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In Reply to: RE: Tape Preamps...why? posted by Inmate51 on September 26, 2014 at 08:14:56
Beats the pants off an Otari, huh?
I know you love your Revox, but come on.
Follow Ups:
LOL!I know there are some Otari 5050 owners here, so I'll try to be tactful. ;)
I've worked with both the Studer pro machines and the Otari pro machines. There's no comparison. Studer/ReVox is hands-down a higher quality piece of audio engineering.
Having said that, I wouldn't mind having a 5050 as a semi-pro deck - it's a very nice machine, and very cool-looking, with lots of knobs and switches.
Tactful enough, I hope?!
:)
Edits: 09/26/14
At the studio where I assist, we've got a 1/4" R67 and a 1/2" A80 Mk-III, both half-track. (Yes I miss the 24-track 2" A800, and the great and different smells two-inch tapes give off.) Both machines get regular use and are meticulously maintained. For a recent transfer project we rented an Otari 5050 1/2" 8-track, and were pretty surprised at how good it sounded. It was certainly in the ballpark, and surprisingly quiet for that format.
Yes, if I could I'd swap my MX5050B2-II for any 1/4" Studer. But the audio performance of the Otaris can be pretty good, even though the transports aren't as gentle.
My own experience with Revox-branded decks is not so good. Had two A77's, one a Mk-3 and the other a half-track Mk-4. Never got either one sounding like they should, thought I didn't know how to do a full alignment then so that could be the issue. A definite dud was a Studer B710 Mk-II cassette deck. So pretty, so beautifully made, but the Nak Dragon ate it for lunch.
WW
"A man need merely light the filaments of his receiving set and the world's greatest artists will perform for him." Alfred N. Goldsmith, RCA, 1922
"Never got either one sounding like they should, thought I didn't know how to do a full alignment then so that could be the issue."
It's good that you admitted that.
It's quite true that not every tape deck tech knows how to work on an A77. Heck, even something as seemingly simple as adjusting the brakes is a challenge to most techs.
I am excited to say My Otari 5050 is on the way. After reading this thread I am already wondering what the preamp upgrade would sound like. Does anyone know a good tech in the Maryland/DC area that is competent to work on these decks since I am not? It would be good to know if it ever or when it needs servicing.
Lance
...no way. I owned (past tense) a Revox. The A77 MKIV version at that.
I did like the way you linked Studer and Revox with that slash thingie, like they were in the same league.
I won't be dissing my A77, though -- as Mr. Stellavox did its rehab (Starting with two organ donors that I supplied and adding a third of his own provenance to come up with one good one)...
My little trove of foundling MX5050s has a way to go before coming world-class... but at least the price was right.
all the best,
mrh
As a "starter deck", I tell folks thinking of getting into tape and NOT having a machine - the A77 and it's variants can't be beat for reasonable starting price, reliability and good sound - for both recording AND playback.
If you then like the "hobby", you can take off from there; sell the Revox - and maybe even get your money back!
Charles
"My" foundling Otaris have - as they say - been 'rode hard and put away wet' by their erstwhile owners (a local radio station)... but the price was right...
or, is it of Otaris as is said of a certain European automobile?
"The most expensive [used] car you'll ever own is a cheap Mercedes!"
all the best,
mrh
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