yeah same. Got one from a guy nearby for 50 bucks several years ago and it remains the only piece of electronics I've never had to repair or service in any way. Picked up another, and an afternoon's puttering fixed it up easy peasy.
R2R is a fantastic sounding format, and it’s fun. But it’s one of those “labors of love”, and you have to love to labor on your love. A friend of mine is a big R2R fan and owns several very high end decks. One day he’s oiling one and his nephew walks in and asks “why do you have all of this old stuff?” And my friend deadpans “for the convenience.” They are a lot of fun, but definitely not everyone’s cup of tea.
for me the biggest drawback is small amount of quality albums on 1/4 tape. not only that, but many of them i can find there's a lossless digital or sacd version available. since almost every album after 1980 is sent to the factories making the media over A digital master the only thing I'd be getting by buying the tape is tape hiss and distortion to the audio. some like that distortion (and call it coloring) but i prefer not to have it. EDIT: by "quality albums" i mean in good condition
When I brought a vintage amp to your shop a couple years ago and you told me to go kick rocks because you wouldn't work on it I was pissed !!! Now that I know you much better, I'm still pissed 😉 Thanks for the great content !
Regarding the STK power output modules: If you have a working stereo with these output modules (Pioneer SX-680, SX-780 etc.) keep the ventilation openings unobstructed, and ensure the heat sinks are free of dust. Make sure there is sufficient heat sink compound between the STK module and the heat sink. Add fuses to protect the module on the VCC + and - and also the speaker outputs. It is really too bad the Chinese 'knock-offs" aren't good. In theory, they just got the rights to mass produce them when the OEM (Sanyo ?) stopped production, so they _could_ be the same thing.
I feel one advantage of linear trackers is the plug and play ability that makes it possible for older people with failing eyesight and unsteady hands to enjoy. Tonearm balancing, cartridge installation and alignment require good eyes and manual dexterity. The P-mount system take those tasks out of the equation. As far as cartridge availability, Grado and Audio Technica still produce excellent sounding T4P examples. I’ve been able to put together a good collection of vintage P-mount cartridges on that big auction website, then finding new stylus options on a variety of internet retailers. It just takes some effort to put it all together. I own a Technics SL-10 with the original 310MC moving coil that produces a warm sound that rivals my Thorens TD150 MKII. There are times after a long day when I just want to push play and listen to a record with the linear tracker. On the weekend I love to take the time to drop the needle on the Thorens and enjoy at a leisurely pace. The best of both vinyl playback worlds.
Another tip on used Reel to Reels. Buy a machine with three motors and electrical controls meaning just a push switch that does not actuate levers inside. The reason is that three motor decks with electrical control have the least moving parts. Single motor decks have lots of metal latching levers that wear down as well as several rubber pucks and idler wheels that deteriorate. Pinch rollers are relativity easy to get these days but not the other rubber parts. Do have the motor capacitors tested and replaced if bad or weak. A shorted motor capacitor can burn out the motor.
I’ve owned a Technics SL-5 Linear tracking turntable since the mid eighties. Put it in storage in the late nineties until 2019. Still works fantastic, no repairs, no maintenance. I have updated the stylus.
I also have an SL-5 I bought new on a poor college student's budget in about 1982. It's the only turntable I've had since, and I've always loved its simplicity of use. Never scratched a record. The only problem I've ever had with it is that it sometimes lifts before the end of a record.
@@JeffN-Amy SL-7 has also been reliable. Pulled a cord out of a dumpster and the SL-7 was attached to the other end all it needed was new RCA plugs. I'm currently using a Stanton 680el cartridge with the extra weight removed. I found a hypereliptical stylus for the Stanton 680ee it is working fine using an actual Stanton brush ( the non Stanton brush isn't so good...to stiff) . Pretty nice close"n"play that conveniently cleans the record as it's played. Stanton also made p-mounts in the 700 series some of them are moving iron like the 680 and styli are available for those. The 680/681 styli will probably be an exact fit. I've always like that Stanton 680/681 for it's sound...those 700 series should sound the same. Grado makes a P-mount as the black series. I don't know if they go into the higher lines,but I believe they are still made in Brooklyn. Audio Teknica has some too.
@@JeffN-ALp Gear has alot of p-mounts available. Mostly Grado and Audio Teknica . I'm using a Stanton 680el p-mount that I removed the extra weight from the body that was there for the heavy tracking DJ stylus and using a hypereliptical stylus for the 680 series. I believe the 727,737 and 747 p-mounts are the same as the 680/681 being the moving iron type. I've always used the 680/681 because I like the sound. I using one of Stanton's long hair brushes on my SL-7 that also doesn't seem to be a problem either. Since the brush uncouples in use so it seems that the stylus is actually tracking at the 1.5 grams I set it at. Sometimes you get lucky pulling a power cord out of a dumpster. That's where my SL-7 came from . Perfectly working after replacing the RCA plugs. There were some of those 700 series p-mount available on Ebay I got a good deal on that 680el p-mount so I went with it. I really like my little close"n"play for its simplicity in use and the brush is great if I am lazy and skipped cleaning.
@@JeffN-AI am using a Stanton 680ee on mine . I removed the extra weight from a 680el p-mount. I have a hypereliptical 680 replacement stylus. The brush works since it unloads in use. Running it at 1,5 grams . Always liked the sound of Stanton"s moving iron cartridge that they used in the 680/681. Apparently the 727, 737 and 747 are also a moving iron p-mount and interchangeable with the 680. My SL-7 came out of a dumpster after pulling a cord out of a pile of junk. It only needed some new RCA plugs.
Agreed on the STK power packs. I have them in my Kenwood 9100 integrated amp. I worry about using it too much because I don’t want it to fail. Kinda sucks because I love that amp.
The main problem with R2R is head wear. They will wear down eventually, and new heads are long gone. The only way forward is Akai's GX machines, they will last forever if the infamous cams dont crumble away.
My late father used to have a reel to reel machine back in the 80s. He loved it but even then, I seem to recall that he had limited selection of recordings. You certainly make a great point. He did teach me to manually operate a turntable and handle vinyl by the time I was four or five so that was certainly more useful. Really love your channel, btw!
R2R at 7 1/2 ips really was better that vinyl. 3 3/4 ips was mostly for when you wanted to get up to six albums onto one tape. I've got six feet of shelf space given over to R2R tapes (1/3 pre-recorded albums, 1/3 "borrowed" albums, 1/3 live band gigs and rehearsals), but my Sony 640B needs an overhaul that will cost as much as the deck did new in the early 70's. R2R tapes have as much of a tactile experience as records do. You have to thread it thru the capstan and onto the take-up reel and learn how to cut and tape for leaders or edits. It was also way more interesting to watch than a record.
As a kid, my best friend‘s father owned an amazing hi-fi system, which included a reel to reel. I just thought it was the pinnacle of music listening and decided to save my money and buy one at some point in the future. However, high-end VHS units came out shortly thereafter, and I found out that they were an amazing substitute for reel to reel And could hold much longer and higher quality tracks of music on a smaller form factor that was more stable. In fact, that’s what I used for my wedding to play music over the four hour plus reception. This was a long time ago, obviously. I love your videos, thanks for the great content!
Thank you for another great video. Two comments: 1) The #1 reason most people bought R2R machines was to copy records. One 1800' reel of tape, which could easily hold two LP's worth of music, was half the price of a vinyl record. Friends and I would buy a record, duplicate it, and split the savings. Recording quality FM radio broadcasts directly off the air was another free source of music. 2) Linear tracking turntables were a solution in search of a problem: Using a quality test-tone record, very few people could hear any distortion introduced by the tracking error in a quality tonearm. What's more, the "Rube-Goldberg" assemblies of these machines (along with their cousin the Garrard Zero-One Hundred turntable with articulated tonearm) introduced problems of their own: tonearm motor rumble and pivot bearing friction which introduced stylus tracking "drag".
I have owned 17 reel to reels and the only one that was a pain to keep running was a Pioneer RT- 707 and it only took a cleaning to set it right . The parts are larger than a cassette so it's much easier to fix for my old eyes lol There are people that sell refurbished reel to reels so that's an option.
Thank you for a very informative and honest video. I agree fully about those STK packs - I avoided products containing them in the '80's, and I avoid them now. IMO, the biggest problem with RtoR is the tapeheads, you can't relap them forever, and replacements is getting increasingly hard to get - and that's a shame, as RtoR's are my fav. vintage equipment type - both due to the sound, and the appearance.
Another very helpful video Kevin ! I got involved in the Reel - Reel audio format because I was gifted some machines & tapes. It has been said (rightfully so) that the R to R tape format is the most expensive audio format to own/use. I certainly can not afford/justify the price of new pre-recorded tape releases. I am currently looking for a replacement drive belt for a Astrocom Marlux 407 Reel to Reel. I feel that any vintage hobby whether it be audio, motorcycles/cars, etc depends on the availability of replacement parts. Knowing if a vintage receiver has STK modules or not will determine its desirability to me even it's working fine.This is the reason I would prefer the Yamaha XX20 series vs the XX 40 series. Same with the Pioneer XX50 vs XX80. Agree that that database would be very helpful for the vintage hobbyist. Yes, Linear Turntables do remove the tactile joy of owning/using a traditional record player. I do however feel the the P-Mount cartridge system should return as it would benefit a significant number of people new to the vinyl experience. A/T & Grado still make excellent P-Mount phono cartridges. I'd say that most people don't have the time, patience or knowledge to properly align a standard phone cartridge. Heck, lots of folks don't even know about the importance of simply leveling a turntable. I suggest adding a Bubble Level to your online store. . Another suggestion, how about a "Sleeper of the Week" video series to highlight certain "better built" models of vintage audio equipment from some of the "lessor" brands from your "Tier Equipment Video" series. Cheers, Peter
Another great video, Ive heard of people using hifi VCR's for Analog stereo recording and compared it to R2R levels of sound quality.. Never saw it done in person but sounds cool.
Oh man you ticked all the boxes on this one! I have a half dozen reel to reel decks ranging form an ATR 700 Ampex to a couple of more entry level Teac's I even have an Akai Crossfield X - 180. SD or 5D something like that reel to reel with a built in 8 track player AND it has a built in set of speakers and amp, lol. But the main R2R I actually have hooked up is an Akai GX-280D I LOVE that deck! It sounds amazing! As for linear trackers I have one i bought cheap just to see if I could hear a difference from the pivoting tone arm...I could not. I still have it as a novelty but it's in storage. It is also very sensitive to being leveled,, it's not perfect it acts flaky, not my thing. Cool video! Thanks!
I have a phase linear linear tracking turntable. It is beautiful and very engaging... Its now manual as the tone arm lift motor chip is on the fritz. Sounds and looks beautiful and basicall manual now :). Weighs a ton!!!!
I bought a Teac X100R back in 84. Sold it in 98 since it was too big and heavy to move around. Plus I never really used it. I also bought a Technics SL QL1 in 84. Still use that turn table today. Recently replaced the cartridge with an audio technica. They still make p mount cartridges.
I also use a Pioneer SX 780 receiver. Replaced all caps in it but still have the original stk packs. Have had that receiver since 79 and only use it for music. Still going strong. Now tell me if there are isssues with my speakers. Kenwood kL 777z
I will say (with R2Rs and more) I had a lot of bad experience with Akai gear, specifically pots and switches and mechanisms on all their stuff. Soft heads compared to most reels. Teac was very solid being the consumer line of Tascam. I agree that unused gear is tricky especially soft touch controls. You might luck out and find a cheap Revox but my suggestion for the ideal starter R2R would absolutely be the Sony TC-377. Super solid mechanical transport switches, solid sonics and the onboard mic preamps have nice "clean" distortion for live recording.
I would add on the STK Pack issue, that if you have these in your equipment, 12 gage high quality speaker cable is a good idea and make sure speakers, if vintage, were restored correctly. (Personal experience) Learn to use your multi-meter to test resistance if buying vintage speakers. Heck, test any new speaker as well. Real STK test according to my technician: the paint will rub off.
Excellent Video Kevin. Yes, R2R used is a gamble, recently I bought a Teac A1410 SL and it got to me in pieces. Lucky I got a refund, UPS cashed out for the damages. The Teac still works but the cosmetics are not the same. R2R's are heavy, fragile like most vintage electronics, rubbers are degraded, oils caked-up, and the sometime the moving parts are damaged, needless to mention the electronics. I would recommend picking it up yourself from the seller if you can, otherwise have the item insured, and yes know what you are getting into. Recently, I got a Toshiba PT862 , it is a smaller unit though still relatively heavy and sounds better than my Akai, Teac. My experience with tape has o far been good, cashed in for a box of reels and some were brand new sealed tapes, tested one and the recording was superb...
I have Sharp and Mitsubishi *_vertical_* linear tracking turntables (that play both sides of the record), likely from the mid 1980s. *If you are interested in just **_experiencing_** a linear tracking turntable,* Lloyd's made lots of them, especially those 'dorm' combo units with tuner/amp/tape/phono all in one. Can be found for 10 to 15 dollars, often in working order. Update: After posting this, I was curious what these Lloyd's combo stereos with the linear tracking turntable are selling for on eBay and can't find one!! I have two on the shelf in the workshop I found at thrift stores years ago for the price I mentioned above, and aside from scratches on the dust cover, were in perfect operating condition (the amplifiers are only 5 to 10 Watts, so they really can't hurt themselves). Either people are hanging onto them now, or they are considered too cheap of a product to bother listing on eBay and then packing / shipping because of their size.
I loved my Yamaha R-100 receiver but the Sanyo STK modules fried often. I should have installed bigger heat sinks and cooling fans. Got to the point that I junked the receiver but then the replacement boards came out - too late.
I always thought about finding me a linear tracking turntable but not anymore. You're exactly right. No reason to fork over the money for one. I like the record experience same as you. I have CD's 💿 if I want linear tracking. 😂
The reel to reel format is great, the shortcomings were the pre-recorded tapes. Always looking to cut costs, they almost never used the best tape stock available. Then, they were all dubbed at high speed. What I found, just as with cassette tapes, you could buy better quality blank tapes than offered in pre-recorded tapes. I found that I could take a Maxell UD or UD-XLI blank tape and record records to the tapes and they would outperform any pre-recorded tapes. In the radio station broadcasting business, later in the 1970's records were recorded to NAB carts, which ran at 7.5 ips and they sounded fantastic. We also found that using R2R machines, we could record the records to tape at 15 ips and the tapes sounded better than the records they were made from.
Inherited two Akai R2R complete with original documentation. Donated to collectors, too much work for me but man they sounded great through a Sansui integrated amp
Hey Kevin- Thanks for another great video. As the owner of a single system centered around a Pioneer SX-780 and a Tech-neeks SL-5, this one kind of took the wind out of my sails. Fortunately, they're both working fine, so I'll just keep enjoying them and worry about problems if they come up. I hope you'll keep an eye out for quality replacement STK packs and let your viewers know if you find a source. Thanks again.
My first job as a technician back in the 80´s was audio gear servicing. Damn we all hated these STK modules! I replaced a lot of them. Far more than discrete transistor outputs. With STK modules it was harder to find the possible cause of failiures.
Another great video Kev... My favorite reel-to-reels have always been Akai and Teac. And are the best medium for listening to recorded music, the sound is amazing.... But the drawbacks are exactly as you said and never been cheap back then or today... I get sticker shock seeing the prices of recorded music on tape reels these days... It's outrageous..... Hope you're having a good weekend. Take care..
@@skylabsaudio the thing that needs to be mention to anyone who might be tempted to try out those new reels is that they're 10" in size and run in 2 track at 15ips. Not many common R2R decks can read them. So if you really want one of those new pre-recorded reels, do your homework and save up because good machine to play those reels are in the thousands range. And since it's already that expensive, get one that is properly serviced for peace of mind. I know some companies are refurbishing Tascams and other and those decks goes for $10k-15k I have 5 R2R (3 Pioneer, 1 Akai and 1 Sansui), none of them could play those new reels. But it's ok I got them for decent price (or even free for the AKAI but it needed some serious cleanup) My Sansui SD7000 is a lost cause I'm afraid, but I have a hard time to get rid of it as when it works it sounds so good (I have a cold solder somewhere that makes me lose one channel after some time, also this model is plagued with the transistor issue where the legs corrode and you basically have to replace all of them, there's probably more than a hundred inside and now you can't really find replacement anyway) If you ever got the chance to listen to Iron Butterfly - Metamorphosis tape in 7 1/2 IPS, this is a great recording. I use it to demo my gear. It sounds better than the vinyl. Tracklisting order is different too. It's not too common but it can be found around $30-40 in great condition. I got mine sealed, unplayed. I agree with you get a fresh tape and use it to record music especially music that is not available on analog format. You're in for a treat (make sure your heads are properly aligned first though)
You are right, Bruno. I guess my thought was, if anyone is dropping $550 on a single reel, they would know, but in retrospect I think I was being a little naive. I have a Teac a-3300s 2 track master deck that only plays 7 1/2 and 15, but its not a very common machine.
@@skylabsaudio it's a nice machine it seems. I have yet to come across one like that. My dream deck is the Technics RS-1506 or 1520, not sure which model but the one that can switch from 2T to 4T. Unfortunately, it looks like I'm going to need to win the lottery to be able to afford one of these (fully serviced/restored).
Good vid as always ! What about the poor man's R2R? Known as HiFi VCR. In Europe the demand is growing a lot. There are many devices to choose , from the simplest to semi pro and pro models (some very fancy). But for 100 bucks you can find a lot of very decent ones (Sony, Panasonic, JVC). They say that Betamax offers better recording quality but I use VHS. The tapes are easy to get, up to 4 hours of recording in SP mode and twice that in LP mode, some specifically for recording HiFi or master and broadcast quality. It's also easy to get original pre-recorded tapes from many artists and bands at ridiculous prices. The audio recording quality from a HiRes streaming platform is simply amazing. Repairing the devices is not expensive or difficult (it depends on the model) and in the event that it cannot be repaired, you buy another one and the problem is solved. They are very easy to use. In general, the mechanism is a bit noisy at times, but nothing serious. Give it a try, it's worth it. Greetings from Barcelona.
Super fun video. I had an Akai GX220D years ago that I really liked. I sold it to a family member and they just recently told me I could have it back. It’s been stored for a long time in a closet but I think it’s worth the restoration for me anyway. As I remember music sounded really good on it.
Still use my Pioneer rt701 regularly and yes, Pink Floyd never sounded better. But yeah, expensive format. Fortunately I am my own technician on all my audio formats.
Had the Teac sx4300 R2R. Copied best tracks from my vinyl collection on it constantly. Give it my son who used it for a long time. Then he sold it. Purchased in 1977. Loved it.
I agree. Me being one who loves reel to reel tape decks and linear turntables, I learned to repair them. I currently own a Mitsubishi LT-5V (2 of them) and the LT-20 (2 of them) and a B&O 4002 and Harman Kardon ST-7 (2 of them) all in excellent working order and beautiful to look at. Growing up, I always wanted to own any of them but they we’re out of my price range. As time passed I was able to purchase them because the owners couldn’t get them repaired so I purchased them at a reasonable price. With the advent of the internet, I was able to understand how each one worked and set out to repair them. I have pivot arm turntables (Denon DP-72L, Luxman PD-272) that I use most of the time. When I want that unique experience with my Direct to Disk LP’s, I use the Linear TT.
For a very long time I can't figure this out. Just popped into my head(1976/77 or so). 🤔 Back in the day I noticed that when I copied Cassette - Cassette for backup the Dolby's on every machine were different and the final copies sounder quite flat. I contacted my audio dealer and told him this and he offered to swap my cassette deck got one with adjustable Dolby and adjustable EQ for a couple of weeks or so. My system was all Pioneer - $1,750 back then CAN. He and others sent in several cassettes to me copied and the results were all the same. I even tried a number of different types and brands of tapes. No one could ever figure out this happens. As far as Reel to Reels - He brought in some of these, Cheaper Akai's, Revox, Teac which impressed me until he ended up bringing in a couple of just released high end Pioneer units over time of which both were jet black. Played at 3.5/in/second with the large reels they were actually -- sensual. They were very expensive and I never did buy one, and no regrets. The Cassette thing I still think about at times.
I was fortunate to learn of a tech not far away in Toronto who refurbed my Revox A77, Technics RS1500 and Akai R2R machines over the last few yrs. He started in the pro sound business in the late seventies, and can fix any vintage amp, receiver; tube or solid state, etc. Problem is who knows for how much longer. If you want to get into open reel then best find out first if there’s anyone you can hire to put one back in full working order, if you can’t . And soon.
I had a realistic something or other linear tracking turntable that compared very, very favorably to the best turntables I had ever heard. It was lightweight, easy to use, worked perfectly, and sounded absolutely fantastic... Especially on the inner grooves.
Great video I have always been a R2R fan having used a mono Grundig valve one my dad owned and let me play with in the late 60's. Once I hit 18 or so (1980) and working I had a nice Teac auto reverse deck, that cost me somewhere like 6 months pay... I had others but now run a nice Philips N4420 and the sound is great.. Tape is easy to get here in Spain as its still made in Germany.. With regard to the record deck Ive fixed quite a few Sharp VZ uprights and apart from a stylus change and belts, these things are pretty bullet proof. The only issue is with the little switch that swaps the outputs of each stylus, if its worn then you get feedback and crackles... I used to buy them for £30 and sell them back out at well over £200. Keep up the good work..
It is enjoyable to use records, looking for records at thrift and antique shops, record shops. Since I got my Tt up n wrkg fine,I spent half a grand on albums. Keep'm clean they sound great.
my first reel to reel was a realistic 909...still have it,,,the got a akia 635d still have it,,,got three teacs an a realistic tr3000..made by teac...like you said they sound the best
I hear that a Panasonic VCR stereo hi fi player can record music pretty close to that of a reel to reel. I have recorded on a VHS tape and it sounds outstanding with no hiss.
I love my Technics SL-J33! The “ close the lid and press play” simplicity is great. You can program the order the tracks play in (and skip tracks) as well as auto-return, auto-replay. It also has a compact footprint, about the size of a record jacket. I serviced the unit myself replacing the tone arm belt, cleaning and adding lube. It’s also quartz direct drive, so the speed is exact. P-mount means no setting tracking force, no alignment necessary. You can still get P-mount carts and a range of styluses (but not as wide a range as with traditional carts.)
The best turntable I've ever had was an SL-J2. It was awesome to use, and had the best P-mount Audio-Technica cartridge they made. Sounded phenomenal, but it started creaking, and no lube would fix it. I've also found that correct belts might not be possible to get.
@@heavyearly2232 Whe I got the SL-J33 a few years ago, I was able to buy a belt for it. I uses a short belt to control the movement of the tone arm (which travels on a rail.) I also relubed the tome arm gears with white silicone grease. The SL-J33 is direct drive, so low maintenance there.
Thank you so much for this. I learned the hard way, getting burned on a Yamaha CR-840. It blew a resistor connected to the Yamaha Specific Driver Amp IC. I at least learned from a local stereo shop that it was likely a waste of money to really determine if it could be fixed. I also know that there didn't have to be anything the previous owner did, or knew that mattered, as these are ticking time bombs. So I own a nice ebay purchased Yamaha CR-840 that is now an RCA switch and Tuner in a big heavy chassis. Next model I bought is the 69 Sansui 2000, then 4000. I think I likely won't buy anything IC based unless it's for the purpose of an AVR.
Wow I really appreciate the support for linear trackers. I know few of them are perfect. I have a forty-year-old realistic that I like. My biggest complaint was that it was set at 33 rpm. I bitched about it for 40 years. Just this year I was doing some service underneath and found the pitch pots. 😂😢❤ When I run into that annoying problem with the LEDs and clear vinyl I just put tape over the LEDs and that fixes it.
About a year ago I was planning on to eventually buy myself an open reel to reel deck. It's disappointing; but at least there is the vinyl record, and I have up to three turntables I can play back a record in minimum good to very good condition! I'm going to have 2 turntables connected to my main audio system; direct drive, besides the belt drive. I've heard about the problems, although not many, that can be plague the owner, listener of a linear tracking turntable. I did plenty of research, and decided to buy myself a Direct Drive, instead. Watching, and carefully listening to your lecture, I believe I made the correct decision. Anyhow, as far as I'm concerned vinyl is very close to the fidelity of playback of reel to reel analogue tape. Music from a turntable is just as good; but I'm not a fool to say it is better. I am only saying that we have a playback system of playing back a record that can work very well; and the sound of music is certainly good enough! Anyway, (in italics) mostly my opinion.🔉🎵🎶
I agree with your last point about linear trackers, you can't "see" them playing for the most part. I've had a few and they sound fantastic but they don't have the cool factor. Also by the time they came out everything was made of plastic so they break a lot.
I repaired a stuck Sony Biotracer PS-B80 computer 1978 turntable by myself it was not a problem when you replace all 120 electrolytics and set all Operation Amplifiers aon sockets and replace with new ones. Setting was no problem when I followed the factory repair manual. You can repai most old machinery because they were made to last. I also repaired/restored/recapped my German Telefunken Studio reel to reel machine with Schott glass heads (like Akai but even better)and the Uher Royal deluxe recorder.
Another great and informative video Kevin again you speak my language when it comes to servicing vintage audio equipment. Reel to Reels and linear tracking turntables are time vampires and there's always a hidden fault or issue once you dive into them. The STK blocks yep I've been burnt there too, so many fakes online now. Keep up the good work! 👍
I have owned two open reel machines in the past. I agree the sound quality can not be beet. I gave them up because I did not know you could buy prerecorded music on that format, thankyou.
Everything you said is true. I got a akai 1800 SD for 100 bucks and got some early 60s classical tapes ( to avoid sticky shed) Good enough, the format is too expensive. Never met a Technics SLDL1 linear I couldn't fix. Got 4. What ever floats your boat!
Yes, reel to reel does sound very good, especially with factory recorded tape at 7.5ips or higher, no ticks or pops from LPs. With good deck, lots of headroom. About the STK, I had Kenwood KR-9600 160W receiver before that had STK, so I got rid of it long time ago, just didn't like STK. It's better with TO3 output trans. overall.
Im starting to feel really lucky with this Sony TC 252 I found for $25 in Phoenix. After looking through the electronics, I feel like it was hardly used at all. Also found a vintage hifi store down the road that sell blank tapes!
There is no way I would pay $600 for a new copy of any of those artists, or even ones I like on Reel to Reel tape. That is WAY too much money for an album on tape. You are correct about Buyer Beware on this one! Cheers.
It was a funny coincidence. I watched this video when it came out and definitely agree with these conclusions. So of course someone locally was practically giving away a Sony reel to reel with 2 moving boxes of tapes. (Some of them are sealed blanks) good news is the deck works fine, the bad news is the tapes are all opera . Haha
There was nothing really wrong with the original STKs when they came out. They offered Thermal stability and standardisation for the output side of the amplifier. Keep in mind that an original STK failing may be a symptom of another problem and not the STK. The only real issue is the lack of new genuine parts and the proliferation of poor knockoffs in todays world. The STK discreet Transistor replacement kits are awesome, not hard to build, and can often times give you a slight bump in the power output. Ever since a discreet transistor solution has been developed; I seek out equipment with the STK problem. --Then hammer the price down, and then I have a receiver that I have a solution for.
On STK power packs... How about some common-sense preventing maintenance like having better cooling of these when they still work. A fan or heatsink or at least clean heat sink and not having the amp's back where these are stuffed into the tight, dusty spot or cabinet?
My little Technics office receiver has those damn modules. One went south and I bought a pair from somebody of reputation and amazingly enough they not only work well but are electrically matched in Beta almost exactly, they are repro items. Previously I tried some off EPay and I think they were epoxy blocks with wires molded in. Total junk.
I just did some work on a JVC linear tracking turntable that looks just like the one you showed. It didn't need much work. I have a Sansui someone gave me. It needed some work. They don't sound too bad. I have an auto reverse Akai RTR that has some issues. Works great playing forward. In reverse all I get is hum. Haven't figured it out. I rarely play it but when I do I just play it forward. I have an SX-780 and I pray the STK's stay healthy.
I have a Nikko NR-750 receiver that has one large STK pack for both channels (STK2240), and one channel is dead, so its on the list. It was a nice, punchy receiver, but was replaced by much better equipment, so now sits on my "parts" shelf. Yes, I can get the knockoff part, but I don't think its worth my time.
What was shown on linears was H-K ST-7. There is a rubber wheel deep there which fails. Buddy of mine found some plumbing part which fits perfectly and he sell them on Ebay. Problem is - they are not easy to replace. It is a root canal procedure. H-K did away with this part in ST-8 model replacing this rubber roll with metal one.
I really do wonder why manufacturers ignore people’s love for some of these vintage receivers. They should make modern versions of their most popular flagship equipment.
Just had Pioneer PL-L1000A linear tracking table I bought in the mid 80s brand new repaired. The A model was overseas military. Very expensive then. Just spent $400 for the repair plus general service. Well worth it for me. Can’t figure out how to put a picture on here.
I bought one of those at a record show in the early 1990s for $35. It was in very good shape, and with a service manual and a new tonearm lift belt, I got it operating just fine. It still works. The only generic issue with those and other higher end Pioneer models of the era is that the rubber boots around the plinth suspension springs rot away, and replacements are hard to find. You lose a little big of isolation from vibrations when that happens, but otherwise the turntable works normally.
I have two LT turntables, a Sansui P-L51 and a Technics SL-7. Aside from replacing belts, which is not too difficult, I would not want to try to figure out any other problems with them relating to the electronics aside from a power supply issue as they have a lot of stuff going on! Had no problem finding a replacement stylus for them. I think they sound really good. The Sansui even mutes the sound after the stylus is lowered. They also take up less space if that is a factor (it was for me). One negative is that some LT's may not play clear or translucent records due to the LED not being reflected properly off them....
The department store turntables, including the linear trackers sucks. I had an Eminent Technology ET-2 air bearing linear tracking tonearm on my SOTA Sapphire turntable. Heaven!
I still have the Mitsubishi LT 22 linear dual motor twith a standard straight tone arm headshell .Arm runs along the back of the plinth with a regular dust cover. I'm sure you know this. I've only replaced the cart many times in 40 years. It still runs perfect. It's a beast. Have you had any in your shop? I would love to have that upright Mitsubishi you showed. I'm a big fan of linear tracking
I‘m a bit surprised that you didn‘t put the 200 and 300 CD changers on your list. They are rather Rube Goldberg in mechanical design. All the same I was able to re-belt my Sony CDP-CX335 and have been very happy. I think I‘ll replace the unit’s steel cover with a plexiglass see-thru cover and enjoy wanting the carousel do its thing….
Any Teac that were sold all the way to the 90’s. Example: X3, X300-R and so. 90% the same. Revox A77. Getting parts for these is somewhat easy like getting parts for a Ford or Chevrolet pickup… No the good brands isn’t hard to get up to good usable standard.
Love R2R and it is the superior analog format but expensive to get into, large footprint and really high maintenance. Nevertheless, happy as a clam with my vinyl.
Well,regarding linear trackers. They were roughly a decade on the market. From budget to high end stuff. And they died out because in general inhouse construction and production of turntables died out . I mean today no one is able to make a PS-X800. The know how is simply lost.
Skylabs Audio Sunday video: more essential than NFL football.
Whats football? =)
I love linear tracking tables. For me they just always seem to work flawlessly.
yeah same. Got one from a guy nearby for 50 bucks several years ago and it remains the only piece of electronics I've never had to repair or service in any way. Picked up another, and an afternoon's puttering fixed it up easy peasy.
R2R is a fantastic sounding format, and it’s fun. But it’s one of those “labors of love”, and you have to love to labor on your love. A friend of mine is a big R2R fan and owns several very high end decks. One day he’s oiling one and his nephew walks in and asks “why do you have all of this old stuff?” And my friend deadpans “for the convenience.” They are a lot of fun, but definitely not everyone’s cup of tea.
I find it the most entertaining way to play music, but it's also typically the worst bang for the buck format.
for me the biggest drawback is small amount of quality albums on 1/4 tape. not only that, but many of them i can find there's a lossless digital or sacd version available. since almost every album after 1980 is sent to the factories making the media over A digital master the only thing I'd be getting by buying the tape is tape hiss and distortion to the audio. some like that distortion (and call it coloring) but i prefer not to have it.
EDIT: by "quality albums" i mean in good condition
When I brought a vintage amp to your shop a couple years ago and you told me to go kick rocks because you wouldn't work on it I was pissed !!!
Now that I know you much better, I'm still pissed 😉
Thanks for the great content !
I hope I showed more decorum than "kick rocks". If I my delivery was inconsiderate, I do apologize. Thanks for seeing passed that! Kevin
Regarding the STK power output modules:
If you have a working stereo with these output modules (Pioneer SX-680, SX-780 etc.) keep the ventilation openings unobstructed, and ensure the heat sinks are free of dust. Make sure there is sufficient heat sink compound between the STK module and the heat sink. Add fuses to protect the module on the VCC + and - and also the speaker outputs.
It is really too bad the Chinese 'knock-offs" aren't good. In theory, they just got the rights to mass produce them when the OEM (Sanyo ?) stopped production, so they _could_ be the same thing.
I feel one advantage of linear trackers is the plug and play ability that makes it possible for older people with failing eyesight and unsteady hands to enjoy. Tonearm balancing, cartridge installation and alignment require good eyes and manual dexterity. The P-mount system take those tasks out of the equation.
As far as cartridge availability, Grado and Audio Technica still produce excellent sounding T4P examples. I’ve been able to put together a good collection of vintage P-mount cartridges on that big auction website, then finding new stylus options on a variety of internet retailers. It just takes some effort to put it all together.
I own a Technics SL-10 with the original 310MC moving coil that produces a warm sound that rivals my Thorens TD150 MKII. There are times after a long day when I just want to push play and listen to a record with the linear tracker. On the weekend I love to take the time to drop the needle on the Thorens and enjoy at a leisurely pace. The best of both vinyl playback worlds.
Another tip on used Reel to Reels. Buy a machine with three motors and electrical controls meaning just a push switch that does not actuate levers inside. The reason is that three motor decks with electrical control have the least moving parts. Single motor decks have lots of metal latching levers that wear down as well as several rubber pucks and idler wheels that deteriorate. Pinch rollers are relativity easy to get these days but not the other rubber parts. Do have the motor capacitors tested and replaced if bad or weak. A shorted motor capacitor can burn out the motor.
I’ve owned a Technics SL-5 Linear tracking turntable since the mid eighties. Put it in storage in the late nineties until 2019. Still works fantastic, no repairs, no maintenance. I have updated the stylus.
I've got the SL-7. Works great! What do you run for a cart?
I also have an SL-5 I bought new on a poor college student's budget in about 1982. It's the only turntable I've had since, and I've always loved its simplicity of use. Never scratched a record. The only problem I've ever had with it is that it sometimes lifts before the end of a record.
@@JeffN-Amy SL-7 has also been reliable. Pulled a cord out of a dumpster and the SL-7 was attached to the other end all it needed was new RCA plugs. I'm currently using a Stanton 680el cartridge with the extra weight removed. I found a hypereliptical stylus for the Stanton 680ee it is working fine using an actual Stanton brush ( the non Stanton brush isn't so good...to stiff) . Pretty nice close"n"play that conveniently cleans the record as it's played. Stanton also made p-mounts in the 700 series some of them are moving iron like the 680 and styli are available for those. The 680/681 styli will probably be an exact fit. I've always like that Stanton 680/681 for it's sound...those 700 series should sound the same. Grado makes a P-mount as the black series. I don't know if they go into the higher lines,but I believe they are still made in Brooklyn. Audio Teknica has some too.
@@JeffN-ALp Gear has alot of p-mounts available. Mostly Grado and Audio Teknica . I'm using a Stanton 680el p-mount that I removed the extra weight from the body that was there for the heavy tracking DJ stylus and using a hypereliptical stylus for the 680 series. I believe the 727,737 and 747 p-mounts are the same as the 680/681 being the moving iron type. I've always used the 680/681 because I like the sound. I using one of Stanton's long hair brushes on my SL-7 that also doesn't seem to be a problem either. Since the brush uncouples in use so it seems that the stylus is actually tracking at the 1.5 grams I set it at. Sometimes you get lucky pulling a power cord out of a dumpster. That's where my SL-7 came from . Perfectly working after replacing the RCA plugs. There were some of those 700 series p-mount available on Ebay I got a good deal on that 680el p-mount so I went with it. I really like my little close"n"play for its simplicity in use and the brush is great if I am lazy and skipped cleaning.
@@JeffN-AI am using a Stanton 680ee on mine . I removed the extra weight from a 680el p-mount. I have a hypereliptical 680 replacement stylus. The brush works since it unloads in use. Running it at 1,5 grams . Always liked the sound of Stanton"s moving iron cartridge that they used in the 680/681. Apparently the 727, 737 and 747 are also a moving iron p-mount and interchangeable with the 680. My SL-7 came out of a dumpster after pulling a cord out of a pile of junk. It only needed some new RCA plugs.
Hey Kevin. You can order your own PCB’s and populate them yourself for the STK replacements. X-ray tony B does it in his last series.
Agreed on the STK power packs. I have them in my Kenwood 9100 integrated amp. I worry about using it too much because I don’t want it to fail. Kinda sucks because I love that amp.
The main problem with R2R is head wear. They will wear down eventually, and new heads are long gone. The only way forward is Akai's GX machines, they will last forever if the infamous cams dont crumble away.
My late father used to have a reel to reel machine back in the 80s. He loved it but even then, I seem to recall that he had limited selection of recordings. You certainly make a great point. He did teach me to manually operate a turntable and handle vinyl by the time I was four or five so that was certainly more useful. Really love your channel, btw!
R2R at 7 1/2 ips really was better that vinyl. 3 3/4 ips was mostly for when you wanted to get up to six albums onto one tape. I've got six feet of shelf space given over to R2R tapes (1/3 pre-recorded albums, 1/3 "borrowed" albums, 1/3 live band gigs and rehearsals), but my Sony 640B needs an overhaul that will cost as much as the deck did new in the early 70's.
R2R tapes have as much of a tactile experience as records do. You have to thread it thru the capstan and onto the take-up reel and learn how to cut and tape for leaders or edits. It was also way more interesting to watch than a record.
As a kid, my best friend‘s father owned an amazing hi-fi system, which included a reel to reel. I just thought it was the pinnacle of music listening and decided to save my money and buy one at some point in the future. However, high-end VHS units came out shortly thereafter, and I found out that they were an amazing substitute for reel to reel And could hold much longer and higher quality tracks of music on a smaller form factor that was more stable. In fact, that’s what I used for my wedding to play music over the four hour plus reception. This was a long time ago, obviously. I love your videos, thanks for the great content!
Thank you for another great video. Two comments: 1) The #1 reason most people bought R2R machines was to copy records. One 1800' reel of tape, which could easily hold two LP's worth of music, was half the price of a vinyl record. Friends and I would buy a record, duplicate it, and split the savings. Recording quality FM radio broadcasts directly off the air was another free source of music. 2) Linear tracking turntables were a solution in search of a problem: Using a quality test-tone record, very few people could hear any distortion introduced by the tracking error in a quality tonearm. What's more, the "Rube-Goldberg" assemblies of these machines (along with their cousin the Garrard Zero-One Hundred turntable with articulated tonearm) introduced problems of their own: tonearm motor rumble and pivot bearing friction which introduced stylus tracking "drag".
I have owned 17 reel to reels and the only one that was a pain to keep running was a Pioneer RT- 707 and it only took a cleaning to set it right .
The parts are larger than a cassette so it's much easier to fix for my old eyes lol
There are people that sell refurbished reel to reels so that's an option.
Thanks for sharing
I had a rt 909 for quite a few years . I had good luck with
Maxel ud series , using dbx
And a full floroscan system
Sx d 5000 / ct f 900 / 9800 EQ
Thank you for a very informative and honest video.
I agree fully about those STK packs - I avoided products containing them in the '80's, and I avoid them now.
IMO, the biggest problem with RtoR is the tapeheads, you can't relap them forever, and replacements is getting increasingly hard to get - and that's a shame, as RtoR's are my fav. vintage equipment type - both due to the sound, and the appearance.
Another very helpful video Kevin ! I got involved in the Reel - Reel audio format because I was gifted some machines & tapes. It has been said (rightfully so) that the R to R tape format is the most expensive audio format to own/use. I certainly can not afford/justify the price of new pre-recorded tape releases. I am currently looking for a replacement drive belt for a Astrocom Marlux 407 Reel to Reel. I feel that any vintage hobby whether it be audio, motorcycles/cars, etc depends on the availability of replacement parts. Knowing if a vintage receiver has STK modules or not will determine its desirability to me even it's working fine.This is the reason I would prefer the Yamaha XX20 series vs the XX 40 series. Same with the Pioneer XX50 vs XX80. Agree that that database would be very helpful for the vintage hobbyist. Yes, Linear Turntables do remove the tactile joy of owning/using a traditional record player. I do however feel the the P-Mount cartridge system should return as it would benefit a significant number of people new to the vinyl experience. A/T & Grado still make excellent P-Mount phono cartridges. I'd say that most people don't have the time, patience or knowledge to properly align a standard phone cartridge. Heck, lots of folks don't even know about the importance of simply leveling a turntable. I suggest adding a Bubble Level to your online store. . Another suggestion, how about a "Sleeper of the Week" video series to highlight certain "better built" models of vintage audio equipment from some of the "lessor" brands from your "Tier Equipment Video" series. Cheers, Peter
Another great video, Ive heard of people using hifi VCR's for Analog stereo recording and compared it to R2R levels of sound quality.. Never saw it done in person but sounds cool.
Oh man you ticked all the boxes on this one! I have a half dozen reel to reel decks ranging form an ATR 700 Ampex to a couple of more entry level Teac's I even have an Akai Crossfield X - 180. SD or 5D something like that reel to reel with a built in 8 track player AND it has a built in set of speakers and amp, lol. But the main R2R I actually have hooked up is an Akai GX-280D I LOVE that deck! It sounds amazing! As for linear trackers I have one i bought cheap just to see if I could hear a difference from the pivoting tone arm...I could not. I still have it as a novelty but it's in storage. It is also very sensitive to being leveled,, it's not perfect it acts flaky, not my thing. Cool video! Thanks!
I have a phase linear linear tracking turntable. It is beautiful and very engaging... Its now manual as the tone arm lift motor chip is on the fritz. Sounds and looks beautiful and basicall manual now :). Weighs a ton!!!!
I bought a Teac X100R back in 84. Sold it in 98 since it was too big and heavy to move around. Plus I never really used it. I also bought a Technics SL QL1 in 84. Still use that turn table today. Recently replaced the cartridge with an audio technica. They still make p mount cartridges.
I also use a Pioneer SX 780 receiver. Replaced all caps in it but still have the original stk packs. Have had that receiver since 79 and only use it for music. Still going strong. Now tell me if there are isssues with my speakers. Kenwood kL 777z
I will say (with R2Rs and more) I had a lot of bad experience with Akai gear, specifically pots and switches and mechanisms on all their stuff. Soft heads compared to most reels. Teac was very solid being the consumer line of Tascam. I agree that unused gear is tricky especially soft touch controls. You might luck out and find a cheap Revox but my suggestion for the ideal starter R2R would absolutely be the Sony TC-377. Super solid mechanical transport switches, solid sonics and the onboard mic preamps have nice "clean" distortion for live recording.
Yup too used to the traditional Tt and w a very good Tt w a great cartridge, keep albums clean.u have some good sound.
I have never heard of linear tracking turntables - I love to hear new things, especially new things from back in the days.👍
I would add on the STK Pack issue, that if you have these in your equipment, 12 gage high quality speaker cable is a good idea and make sure speakers, if vintage, were restored correctly. (Personal experience) Learn to use your multi-meter to test resistance if buying vintage speakers. Heck, test any new speaker as well. Real STK test according to my technician: the paint will rub off.
Excellent Video Kevin. Yes, R2R used is a gamble, recently I bought a Teac A1410 SL and it got to me in pieces. Lucky I got a refund, UPS cashed out for the damages. The Teac still works but the cosmetics are not the same. R2R's are heavy, fragile like most vintage electronics, rubbers are degraded, oils caked-up, and the sometime the moving parts are damaged, needless to mention the electronics. I would recommend picking it up yourself from the seller if you can, otherwise have the item insured, and yes know what you are getting into. Recently, I got a Toshiba PT862 , it is a smaller unit though still relatively heavy and sounds better than my Akai, Teac. My experience with tape has o far been good, cashed in for a box of reels and some were brand new sealed tapes, tested one and the recording was superb...
I wanted a silver pioneer reel to reel just because it looked so cool. They were really expensive to me in the 70 s
I have Sharp and Mitsubishi *_vertical_* linear tracking turntables (that play both sides of the record), likely from the mid 1980s.
*If you are interested in just **_experiencing_** a linear tracking turntable,* Lloyd's made lots of them, especially those 'dorm'
combo units with tuner/amp/tape/phono all in one. Can be found for 10 to 15 dollars, often in working order.
Update: After posting this, I was curious what these Lloyd's combo stereos with the linear tracking turntable are selling for on eBay and can't find one!! I have two on the shelf in the workshop I found at thrift stores years ago for the price I mentioned above, and aside from scratches on the dust cover, were in perfect operating condition (the amplifiers are only 5 to 10 Watts, so they really can't hurt themselves). Either people are hanging onto them now, or they are considered too cheap of a product to bother listing on eBay and then packing / shipping because of their size.
I loved my Yamaha R-100 receiver but the Sanyo STK modules fried often. I should have installed bigger heat sinks and cooling fans. Got to the point that I junked the receiver but then the replacement boards came out - too late.
I'm stuck with a Kenwood 5066 tape deck that I can't get parts for.
Quite often old magnetic tape has to be baked out under vacuum before attempting to play them, otherwise the oxide comes off onto the heads.
Never had a problem with maxel tape ud Ampex was
The worst on shedding it,s
Oxide .
I always thought about finding me a linear tracking turntable but not anymore. You're exactly right. No reason to fork over the money for one. I like the record experience same as you. I have CD's 💿 if I want linear tracking. 😂
The reel to reel format is great, the shortcomings were the pre-recorded tapes. Always looking to cut costs, they almost never used the best tape stock available. Then, they were all dubbed at high speed.
What I found, just as with cassette tapes, you could buy better quality blank tapes than offered in pre-recorded tapes. I found that I could take a Maxell UD or UD-XLI blank tape and record records to the tapes and they would outperform any pre-recorded tapes.
In the radio station broadcasting business, later in the 1970's records were recorded to NAB carts, which ran at 7.5 ips and they sounded fantastic. We also found that using R2R machines, we could record the records to tape at 15 ips and the tapes sounded better than the records they were made from.
Inherited two Akai R2R complete with original documentation. Donated to collectors, too much work for me but man they sounded great through a Sansui integrated amp
Hey Kevin-
Thanks for another great video. As the owner of a single system centered around a Pioneer SX-780 and a Tech-neeks SL-5, this one kind of took the wind out of my sails. Fortunately, they're both working fine, so I'll just keep enjoying them and worry about problems if they come up. I hope you'll keep an eye out for quality replacement STK packs and let your viewers know if you find a source. Thanks again.
NTE make them.
I owned two linear tracking turntables and a Garrard Zero-100 which was kind of a hybrid. My brother has the Mitsubishi. It's definitely cool.
My first job as a technician back in the 80´s was audio gear servicing. Damn we all hated these STK modules! I replaced a lot of them. Far more than discrete transistor outputs. With STK modules it was harder to find the possible cause of failiures.
I had a Mistubishi LT5V turntable that work flawlessly for 10 years. It was a great unit that was compatible with any cartridge. Loved it
Another great video Kev... My favorite reel-to-reels have always been Akai and Teac. And are the best medium for listening to recorded music, the sound is amazing.... But the drawbacks are exactly as you said and never been cheap back then or today... I get sticker shock seeing the prices of recorded music on tape reels these days... It's outrageous.....
Hope you're having a good weekend. Take care..
Thank you, Karen. Way out of my price range as well. I bet they are incredible though.
@@skylabsaudio the thing that needs to be mention to anyone who might be tempted to try out those new reels is that they're 10" in size and run in 2 track at 15ips.
Not many common R2R decks can read them. So if you really want one of those new pre-recorded reels, do your homework and save up because good machine to play those reels are in the thousands range.
And since it's already that expensive, get one that is properly serviced for peace of mind.
I know some companies are refurbishing Tascams and other and those decks goes for $10k-15k
I have 5 R2R (3 Pioneer, 1 Akai and 1 Sansui), none of them could play those new reels.
But it's ok I got them for decent price (or even free for the AKAI but it needed some serious cleanup)
My Sansui SD7000 is a lost cause I'm afraid, but I have a hard time to get rid of it as when it works it sounds so good (I have a cold solder somewhere that makes me lose one channel after some time, also this model is plagued with the transistor issue where the legs corrode and you basically have to replace all of them, there's probably more than a hundred inside and now you can't really find replacement anyway)
If you ever got the chance to listen to Iron Butterfly - Metamorphosis tape in 7 1/2 IPS, this is a great recording. I use it to demo my gear. It sounds better than the vinyl. Tracklisting order is different too.
It's not too common but it can be found around $30-40 in great condition. I got mine sealed, unplayed.
I agree with you get a fresh tape and use it to record music especially music that is not available on analog format. You're in for a treat (make sure your heads are properly aligned first though)
You are right, Bruno. I guess my thought was, if anyone is dropping $550 on a single reel, they would know, but in retrospect I think I was being a little naive.
I have a Teac a-3300s 2 track master deck that only plays 7 1/2 and 15, but its not a very common machine.
@@skylabsaudio it's a nice machine it seems. I have yet to come across one like that. My dream deck is the Technics RS-1506 or 1520, not sure which model but the one that can switch from 2T to 4T.
Unfortunately, it looks like I'm going to need to win the lottery to be able to afford one of these (fully serviced/restored).
Good vid as always !
What about the poor man's R2R? Known as HiFi VCR. In Europe the demand is growing a lot. There are many devices to choose , from the simplest to semi pro and pro models (some very fancy). But for 100 bucks you can find a lot of very decent ones (Sony, Panasonic, JVC). They say that Betamax offers better recording quality but I use VHS. The tapes are easy to get, up to 4 hours of recording in SP mode and twice that in LP mode, some specifically for recording HiFi or master and broadcast quality. It's also easy to get original pre-recorded tapes from many artists and bands at ridiculous prices. The audio recording quality from a HiRes streaming platform is simply amazing. Repairing the devices is not expensive or difficult (it depends on the model) and in the event that it cannot be repaired, you buy another one and the problem is solved. They are very easy to use. In general, the mechanism is a bit noisy at times, but nothing serious. Give it a try, it's worth it.
Greetings from Barcelona.
Super fun video. I had an Akai GX220D years ago that I really liked. I sold it to a family member and they just recently told me I could have it back. It’s been stored for a long time in a closet but I think it’s worth the restoration for me anyway. As I remember music sounded really good on it.
Still use my Pioneer rt701 regularly and yes, Pink Floyd never sounded better. But yeah, expensive format. Fortunately I am my own technician on all my audio formats.
Had the Teac sx4300 R2R. Copied best tracks from my vinyl collection on it constantly. Give it my son who used it for a long time. Then he sold it. Purchased in 1977. Loved it.
I agree. Me being one who loves reel to reel tape decks and linear turntables, I learned to repair them. I currently own a Mitsubishi LT-5V (2 of them) and the LT-20 (2 of them) and a B&O 4002 and Harman Kardon ST-7 (2 of them) all in excellent working order and beautiful to look at. Growing up, I always wanted to own any of them but they we’re out of my price range. As time passed I was able to purchase them because the owners couldn’t get them repaired so I purchased them at a reasonable price. With the advent of the internet, I was able to understand how each one worked and set out to repair them. I have pivot arm turntables (Denon DP-72L, Luxman PD-272) that I use most of the time. When I want that unique experience with my Direct to Disk LP’s, I use the Linear TT.
For a very long time I can't figure this out. Just popped into my head(1976/77 or so). 🤔 Back in the day I noticed that when I copied Cassette - Cassette for backup the Dolby's on every machine were different and the final copies sounder quite flat. I contacted my audio dealer and told him this and he offered to swap my cassette deck got one with adjustable Dolby and adjustable EQ for a couple of weeks or so. My system was all Pioneer - $1,750 back then CAN. He and others sent in several cassettes to me copied and the results were all the same. I even tried a number of different types and brands of tapes. No one could ever figure out this happens. As far as Reel to Reels - He brought in some of these, Cheaper Akai's, Revox, Teac which impressed me until he ended up bringing in a couple of just released high end Pioneer units over time of which both were jet black. Played at 3.5/in/second with the large reels they were actually -- sensual. They were very expensive and I never did buy one, and no regrets. The Cassette thing I still think about at times.
I was fortunate to learn of a tech not far away in Toronto who refurbed my Revox A77, Technics RS1500 and Akai R2R machines over the last few yrs. He started in the pro sound business in the late seventies, and can fix any vintage amp, receiver; tube or solid state, etc. Problem is who knows for how much longer.
If you want to get into open reel then best find out first if there’s anyone you can hire to put one back in full working order, if you can’t . And soon.
I had a realistic something or other linear tracking turntable that compared very, very favorably to the best turntables I had ever heard. It was lightweight, easy to use, worked perfectly, and sounded absolutely fantastic... Especially on the inner grooves.
I grew up recording king biscuit flower hour off KSAN and records we borrowed on our trusty Sony TC 350
Great video I have always been a R2R fan having used a mono Grundig valve one my dad owned and let me play with in the late 60's. Once I hit 18 or so (1980) and working I had a nice Teac auto reverse deck, that cost me somewhere like 6 months pay... I had others but now run a nice Philips N4420 and the sound is great.. Tape is easy to get here in Spain as its still made in Germany.. With regard to the record deck Ive fixed quite a few Sharp VZ uprights and apart from a stylus change and belts, these things are pretty bullet proof. The only issue is with the little switch that swaps the outputs of each stylus, if its worn then you get feedback and crackles... I used to buy them for £30 and sell them back out at well over £200. Keep up the good work..
It is enjoyable to use records, looking for records at thrift and antique shops, record shops. Since I got my Tt up n wrkg fine,I spent half a grand on albums. Keep'm clean they sound great.
my first reel to reel was a realistic 909...still have it,,,the got a akia 635d still have it,,,got three teacs an a realistic tr3000..made by teac...like you said they sound the best
Absolutely correct about
buying vintage stereo equipment.
I hear that a Panasonic VCR stereo hi fi player can record music pretty close to that of a reel to reel. I have recorded on a VHS tape and it sounds outstanding with no hiss.
I love my Technics SL-J33! The “ close the lid and press play” simplicity is great. You can program the order the tracks play in (and skip tracks) as well as auto-return, auto-replay. It also has a compact footprint, about the size of a record jacket. I serviced the unit myself replacing the tone arm belt, cleaning and adding lube. It’s also quartz direct drive, so the speed is exact. P-mount means no setting tracking force, no alignment necessary. You can still get P-mount carts and a range of styluses (but not as wide a range as with traditional carts.)
The best turntable I've ever had was an SL-J2. It was awesome to use, and had the best P-mount Audio-Technica cartridge they made. Sounded phenomenal, but it started creaking, and no lube would fix it. I've also found that correct belts might not be possible to get.
@@heavyearly2232 Whe I got the SL-J33 a few years ago, I was able to buy a belt for it. I uses a short belt to control the movement of the tone arm (which travels on a rail.) I also relubed the tome arm gears with white silicone grease. The SL-J33 is direct drive, so low maintenance there.
Thank you so much for this. I learned the hard way, getting burned on a Yamaha CR-840. It blew a resistor connected to the Yamaha Specific Driver Amp IC. I at least learned from a local stereo shop that it was likely a waste of money to really determine if it could be fixed.
I also know that there didn't have to be anything the previous owner did, or knew that mattered, as these are ticking time bombs.
So I own a nice ebay purchased Yamaha CR-840 that is now an RCA switch and Tuner in a big heavy chassis.
Next model I bought is the 69 Sansui 2000, then 4000. I think I likely won't buy anything IC based unless it's for the purpose of an AVR.
Keep up the great work brother.
It’s truly appreciated!!!!
Wow I really appreciate the support for linear trackers. I know few of them are perfect. I have a forty-year-old realistic that I like. My biggest complaint was that it was set at 33 rpm. I bitched about it for 40 years. Just this year I was doing some service underneath and found the pitch pots. 😂😢❤ When I run into that annoying problem with the LEDs and clear vinyl I just put tape over the LEDs and that fixes it.
About a year ago I was planning on to eventually buy myself an open reel to reel deck. It's disappointing; but at least there is the vinyl record, and I have up to three turntables I can play back a record in minimum good to very good condition! I'm going to have 2 turntables connected to my main audio system; direct drive, besides the belt drive.
I've heard about the problems, although not many, that can be plague the owner, listener of a linear tracking turntable. I did plenty of research, and decided to buy myself a Direct Drive, instead. Watching, and carefully listening to your lecture, I believe I made the correct decision.
Anyhow, as far as I'm concerned vinyl is very close to the fidelity of playback of reel to reel analogue tape. Music from a turntable is just as good; but I'm not a fool to say it is better. I am only saying that we have a playback system of playing back a record that can work very well; and the sound of music is certainly good enough! Anyway, (in italics) mostly my opinion.🔉🎵🎶
I agree with your last point about linear trackers, you can't "see" them playing for the most part. I've had a few and they sound fantastic but they don't have the cool factor. Also by the time they came out everything was made of plastic so they break a lot.
I repaired a stuck Sony Biotracer PS-B80 computer 1978 turntable by myself it was not a problem when you replace all 120 electrolytics and set all Operation Amplifiers aon sockets and replace with new ones. Setting was no problem when I followed the factory repair manual. You can repai most old machinery because they were made to last. I also repaired/restored/recapped my German Telefunken Studio reel to reel machine with Schott glass heads (like Akai but even better)and the Uher Royal deluxe recorder.
I still have my original Technics SLDL5 linear tracking. Works great.
If these STK pack are cheap, it's because they're counterfeit. Same for the output transistors.
Another great and informative video Kevin again you speak my language when it comes to servicing vintage audio equipment. Reel to Reels and linear tracking turntables are time vampires and there's always a hidden fault or issue once you dive into them. The STK blocks yep I've been burnt there too, so many fakes online now. Keep up the good work! 👍
I have owned two open reel machines in the past. I agree the sound quality can not be beet. I gave them up because I did not know you could buy prerecorded music on that format, thankyou.
Wow watched your videos before but never knew you were in Iowa. Got a few things like a Bozak 929 amp I would love to get working again. Stay cool!
R2R is awesome i am plaing my R2R a lot my younger friends think i am crazy they think its to big and ugly i dont care i love it
Everything you said is true. I got a akai 1800 SD for 100 bucks and got some early 60s classical tapes ( to avoid sticky shed) Good enough, the format is too expensive. Never met a Technics SLDL1 linear I couldn't fix. Got 4. What ever floats your boat!
The only shop in America that specializes in repairing/upgrading RTR is JM Technical Arts in TN. But. They only work on Studer/Revox equipment.
Yes, reel to reel does sound very good, especially with factory recorded tape at 7.5ips or higher, no ticks or pops from LPs. With good deck, lots of headroom. About the STK, I had Kenwood KR-9600 160W receiver before that had STK, so I got rid of it long time ago, just didn't like STK. It's better with TO3 output trans. overall.
Definitely gonna be a fun one
All valid points. Have a great time a the fair.
Thanks, Craig!
Ha I never wanted a reel to reel before but now I do lol thanks a lot, this is going to be expensive! ;)
Im starting to feel really lucky with this Sony TC 252 I found for $25 in Phoenix. After looking through the electronics, I feel like it was hardly used at all. Also found a vintage hifi store down the road that sell blank tapes!
There is no way I would pay $600 for a new copy of any of those artists, or even ones I like on Reel to Reel tape. That is WAY too much money for an album on tape. You are correct about Buyer Beware on this one! Cheers.
It was a funny coincidence. I watched this video when it came out and definitely agree with these conclusions. So of course someone locally was practically giving away a Sony reel to reel with 2 moving boxes of tapes. (Some of them are sealed blanks) good news is the deck works fine, the bad news is the tapes are all opera . Haha
Also thanks for the tip about recording some lossless files
to tapes! Very fun and sounds good.
There was nothing really wrong with the original STKs when they came out. They offered Thermal stability and standardisation for the output side of the amplifier. Keep in mind that an original STK failing may be a symptom of another problem and not the STK.
The only real issue is the lack of new genuine parts and the proliferation of poor knockoffs in todays world.
The STK discreet Transistor replacement kits are awesome, not hard to build, and can often times give you a slight bump in the power output.
Ever since a discreet transistor solution has been developed; I seek out equipment with the STK problem. --Then hammer the price down, and then I have a receiver that I have a solution for.
This is a good idea! Get them on the cheap due to the modules and replace with discreet components.
On STK power packs... How about some common-sense preventing maintenance like having better cooling of these when they still work. A fan or heatsink or at least clean heat sink and not having the amp's back where these are stuffed into the tight, dusty spot or cabinet?
My little Technics office receiver has those damn modules. One went south and I bought a pair from somebody of reputation and amazingly enough they not only work well but are electrically matched in Beta almost exactly, they are repro items. Previously I tried some off EPay and I think they were epoxy blocks with wires molded in. Total junk.
Hi Kevin. If equipment is in good condition I prefer vintage over new every time. I guess mainly cause I grew up in the era when vintage was new.
I just did some work on a JVC linear tracking turntable that looks just like the one you showed. It didn't need much work. I have a Sansui someone gave me. It needed some work. They don't sound too bad. I have an auto reverse Akai RTR that has some issues. Works great playing forward. In reverse all I get is hum. Haven't figured it out. I rarely play it but when I do I just play it forward. I have an SX-780 and I pray the STK's stay healthy.
I have a Nikko NR-750 receiver that has one large STK pack for both channels (STK2240), and one channel is dead, so its on the list. It was a nice, punchy receiver, but was replaced by much better equipment, so now sits on my "parts" shelf. Yes, I can get the knockoff part, but I don't think its worth my time.
What was shown on linears was H-K ST-7. There is a rubber wheel deep there which fails. Buddy of mine found some plumbing part which fits perfectly and he sell them on Ebay. Problem is - they are not easy to replace. It is a root canal procedure. H-K did away with this part in ST-8 model replacing this rubber roll with metal one.
Ah yes, the infamous STK power packs. If you ever owned a Pioneer from the late 70's, then you are familiar with these.
I have two R2R, TEAC X-3 and a Pioneer RT-909 and they're both just for show. Because of the constant repairs and troublesome parts.
I had a rt 909 that was solid ,
And a large feline , silver gray
Taby female fat fur ball that
Watched the reels go round & round .😂
I really do wonder why manufacturers ignore people’s love for some of these vintage receivers. They should make modern versions of their most popular flagship equipment.
Just had Pioneer PL-L1000A linear tracking table I bought in the mid 80s brand new repaired. The A model was overseas military. Very expensive then. Just spent $400 for the repair plus general service. Well worth it for me. Can’t figure out how to put a picture on here.
I bought one of those at a record show in the early 1990s for $35. It was in very good shape, and with a service manual and a new tonearm lift belt, I got it operating just fine. It still works. The only generic issue with those and other higher end Pioneer models of the era is that the rubber boots around the plinth suspension springs rot away, and replacements are hard to find. You lose a little big of isolation from vibrations when that happens, but otherwise the turntable works normally.
I have two LT turntables, a Sansui P-L51 and a Technics SL-7. Aside from replacing belts, which is not too difficult, I would not want to try to figure out any other problems with them relating to the electronics aside from a power supply issue as they have a lot of stuff going on! Had no problem finding a replacement stylus for them. I think they sound really good. The Sansui even mutes the sound after the stylus is lowered. They also take up less space if that is a factor (it was for me). One negative is that some LT's may not play clear or translucent records due to the LED not being reflected properly off them....
Technics RS series and Otari MX series and late models of Tascam are good choices. I own an Otari for three years now. No problem with it ,so far.
The department store turntables, including the linear trackers sucks. I had an Eminent Technology ET-2 air bearing linear tracking tonearm on my SOTA Sapphire turntable. Heaven!
Great discussion. Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
I still have the Mitsubishi LT 22 linear dual motor twith a standard straight tone arm headshell .Arm runs along the back of the plinth with a regular dust cover. I'm sure you know this. I've only replaced the cart many times in 40 years. It still runs perfect. It's a beast. Have you had any in your shop? I would love to have that upright Mitsubishi you showed. I'm a big fan of linear tracking
I had a Tandberg, Technic and Teac in the 80th but as I changed my job every 2 years it became cumbersome and expensive to ship around the world!
Thanks for the video .
I‘m a bit surprised that you didn‘t put the 200 and 300 CD changers on your list. They are rather Rube Goldberg in mechanical design.
All the same I was able to re-belt my Sony CDP-CX335 and have been very happy. I think I‘ll replace the unit’s steel cover with a plexiglass see-thru cover and enjoy wanting the carousel do its thing….
Any Teac that were sold all the way to the 90’s. Example: X3, X300-R and so. 90% the same.
Revox A77. Getting parts for these is somewhat easy like getting parts for a Ford or Chevrolet pickup…
No the good brands isn’t hard to get up to good usable standard.
Steeley Dan Gaucho is great on CD it has to be excellent on reel to reel.
The sound stage is wide!
Love R2R and it is the superior analog format but expensive to get into, large footprint and really high maintenance. Nevertheless, happy as a clam with my vinyl.
Good vid. Kevin.
Well,regarding linear trackers. They were roughly a decade on the market. From budget to high end stuff.
And they died out because in general inhouse construction and production of turntables died out .
I mean today no one is able to make a PS-X800. The know how is simply lost.
Thanks Kevin, great video, again…..