types ? What tape would you suggest ? Are there any factory which make tapes
suitable ? Will polypropylene capacitors ( as couplingcaps for example .... instead of electrolythic , do an improvement in sound ...?)
Thanks for some advice . Stewen
suitable ? Will polypropylene capacitors ( as couplingcaps for example .... instead of electrolythic , do an improvement in sound ...?)
Thanks for some advice . Stewen
For coupling, metallized polypropylene are preferred but are big in size. Yes they do improve sound mostly over an electrolytic. But with an unit so old, you should think of re-caping it.
Gajanan Phadte
Gajanan Phadte
RE-201 improvements
Thanks for answer ! Yes , I´ll try to change some coupling cas to met. polyp.
and also the electr. caps in powersupply . Stewen
Thanks for answer ! Yes , I´ll try to change some coupling cas to met. polyp.
and also the electr. caps in powersupply . Stewen
While its a cool gadget from the 1970s, tape drive, tape noise and spring reverb unit are the inherent weakness which determine the noise floor, more than the amplifying transistors, components or later IC types.
There seem to be a few internet traders and service people offering upgrade and replacement assemblies for these, which may be a way of keeping them working and replace tapes but it's not likely you'll ever get near digital quietness levels. Roland re-released it as the Boss RE20 model in 2007, so it must be basically good enough to permit that, with tape noise and all. It means you can probably adapt the spares and parts from that newer model too.
The service manual is a good source of detail on the original model and suitable upgraded components may well have been used in the update RE20. http://manuals.fdiskc.com/flat/Roland RE-101 & RE-201 Service Manual.pdf
There seem to be a few internet traders and service people offering upgrade and replacement assemblies for these, which may be a way of keeping them working and replace tapes but it's not likely you'll ever get near digital quietness levels. Roland re-released it as the Boss RE20 model in 2007, so it must be basically good enough to permit that, with tape noise and all. It means you can probably adapt the spares and parts from that newer model too.
The service manual is a good source of detail on the original model and suitable upgraded components may well have been used in the update RE20. http://manuals.fdiskc.com/flat/Roland RE-101 & RE-201 Service Manual.pdf
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