Which Reel to Reel deck should I get ? (list included)

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percy

percy

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Joined 2004
#1
After doing a little research I have narrowed it down to a few models that I like but I would like some more feedback before I make a final decision.

SONY TC-558
AKAI GX-266D, GX-267D, GX-630D/635D/636

Use would be just home listening of pre-recorded tapes. Very little recording use - if at all any.

I know there could be better ones out there but this is the final list I am considering based on various factors(trouble free operation for a long time, decent level of performance for my kind of application, budget and aesthetics)

Any information on selecting between the sony and the akais would be very helpful!
Thanks!
 
#4
Ignore your list. Buy a real reel machine. As Bruno says,
there are many good studio machines out there.

I do not like the Revox B77. The way they made "potentiometers"
by putting a carbon elements on the front panel PCB is really
sleezy. Prone to problems.

My all-time favorite non-studio machine is the Technics RS-15xx
series, RS-1500, RS-1506, etc. IMO one of the 3 or 4 best
transports ever designed. Run rings around most studio
recorder transports. Any studio machine that will top these
is still in high demand and expensive.
 
#5
GX heads

I'd go for the Akai over the Sony, 'cause the GX heads don't wear.
Go for a 3 motor version, the single motor machines aren't nearly as good.
Check that the pinch wheel (that controls the tape speed) is in good condition, I once was given a machine that someone had left in the 'play' position for some years - the pinch wheel had an indent from the motor spindle, so was unuseable.
Pete McK
 
#6
The sony has a F&F (Ferritte and Ferritte) head which are also known to be long lasting like the GX heads.

Looks like the Technics would be above the budget. I dont want to spend more than $250-$300.

I have looked at the Teacs, Tascams, Revox, etc.. but I like the looks of the GX-6xx series. And I guess from whatever I have learn't so far they are not bad performers for general home use. Unless something is terribly bad about them I'd really like to settle with one of them. Unless you see a big red flag there...?
 
#8
EC8010 said:
Why bother with domestic machines when the broadcasters are throwing away real machines? If you have the room, a Studer A80 is a wonderful machine. By comparison, a B77 is a toy.
Click to expand...

True, but studio machines are big, still more expensive than a good consumer deck and, very often, quite abused.
Anyway, Percy wants a good consumer machine, so let' s focus on the task...
Out of the list, I' d go for the GX635D.

Cheers,

Bruno
 
#9
I wouldn't buy any of those decks, all are pretty much junk! I owned both Studer A-80's and Nagras 4S's, both are tops in their catagories. The A-80's do have a tad bit more punch than the Nagra does but they are oh so close when properly set up. Not much can beat em. Presently I have a 2 track Technics RS-1501. Back when the 1500 decks came out I worked for Panasonic and attended a repair seminar on them and they are about the most ingenious designed Jap tape deck still out there. I got mine at an estate sale for 75.00! A-80's are also regularly available on E-BAy for well under a grand, Nagras are typically available for even less because many film sound guys are beginning to unload them....they can be alot of maintainance and digital has pretty much replaced them for location work. BTW: Bob Katz at Digital Domain uses an RS-1500 deck thats been modified with outboard Ampex electronics to do his mastering work from 1/4" tape. HE loves the 1500 transport!

Mark
 
#11
Ah should have mentioned... 7". That doesnt mean I do not want a machine with 10.5" capability. If there is a good 10.5" I'd take it.

Now friends, I know there are other magnificent machines out there - the studers and nagras and many others but like I said I have researched for a long time based on these factors -

Head Type (long lasting - hence the sony f&f and akai gx)
Reliability/Resistance to failure and in failure not terrible to repair/get parts for.
Ofcourse good to better performance.
Cost (definitely not more than $300, in fact less)
Cosmetic/Aesthetic appeal (some people might not have this in their criteria at all but...)

Trying my best to acheive a balance between these, I have come up with this list - junk so be it. Lets select the least junk one from it.

I am sure Bruno was not unhappy or dissatisfied with his GX-635D.
 
#14
Something that's worth noting about the Studer A80 is that the entire headblock can be removed in seconds simply by undoing three Allen screws, allowing a different head block to be plugged in. We had a mono full-track head block that we would plug in for making alignment tapes for the students, and when we'd finished, we'd pop the stereo twin track block back on.
 
#17
I dont know too much about reel to reel. I have pick up a sony tc-377 at a university surplus sale for 15 bucks. I only have a couple of tapes so i dont need anything too extravagant.

My whole point is check university's surplus sales, here in wisconsin we have a few in the state usually once a week with websites. You can get great deals on decent equiptment or parts for your diy project. I almost bought a centrafuge to use as a platter once. with a new idler wheel and a belt maby one of these machines would prolly work great for you.

I know the 377 isn't anything special but it does have the f & f head and plays the tapes for me.
 
#18
percy said:
I am sure Bruno was not unhappy or dissatisfied with his GX-635D.
Click to expand...

You' re right, I was very happy with that machine. It sounded very well and worked flawlessly.
I did not use it very intensively, when I sold it three years later (to finance a Nakamichi ZX-7) it was still almost like new. As far as I understood, you are in teh quest for a good consumer machine and you wouldn' t make such an intensive use of it , so I believe you' ll also be very happy with it.

Cheers,

Bruno

P.S.: Later on I also owned an old Revox A77 MKIV... rugged beast, one of the best consumer machines out there, in spite of the age...
 
#19
#20
Ignore siren calls for studio decks; they are not what you want, need or can necessarily afford. None of them will play your 4 track tapes.
The Akai 636 is a fine choice, the later 747(db) is even better but might cost you a lot more. The Technics is also very good but again will porbably cost a lot more than the Akai 636.
So unless the 747 or RS1500 are too cheap to ignore then stick with the 636.
 
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