TEAC 2300SX frequency at low speed - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

NorfolkDaveUK · 5th Apr 2019, 3:20 pm

Hi all.

I have an issue with this Teac. I have calibrated it (almost) and on high speed (7.5 ips on this) it's perfect, input and tape out are identical. On low speed (3.5 ips on this) the tape out is muddy as hell, no highs to speak of at all.

Any suggestions as to what might be going on? Tried adjusting the EQ pots but it just makes it muddier, still very muddy with the pots turned right up.

David

Radio Wrangler · 5th Apr 2019, 4:36 pm

Heads?

David

NorfolkDaveUK · 5th Apr 2019, 5:16 pm

Hi David , no the heads on this are great , I have just noticed though that there is a fault somewhere because the EQ trimmer pots arent working correctly on the Mic/Replay amp .

The lower two are working for both 1 and 2 and the top two arent doing anything at all . The top two should be for 1 , the lower for 1 (or vise versa i forget) So I need to fault find the trimmer problems .

JohnBHanson · 5th Apr 2019, 5:59 pm

Maybe worth checking azimith - more critical at low speed

NorfolkDaveUK · 5th Apr 2019, 7:18 pm

Thanks John . I`ve calibrated the azimuth with the YTT 1003 tape bud and its right on the money and its not out of phase . I`ve just cleaned the switch and I`ll have another go in a min .

TIMTAPE · 6th Apr 2019, 1:14 am

Do you have playback frequency response alignment tapes for each speed, or one tape with sections for each speed? Does the machine perform within specs?

If no alignment tapes, check approximately by listening to the replay preamp hiss with no tape on the machine and gain high enough to hear the hiss. Switching from high to low speed, the preamp hiss should increase audibly and equally on left and right channels. If inconsistent, the speed switch EQ contacts may have oxidised due to lack of use.

We check one thing at a time. Always check and align the machine's replay performance on its own first. Once that is calibrated and reliable, it can now be used to check and align the machine's record performance - with a given tape at a given speed.

Obviously performance at the slower speed cannot match the higher, but it should be within specs for that particular tape at that speed.

5th Apr 2019, 3:20 pm	#1
NorfolkDaveUK Banned Join Date: May 2018 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 605	TEAC 2300SX frequency at low speed Hi all. I have an issue with this Teac. I have calibrated it (almost) and on high speed (7.5 ips on this) it's perfect, input and tape out are identical. On low speed (3.5 ips on this) the tape out is muddy as hell, no highs to speak of at all. Any suggestions as to what might be going on? Tried adjusting the EQ pots but it just makes it muddier, still very muddy with the pots turned right up. David Last edited by NorfolkDaveUK; 5th Apr 2019 at 3:48 pm.

5th Apr 2019, 4:36 pm	#2
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,867	Re: TEAC 2300SX frequency at low speed Heads? David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

5th Apr 2019, 5:16 pm	#3
NorfolkDaveUK Banned Join Date: May 2018 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 605	Re: TEAC 2300SX frequency at low speed Hi David , no the heads on this are great , I have just noticed though that there is a fault somewhere because the EQ trimmer pots arent working correctly on the Mic/Replay amp . The lower two are working for both 1 and 2 and the top two arent doing anything at all . The top two should be for 1 , the lower for 1 (or vise versa i forget) So I need to fault find the trimmer problems . Last edited by NorfolkDaveUK; 5th Apr 2019 at 5:26 pm.

5th Apr 2019, 5:59 pm	#4
JohnBHanson Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Worthing, Sussex, UK. Posts: 661	Re: TEAC 2300SX frequency at low speed Maybe worth checking azimith - more critical at low speed

5th Apr 2019, 7:18 pm	#5
NorfolkDaveUK Banned Join Date: May 2018 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 605	Re: TEAC 2300SX frequency at low speed Thanks John . I`ve calibrated the azimuth with the YTT 1003 tape bud and its right on the money and its not out of phase . I`ve just cleaned the switch and I`ll have another go in a min .

6th Apr 2019, 1:14 am	#6
TIMTAPE Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,969	Re: TEAC 2300SX frequency at low speed Do you have playback frequency response alignment tapes for each speed, or one tape with sections for each speed? Does the machine perform within specs? If no alignment tapes, check approximately by listening to the replay preamp hiss with no tape on the machine and gain high enough to hear the hiss. Switching from high to low speed, the preamp hiss should increase audibly and equally on left and right channels. If inconsistent, the speed switch EQ contacts may have oxidised due to lack of use. We check one thing at a time. Always check and align the machine's replay performance on its own first. Once that is calibrated and reliable, it can now be used to check and align the machine's record performance - with a given tape at a given speed. Obviously performance at the slower speed cannot match the higher, but it should be within specs for that particular tape at that speed. Last edited by TIMTAPE; 6th Apr 2019 at 1:26 am.