Reel to reel back in da house

ALL212
ALL212 Posts: 1,577
in 2 Channel Audio
Fell into a deal on a Revox A77 Mk3 that has been cleaned up and factory spec’d recently.

I had an Akai Gx 635d years ago but sold it and the pile of tapes I had.

Now to find reliable tapes to play!

r3lxgnp1bcfg.jpeg
Aaron
Enabler Extraordinaire
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Comments

  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 935
    I have several master tapes that are as good as it gets. Congrats
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    Since your A77 has Dolby B capability you might want to consider some Barclay Crocker tapes.
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  • ALL212
    ALL212 Posts: 1,577
    Any other advice on this device? I'm really not planning on recording to it but that could change. I'm mainly just interested in keeping it in good condition and running prerecorded tapes through it.

    I kept two of my old tapes but I also used a DBX 224 to record to them. I've got one coming in from Ebay so I can listen to these.

    I'm really surprised at how good this sounds. The gentleman who calibrated it has a B77 and found that the factory calibrations were too hot so he's brought them down a bit. With the output at 12 o'clock there is almost no tape hiss at all.
    Aaron
    Enabler Extraordinaire
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited September 2018
    The Phillips company also made some good sounding prerecorded tapes that are Dolby encoded. These and the B-C tapes can be found on eBay. And it's probably a good idea to not use two different sized reels at the same time. If you're playing a 7" tape you should use a 7" take up reel.
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  • ALL212
    ALL212 Posts: 1,577
    edited September 2018
    yep - sourcing a 7" take up now. It came with a Revox one and the gent who calibrated this was drooling all over himself as he's never seen one before. Sold it to him...
    Aaron
    Enabler Extraordinaire
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    The Sony 150 7" take up reel is nice, thick side flanges and tapes never seem to rub. I've used one for so many years the hub is wearing out, have to look for a replacement. I have a couple of the smaller sized 10.5" plastic Revox take up reels, but not a classy metal one. Some people like to add the aluminum "spin off" adapters to the NAB hubs, they can go for around $150.00 a pair. You can get them in different colors for a touch of bling.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,496
    Kewl! Nice deck! Congrats!
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    SCompRacer wrote: »
    Kewl! Nice deck! Congrats!

    Ya! Way to go Aaron!
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,047
    That looks like a pretty cool toy. What's availability like for pre-recorded tapes?
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
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  • ALL212
    ALL212 Posts: 1,577
    If you don't mind classical and non-rock stuff there's really quite a good selection. 40's through 70's mainly. If you want Rock best win the lottery. Couple hundred per tape.
    Aaron
    Enabler Extraordinaire
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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,047
    I've done a bit of research since you posted this. I now understand that your Revox is a highly regarded RTR unit. How's it working out?
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,801
    edited November 2018
    The A77 is a little rough in terms of tape handling, but, properly restored and tuned, they're capable of pretty high quality audio.

    All the cool kids* have 'em :)

    Aaron's is considerably prettier than mine. :|
    Also cool that it has onboard Dolby.


    15256338064_2ca64d962e_k.jpgReVox WHRB Dead aircheck by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
    ____________
    * At least the ones that can't afford, say, a Studer A80. :)
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    ALL212 wrote: »
    Fell into a deal on a Revox A77 Mk3 that has been cleaned up and factory spec’d recently.

    I had an Akai Gx 635d years ago but sold it and the pile of tapes I had.

    Now to find reliable tapes to play!

    r3lxgnp1bcfg.jpeg

    Love it! Sexy!
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,801
    edited November 2018
    Chris Squire approved, you know?

    :)

    sz8ua2w1mw86.png
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