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In Reply to: RE: Respectfully disagree, in an unbuffered tape out the.... posted by viridian on April 27, 2017 at 10:46:58
I just assembled a Vacuum Tube Audio SP14 line-stage preamplifier kit. My TASCAM DA-3000 DSD recorder is connected to its record-output. The signal to the record-output never enters any active components in the preamp. In fact, I never even turn on my preamp when I make recordings of vinyl records. I leave the preamp turned off. I set the input selector switch to "AUX 1" where my external phono stage is connected. This connects the phono stage directly to my TASCAM DA-3000 through the record-output. I don't turn my preamp on to make recordings because I don't want my speakers playing. I monitor my recordings using headphones connected directly to the headphone jack on my TASCAM DA-3000.The record-input on my SP14 preamp is connected to the "Tape-Monitor" switch. Unless that switch is in the "Tape" position, the output from my TASCAM is not connected to the preamp. I leave the tape monitor-switch in the "Source" position unless I want to play back a recording through my speakers.
This is exactly the way all preamps with unbuffered record-outputs are configured. The recorder connected to the record-output applies a load only to the source component through the input selector switch; it does not apply any kind of a load to the preamp output.
My SP14 preamp has two main outputs separate from the record-output. The main outputs are in parallel and require the preamp to be turned on. My Parasound A21 amplifier is connected to one set of main outputs and my active subwoofers are connected to the second set of main outputs. The loads of these components are in parallel although they use separate output capacitors.
I think you need to reevaluate your thinking on unbuffered record-outputs.
Good luck,
John Elison
Edits: 04/27/17Follow Ups:
Does that headphone jack actually allow you to monitor the recording as you are making it, or just monitor the input to the DA-3000?
I don't really know because I've never tested it. I suspect it monitors the digital conversion, which is the digitized input signal converted back to analog. That's what the Alesis Masterlink did. Why do you ask?
Just curious. I've never known how faithful my old Tascam CD-RW700 really is -- at dubbing stuff -- because I can't monitor the actual dub. And as a playback unit, it's pretty dismal (unless I run it into an outboard DAC).
I never had any problems with my CD-RW700. Of course, it records to a CD-R and if the CD-R is dirty or damaged you will undoubtedly have problems. It's a different story with the TASCAM DA-3000, which records to a solid state memory card. It makes perfect recordings every time for me.
Its DAC is outstanding as far as I can tell. It has BurrBrown PCM1795 DAC chips and its analog output stage must also be very good because it sounds better than any DAC that I've heard in its price range. Furthermore, it can be used as an external DAC without putting it in the record mode. It can be configured to operate as a DAC from its menu. For a thousand dollars it's one of the most versatile digital components I've ever owned. I can plug in a USB flash drive and use it as an autonomous digital player for PCM up to 24/192 and DSD up to 5.6-MHz and it sounds very good to me.
Best regards,
John Elison
Even if I grant that it's all you say it is -- and I have no reason to doubt this -- I'd sure rather be able to monitor and directly compare input to output, as I can with an open reel deck and thus KNOW I'm getting (or not getting) "perfect recordings."
On the other hand, with ears as old as mine, what difference does it make? :-)
I think you should stick with open reel because I don't think you'll find a digital recorder that monitors the recorded media in real time as it's being recorded. The best you'll get is monitoring of the digital conversion in real time as it's being stored in memory. You'll have to replay the recording to know for certain whether what's in memory is what you expect to be in memory. However, you already own open reel tape recorders so you're in good shape. Of course, the cost of open reel media is probably ten thousand times more than the cost of digital media. Oh, well. Such is life!
Best regards,
John Elison
Since tape sounds only five thousand times better than digital, I've clearly been wasting my money. Such is life.
Actually, tape doesn't sound any better than digital. You can prove this to yourself by using your TASCAM DA-3000 to make a 5.6-MHz DSD recording of one of your tapes. You'll find the DSD recording sounds identical to your tape. It only costs a lot less.It costs less for a DSD recorder than an open reel tape recorder and it costs a lot less for the storage media. However, DSD sounds just as good as tape if not better!
It's much easier to make digital recordings, too. No need to monitor the recording because it comes out perfect every time and no more cleaning tape heads!
Such is life!
Edits: 04/29/17
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