Ballfinger M063 both 1/4 track and 1/2 Track playback

[yjwu]

If magnetic head and audio electronics for M063 and Thorens TM1600 were all the same, I predict TM1600 will hold its promise for a longer time. No hard to comprehend theory is involved; only simple common sense. Tape transport is mechanical in nature. For any movable parts to operate smoothly there must be some "play" (uncertainty) to make the movement fluent. This uncertainty will increase as parts move (grind) against each other every time (at each command?); i.e. as mechanical part wear out. Conventional wisdom put magnetic heads in solid foundation; ensure its alignment with lacquer on the micro-pitch screws.
Another simple question followed as: move tape away from magnetic heads or move magnetic heads away from tape? which task is easier? Judging from sheer mass of magnetic head and amount of magnetic tape involved the answer should be quite obvious.
This principle also holds for video tape recorder: very complicated mechanism pull the tape out of the box and wrap it around a fixed rotating heads.
Tape enthusiasts can ask opinion from experts at April 25 Berkeley's Reel Tape Workshop.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

thank you Bangkok Audiophile for the feedback, it is a helpful data point.

i think when we speak about 'bigger stage' it's not simply sound stage size. typically larger stage also leads to greater separation in the sound stage, next......lower noise floor and greater ambient information which expands the stage and lights up the edges. typically bass weight, ease, and authority are also components of a larger stage. the music is less perceived as reproduced and more holographic and real.

analogous to turntables these attributes are found in increasing degrees the higher the food chain you go. and tape transports too.

which of these aspects of 'bigger stage' i mentioned were part of the perceptions?

i would be surprised if a high level current design deck did not have better resident electronics than vintage ones. as others have mentioned, owners of vintage decks have access to many choices for output electronics. and the match of heads, output electronics, and preamp interface all effect final performance to a large degree. i owned the Nagra T, A-820 and stock Ampex ATR-102 at the same time some years back. i personally felt the Nagra T was not quite on par with those other 2, which were more slightly different than better or worse (with stock output electronics).

 

[DexterMiller]

A lot of the theories regarding the finer points of tape transport were worked-out, surprisingly, as far back as the early 1960s; by an (American) company which was Ampex's main competitor in the semi-pro recorder market: Magnecord.

The practice of using PARABOLIC-shaped heads (instead of HYPERbolic), where: the surface of the head can be almost machined flat except for the point of contact at the gap. Advantage: the SLIGHTEST amount of pressure is required to maintain the tape/head interface and, that pressure can be applied from a damped gate lifter assembly rather than from additional counter-balance flywheels (susceptible to MORE tape drag and scrape...as some of these new machines seem to be copying the threading layout of the garbage "X"-type 1980s Teacs) along the tape path...or from supply motor back tension having to create undue friction to constantly insure wrap.

Locate the PINCH ROLLER *ABOVE* THE CAPSTAN. A minor detail, yet significant; as: 1. the oxide side of the tape is not, then, forced into contact with a grinding metal part and, 2: the gravitational pull of the traction being applied top-down has the fringe benefit of giving extra stability to how the takeup reel winds (in playback).

 

[Ron Resnick]

Does anyone have any updates on Ballfinger tape machines?

Did anyone receive one last year?

Has anyone made any further comparisons between a Ballfinger and a A-820?

Has anyone ordered a Ballfinger with 30ips tape speed?

 

[vjayh]

I was really curious about this as well. Has anyone ever seen one in the wild? I couldn't find anything in the way of reviews. I emailed the company expressing interest, but received a note that they were not shipping to the US. Bummer. I love the industrial design. Admittedly one of those products that I would value as much for the visual and consider it a work of industrial art, which I am very beguiled by!

Anyone have any info on Ballfinger? Noticed they took their turntables off the site awhile back. Not sure they ever really shipped, but they too were cool design.

 

[CKKeung]

I was really curious about this as well. Has anyone ever seen one in the wild? I couldn't find anything in the way of reviews. I emailed the company expressing interest, but received a note that they were not shipping to the US. Bummer. I love the industrial design. Admittedly one of those products that I would value as much for the visual and consider it a work of industrial art, which I am very beguiled by!

Anyone have any info on Ballfinger? Noticed they took their turntables off the site awhile back. Not sure they ever really shipped, but they too were cool design.

Audioexotics is the Hong Kong dealer of Ballfinger.
They had sold a number of the tape decks to customers but is quiet about the brand during the recent 1 yr.
You may email them for a chat.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Review of the Ballfinger MP-002P

BALLFINGER MP-002P Reel to Reel Tape Player, The Analogue Source! - Analogue Fellowship

BALLFINGER M-002P Reel to Reel Player (only). MY FIRST EXPOSURE I remembered my first hearing of the Reel to Reel (hereinafter referred to as R2R) format was about 7 years ago. It was at a local audiophile gathering, the host played a very familiar audiophile album, Patricia Barber “Companion”...

analoguefellowship.com

 

[Tango]

Review of the Ballfinger MP-002P

BALLFINGER MP-002P Reel to Reel Tape Player, The Analogue Source! - Analogue Fellowship

BALLFINGER M-002P Reel to Reel Player (only). MY FIRST EXPOSURE I remembered my first hearing of the Reel to Reel (hereinafter referred to as R2R) format was about 7 years ago. It was at a local audiophile gathering, the host played a very familiar audiophile album, Patricia Barber “Companion”...

analoguefellowship.com

I like the look of Ballfinger very much. It looks rather understated, simple and practical. And that is how it is. The built and finish are excellent although not as heavy strong rugged tank-like Studer A820. But in term of sound, you can beat it direct-wiring from a Flux Magnetic head to a good external preamp.

 

[Foxbat]

I like the simple looks of M 002 P, in some sense similar to Lyrec Frida, the two would look cool together. I just wonder if they are working on pancake platters for it, as I used them a lot. Are these like REALLY available now?

 

[andromedaaudio]

They have pancake platters for them ( pics / video from the website )

I would like to see pics of the interior of the small player as well .
The bigger M063 s interior looks like a very well thought out / designed machine .


I might inquire for a hear / see visit this year if its possible , its not so far from where i live

 

[Foxbat]

Nice! It looks like Telefunken lock and plate, which would be great, as I have those. Would be great to see a close up shot of their reel tables.

 

[andromedaaudio]

This is the included power supply for both transport / additional Balfinger playback amp



Additional playback tape pre amp .

 

[andromedaaudio]

Nice reel motors .
These look to me as from the ground up completely new designed machines .
Thats not gonna be cheap to do , Ballfinger deserves all respect afaic

 

[Foxbat]

This is the one I like in the current generation of new machines.

But that sheet metal head cover... man... that one HAS to go! A nice machined piece, nothing else!

 

[andromedaaudio]

From what i read in the review and other info is that the newly designed ballfingers run quiter then studers and have a better S/N ratio due to different motor designs / placement / external power supply etc

 

[Foxbat]

That would be welcome... in my system, although it is acoustically very, very, very quiet, I can see on spectrum analyzer when the tape drive is turned on - you can't miss that 120Hz peak.

Part of the reason is that I mount the head preamps right under the machines, in close proximity, to save the room space. A few feet of separation do reduce that effect.

 

[andromedaaudio]

That would be welcome... in my system, although it is acoustically very, very, very quiet, I can see on spectrum analyzer when the tape drive is turned on - you can't miss that 120Hz peak.

Part of the reason is that I mount the head preamps right under the machines, in close proximity, to save the room space. A few feet of separation do reduce that effect.

I saw your system / tape machines playing on you tube yesterday , nice

 

[Foxbat]

Thank you! Much of it is in constant state of flux. Here is one of the recent pictures.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Thats a very nice collection .
How is the Otari ( MTR 10 12 ??) tape handling as compared to the others ??

 

[Foxbat]

Quite good, actually. It is the MTR-12, and my only complaint is that its braking action when using 12" reels of platters is much too soft to my taste. It is great when using 10" reels, but there is reel size sensor and it changes the regime with larger reels. Overall it is a very fine transport.