Reel to Reel information, user tips and tricks...


Reel to Reel.  I'm bringing my Reel to Reel rigs back into service. They have been in storage for almost 20 years.

I ordered, a new RtR pre amp. Decware ZP3 Phono/RtR valve preamp. I stopped using the medium, mainly while I was raising kids. I'm retired now getting everything in working order.  I had the misfortune of loosing a lot of the gear. Tapes, preamp, and Otari MX50/50 BII with a "direct head tap" via RCA. Any RtR people out there.
New tape? Better tape? I'm using 10.5" and down. It has been a while..
I'm looking at any mods on dampening the reels or heads for sound tweaks.

I'm going to playback, and record. Any pointers, ideas, are sure welcome.

I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, I know it's NOT digital. I like it, plane and simple. 

No name callin', be polite, ok.. HAVE FUN...

Regards
oldhvymec

There are those that say there is no need. Mine was set up 25 years ago. I had a a Military Roberts 770 and the Otari MX50/50 BII. 4 or 5 of us had the head covers milled.  I used a Manley modified photo stage. This was before the guy passed. It had something REAL close. I'm pretty sure it was point to point to. Same deal though, PS being in the same chassis. They fixed it by design, in lue of a filter. I though it was rather nifty.. Decware is the same way. The longest wire in the signal path is only 2 inches long... Hard to receive interference with that short antenna!. :-)

Uses my favorite valves to at a reduced voltage, so a longer life too. 12AX7 and 12AU7. 5 valves total for possible rolls..

I like RtR perfect NO, fun oh heck yea. I like it all. 

Now to find a source for some humpty dumpty heads. There used to be some hand made around.. Red sock Green Sock guy... X-File type

I think it's just a switch flip or two to get back to LP use. Might need a Decware switch box.. We'll see.

It's, ANALOG..

I'm Jazzed..

Regards
Never heard of it before?
Who you crappin’?
Even the PAT-4 I built from kit had a tape head input.

The glue in the stators lets loose and the rotor chews ’em up and spits ’em out.
The Matsushita pushbutton switches self pit until one and/or both contacts fail.
My local tape tech said the motors are hard to come by. In any condition. He was amazed that I even got one side of the swutch to work. Then I covered it with tape so I didn’t accidentally push it.
3 channel? You’re going all Keith Johnson on me. As long as your talkin' custom rods.
fuzztone890 posts11-20-2020 7:36pmNever heard of it before?
Who you crappin’?
Even the PAT-4 I built from kit had a tape head input.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

https://www.decware.com/newsite/ZP3.htm

No crappin', honest Abe!

Yea tape head input (loop) in a LOT of the older units, Fisher, Mac Marantz. Pat II, III, IIII, HKs.

We don't want the tape head going through the preamp, that way for playback. We can use any AUX input other than an MC, phono input.

We use a modified valve(tube) phono preamp, with a "pot" that can vary the bias from 47k to 600ohm. we still load the TT section in a separate box, step up and cart loading, BUT now we can dig the goodies out of the tape via bias tweak, from the External Phono/Tape preamp..

This unit is a 5 valve, point to point, build.. pretty impressive..Noise is controlled by layout, first and foremost. THEN by VERY short, silver/teflon wire construct.. 2" max... great thinkin' 60 WATTs. It is a powerhouse for a preamp..

All valve rectified, It's gonna sound "TUBIE", YUP..

I jerked the preamp phono section out of a MX110, it worked pretty good too. There is all kinds of ways to do this.. I like Decware, Kinda Zen. :-)

Regards
https://www.erhard-audio.com/Nina.html

Here is a second one that I am NOT familiar with. They currently are not in production, No idea why, cases? The only thing you can't get unless they are having boards/soldering issues overseas.. Nasty thought..

Decware is US bases...

Regards
Besides the obvious sound quality angle of Decware’s all single-ended triode tube design, infinitely adjustable bias has cool factor written all over it.