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Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps

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Posted on August 1, 2013 at 12:45:20
Music Man Bob
Audiophile

Posts: 431
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Area
Joined: March 14, 2009
 Good afternoon all,
How many tape lovers have their deck playback heads wired out for connection to an outboard pre amp? What tape deck are you using? Have you had an opportunity to listen to tube as well as solid state tapehead pre amps, which do you prefer and why? I only know of the Doshi ($10,000), the Bottlehead Tape Pro ($4000) and the dHavilland 222 ($2295). Are there others I don't know about and if so, where can I get more info? Thanks so much for all responses. I forgot to mention Charles King (Mr. Stellvox) who makes an excellent tape head pre amplifier. Again, if there others please let me know.

How Beautiful Is Music!
An African American audio, classical & jazz music lover. I love all great jazz, classical and folk music. Am also a lover of 1/2 track (15ips) reel to reel tape decks.

 

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RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on August 4, 2013 at 21:56:30
Bruce B
Industry Professional

Posts: 626
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 9, 2001
 I have a couple of Studer A80's and the Doshi outboard pre's.
I've tried all you mention, including the Cello and felt the Doshi (now at $12k) is the best out there. Even though it's a tube based unit, I can turn the volume up all the way and can't even hear a hiss unless I get my head close to the speaker.
The other tube units were noisy and the SS units felt were too sterile. They took some of the characteristics away from the tape that we all like.

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on August 5, 2013 at 04:32:14
Music Man Bob
Audiophile

Posts: 431
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Area
Joined: March 14, 2009
 Good Monday morning Bruce,

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. You are indeed very blessed to be able to afford the Doshi outboard tape head pre. I am sure they sound magnificent, but they are out of my price range. I was not aware they were tube units. Tell me Bruce, what tubes do they use if I might ask? Thanks again sir.

Bob
An African American audio, classical & jazz music lover. I love all great jazz, classical and folk music. Am also a lover of 1/2 track (15ips) reel to reel tape decks.

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on August 5, 2013 at 09:15:43
Inmate51
 "I have a couple of Studer A80's"

I already hate you / like you.

lol

It's great that you can crank it up to max and not hear electronic noise via your outboard preamps.

I can't think of an occasion when one might need to "turn it all the way up". That excellent performance begs the question: When is enough, enough, sonically, and the price for even more does nothing but to stroke the ego of the buyer?

:)

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on August 5, 2013 at 09:49:57
mcgjohn@yahoo.com
Industry Professional

Posts: 501
Location: Midwest
Joined: February 5, 2008
 many of the studio decks have direct tape head outputs. some even have a complete plug in head assembly, so there should be enough to choose from.

best

John

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on August 9, 2013 at 12:44:54
Bruce B
Industry Professional

Posts: 626
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 9, 2001
 There are (3) 12AT7/ECC81 and (1) 12BH7/ECC99 tube per channel

I just upgraded to the Tele ECC 801S tubes in mine. There are 6 of these!

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on August 9, 2013 at 18:39:57
Music Man Bob
Audiophile

Posts: 431
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Area
Joined: March 14, 2009
 Hello Bruce, What tube tape head pre amp do you have? Thanks.

music man
An African American audio, classical & jazz music lover. I love all great jazz, classical and folk music. Am also a lover of 1/2 track (15ips) reel to reel tape decks.

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on August 9, 2013 at 21:51:51
Bruce B
Industry Professional

Posts: 626
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 9, 2001
 I have (2) Doshi Audio tape pre's
The best I've heard!

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on August 10, 2013 at 08:33:55
Music Man Bob
Audiophile

Posts: 431
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Area
Joined: March 14, 2009
 Good Saturday morning Bruce and thank you so much. I believe you mentioned having Doshi pre amps before but I missed it or just plain forgot. You are indeed blessed sir. I am hoping to have a tube tape head pre amp in my system soon. I look forward to getting it in-house by the end of next month. It will mate well with my Tascam 42B reel to reel tape deck.

Bob
An African American audio, classical & jazz music lover. I love all great jazz, classical and folk music. Am also a lover of 1/2 track (15ips) reel to reel tape decks.

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on August 16, 2013 at 12:37:13
binkt


 
I am using the dHavilland 222 ($2295)for playback with a Metrotec/Scully 500 and a TEAC 7030SL. I am very pleased with their equalization capabilities and universally great sound. I also have a Scully 280B for comparison. All three are really great with the Kara Chaffee designs. The physical execution is beautiful. I strongly recommend you give one a try.

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on August 17, 2013 at 04:00:20
Music Man Bob
Audiophile

Posts: 431
Location: Atlanta, Georgia Area
Joined: March 14, 2009
 Good Saturday morning Binkt,

Thank you for taking the time to respond and it's great to know that you are satisfied with the deHavilland tube tape head pre amp. Have you found it difficult to find parts for the Scully and how did you come by finding Scully stuff?

Bob
An African American audio, classical & jazz music lover. I love all great jazz, classical and folk music. Am also a lover of 1/2 track (15ips) reel to reel tape decks.

 

one more, posted on August 20, 2013 at 19:10:13
Bill Way
Audiophile

Posts: 1884
Location: Toms River NJ
Joined: May 28, 2012
Contributor
  Since: December 14, 2012
 Bottlehead Eros - $800

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.

 

RE: one more, posted on September 7, 2013 at 18:34:49
jcmusic
Audiophile

Posts: 1387
Location: New Orleans, La.
Joined: June 13, 2006
 I have a Studer A810 mated to a Dehavilland 222 tubed tape pre, and a Otari MX5050 BII mated to a Bottlehead tubed Repro. Both sound really good to me, you just have to get the right tubes in them...

 

RE: one more, posted on September 11, 2013 at 11:13:34
Dave Pogue
Audiophile

Posts: 11689
Location: DC Area
Joined: October 9, 2001
 What kind of tube-rolling have you done with the deHavilland? I was going to say that mine still has the stock tubes, but in fact I bought it sans tubes because I had the right types lying around :-)

I'm using Telefunken 12AX7s, not sure about the others. Thanks for any suggestions. I love that tape pre.

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on September 21, 2013 at 13:43:51
Caucasian Blackplate
Industry Professional

Posts: 8313
Location: Seattle
Joined: June 18, 2004
 The Doshi allows for greater signal to noise ratio by being a hybrid.


The "I can turn the volume up all the way and not hear any noise" is a pretty meaningless test, though an amazing number of people hold it in high esteem.

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on September 24, 2013 at 13:41:06
Bruce B
Industry Professional

Posts: 626
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 9, 2001
 Well all the rest of the pre's I've tried when you turn the volume up all the way, you get a loud hiss.

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on September 24, 2013 at 13:47:30
Caucasian Blackplate
Industry Professional

Posts: 8313
Location: Seattle
Joined: June 18, 2004
 That's fairly meaningless. How loud is the music level when you have your system turned up that loud?

A simple difference of overall gain will change that hiss level, it's the signal to noise ratio that's useful, and turning up your system all the way an hearing hiss may still mean you have a SNR of over 90dB.

 

RE: Tape Decks Wired Out For Outboard Pre Amps, posted on September 27, 2013 at 22:07:53
Bruce B
Industry Professional

Posts: 626
Location: Seattle
Joined: February 9, 2001
 No it doesn't... I measured the SNR of 2 other pre's at 60!

 

RE: one more, posted on August 10, 2014 at 09:19:16
jcmusic
Audiophile

Posts: 1387
Location: New Orleans, La.
Joined: June 13, 2006
 Dave sorry about the delay, I don't get on here as much as I use to. I will send you and email.

 

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