|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
207.216.31.202
After the long going saga with my 3014A deck, Im getting frustrated with it. The deck has been to the tech twice and may need yet another visit. And the deck was rebuilt to as much as it could be with what was available to the tech. My deck seems to be very finicky with the tapes it uses and likes to either crease tapes or just lose tension causing the sound to drop out. And the motors have been rebuilt. Plus the capstans and heads cleaned.From what I've read over quite a few owners and techs who have worked on these decks, it seems the most common complaint is they are very unreliable. The only exception to this is Dolph who has gone on record saying he's never had a problem with his Tandberg. But the overall opinion seems to suggest otherwise. Im tempted to send the deck back to the tech and then sell it. But I know I'll never recoupe the money I've spent on the deck which kind of pisses me off. I've had this happen to me on an Aiwa deck before too. I lost $1300 when I sold that deck.
Sad thing is- is the 3014A deck is the best sounding deck I've ever heard, which doesn't make me want to get rid of it for something else. Its hard to replace what some people call the best consumer made deck in the world. So I'd like opinions on owners or techs who know these decks. What is your opinion on Tandbergs?
Dolph- I hate to say it- but your experiences with these decks don't seem to be the norm.
Edits: 01/13/12Follow Ups:
My Tandberg units still work pristine here after many decades of hard work.
I'm afraid a lot of DIY guys without skills has ruined it for wanna-be owner of the very best cassette decks out there, at least in the US.
I worked for a Tandberg dealer back when cassette decks were popular and our service department was always full of them.
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
Braxus
I've been following your almost similar writings on three, or is it four different fora.
Now you even start speculating in modifying and combining a Nakamichi decjk with a Tandberg deck.
According to you other suggestion on what could be the trouble here and how you have let incompetent DIY guys work on this worn down deck, this combination sh*t is for real a long shot.
You will soon get to be known as "the guy with the broken dieck".
Why in hell would anyone want to compromise a TCD 3014 deck with any electronics or running gear from any Nakamichi deck?
And when realizing it's a real bad idea, then why not just settle with the compromise of the Nak deck in the first place?
You have one big problem:
You are not able to purchase a deck in working order and you are not able to make a broken deck work with or without help from other people.
Oh, that was more than one problem.
I start to think if you at all will be able to take advantage of a deck with the qualities of the TCD 3014A?
Gee man.
You have screwed up in this deal. Eat the losses and get on with life.
Your single deck issues seems on the net as if there were 100.000 TCD 3014 decks all with issues.
Don't forget that most people enjoying these decks have never even thought about the idea of visiting any fora on the internet concerning hifi and they will live happily with their Tandberg decks ever after.
Accept that you have the biggest part in this issue and forget everything or pull yourself together and finaly find THE competent person capable of doing this job.
It's silly to count on any DIY guy solution at this point.
So do you really want to be known as "The guy with the broken dieck" in the future?
"dolph"
Niklas,I was humouring the suggestion to do a hybrid deck out of the fun of it. Honestly it would never really happen since I don't have that kind of money. So do you really think I was going to take it there and rip apart my deck?
That said yes my deck is broken. That's life. I've been trying to find a decent repair tech to do the job and my search so far hasn't gotten me far. There is no way Im shipping the deck to Europe. Its just too darn expensive for shipping, plus risky and a huge wait to get it back. My best option is to wait it out till Willy Hermann is available. Until then I can't really do much. All I can ask is to hope my other 3014 can be fixed as well. It has a better chance of working then the one Im using currently. Someone on TH has mentioned they have access to new parts for these decks. Im currently looking into it with him to see if he can get me parts. If it turns out he does, then there is a good chance my 3014A deck can be fixed to the condition it should have been in the first place.
As for the fact I can take advantage of such a deck. The answer is YES. Its the best deck I've ever heard bar none. My headphones tell me that. My amp and speakers- aren't up to that quality yet. Im working on it. Its better to have that capability now so I can record top quality tapes and be able to hear the difference later. And my hearing is good enough to notice the difference. Its the reason Im not satisfied with many components I have. I've learned to hear the difference. Not many people can say that. Some things I have are budget yes, but I picked the best I could get for the money. I just didn't know what I was getting into with the Tandberg because I didn't do my full research on it at the time I got the 2 decks.
Dolph- all this posting is how I do my homework and get more knowledge on these things. Its the way I learn. So call me the guy with the broken deck. But I do know this- Im not the only one.
Edits: 01/20/12
Even if the people helping me are DIY people, they did point out one problem with my deck that would be an easy fix. The pinch rollers are shot on both my decks. Now this may or may not solve the issue Im having with my A deck, but its an easy fix that wouldn't be hard to do. And if it works- then great. If not- then the deck still has to go to a tech anyway.
I have a little funny story in an attempt to wake up your optimism a bit again.
Once in between You write about how much you have paid for repair or service on you TCD 3014/A.
I would like you to consider the criteria defining the best guy to repair or service a given tape deck?
For one of my open reel decks, I managed to find the Chief Engineer from the factory where it was manufactured.
In fact he was the person in charge when designing / constructing this actual tape deck.
He also had service assignments at studios around the world later on, maintaining these decks.
He still does this ad hoc in all parts of the world.
I could ask if there could be any person closer to perfect for the service job on my tape deck?
IMO: Not really.
Ok, this deck was not really broken. It's built to last. Not comparable with any cassette deck in this respect.
There was, lately, an issue about keeping steady speed and recently there had occured a signal interruption to the record head.
This has been fixed, everything has been optimized, alligned, lubricated, cleaned up and everything works as if it was a new deck.
Now it would be natural if you then would think: "Damn, that's gotta be expensive. Much more expensive than what I paid for each of my attempts of repairing my TCD".
I paid less than $100 for this.
In a country where everything is way more expensive than the US, where taxes are the highest in the world, where one workshop hour usually and generally will set you back close to $200.
It's obvious that those tech guys charging you big gold for ruining your deck serves only few purposes; to cheat people, make a lot of money and ruin great gear.
Some DIY guys are good at fixing cheap gear and ruining great gear.
Try to make much more research and talk to a lot of people about their skills, what they have experience servicing, from where they got there technical skills, what gear they are used to listen to and / or service, have a look inot their service "shop".
The best service guys will probably only have fun and great gear for repair/service. So if you spot a lot of Technics, B&O, Pioneer or other plain consumer gear, steer free of him.
Are you aware that pinch rollers for TCD 3014 are still easy available as spare parts out there?
"dolph"
Yes Dolph. I have some NOS rollers lined up from someone. Im getting those.
The 7" reel-to-reel I had back in about 1974 was a great machine. Don't remember the model... it was basically black with square green micro-switch buttons for the transport. Mine was the 1/2-track version. Really nice machine.Regarding your comment about fixing your deck and then selling it... you forgot to mention "to some unsuspecting schmuck who doesn't know what a can of worms he's buying". Have you though about NOT fixing, and selling it as a parts deck, and just take your lumps? That would spread a little more good karma.
Edits: 01/16/12
I had a TD20-ASE open reel and never had a problem all the time I owned it. A great sounding deck. I sold it because a guy offered me more than what I paided for it.
It seems that your technicians and all of you DIY guys over there in the US has issues with the quality of work.
Only Tandberg Equipment I ever got with issues came from USA or Canada.
Over here in Europe we are happy and have no issues.
I'm sorry for you that you now will have to stick to the not that great Nakamichi decks then.
"dolph"
I don't know what to do. I asked around to see if anyone can recommend any other techs who can work on my deck. No one is stepping up to the plate and my original tech is not answering my emails. He's probably fed up as I am on dealing with my problem deck. My only choice is to risk using a local tech in Vancouver and prey they do the job.
If I don't get these decks fixed, they won't sell for nothing if I tried to sell them. My investment will be at a great loss.
There is a reason I use technicians here in Scandinavia with access to spare parts and a quality in their work that makes them headhunted to travel around the world for servicing the best Audio Equipment.
Getiing the knowledge about these people demands some detective work and I also have to pay real money for service and repair but I can asure you that I have never had any complaints.
These people prefer customers that do NOT tell about them to other people.
This is kind of turning the world upside-down that they don't want recommendations.
What you didn't do well enough is the detective work. Somewhere out there; maybe not in the States, someone has the skills and the spare part access. Find them. Pay them.
Do NOT let other Self-educated DIY f*ckheads mess more with your decks than they already did. I hope they didn't manage just yet to completely ruin these fine decks.
I can't help wonder what is going over there when it comes to service and repair???
I hope the doctors in United States of America is a bit more skilled so you won't risk going to the doctor with a broken finger and you get home after a lung transplant and still with a broken finger.
"dolph"
So sad that a company like Tandberg can offer top line cassette performance, but can't provide parts and technical support in the U.S.A. I'm just glad they didn't sell TOTL turntables , like Nakamichi, to Americans. Maybe they just didn't have the know how?
They sold some rebadged Thorens TTs.
What they did good was only cassette decks, tuners and consumer open reel decks.
The US market was never that focused on high end products the way we were in Europe.
The US were more into "pulling silk out of a sows ear" with their preferred mushy soft and way to warm sound just like MacDonnald amps..........errrhhhh sorry; McIntosh amps and the like.
This is why part supply for great high end gear is so scarce.
"dolph"
Yes, while the USA had to suffer with McIntosh, original Marantz, Harman Kardon Citation in the 50s and 60s and then Sequerra and Levinson in the 70s and 80s, you lucky Europeans were luxuriating with Tandberg, Bang and Olufsen and Philips.
I too had to suffer with McIntosh and Marantz once.
Most of the B&O were luckily exportet to the US.
Sequerra and Levinson are exceptions and therefor they were accepted on the EU market as high end.
What you are trying to picture here is how the market did NOT show in the US.
It's the japanese junk that the Americans idolize as being high end gear.
They had the price tag but not the sound.
"dolph"
Well I got a tip from a member on another forum. He suggested to check the balance control knob (since it is rarely used), as he had the exact same problem with his deck. So before a recording I turned the knob several times back and forth. Did a full side on a Maxell tape. No problems yet. I will record the second side later in the evening, so will see.
If this actually turns out to be the issue with your deck, you should be aware that your pessimism about Tandberg has called upon all the trolls that think they have the solution of everything, yet they still have only old neglected jap vintage shit.
They will only find your pessimism to be fuel on the fire.
Another thing is that I really wonder how hard it could be to do some research on skillful technicians around. You have the net. You just need the time and the use of a keyboard and a brain.
"dolph"
Niklas,
I think my pessimism of Tandberg is well founded after the problems I've had with it. I think after spending $2200 on a deck, I have a right to want it to work correctly.
Why didn't you just purchase a 3014A deck in mint cond.?
"dolph"
The deck I bought was listed as mint condition. It obviously wasn't. Finding a mechanically mint deck for North America would prove difficult. That said I have a second 3014 that is very low hours that needs new belts, lube, and a new meter. I'll see how it fareS.
Well did a second tape recording today. A full side B. No issues really. Tape sounds great. I hope using the deck more will work out the gremlins and maybe I won't need to get it serviced after all.
I recorded a full 90 minute tape today back to back both sides and no issues, other then the fact the MA-XG tape I was using had a lot of dropouts on side A and less of them on side B. Very uneven sounding tape. It was a tape I may of bought from a guy in Florida, so its possible the moisture down there got to the tape.
One thing that is still bugging me though is the deck is recording 3db hotter on metal tapes then source, and this is after calibration as well. This was supposed to be fixed last time and the tech said it was, yet Im still getting this issue. I guess I'll have to live with that.
Sad that Tandberg had a short term marketing vision. In the early 80s only 3% of their audio offerings were sold in their home country, Norway. The USA was the #1 market followed by Germany then Britain. Why the weak parts/repair support in the USA? Sorry to hear of your dilemma.
I don't get the USA thing either. If it was the #1 market, why is it Tandberg has become rare here in North America and the support and parts is almost non existant. I'm having a heck of a time getting any decent tech to even look at the deck. I've got one lined up, but he's never worked on one of these before. It's risky. Im holding out to see if Willy Hermann will look at it when ever he slows down from the pile of work he has on his shoulders.I did yet another tape this afternoon and sure enough it started creasing the tape again. Sound would drop out and the only thing I could do is clean the tape path again. After it dried and a few failed attempts at recording, it finally stopped doing tape damage again and worked as it was supposed to. This deck is finicky to say the least. And its wrecking my good tapes too. I think what I may end up doing is getting a Dragon or B215 to do the playback of all my tapes and just use the Tandberg to record. I'll see if my second 3014 is as finicky as the first deck.
Edits: 01/19/12
Read the Vintage forums "Bad HiFi" postings by reelsmith. Maybe he can connect you with the Tandberg wizard he knew in the 80s.
Suggest a link? Searching for bad hifi turned up nothing.
see link
Tandberg TCD340a part of the 60+ posts thread on Vintage.
Niklas,
I don't have the wherewithall to do a search in Scandanavia for some recluse techs which don't want people to find out where they are. Closest thing to that was a member on AK who knows the designer who worked for Tandberg back in the day who is trying to help resolve the parts situation. But that may never happen. Plus the cost to ship to a different continent isn't cost effective for me. I don't have that kind of money. Im basically an audiophile who is on a very limited budget.
Does Tandberg make anything other than SOTA buggy whips?
Tandberg 310 cassette, still in garage, works but had minor issues, purchased used but in good shape from a dealer. Need to sell it or junk it.
Tandberg 9100 r2r, worked great and sounded so good. After a period of non use, the motors are frozen except FF and Rev. Since we moved recently, I junked it.
Minimal availability of parts anywhere.
Well I ran into the problem again today when doing the same tape that failed yesterday. But today I had to re-record it 3 times due to the levels being low, and the sound just not being quite right. On the third attempt the sound problem reared its ugly head again and the sound dropped out. So I did a simple test. I tugged on the left spindle to take up slack to see if the sound qould come back. No difference. So Im starting to think its not the transport at all. Being this problem happens when the deck has been used for a bit, Im starting to wonder if maybe a bad electrical component is happening once it heats up and then fails. Sort of like a bad cap. Im not sure if all the caps in the deck were replaced or not. I know some were. In the right channel it almost sounded out of phase too when listenning today.
So I can live with a bad electrical component as long as the transport is not failing. If it is what I think it is- then the deck is worth keeping to me and a simple fix is in order. A bad electical component could also be what is causing the static sound I've been hearing since I got the deck back.
I had a TCD340A that had repeat issues and was positively a b*tch to repair. My service tech HATED working on that deck. I fixed it one last time so everything was up to snuff and sold it on eBay.
It was a great sounding deck, but ultimately not worth the trouble or expense. Tandberg made some nice stuff, but they're not exactly known for their awesome reliability.
Cheers,
Bobbo :-)
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: