Revox brings a new B77 Mk III to market!

[Foxbat]

I don't doubt for one second that what the tech is telling you is correct.

It is that what YOU are saying is wrong.

Playback only machines are popular, there is good reason for that. I don't record on most of my machines.

 

[dminches]

I have many tape decks that play 15ips 1/2 track tapes. Some have the ability to record and some don't. The reality is, the majority of time I use the playback only ones (heads wired out to a tape preamp), since I really don't have anything to record. I do occasionally makes tapes for friends but even that is infrequent.

 

[A-Line]

I don't doubt for one second that what the tech is telling you is correct.

It is that what YOU are saying is wrong.

Probably..lol.

I do know that my 456 tapes are in great shape and sound great too.
The only issues with that particular tape that I'm aware of is the issue of being sticky.
The ReVox service techs also told me to fast forward every tape to close to the end then rewind before playing a tape and keep the tapes stored in cool environment.

I'm not sure what other trouble people are having or have had with regards to 456 tape. Storing analog tape is similar to film. Eventually all tape will degrade and become worthless. My oldest tape of 456 tape is from May 1983. I played that tape last week and it's still good with no issues.

Maybe tape sold in the USA was bad or something. I've never considered 456 tape to be a problem or a hassle. Maybe others will post here on the subject..

 

[dminches]

This article covers it well.

-Degrading Tapes – Richard L Hess—Audio Tape Restoration Tips & Notes

richardhess.com

 

[A-Line]

This article covers it well.

-Degrading Tapes – Richard L Hess—Audio Tape Restoration Tips & Notes

richardhess.com

Thanks for posting this. None of my 456 tapes exhibit sticky shed so far. Maybe I got lucky with my purchases?

 

[dminches]

Thanks for posting this. None of my 456 tapes exhibit sticky shed so far. Maybe I got lucky with my purchases?

You just have to be careful because 1 bad tape can do a lot of damage.

 

[A-Line]

You just have to be careful because 1 bad tape can do a lot of damage.

True. I always keep a eye out for problems when playing tape. So far so good.
I would suppose most people that had 456 tape had to throw them away within 20 years or less due to sticky shed based upon some Internet research that I did today.
My oldest tape that I recorded on is now over 41 years old.
I've never had to throw away a tape for any reason as of yet.

 

[A-Line]

ReVox Classics

Classics - Revox Audio

classics Even to this day and age, the A77 and B77 reel-to-reel tape machine still holds a special place in the hearts of every true-blue audiophiles. The newly refurbished versions can be integrated into Revox’s Multiuser System and can be controlled using the Revox app. Take a piece of audio...

revoxaudio.com

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[stellavox]

Bias is a VERY high frequency sine wave (typically WAY above 100Khz) that get MIXED with the audio signal right after the record amp. Then, BOTH signals get fed to the the RECORD head ONLY WHEN RECORDING. My scientific explanation for the need for biasing is that it "shakes the shit" out of the magnetic particles on the tape - getting them ready for the audio signal and in the process LINEARIZING that signal on the tape itself.

However, once this process is done and the signal recorded on the tape, that's it. When you play back a pre-recorded tape, the bias signal IS STILL THERE, BUT it is (supposed to be) SO FAR above the upper frequency limit of the playback electronics that you can never hear it. In fact in stock tape machines, most playback electronics have a low pass filter at their inputs to suppress the bias signal just to insure that it won't interfere with (inter-modulate) the audio signal.

I've never experienced any playback situations where the bias signal "interferes with" the audio signal - even with outboard tape preamps.

 

[Foxbat]

So you have never done playback bias, Charles? How uncouth of you.

 

[stellavox]

So you have never done playback bias, Charles? How uncouth of you.

NO, I have a bias against that

 

[adrianywu]

True. I always keep a eye out for problems when playing tape. So far so good.
I would suppose most people that had 456 tape had to throw them away within 20 years or less due to sticky shed based upon some Internet research that I did today.
My oldest tape that I recorded on is now over 41 years old.
I've never had to throw away a tape for any reason as of yet.

I bought a big lot of 456 when Quantergy went out of business the first time. I use them for live recordings, and so far no sticky shed. But these tapes were from the late 1990s and the problem had been solved by then. I recently worked with session masters recorded in the early 1980s for a friend who was a famous pop singer in Hong Kong. Those were done on 456 and they have terrible sticky shed problem. I transferred them to 468 successfully. The other problem with 456 is the packing. It does not pack as smooth as 468, and really needs a slow library wind.

 

[adrianywu]

Well some old machines from the 1970's( J-corder Technics by Tape Project & Mira from Acoustic Sounds) have been repurposed. Some have their recording features disabled with other models having recording features for a additional 2-3K USD. Pricing is similar to the ReVox MKIII.

I'm not sure why anyone would buy a tape machine without recording capabilities but apparently some of do.

If I were buying new these days I would probably get one of the current Nagra studio machines. Those run at around 40,000€. But I'm very content with the MKIl and ReVox still provides support so..

ReVox also sells refurbished older machines on their web site like the MKI & II, PR99, & A77 for those that may be interested.

As for recording tape I've no idea anymore.
Ampex was sold to Quantegy around the year 2000. I'm not sure if Quantegy is even still in business I've not checked. I'm out of storage space so I'm done with recording since 2006.

As late as 2013, when I bought my fully refurbished Nagra T Audio , Nagra was still only charging 8000 CHF for the machine. 5x inflation in 10 years is quite spectacular. Sitting next to the Revox B77, the Nagra makes it look like a toy, even though the Nagra actually has a smaller footprint. Just the smoothness of the mechanism of the Nagra shows how rudimentary the B77 is. Surprisingly, the sound of the B77 avails itself pretty well considering the large price difference. The B77 is still a bargain sound quality wise.

 

[byrdparis]

. The B77 is still a bargain sound quality wise.

but not at 16K...

 

[adrianywu]

but not at 16K...

I paid $2k fully refurbished.

 

[Foxbat]

That is the appropriate price of that platform. Maybe $1000 more.

 

[adrianywu]

That is the appropriate price of that platform. Maybe $1000 more.

MK2 usually costs more, but it makes little difference if the machine gets refurbished with new parts anyway, unless the variable speed control is needed.

 

[byrdparis]

I paid $2k fully refurbished.

that i get. for 2-3K to get a mint and fully refu'.
the new price looks like out of sense. but, to each his own,

 

[dminches]

Am I correct in saying that the B77, MKI and II, do not have switchable EQ? I only own a PR99 MKII and it does not.

Of course, that isn't worth $10k, but it is a very nice feature to have.

 

[Foxbat]

You are correct, and they also don't have playback EQ adjustment, which I think is even more important.

Even if you buy some upgrade boards those usually don't have the EQ adjustment.