I don't know that particular deck though I've owned or used a few, but the TEAC/Tascam decks are usually pretty good. I stick to Studers now.karma said:
Unless there is something wrong, it should be better than almost all cassette decks. Besides they look so much cooler when they're running. There's also quite a few second hand pre-rec tapes available but I don't know their quality as I haven't bought many. Ask the R2R group linked below.
You'll need a demagnetiser, and some isopropyl alcohol (pure) and Q tips to clean the tape path for maintenance.
There's a very active group on Yahoo for reels with a lot of expertise and enthusiastic hobbyists.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reeltoreel/
Just an observation:
Cassette is to Reel to reel as
McDonalds is to fine dining.
Reel to reel has the ability to be much much better in terms of wow and flutter, dynamic range, noise floor, etc.
Sheldon
Cassette is to Reel to reel as
McDonalds is to fine dining.
Reel to reel has the ability to be much much better in terms of wow and flutter, dynamic range, noise floor, etc.
Sheldon
stokessd said:
Theoretically, yes. But again it depends on calibration. I had few cassette and R to R decks and it was not always the case. Especially when you compare with self calibrating cassette deck, like Nakamichi ZXL1000 for instance. I never owned a Studer, but had a chance to try Akai GX-747 and it measured and sounded like crap. I still have Pioneer RT-909 and it's the best measuring so far, sounds pretty good too, but I'm not sure if better than a Nac.
I also have Sony TC-765 and it's only so so, with quite a difference between both channels, despite being almost a top of Sony line.
I had a reel to reel years ago and it was great but the only problem was the tapes seemed to become contaminated if left sitting in the unit for a period of time..................during that era my cousin was making demos with his band and we ended up recording with a sony Beta hifi machine......it basically blew away the reel to reel deck in sound quality
and Karma why didnt you call me!!!!!!!!!!!!😡 ...hahaha
DIRT®
and Karma why didnt you call me!!!!!!!!!!!!😡 ...hahaha
DIRT®
i just got my computer back on line. server works just not my
desktop i lost your number when the drive smoked. ill just e-mail you and u can send me the number
desktop i lost your number when the drive smoked. ill just e-mail you and u can send me the number
Perhaps, not too shabby...
Does it have 1/2 track or 1/4 track heads and is the max speed 7 1/2 or 15 IPS?
The setup of these machines is every thing. To get the best performance the R/P amps should be set up for the specific tape being used. That was the idea behind the auto setup cassette machines.
I was never a big Nachamichi fan. I found that the tape path didn’t hold the tape too steady and the azimuth would drift. The Taskam MK-122 was by comparison, a rock. It did not however have all the cool bells and whistles.
If you can find yourself a nice DBX or Dolby SR unit on Ebay you can add a dozen or more apparent DB of SNR to the output.
Alignment is not to tricky with these things, but a lot of special widgets make it possible. Spring scales are needed for adjusting tensions and alignment tapes are used for setting up the R/P electronics.
It’s been around a hundred years since I’ve made these adjustments. It’s likely that someone else here knows the cheats and work abounds much better than I do.
The machine looks like it doesn’t support the larger 10 1/2 inch reels, therefore I'll guess that it is high end is 7 1/2 IPS with 1/4 track heads. Assuming the electronics are well designed, and in good condition this still gives 2x the track width and 2x the speed of the humble audiocassette. The available tape stock is also much thicker than the audiocassette allowing for stranger record currents to be used.
-Dave
Does it have 1/2 track or 1/4 track heads and is the max speed 7 1/2 or 15 IPS?
The setup of these machines is every thing. To get the best performance the R/P amps should be set up for the specific tape being used. That was the idea behind the auto setup cassette machines.
I was never a big Nachamichi fan. I found that the tape path didn’t hold the tape too steady and the azimuth would drift. The Taskam MK-122 was by comparison, a rock. It did not however have all the cool bells and whistles.
If you can find yourself a nice DBX or Dolby SR unit on Ebay you can add a dozen or more apparent DB of SNR to the output.
Alignment is not to tricky with these things, but a lot of special widgets make it possible. Spring scales are needed for adjusting tensions and alignment tapes are used for setting up the R/P electronics.
It’s been around a hundred years since I’ve made these adjustments. It’s likely that someone else here knows the cheats and work abounds much better than I do.
The machine looks like it doesn’t support the larger 10 1/2 inch reels, therefore I'll guess that it is high end is 7 1/2 IPS with 1/4 track heads. Assuming the electronics are well designed, and in good condition this still gives 2x the track width and 2x the speed of the humble audiocassette. The available tape stock is also much thicker than the audiocassette allowing for stranger record currents to be used.
-Dave
I have one of these
This is a 1/4 track machine and has 3 3/4 and 7 1/2
Also has auto reverse, nice eh?
but no user selectable eq or bias
If it had 10 1/2 in reel cap. I'd be very happy.
I have about 100 tapes with all different formulations finding a happy setting, good luck..
This is a 1/4 track machine and has 3 3/4 and 7 1/2
Also has auto reverse, nice eh?
but no user selectable eq or bias
If it had 10 1/2 in reel cap. I'd be very happy.
I have about 100 tapes with all different formulations finding a happy setting, good luck..
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