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

johnss439 posts11-24-2020 4:55am

if you are handy with a soldering iron and can run the EQ curves, you can also use one of the tube phono stages as a tape head preamp......I have done it with an EAR 834 as well as the Marantz 7 clone phono stage.
Amazing how much better it sounds.

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

Look under "Tape options"..  This is all valve, PtP 5 valves, tube rectified. This is the (second) model, with a few improvement over the first.. I owned the first with Decware's M60. Nice.. had a couple of issues, seemed it took a super quiet valve, it would get noisy... I love valves, I don't like noise...

Above is the phono stage I’m having built, for my RtR and the TT. I still haven't received and ETA. 4-16 week lead time..

I’ve seen MX110z phono stages all tricked out for tape, with the ability to change the bias on the fly... Magic, come to mind..

I always wondered where he got the phono stages, something had to be gutted to do it.. Might have been 110Ms. The late 70s and early 80s

I’m a Mac guy, I’ve used their phono stage for a long time. A guy named Samra, tricks them out.. Red sock, green sock guy..

I love a GOOD valve pre. Noisy.... YUK..

The EQ curves your speaking of, I’m not following. For mixing,
recording?

Appreciate the information.. A little Reel to Reel action..:-)

Regards

I love a GOOD valve pre. Noisy.... YUK

FWIW just about any competent tube tape head preamp will be quieter than the tape itself, unless you are using low inductance heads.

unless you are using low inductance heads.

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Is there an option? I thought there were a few different type heads.
I never got that far into it.. I did have one much like the Decware, just not tube rectified.. Bias pot was used the same way, vary the bias..

I know vinyl is fun, I know, it’s ALL fun.. I would really like to see a GOOD resurgence, and a resurrection of Reel to Reel WITHOUT a floor stomping price tag, along with it..

What is FWIW?


Thanks..and Regards

would agree with atmosphere on the noise.

Yes, have heard the decware head unit several times. Its pretty nice.

regarding noise, would also suggest using vishay bulk foil VSR types as your load resistor for terminating the signal from the heads.

I've used Vishay a long time.  They have a cap that I use in XO builds when I do one. They are rated at 160 or 200 v. Low but one of the best sounding for mids and highs I've used for the money..

The resistors, are a given, they are the best, the inside of Mcintosh, and my Nord buffer boards are full of them. Cool lookin' little guys too. Hard to solder for me.. I have to be careful.. Little soft tails...your talking about..

I read an article with "WHY" the load resistor, in parallel, makes no difference. in series yes, make sense? I mean its NOT in the signal path, it's shunting to ground, YES, NO? if it were in series, Yes I could see, it would be passing a signal through the resistor.. Am I wrong?

You've heard the ZP3 with RtR and direct head tap? I haven't heard it, I'm taking a chance. BUT I looked over the schemo... VERY basic, short path, HIGH CAP, very good transformer, and high horsepower, for a pre 60 watt. Tube rectified. US built, and pure Point to Point, easy front to rear layout. A lot of time went into the second/third series of this Phono stage.

Which RtR did you hear them with? You remember?

I haven't even gotten an ETA from them, my ZP3 

I've done a couple. HH Scott, MX110. Both were potted, for on the fly BIAS tweak from 47K to 600 ohm, or anywhere in between.. Different tape type, ay? NAB to IEC. I'm just getting back into it.. READ READ READ.. Story of my life..mechanic...

I wouldn't be doing any of this if the gear hadn't got nicked.. UH...
All the gear stored in my shop.. Gettin' there though. :-)

Thanks everyone, Happy Turkey Day. Mine is cooking as I type, 21 pounder....STUFFED...5-6 hour cook..

Regards