Topics

1

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Studer A101

« on: September 30, 2010, 04:12:06 PM »

I can find at less three versions of this hybrid IC - one with a large round blog (capacitor?) encapsulated in light blue epoxy, another with a square thin capacitor, also encapsulated in light blue epoxy and finally a non encapsulated board using bc550c and bc560c transistors.
Which do you think it is the better sounding?
 

2

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Studer/Revox green grease

« on: July 24, 2010, 08:11:12 AM »

I have a bizarre question - what is the green translucent grease that seems to be used in Studer/Revox tape machines and for what purpose? I have spent hours in the past cleaning a Revox PR99 and a Studer A80, bought in different countries at different times, from this horrible sticky substance, and a few A80 parts I just received from Ebay also have the same substance. Happily it can be removed with a cloth slightly damped with alcohol. But I can not understand the coincidence!

3

Tape Tech / Studer A80 DIN/AEG table reels

« on: July 05, 2010, 04:26:03 AM »

I have just bought  a pair A80 RC A80 DIN/AEG table reels of the later model. They were quite dirty and I disassembled them for cleaning. Unhappily as soon as I take the screws out, three little springs jumped out and I can not find in the several A80 manuals a diagram of assembly for this type of table reel. Any help will be very much appreciated.  Also I would like to know the purpose of the second under disk that is able to rotate freely.
If by chance you know where I can buy the cine adapters for these reels at a nice price please drop me mail - I am now looking for a pair.

4

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Technics 1500 review in HFNRR July 1978

« on: June 30, 2010, 04:05:12 PM »

Owners of the Technics RS1500-1700 series will be very proud with results of a test published in HiFi News and Record Review magazine in June 1978. Wow and flutter was very low at 15 ips (.012% DIN pk to pk), and flutter analysis at 10kHz showed very low scrape modulation. If you want a copy of the full test please email me.
Do you know of any similar test of the Studer A80?

5

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Studer A80 or A80RC

« on: June 15, 2010, 12:17:36 PM »

Considering only the tape transport performance and ignoring the audio electronics, is there any significant difference between the 1/4" A80 and the A80RC?

6

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Studer A80 tape spooling in FF and REW mode

« on: June 10, 2010, 06:19:40 PM »

I have now aligned most of the tape mechanism of my Studer A80R.  Several parts were replaced (the advice of some experienced Tapeproject members was really of great help), all tape tensions seem correct ? I can go from any mode to another one without any tape looping or visible stress in the tape tension rollers.
But after I wind or re-wind a tape if FF or REW mode the tape is wound in an un-even fashion, not  with the smooth continuous aspect  that the tape takes after playback. In this mode the tape is very well centered in the spool. 
Does anybody have a suggestion how to fix this ?
Thanks.

7

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Studer A80 left roller guide

« on: May 06, 2010, 04:45:51 PM »

I have now received my A80R from Holland. Everything seems working, tapes tension is correct, and except some noisy bearings that I must replace there is little to complain. Just two details are bothering me. When I press the stop machine everything stops fast and smoothly except the left roller guide (usually hidden by the headblock cover) that keeps rolling for a few seconds until the tape pressure stops - is this normal?
Also the capstan is polished in the contact area - will it affect performance? Must of the photos I seen in the net have the same polishing.
Thanks for your advise and help.
Francisco

8

Tape Tech / Wow and fluter meter calibration

« on: April 26, 2010, 10:05:20 AM »

Another naive question:
How do you calibrate a wow and flutter meter? Apparently one could use a CD recorded with standard tones having a know amount of wow and flutter, but I could not find any reference to such standards.

9

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Studer A80 - A810 tape transport

« on: April 18, 2010, 07:08:15 AM »

This question is related to a tape machine to be used with a Tube Repro, mainly for playback. Which machine has better mechanics and should sound better with the Tape Project tapes?
I have a bias towards the A80 - electronic maintenance is much easier and almost all components can be bought easily, except the logic proms, as they are standard parts.
Thanks for your help!

10

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Studer A80 - horizontal or vertical mount?

« on: April 09, 2010, 05:35:09 PM »

What would be the position to operate a Studer A80, the vertical or the horizontal one? I saw that specifications are usually taken in the horizontal position:  can I conclude that this position will yield the best sound?

11

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Revox relaped heads

« on: July 16, 2009, 11:12:53 AM »

I am thinking about having the heads of my Revox A700 relaped. As I will use my Revox mainly to listen to the tape project tapes I am very concerned about the possibility that the heads can damage or shorten tape quality. Anybody has experience with Revox relaped heads?

12

General Discussion / Paul Stubblebine listening room

« on: July 04, 2009, 11:52:57 AM »

I have read a few comments of fortunate audiophiles who had the pleasure of  listening to master tapes at Paul Stubblebine listening room. "I have never heard anything as good as this " is a  typical reaction. Although I now know that the speakers were Magico driven by Bottlehead amps, I am looking for more information, such as type of amplifiers and details about the active filters. Do you know if this system was ever reviewed?

 

13

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / The best reel to reel Revox transport

« on: June 05, 2009, 02:13:45 PM »

Being located in Europe I must source my machine in the Revox "Prosumer" machines, the possible candidates are either a PR99mk3 or an A700. The A700 is older, but looking at service manuals seems a better machine, with electronic tape tension sensors arms, although the PR99 seems more robust. Having spent a few nights reading about scrape flutter, I understand that friction is an enemy in the tape path, and should be reduced as much as possible. I have access to an excellent technician who can fit bearings or quartz/pyrex sleeves if needed.
I do not consider recording my tapes -  I just want a good machine to play the Tape Project tapes and will use external electronics, such as the Seduction or the Tube Repro to amplify the head signals.
Having your opinions on these two machines will be of great help for me.
Francisco

14

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Spare parts for Otari MX50 / 5050

« on: May 11, 2009, 02:56:37 PM »

Just wondering if spare microprocessors for the Otari MX50 / 5050 machines are still available?
All other electronic components seem easy to get.