Messages

286

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Adapters for Otari MX 5050

« on: August 30, 2008, 10:51:55 AM »

I was thinking about the problem, of NAB hubs not being made for the
BII and using BIII hubs and a hub adapter. I will be getting the bare deck in about
two weeks, and am looking for all the parts needed to get started playing tapes.
Assuming the deck has no problems and I will not know for sure until it gets here,
I am just looking for hubs now, but I need Reels, some demo/test music
and a XLR male to Female RCA adapters later on.
 

287

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Adapters for Otari MX 5050

« on: August 30, 2008, 12:20:54 AM »

Well I need the "Newbie Kit".  REELS, HUBS & Cables  :)
Is there any more news on the NAB hub adaptors?
I am going to check with audioproz for some used ones, but
how well do the dual adaptors work.
Is there anymore News on the TP reels for sale?
Ben.

288

General Discussion / Re: Newby, here, with a few questions...

« on: August 21, 2008, 12:33:50 PM »

2.  "Can either the Revox or TEAC machine be modified to utilize the Bottlehead electronics?"

Well looking at USED Revox A-77's prices here
http://buy0.audiogon.com/cgia/fsb.pl?misccass&1&ctg&st1
in the $300 range, I expect B-77's would be about the same ballpark.
Under the "Is this cats meyow" there is some information
about B77's decks. I don't think it would be hard, just digging the
schematics if you have that desire. I don't think you could lose
trying to mod a Revox machine with the low prices compared to
studio product.

289

General Discussion / Re: Newby, here, with a few questions...

« on: August 20, 2008, 06:53:36 PM »

I am here because I am dissatisfied with the marketing of 'consumer' music and
all the lies that go with the product especially DIGITAL. Here I can see the music
has value, and no hype about what machine you have since it is up the user to define
quality.For me I want a machine with the 'magic' button that gives me 15IPS and
the proper EQ. Other paths like upgrading a cheap deck is a valid option depending
on what you can find. One you have a machine ... then you spend more $$$
upgrading your entire audio set up.
---------------------------------------
 Enjoy the music , life is short.

PS: In 1968 I was lucky to even hear radio out here in COLD LAKE!
The big thing for me back then was TV in living B&W.

290

General Discussion / Re: Newby, here, with a few questions...

« on: August 19, 2008, 08:39:00 PM »

 The dark side whispers * DIGITAL FOREVER*!
I also new and trying to find a R2R player -  Any in Canada!?
Once that is done,then I can get the music for listening to this winter.
All I can say is good luck on your quest.

I have budgeted about $1400 US for player and about $1400 US
for the 6 TP tapes since it just feels right. The tape project here
has me thinking back years ago ... I did want a R2R in the 70's but never had
the cash for a good stereo system or seen a real Hi-Fi system till about 2003
when I found about valve amps on the web. Only now that I have a 1/2 decent
music system -- I still need more room treatment -- do I dare go towards a more
professional source of music. LP's are not a option for me since I have no
quality LP's and a good turnable/pre-amp would set me back I suspect about
$3K+ US and still no music to play.

291

Tape Project Albums - general / Re: Six Moons and the Tape Project

« on: August 19, 2008, 08:16:09 PM »

 I have have to mail-order for CD's, so the problem with me was finding
a online CD store that has something other than just last weeks top 10.
I have been just starting a music collection, so CD's are the only option
I have until I get a R2R.

I seem to have the same fealing about SCAD's ... just a little better than CD's
I buy SCAD's hoping the mastering is better than Wall-Mart $2.99 special CD's.
It seems all the CD's that (only a few) went from LP to CD with no digital enhancement
sound the best. The one thing nobody has control is the mastering and *compression*
used on digital media and multi-track hype. From what little I have played
analog sources (The Tape Project) seems to me the way to goto since I know
I get the *reel* music.

292

Tape Project Albums - general / Re: Latest shipping News

« on: August 19, 2008, 07:33:33 PM »

I suspect mid Sept, as people may want to spend the last few days of summer
and then school starts ect.  When it is -40F and and several feet of snow,
then you put on that tape you were saving and ...

293

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Is this the cats meyow ...Studer ReVox PR-99 Mk III ?

« on: August 18, 2008, 11:05:17 PM »

Well I put my modest bid up. I want the A807 because I found out it has the
Magic button. I have real limit of about $1750 US cause that is about all I have
in my bank to cover the exchange rate and shipping and sales? tax.
Now what to do for 5 days until the auction is over. :(

294

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Is this the cats meyow ...Studer ReVox PR-99 Mk III ?

« on: August 18, 2008, 12:31:06 PM »

I got the other problem now.  I found a Revox B77 logger  15/16 IPS.
I will need a new capstan at least to get modded to 15 IPS.
Any comments on this item -- Over kill I think.
STUDER-A807-2-track-reel-to-reel-mastering-recorder
http://cgi.ebay.com/STUDER-A807-2-track-reel-to-reel-mastering-recorder_W0QQitemZ120295772800QQihZ002QQcategoryZ15000QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

295

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Is this the cats meyow ...Studer ReVox PR-99 Mk III ?

« on: August 18, 2008, 10:55:11 AM »

Well lets see if editing the profile works.
Thanks for the fpt link.

296

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Is this the cats meyow ...Studer ReVox PR-99 Mk III ?

« on: August 17, 2008, 08:36:36 PM »

It looks like I have found somebody in Canada that is selling a ReVox B77 and parts.
($400). Assuming I can purchase the deck and it has 2 track heads it looks like I will
be modding it to 15 ips and IEC opt. The only other thing I would need to get the
maintenance manual just to figure out what is done for the mods from the pdf. Wish me luck as I wait back for my email.

297

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Is this the cats meyow ...Studer ReVox PR-99 Mk III ?

« on: August 17, 2008, 05:47:53 PM »

Doc, being an insatiable perfectionist, designed the Repro amp which eliminated my major qualm with the Seduction, the low gain. It also improved on just about every other area but certainly not to the extent that bypassing the internal electronics of the Technics made (which is as big gain in performance I've ever had in this hobby, equal to a big upgrade  in speakers). I never felt the need to A/B the Seduction and the Repro and that is how it should be. Personally, if you have to A/B components to hear the difference, and if it's an improvement, it isn't significant. It has brought me to the point that I'm quite satisfied with this component in the chain and can move on to concentrate on other things.
Well, I hope that helps.



Well that brings us all back to square one again - Lack of RS-1500's.
That also answers my questions about the amp  designs -- 1970's ideology :
The quantity of transistors sells not the quality.

298

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Is this the cats meyow ...Studer ReVox PR-99 Mk III ?

« on: August 17, 2008, 11:08:17 AM »

Ok, the bottom line -- I can't afford upgrades unless I know WHY they are better than
stock equipment.This takes into the muddy waters of amp design, for a line amp.
Right now I see very little sense in the (valve) Hi-Fi market place, but lots of snake oil
on this part sounds better than that part. I got into tube amps from the web
only a few years ago and every thing is this same design copied from the 1950's.
This has left me bitter, because of the lack of real innovative amp design since then
because of cost cutting in the commerical market place, and the lack of knowledge
for the DIY'ers like myself. I think I have lost faith in some audio design
ever since I've read ... "not to use a wire wound resistor for a dummy load
for a audio power amp." Heaven help us here -- 99% of all speakers are inductive.
:(   I tend to believe in the first watt of power idea and am trying to get my noise floor down. I still can hear a hum with my ear the speaker (96 dbm) but have gone
as far a amateur can go in amp design. Most of the mods I have seen are simple
but I really question design now unless I see a schematic.
PS: I only found out about Bottlehead and other places after I bought all my parts
for my amp.


 

299

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Is this the cats meyow ...Studer ReVox PR-99 Mk III ?

« on: August 17, 2008, 01:39:07 AM »

Did I also tell you, I don't have long distance calling. ;)
This is good information to know, since now I know of one dealer
in Canada that will have known standard of workmanship.
I will try later this week to see if I can find out just what the mods
for the PR99 Mark III are to give me IEC opt.  I really would like to
see a schematic on just what the mods are, so one can have EQ switchable
before I buy a deck.

For me, any deck I can find is fine (that is good shape) providing it can be modified for the eq and line level is not too low a voltage*. I don't intend to make changes
to the read amp section at this time, so if anybody has a tape player that
they feel don't plan to use as it is not worth fully upgrading please let me know.

While I can see options like the seduction pre-amp as an upgrade; I have to be convinced about why any upgrade is better over the stock machine. I am thinking
you need a very linear amp, rather than a very low noise one if you do upgrade
since TP tapes will have large uncompressed dynamic range.



* I designed my amp for CD input levels.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben's rule of amp design.
Buy the best parts and tubes you can afford. Only after the smoke clears
what you find in your junk box makes it work.

300

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Is this the cats meyow ...Studer ReVox PR-99 Mk III ?

« on: August 16, 2008, 07:05:58 PM »

Well I can let you know where I live -- Cold Lake, Alberta Canada.
That is about a 4 hour drive from Edmonton Alberta and I don't drive.
I'll check up on the Canuck  Audio mart, later this week but so far
I have seen are the low end consumer products -- 7" Sony ect ...
The main reason I am looking at the tape project is because I got
Decware's NFX speakers in this spring - A Very fast full range speaker.
 Thanks Again for the help.
Ben Alias Seaelf

PS. I don't use ebay, Have no credit cards and I get sniped out on the few times
I have bid. Most what I have seen is from web searches, and that
often too specific for a tape deck.