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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc. |
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19th Nov 2019, 5:31 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 538
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Sony TC-540 low recorded volume
Hello,
I'm working on a Sony TC-540 reel to reel recorder. I've replaced the leaking motor caps and the unserviceable level input pots. I have a problem that on both left and right channels however loudly you set the input to be recorded you get a very weak and muddy recording on the tape. Has anyone had any experience with this reel to reel? Many thanks. |
19th Nov 2019, 6:02 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: Sony TC-540 low recorded volume
Used to service these back in the 1970's, most problems were either switch related or tape path related, eg: dirty switch contacts, dirty heads, they must be spotless...difficult to tell for sure without a magnifying inspection mirror, poor tape to head contact due to other reasons eg: pressure pad problems also goes without saying that the tape needs the correct bias and that the head mustn't be worn out.
Lawrence. |
25th Nov 2019, 8:40 pm | #3 | |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 538
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Re: Sony TC-540 low recorded volume
Quote:
Thanks again. |
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26th Nov 2019, 6:42 pm | #4 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 538
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Re: Sony TC-540 low recorded volume
I've had a weird thing happen as I was trying to fault find this today. Every time that I plugged another item into it that was hooked up to the mains (external amp. Sig gen) it drew a massive current from the power supply and took out its 1.5A fuse. I even got a shock when I tried to inject a signal. It's like there's a potential difference with whatever electronic item that you connect to it. It's acting like a short in the tape machines power supply I even had it when only the earth conductor of my sig gen was connected to the chassis of the tape machine.
Any idea what's going on? |