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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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22nd Jan 2021, 3:37 pm | #61 | |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 197
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Re: Cassette tape types
Quote:
I have measured the record-reproduce SNR on a Studer 8 track machine equipped with Dolby SR at nearly 96dB linear, not weighted! It was too close to the noise measuring gear limit! Yes Revox B215 is a superb cassette deck as it's professional brother Studer A721, equipped with transformer balanced Ins/Outs and parallel RC. But both they have a little flaw: While they are 3 headed decks, the R/P head block is constructed in such a way not permitting azimuth adjustment of the record head! You had to live with the manufacturer's set-up. If you were lucky your head block would be close to "a few" degrees of azimuth error between the record and reproduction heads.
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Regards, John Last edited by mitajohn; 22nd Jan 2021 at 4:04 pm. |
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22nd Jan 2021, 6:41 pm | #62 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 1,051
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Re: Cassette tape types
That is highly interesting, thank you, John. I suppose that could explain the disparity between recording / playing on the 215 that I had? In terms of playback, I felt it sounded better than the machine I made the tapes with. I didn't get a chance to take measurements.
I am seriously thinking about a later Sony machine at this point. The Naks are too much of a headache if they go wrong. I have to agree with Paul's point re: TDK tape and Japanese machines. I've been digging through cassettes this week. The SA and MA have definitely stood the test of time well and sound as good as I remember them. I have a few of the TDK 'CDing', which definitely do not sound anywhere near as good as the SA. Am wondering if this is due to biasing, or simply that CDing is not as as SA (few tapes are). |
22nd Jan 2021, 9:25 pm | #63 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 708
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Re: Cassette tape types
True and ironically young ladies (who apparently have the best frequency response of all) have never appeared to be remotely interested in all this bells and whistles stuff LOL..and were quite happy to enjoy their tunes on a Dixon's Matsui special..
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22nd Jan 2021, 10:02 pm | #64 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 1,971
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Re: Cassette tape types
Quote:
But an Achilles heel of all non Nakamichi head designs: omitting a pressure pad lifter. A shame perhaps that Nakamichi and the other manufacturers didnt come to some sort of agreement on its use in non Nak decks. Last edited by TIMTAPE; 22nd Jan 2021 at 10:21 pm. |
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22nd Jan 2021, 10:27 pm | #65 |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 197
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Re: Cassette tape types
The Sony TC-K555ES deck is equipped with a similar head block.
As mentioned in it's Service Manual on page #2: Three-head system Separate record and playback heads allow optimum gap settings and impedance ratings for distortion-free recording and greatly extended frequency response. For good tape·to-head contact the heads are mounted in one block and each head is separately adjusted for precise azimuth alignment. The three-head system also enables you to monitor the recorded tape while actually recording.
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Regards, John |
22nd Jan 2021, 10:41 pm | #66 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 1,971
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Re: Cassette tape types
Thanks John. Any chance of a photo of the Sony head and the adjustment screws?
Tim. |
22nd Jan 2021, 10:50 pm | #67 |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 197
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Re: Cassette tape types
There is a pic on page #17 of the SM, but not so good.
NB: The SM can be found easily searching the net...
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Regards, John |
22nd Jan 2021, 11:24 pm | #68 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 1,971
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Re: Cassette tape types
Got it, and instructions to adjust record azimuth on page 25. Looks like the screw being on the play head side means the record head has a similar mounting plate as the Teac, running underneath the play head. I guess underneath the play head was the only way it could be squeezed in.
Well done Teac and Sony. Raises the question why the Revox (Sony sourced) head didnt also carry this feature. |
23rd Jan 2021, 10:20 am | #69 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 3,675
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Re: Cassette tape types
Quite so, but without the semi-hyperbolic face grind and guttering of the Nakamichi heads, sufficient tape-to-head contact may not have been maintained.
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23rd Jan 2021, 1:01 pm | #70 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 1,971
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Re: Cassette tape types
Quote:
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23rd Jan 2021, 2:37 pm | #71 |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 197
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Re: Cassette tape types
I found two nice photos of the SONY head block and tape path without the pressure pad and I reproduce them here.
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Regards, John |
24th Jan 2021, 4:32 am | #72 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 1,971
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Re: Cassette tape types
Thanks John. I found in my cassette deck heads box an old Sony TC-K444ES headblock. Photo shows a comparison with a Tascam 122 MkII/III, with play heads removed for clarity.
Definitely not identical. Teac positions the record azimuth screw next to the record head while Sony places it on the other side next to the play head. But note the similarities even to apparently the same mounting hole dimensions. Last edited by TIMTAPE; 24th Jan 2021 at 4:39 am. |
24th Jan 2021, 4:16 pm | #73 |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 197
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Re: Cassette tape types
Thanks, interesting photos.
BTW the B215 headblock is manufactured by Cannon.
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Regards, John |
25th Jan 2021, 11:04 am | #74 | |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 197
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Re: Cassette tape types
Quote:
Correction: "manufactured by Canon".
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Regards, John |
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25th Jan 2021, 12:20 pm | #75 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 1,051
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Re: Cassette tape types
Not to be confused with ITT Cannon who make the connectors
I made a similar mistake when my email wouldn't work. I wrote 'SMPT' and not SMTP... |
25th Jan 2021, 4:24 pm | #76 |
Pentode
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Athens, Greece
Posts: 197
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Re: Cassette tape types
Without any doubt it's a Canon made head block...
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Regards, John |