Wow, looks like someone might have an A810 which was badly out of adjustment! I could not disagree with the comments Tubes n tapes made more! Another posting from me is in order here.
To begin with, the A810 does not stretch tapes in any way, shape or form. The LED counter is extremely accurate and all of my tapes are the exact same length now as they were the first time I played them. I know this for a fact because I have a Loc point programmed for 3600' tapes at -96:30. When starting rewind, I position the end of the magnetic tape over the left guide roller as a reference and the counter is reset. After pressing Loc1 and then pressing Play, the tape rewinds (at full speed) to this point, playback begins and the music starts at -96:25. This is the way I have set up my 3600' tapes and if the tapes were stretching, this kind of automatic playback operation would not work. Furthermore, accuracy is right to the second. I also have a Loc point for 2500' tapes programmed at -66:30 which works in the same manner. Very handy!
"The tape tension will be as high as the motors can generate." That statement is simply false. Tape tension is adjustable for each reel during Rew, and a separate set of adjustments set tension for each reel during the FF operation!
"..dramatically more mechanical stress". No way Jose! It's apparent from the observations I've made and my personal experience, as noted above, that the A810 is the only machine I have which does not subject the tape to ANY stress. As for the insinuations that after pressing Rew or FF the machine reacts just like an out-of-control powerhouse, nothing could be farther from the truth. It spools faster than my other decks, but that is a positive aspect of its operation. It's also true that the machine has not one, but four spooling speeds and Tubes n tapes neglected to mention that!
Triple-play tapes: I have in my posession three triple play tapes. The A810 is the only machine I own which I trust to play these tapes. It most assuredly doesn't break the tape as was suggested, nor does it stretch them, as counter readings are consistent every time the tapes are played.
Regarding mikel's comments and quotations from Fred Thal, I'd have to agree there. It's usually true that you get what you pay for. That's why I'd recommend buying a used Studer from Filmco. You don't need to use ebay, just give them a call and they will set up a deck for you just the way you want it. Shipping is strictly air freight on it's own pallet via Forward Air, then trucked, still on its own pallet via Forward Air in an air-ride trailer to the nearest F/A terminal, if necessary. Filmco purchased all of Studer Canada's parts inventory a few years ago when Studer pulled out of North America, and have a technician who's worked on Studer decks for 20+ years. The deck they sold me did not have a shiny polished capstan, in fact it was just the opposite. The heads had not even a trace of a flat spot on them. The pinch roller, far from being old and brittle is a Studer part, having a slightly greenish color, and being made of some type of silicone compound it should last a very long time, unlike the $50 so-called "Studer" pinch rollers commonly available on ebay. In a nutshell, the deck runs with the precision of a swiss watch.
Lastly, there is the support issue. Filmco stands behind their machines. The only reason I had to change the Basis Board to begin with is because I tried inserting a card incorrectly and cracked the plug-in receptacle on the board. I was wondering what to do about that and Filmco didn't even hesitate, they immediately said they'd send me a new board, no charge! They took the time to pull a working basis board out of another machine for me, and sent it without even charging me for the shipping.