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Those pesky portables

71.203.126.20
Posted on January 25, 2020 at 06:48:26
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000



They just keep coming... not sure why, but I am more and more falling in love with them. So this is the current state of my office desk, with mint Tandberg 11 on its way, together with yet another Uher 4200 Report Monitor.

The infamous Watergate Recorder, the Sony TC-800B (model, used by Nixon to record office conversations) is quietly hiding under the desk, and Sony TC-158 doing its light duty in the basement workshop.

Should I spray them with something, so they would stop multiplying?


 

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is this, like, a midlife crisis thing? , posted on January 25, 2020 at 17:37:44
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 ;)

It does stand to reason that the Watergate deck would be in hiding, right?

Oh, and in seriousness... you need a Stellavox. You know you do.


all the best,
mrh

 

RE: Those pesky portables, posted on January 26, 2020 at 11:31:43
LtMandella
 Victor I think you need an intervention :)

 

The Revox A77 was my favorite back in the day..., posted on January 26, 2020 at 15:15:53
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 When aligned and adjusted optimally, it will be your best performing tape recorder. I owned two of them and I knew that machine inside and out. It's a winner!

Best regards,
John Elison

 

Indeed..., posted on January 26, 2020 at 16:02:33
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000



I owned one many years ago, and now have that one. It is in perfect condition, with its heads virtually untouched.

I also have two B77's and a PR99. The B77 is little easier to work on, but all of them are so far superior to anything else available at that time, it is almost funny.

Here is a beautiful internal photo of B77 - it doesn't get any prettier than this.


 

Send any extra to me., posted on January 26, 2020 at 16:27:48
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 I'll look after them for you. ;^)

Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

Okay, so which one is the one on the Mindhunter opening credit?, posted on January 27, 2020 at 04:17:15
caffeinator
Audiophile

Posts: 1729
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 22, 2003
 I don't think it's shown here, but I'd guess the group on this thread can identify it. I'm honestly curious.

tia,

david

 

Front row, second from the left, posted on January 27, 2020 at 05:03:36
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000
 You can watch it here:




 

Stellavox and Nagra..., posted on January 27, 2020 at 05:08:05
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000
 ...do tickle my fancy, but they priced themselves out. $5-6K for a clean one, just to sit on the shelf... not this week. :)

Fortunately, there is plenty of nice smaller fish for a collector.


 

yeah, me, too..., posted on January 27, 2020 at 13:42:36
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 I've been impressed by the Stellavoxes I've seen and heard, though.


all the best,
mrh

 

Ttuth is..., posted on January 28, 2020 at 05:41:40
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000
 ...you can get great sound with machines far less expensive that the Stellavox or Nagra. Their main plus is their portability and undeniable physical beauty.

Otherwise, a nice drive - something of the kind of Studer 810 or Tascam BR20 - coupled with a good all-tube head preamp will deliver better overall result.

As far as collectible Nagras, I like the idea of model III - it is the first "true" Nagra, with all the right features and looks, and since it is a mono, it is usually reasonably priced.


 

RE: Ttuth is..., posted on January 28, 2020 at 09:23:55
mcgjohn@yahoo.com
Industry Professional

Posts: 501
Location: Midwest
Joined: February 5, 2008
 Holy cow Victor,

I thought I had the worst case of open reel disease, but you may have outdone me.....:-)

 

It is the disease with high recidivism rate, posted on January 28, 2020 at 11:31:42
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000



In my case this is the third bout. :( The first one was in Russia, where I dreamed, designed and built R2R's... Then, after coming here, I was able to afford some nice machines, until realizing there was no good material available for them.

And now... with all the good pre-recorded tapes available it just behooves one to get sick again. :)

BTW, my new Tandberg 11 just arrived, and I am already enjoying it!


 

"It is the disease with high recidivism rate" :), posted on January 29, 2020 at 06:26:11
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016




Yup.

Your growing collection of portables put me to mind of both Frank Zappa and of my son. The latter is a big, big fan of the former and a big, big fan of photography (particularly using film) and of fine old cameras and optics -- and a mathematics professor on the side :)
He can somehow bring all of those into focus -- the photo from his 'maths prof' website put me to mind of your collection (or maybe vice versa).
At any rate, you've given me an excuse to post this photo -- and to brag a bit about my son, of whom I (we... Mrs. H and I both) are most proud :)
Thanks for your indulgence.




all the best,
mrh

 

Lovely! , posted on January 29, 2020 at 06:39:51
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000



You have good reason to be proud!

Am I correct, that the middle photo is reversed? Nice little portable, there is some family resemblance with my Watergate machine - pictured.

If anyone could name that model in Zappa's picture, I will be on a lookout for it. It is so much easier to move these portables around, compared to 80lb machines. :)


 

probably reversed , posted on January 29, 2020 at 07:41:08
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 I do know it is a Sony; I think the hive mind that is the internet has sussed it out.

all the best,
mrh

 

RE: Those pesky portables, posted on January 30, 2020 at 20:35:30
Inmate51
 Hey, Victor,

I noted that you don't have a 1960s Wollensak in your "portables" photo.

Nor a Stellavox Sp7.

WT heck?

There - no one can say there hasn't been any activity on Tape Trail lately.

;)

 

mind...blown..., posted on January 31, 2020 at 03:01:40
caffeinator
Audiophile

Posts: 1729
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 22, 2003
 Thanks! I was halfway joking when I asked, but I'm a believer now!

Is it a good recorder? I mean, if you're more interested in, say, live music recordings than serial killer interviews, will it get the job done?

Thanks, Victor - much appreciated!

 

Life is unfair, posted on January 31, 2020 at 07:54:22
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000
 I would just love to be doing live recordings, someone like John Coltrane would work very well for me, thank you! :)

There is little chance I will be able to compare the Sony with other notable portables, all I can say that it feels very smooth, and the dubs I have done using it sounded very good.


 

That's gorgeous! Check this out..., posted on February 1, 2020 at 04:03:08
caffeinator
Audiophile

Posts: 1729
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 22, 2003
 If you appreciate the look of a well laid-out piece of equipment, you might enjoy this youtube video.

One of my favorite YouTube series; 'The Post-Apocalyptic Inventor' includes this episode in which an analog Rohde & Schwarz analog frequency counter is torn down for salvage.

It saddens me that the unit is being torn down; as you can see in the video, its construction is the height of analog design and build quality. However, as the teardown proceeds, one can view the incredible attention to every detail in each aspect of the system and it is truly impressive.

The series, btw, includes a lot of interesting episodes on a variety of topics - lots of electronic and electromechanical enjoyment inside!

 

Thank you, that was interesting, posted on February 1, 2020 at 06:24:38
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000
 I had been inside many units of that era, of course this is one of the most complicated - amazing how they actually made all that mess work! :)

All along I had that funny feeling - the guy with an intention of experimenting with tubes - isn't that a bit like learning to read? :)


 

RE: probably reversed , posted on February 1, 2020 at 08:44:24
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000
 Latest toy




 

They just keep coming, posted on February 15, 2020 at 10:01:32
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000
 This one is work in progress.


 

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