Reel to reel machine

[bancho]

So... I'm in love with anything analog (well, we live in analog life) and I have some questions about reel to reel tape decks:

I own actually new Revox B77, in notime I'll own PR99 also. My dream is also Studer A80 (sorry dr.dub but for a start 2-track not 24 ) and recently found Telefunken... and here is the question:
Does anybody have the Telefunken M15 or M10 (especially this one!)? Is it any good - compared to Revox/Studer? How hard is it to repair it? Are the parts obtainable?
The Telefunken M10 with V86/V87 amps is super sexy - check the web!

[Nickou]

I have a M15 and had a M 10, they are fantastic machines , top quality ...

[dubcutter89]

The Telefunken M10 with V86/V87 amps is super sexy

one of my favorite - would like to have one somtime....

i guess the telefunkens are on the same level as the studers - professional
the only thing is that those old german decks often have the german headstock,
which is on the outside - so you may have problems playing back "normal" tape (or you have to rewind or whatever)

Lukas

[bancho]

What about repairing... the one I could get will have to be dissasembled, cleaned and reapired... The spare parts are very hard to get... Is there any reapir service available for these dinosaurs?

And yes... I've noticed the head is placed opposite as normal head placement (as B77)... this is probably the so-called "german track path", right?
Does this mean you just rewind and turn the tape? Anybody know?

[bancho]

Oh!
What is considered as "normal" price for the M10 and M15 thesedays?

[bancho]

heh, another question ... bit different....
I'd like to modify my B77 to have balanced connectors (now there are unbalanced "cinch" connectors). Does anybody know how to do that?
Thanx in advance!

[dubcutter89]

use a 1:1 transformer = "übertrager"

simple, adds to sound + true balanced

lukas


ps.: m15 are cheaper than m10 (i guess)
price 0-1000$

[bancho]

use a 1:1 transformer = "übertrager"

simple, adds to sound + true balanced

emmm... I think I don't quite get it

could you draw this?

[Nickou]

What about repairing... the one I could get will have to be dissasembled, cleaned and reapired... The spare parts are very hard to get... Is there any reapir service available for these dinosaurs?

hilpert in Germany is doing it

[flozki]

User ina134 drv134 or equivalent from THATs i think there ist no space to put good sounding transformers in.

[tragwag]

I would swear by studer. those machines are dead accurate as far as wow/flutter, and are intuitive to use. (i've used the A827, 24 track machine)

[bancho]

@flo & lukas: do you have any schematics and/or recommended übertragers ? I have the b77 in the original "desktop" case and I want to put it in the some kind of wheeled rack so the space shouldn't be a problem... for the ina/drv 134 ... do I use a preamp and connect it to ons & outs?

@tragwag: I know the studers are standard first thought but I'd like to know about telefunkens a little bit more as they are cheaper - but good enough? it looks so...

[dubcutter89]

well, i was thinking about external transformers.
you don't have to disassemble the machine nor make any modifications.
just use a transformer (per channel) with your cinch connection on one side,
and xlr (or whatever balanced system you need) on the other.
1:1 ratio
cheap ones for 10€ (may sound nice as well)
pro ones (telfunken, lawo, haufe, malotki....) for 100€+

google line transformer...

the ina134 drv134 are nice, but you have to make a pcb (or proto-board)
power connection, drill holes etc...
for balanced out on your revox you would need 2 drv134.
more info in the datasheet:
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/drv134.pdf
(page

will cost approx 20€ for stereo


Lukas

[bancho]

I don't have any problems making pcb... the thing is which is better transformer or ina134 drv134 ... probably I'd have to make one/channel so total 4 of them (L/R for in/out) ? ...and all the elements should be approximately the same value otherwise there will be discrepancies between L/R?

[petermontg]

There is also ortari mtr 12 and 10, serif put me on to them a while back. There is a studer here for sale but needs work, plugged into wrong power mains.



If you want to PM me I'll pass along the sellers details.

Peter

[MrMegaEli]

I know where you can get restored A810 2 tracks for $2,500, in NYC. PM me for details.

[bancho]

Thanks everybody!
Right now I'm looking for something cheap and pro (these two things don't go together, I know) and in EU. I could get restored Telefunken M15 for around 1k€, the M10s went for 1.1k and 1.6k - too much for me right now.
Anyway I'm just looking around if I could find something - I already have new B77 wihch is more than suitable for me at this moment

[flozki]

M10 you shoud get for under 500.-
i saw recently one for 200.- which also needed work.

for your B77 i think its better to use the INA/DRV134 or the ones from THAT.
for a transformer solution you must have the right output circuit..capable to drive enough.
i think to use transformers you need also some more transistors, opamp whatever.

the schematics for INA134 is so simple that you can add it almost on the fly.
only the caps for power needed.
i dont know the B77 schematics. so it might be a problem to have symmetric voltage for DRV/INA solution.

[Aussie0zborn]

You will find a webiste from a German company that specialises in Telefunken tape machines such as M15, although not with preview heads. These are good solid machines and Neumann supplied them as part of the complete VMS70 cutting suite in a cabinet that matched the look of the the VMS70 cabinet.

[bancho]

@flo: If it happens you come across of the complete M10 (including V86/87) for price you mentioned... please let me know immediately!