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Hey Vic!...

68.145.133.7
Posted on April 21, 2021 at 12:49:00
kootenay
Audiophile

Posts: 8446
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Joined: October 16, 2007

How's the MARA reel to reel is holding out for you. Hopefully, you have the bugs fixed by now.

I was just looking at the new refurbished for sale on their website and apparently, you can purchase one for $5,000 or $452/mo. payment with affirming pre-approved credit. Sounds like a good deal.

 

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It is working well, posted on April 23, 2021 at 06:36:03
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000



There were a couple of initial bugs, but it seems to be stable now.

I like the way its transport works, and particularly the variable speed FF/Rew function. That one takes some getting used to, as it needs a bit of hand motion coordination, but now it is under control.

On machines thus equipped I almost never use the full speed rewind - an extra minute or two makes no dif, but the tape gets less stress that way, and you get smoother pack.

The tension system is great.

I, of course, immediately put my head preamp into that open slot above the power supply, and ran the comparison between the internal circuit and my preamp. The result was a clear win for the external preamp - as was expected, especially since the additional playback head is the top of the line Flux Magnetics, their Wide Range model. The internal circuit is not bad, I think it is on par with that of the Studer or Ampex.

I got a couple of 14" reels for it - they look almost scary. :)


 

Whoa! nice looking mancave..., posted on April 23, 2021 at 10:54:20
kootenay
Audiophile

Posts: 8446
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Joined: October 16, 2007
 I see you have no vinyl or CDs on your collections but obsolete analog and digital tapes.:) Just by observing the equipment that you have laying around, I have a feeling that you're experimenting with some kind of reel-to-reel tube-powered integrated system.

Did you recap it yet? I've read after recapping these machines its performance will take you to another level of listening pleasures.

 

Not really, posted on April 23, 2021 at 12:11:46
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000
 What you see behind is the large shelves unit with a lot of LP's and CD's.

When it comes to recapping, I am very conservative. I do not do blanket recapping just for the sake of it. On some machines I have done extensive recapping, and on others - close to zero. In my experience the recapped machines do not sound substantially different from the virgin ones - unless you have some real issues. To obtain a significant, noticeable improvement you need to make drastic changes - like going with the external pre.

You are seeing just a small portion of that room, there are, I believe, 17 reel-to-reel machines in it, or maybe 15, as I had to push two out, into the basement. I am selling a couple of them, and really should sell at least two more, but I am a hoarder. I recently sold several. So my wife tries not to go there. :)


 

RE: Not really, posted on April 23, 2021 at 19:42:04
kootenay
Audiophile

Posts: 8446
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Joined: October 16, 2007

I'm aware that you have extensive vinyl collections and speaking of which I have some of them too. The last time I counted them was about 6 years ago and If I remembered correctly they were around 4,000 strong lyings around somewhere of which I thought was a bit excessive considering that I don't have that much room to hide them. I wished I have a big basement like yours.

My Teac DA-30 MKII crapped out on me last month when the head ceased up for no apparent reasons. I opened it up and everything looks ok as the belts are fine and I didn't see any burnt resistors or the likes inside. I have a feeling that it probably just died of old age.

Anyway, I've found another used one which is made by Sony and according to the seller, everything is working well on it. The price was right so I purchased it. I'll be picking it up tomorrow if I get there in one piece as it's a two-hour drive to and fro.




 

RE: Not really, posted on April 24, 2021 at 06:03:29
Victor Khomenko
Manufacturer

Posts: 55319
Joined: April 5, 2000
 Best of luck with your new toy, it looks like a good machine. I have not played a cassette in many, many years... I have many operatic recordings, there used to be a program on radio with great commentaries, so I recorded many of them - I might set it up for my office - I have a couple of cassette decks I can use: an old Teac (I hope it still works... :) ) and the Sony TC-D5M.


 

My cassette deck is fine..., posted on April 24, 2021 at 10:00:09
kootenay
Audiophile

Posts: 8446
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Joined: October 16, 2007

As I was just playing with it a couple of days ago while listening to Carla Bley Trio with Andy Sheppard and Steve Swallow that I've just recorded from TIDAL MQA master.

Like you, I also love to records live classical, jazz, and documentary programs from my favorite CBC FM stations in the past. They usually air the live classical music on Sunday between 1:00 to 4:00 pm and Jazz on Saturday between 12:00 to 3:00 pm. Those were the good old days of FM station's programming when they still cared about the quality of the programs and music. Nowadays not so much although I still have the Philips AH 673 FM tuner collecting dust inside the box in our car garage and it's being cryogenically treated every winter as the temperature can dip around -40 C. I wonder if it sounds much better now.


 

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