Tape Project Forum

Tape Machines => Reel to Reel Tape Machines => Topic started by: Gkar on April 16, 2010, 07:18:53 PM

Title: what do you think of using a C20 for tape head playback?
Post by: Gkar on April 16, 2010, 07:18:53 PM
in the process of restoring one and was wondering how the tape head playback might be on this preamp, thinking of playing my 1500 thru it, waddaya think?
Title: Re: what do you think of using a C20 for tape head playback?
Post by: steveidosound on April 17, 2010, 11:17:06 AM
...as in the tape head input of a McIntosh C20 preamplifier?
Title: Re: what do you think of using a C20 for tape head playback?
Post by: Gkar on April 19, 2010, 06:37:47 PM
exactly!
Title: Re: what do you think of using a C20 for tape head playback?
Post by: steveidosound on April 19, 2010, 09:50:02 PM
I tried finding the specs for this on line but was unsuccessful. I do have a friend who has one and might have the manual. They probably tried to adhere pretty closely to NAB 7 1/2 eq I would imagine. I noted the low / high as on the phono section. Presumably two different  sensitivities and or perhaps impedances. Who knows how it would work with more modern tape heads. It is the same preamp section as the phono stage, but with other component values for the eq. instead of the RIAA spec. If it is a fairly quiet phono stage it might be O.K. as a tape head preamp. Not the correct eq for TP tapes though. I have not looked at one for a while. Does it indicate the NAB spec on the switchable eq for record compensation? I remember it has switches for the various pre-RIAA curves.
Title: Re: what do you think of using a C20 for tape head playback?
Post by: Gkar on April 20, 2010, 12:53:13 PM
Thanks, Steve, I'll check that.  I would think that the tape preamps that Doc B has are better, but I am in the process of fixing/upgrading this preamp and noticed the tape head in.  Since the C20 is considered by many to be one of the top preamps, I was curious as to the suitability of using the tape head in for my 1500.  It will be awaile before I can afford the doc's preamps, work is so slow, and no one is paying, arrgh!