Vintage HiFi Audio Forum
Audio Discussion => List your system => Topic started by: OldiesButGoodies on December 20, 2014, 10:17:32 AM
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Well - the rematch happened. Or more accurately, did not really happen.
I brought the Otari to Rev's place. First we listened to the readjusted phono setup: it was a night and day difference compared to last time, although it did look like someone took a dump on it. Bass was tight and low and imaging was excellent. The magic of a balanced platter and properly set up arm.
Then we listened to the reference 2-track Patty Barber reel I had brought with me on the Revox for a few minutes. Sounded good, did not do much critical listening, but I remember it sounding decent. We left that playing while we went to the garage. When we got back it was not playing. Upon further inspection the damn Revox had eaten 3 yards of tape and stopped.
We were able to disentangle the tape and rewind it. I hooked up the Otari and tested play only to discover that the XLR-RCA adapters I brought were not wired for Otari (it uses a different-than-typical config). So no luck on the Otari either, so we went back to the Revox and continued drinking IPA while Rev disassembled the thing to try to adjust the pinch roller tension. I eventually left to go home, Rev was still doing surgery on the temperamental german deek.
Good times...
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7534/15441300094_da7cac42eb_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pwuGxY)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/pwuGxY) by JSifontes (https://www.flickr.com/people/78619205@N00/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7537/16061682971_9d54e86df0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qtjjLt)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/qtjjLt) by JSifontes (https://www.flickr.com/people/78619205@N00/), on Flickr
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8637/15441312904_5a4f75b6cd_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pwuLmQ)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/pwuLmQ) by JSifontes (https://www.flickr.com/people/78619205@N00/), on Flickr
A link to more pictures here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsifontes/sets/72157647516018904/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jsifontes/sets/72157647516018904/)
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Pepe-why Otari uses an odd ball hot pin configuration is beyond me.
Rev-what happened to the B-77?
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My A77 is awaiting a recap and replacement of a ganged pot and my B77 loses the left channel after about 20 minutes. Both still have original Frako caps which are past their lifetime. They both are solid build, easy to work on (according to others) and sound incredible when working (according to me). Luckily my TEAC from 1972 and my Akai from 1973 still work great. They are limited to 7"reels though. Luckily I have a rather large collection of classic rock I recorded from borrowed LPs back in high school and college all on 7" reels and all but a few were recorded on BASF, Maxell, & TDK tapes and still sound great. Had to pitch a few that were recorded on Scotch & Ampex that suffered from SSS. I'm listening to Cat Stevens right now on the Akai.
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Which Akai do you have, pbj? I have a GX-266II which I really like. It is good in forward, but has issues in reverse.
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Very nice, very nice...but..WTH is that on the turntable? Shades of Caddy shack?
I have an Akai that was pristinely restored. I even have the original box for it. I just don't know what to do with it
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Well Tinpan, you get some tapes - maybe Maxell UD90. You put on some decent music off the computer, ideally FLACs. Put the Maxell on the Akai, set levels and record something from digital to tape, take the edge off of the 0s and 1s. with that smooth analog sound. Keep the tape monitor loop in while recording, avoid listening to the original if you can - respect the tape. Look at the reels' hypnotic spinning on the r2r, the dancing VU meter needles, the beer in your hand taste better, life is good for a few minutes. That is what you should do w the Akai. 8)
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For real, why is there a turd on the turntable?
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Somebody left a turd on the turntable!! >:D :(|)
Does the turd improve the sonics?
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The turd looks polished
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@Tinpan, I agree with OBG
@STaL, I have a GX-370D. It was their TOTL in 1973 and sold for $1250. It's built like a tank and weighs almost as much (57 lbs). I have the OEM hard wired remote and in fact after all these years finally found an OEM dust cover for it on eBay. It's in great condition. It sounds and records great but like yours playback in reverse is weak. Head alignment is dead on and typical of the GX heads there is no visible wear so it's not the heads. My research indicates that it's most likely the contacts on a relay that needs to be cleaned. I have not confirmed this though.
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pbj; My GX-266II is only 41 pounds, but I suspect the solenoid controls are much lighter than the mechanical ones. The 266 is a six headed monster and direct drive capstan. It just feels solid. Plus, it is symmetrical in it's layout. I don't know why asymmetrical decks bother me, but they do.
There is a guy on AK who says that the transistors in Akai pre amps are known faulty units and most audio issues come from them. He said so many go bad that he just replaces them all on any Akai that comes to his shop. The original part is unobtainium, but there is a good match for well under a buck each. I plan to replace all of them when I rehab this thing. There is a certain connoisseur of tape around here who has graciously offered to help me with this project.
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Picture from net, but mine is the same...
(http://www.allegrosound.com/Akai_GX-266-II.jpg)
$30 at the Butler GW.
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My Akai is also solenoid operated with full logic (not mechanical). The relay I'm thinking of is for the heads only but I might be thinking of something else. All I know is it sound awesome.
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The head arrangement is symmetrical, the capstan is direct drive. The motors and general build quality is very heavy duty. I don't care too much if equipment looks symmetrical. I think my PL400 is the only component I have that is symmetrical. Heck the human face isn't symmetrical!
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Yeah, I'm speaking purely on a cosmetic level. It makes no difference functionally.
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I saw the "piano keys" on a Googled picture and thought they were tied to a mechanism. My bad.
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I think a lot off people assumed that. In fact I prefer them to the standard pushbutton layout. If searching/editing you can just rest your fingers on them and run it through its paces. Each Key is also illuminated (color coded) on the end.
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Very cool.
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(http://images16.fotki.com/v368/photos/6/111916/12628482/DSCN0040-vi.jpg)
Mine is an Akai SD 1800. Here's a picture of the faceplate before my buddy took it apart and cleaned it
(http://images16.fotki.com/v301/photos/6/111916/12628482/DSCN0044-vi.jpg)
Here's the after
(http://images41.fotki.com/v195/photos/6/111916/12628482/DSCN0052-vi.jpg)
Here it is being re-assembled
(http://images16.fotki.com/v388/photos/6/111916/12628482/DSCN0036-vi.jpg)
It was a little dirty inside
(http://images16.fotki.com/v301/photos/6/111916/12628482/DSCN0053-vi.jpg)
Here it is after being cleaned up
I don't have any systems at the house with a tape loop. I guess I could set something up in the garage. I have the old Carver C5 I got from Tom there. I get the high res feed from Jazzradio dot com. I guess I could make a tape or two using that, or my old vinyl I have there. I'll have to find some tapes.
It does look brand new right now. Guess I'll have to dig it out of the closet
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Nice! Please take a pic of the assembled and restored unit if you do hook it up...
OBG
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Well hell, I dug it out of the closet and it doesn't power up. Looks like the fuse blew. I'll get one from rat shack later
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Looks good guys.
The spindle on the capstan motor is 2x in diameter as the original (1/8" to 1/4"). I never adjusted the pinch roller tension. Seems to be alright now. Since mine actually played...for about 15 minutes, I win. Ruling anyone? Point deductions for pooping on my turntable? Literally and figuratively?
(http://www.reeltoreel.de/worldwide/Images/RevoxLogo3.gif)
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The capstan diameter is dictated by the speeds the deck is set up for. The smallest is for ultra slow speed for data/surveillance etc. Then of course 3-3/4 & 7-1/2, or 7-1/2 & 15
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i call BS on this - if anything you lose by tko, and propose a rematch in the bext 10days. i will bring the right cables. you have a few days to massage the Revox and see if u can get the kraut to play w/o eating the tape.
the otari will teach the studer a lesson in reliable awesomeness. i will bring a new reference tape for the revox to eat.
obg
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LOL
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Let's see, round one went to me, the revox kicked the Otari's ass on your home turf. Round 2 we can call a wash but the only reel to reel I heard playing was mine. And it sounded very nice. Maybe it was that shitty tape you spliced together that caused the issue. You can't run regular unleaded thru a Ferrari, it requires Super.
(http://file2.npage.de/011862/51/bilder/studer_revox_-_hompage_.jpg)
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Still no Tandberg?
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(http://i.imgur.com/4ZdmUNi.png)
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Thanks Bearjew...
(http://www.sharegif.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/6-dodgeball-quotes.gif)
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Thanks Bearjew...
(http://www.sharegif.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/6-dodgeball-quotes.gif)
Might sell well at a sex shop!
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You lying piece of turd - you listened to the tape on my Otari through your cans and we had to wipe the drool off the floor.
The Tandberg is in a different time zone! We could invite you over to the next one -just need to coordinate to make it happen. I warn you in advance that there is a high probability that the Revox may quit Tonya-Harding-style and weasel out based on some technical issue. Of course, the promoter will then sell you a line about "how awesome it would play if it were playing, how angels come down from the heavens when the german tape deck is online...". I can guarantee you recording is not in the cards, that machine only plays what others recorded so far as I know. "But once back in 2011 it recorded a few minutes of Pink Floyd and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G..." Sure...
OBG
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(http://3qdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/12.png?c61a10)
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Looks like we may need a referee. Play nice boys
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None of this matters. These are all great machines and the arguments are over incremental differences in performance (and maybe taste). The best part is watching them work, having a few beers, getting together with a few friends and listening to some good tunes.
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They need some more beer! >:D
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It's all in good fun.
(http://www.atommoser.ch/images/B780-Umbaukit/Fotos%20Logos_14_0001.jpg)
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hate to change the subject, but what was that turd on the turntable? I can't seem to bring my focus away from that...
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It's not an unreasonable question.
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The turd is in honor of the best private hi-def music streaming service there is*
OBG
*Not accessible from work at companies that care about security. *Very* easy to access from any Sony Inc. corporate office location.
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Just removed 20 feet of mangled Maxell UD tape from the Revox incident. This is what german engineering did to Patty Barber right in the middle 'Laura' - "And you see Laura $%$W@#*(UPkkk....." Maybe next time I will bring a tape of Bryan Adams recorded on Realistic low-noise 3600, that way I can limit the losses... :( >:D :laugh:
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8673/16104263035_096b10f07e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qx5ykv)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/qx5ykv) by JSifontes (https://www.flickr.com/people/78619205@N00/), on Flickr
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I friggin' hate when that happens! >:(
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*Not accessible from work at companies that care about security. *Very* easy to access from any Sony Inc. corporate office location.
Haha well played. The IT guys where I work still don't realize that I can stream like everything but Spotify. It works out well now though since I have tidal.
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So you and PBJ thing Tidal is worth it? It is basically CD quality. ???
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So you and PBJ thing Tidal is worth it? It is basically CD quality. ???
Yeah, it's definitely worth it. I mean, how often do you buy records and tapes and whatnot? You're technically getting a lot for your money as long as you use it. Listen to two or three albums on it and it's paid for for the month. I use it every day, as does PBJ (especially now that he has a nice DAC instead of using his phone).