Topic: Reel to reel Luddite guy.

[bill440cars]

       KK,

          Here we thought you were the mild mannered Klark Kent, when in reality, you are really pumped up with all this SUPER information! Thanks for sharing there.

                                                      Later on, Bill

[Bob Wessner]

dont blame your ears, Bob, in a side by side comparison your ears could tell the difference.  it is your brain that has allowed them to be happy for lack of the knowledge you would gain by such a comparison.  and maybe more of us should be less focused on the quality of the recording.  with all the talk about quality of sound and piicture we have lost all hope of producing quality content.  i for one would rather see films from the seventies on VHS tape than crystal clear reality tv in eyeball stroking High Definition.  Like a technological walmart, digital technology has won us over with the promise of affordability for the masses, despite its inevitable flooding of the market with complete crap.  This can't be the future, its too stupid
-KK

I guess using the term tin ear wasn't accurate. I have had exposure to enhanced sound environments and the difference is quite evident. It would be more accurate to say I guess I don't find the difference worth the investment, would rather spend the $$'s elsewhere. For example, my wife an I were looking at some Bose stuff. Ha! Not a chance! To each his own, and I fault no one who has the interest though.

[Klark Kent]

one (accurately rated) quadraphonic reciever found locally on ebay- $40
two sets of (accurately rated) speakers from the 70s- hand me downs from my aunt and uncle
decent turntable with adjustable s-type swingarm $80
quadraphonic cartridge for turntable- $25
pure analog sound that immerses and impresses: priceless

you might  have to spend another $100 - $200 on good speakers, but you could also find old sansui wooden grilled speakers with good cones for much less. 

Bikes are not the only area of technology where i prefer scavenging the past for quality to trying to wade through modern marketing to pay the price of the latest thing.  The money I save is a only a byproduct however, and wouldnt justify the expense of time i put into researching old technology.   It is worth the investment of my time because the understanding of the older technologies and why they produce quality experiences, gets to the heart of why i crave these experiences in the first place.

but thts just me... and thats enough editorializing from this mild mannered reporter for one day.   
until someone says something else that is   
-KK

[bill440cars]

       KK, the things we do, like your research and all, is what makes us who we are. There's nothing wrong with that. Among all on this forum, there's no telling what a wide range of interests you would find, if a poll was taken and everyone was completely honest. We would probably be amazed to learn of all the different things or areas of interests that there are.

                                                         Later on, Bill    

[Killer Canary]

I like old audio for the same reasons I like old bikes: we needed that step to get where we are, I avoid fads like the plague, and I like to tinker.
Now, does anyone know where to get a X-former?

[techy5025]

Killer,

Do you have a service manual on the reel to reel?  You can probably get a substitute
transformer or get the bad one rewound. We use to have a ham in town who did that
but unfortunately he is a silent key now. 

In a lot of the old electronics, the electrolytic capacitors are leaky and need to be
replaced also.

Jim

[BobbyR]

Like KK I still have my old Quad unit. I am very unimpressed with the sound of most of today's gear. It is very powerful,  but it does not sound very good. They depend on subwoofers and effects to make you feel, rather than hear the music. They also use these gadgets to cover shortcomings in the design.

Back in the day a true high fidelity amplifier had to deliver highs, midrange, and lows on it's own. The speakers were expected to do the job also.

I built some really nice systems by just cruising Estate and Tag sales, I also made a lot of money at it also. You can build a very nice vintage system for a very modest cost, if you look around and have patience. While Scott, Fisher, KLH and of course McIntosh have the best reputations, a 1970's Yamaha Natural Sound receivers will deliver amazingly nice sound at a budget price. I do not believe that the Japanese really mastered speaker technology so I try to get American speakers. No matter how good your system crappy speakers give out crappy sound.

If you would like a very nice modern table radio, it is hard to beat the Tivoli One. I would put it way above the Bose Wave Radio and it only costs $100. It was designed by Henry Kloss the genius behind KLH and Cambridge Sound.       

[TwoTired]

I've got a Gerrard Zero 100 that now has noticeable rumble due to the hardened rubber on the turntable drive roller.  Wish I could buy a new production one.

Two, that is an OK unit. I have worked on quite a few. Your drive roller may also be a bit out of round or have developed some flats. You can sand it gently to round, it will also give it more tooth and it will drive better. You can also get a new platen mat which will absorb whatever is left.  While you are in there a bit of oil on all the bearings probably would not hurt. 

Yes, I have always liked the Zero 100. About 10 years ago I noticed all the grease used in it has congealed and turned into glue.  So, of course, the auto changer part no longer functions. (Not that I ever used it that much as it is too hard on the records).  I lubed and oiled enough to get the manual part working to make some recordings, that's when I found the table rumble coming from the drive roller.  I already tried sanding, which helped prevent slipping, but all of the rubber has just hardened with age just like the carburetor couplers on our bikes.  I'm going to give the "Rubber Renue" a try as soon as I find some.   As I recall, the platen mat was never soft.  Sure makes sense a soft one would help, though.  Have to shop.
 I found a Yamaha P-350 belt drive model that sounds pretty good for doing recordings, in the mean time.  But, I would like to restore the Gerrard to it's former glory.  I'll clean and replace all that grease/glue if I can get rid of that roller rumble.

Cheers,

[TwoTired]

Now where's my Sansui 5000 amp?

I still use my Sansui 7000 to this day.  My navy buddy had a 5000, though.

It's funny though.  The old amps don't have a CD selector.  And, the new Sony Receiver for the 5.1 home theater doesn't have a Phono input or selector.

 Times change.

Cheers,

Cheers,

[gerhed]

TwoTired,

I actually never got the Sansui 5000, but that was the hot ticket 10 miles north of DaNang in the summer of '68.
A few years ago I did acquire a hand made Berning EA2-150  tube amp made in the 80's--all open everything just sitting there--great sound, too.

[BobbyR]

I've got a Gerrard Zero 100 that now has noticeable rumble due to the hardened rubber on the turntable drive roller.  Wish I could buy a new production one.

Two, that is an OK unit. I have worked on quite a few. Your drive roller may also be a bit out of round or have developed some flats. You can sand it gently to round, it will also give it more tooth and it will drive better. You can also get a new platen mat which will absorb whatever is left.  While you are in there a bit of oil on all the bearings probably would not hurt. 

Yes, I have always liked the Zero 100. About 10 years ago I noticed all the grease used in it has congealed and turned into glue.  So, of course, the auto changer part no longer functions. (Not that I ever used it that much as it is too hard on the records).  I lubed and oiled enough to get the manual part working to make some recordings, that's when I found the table rumble coming from the drive roller.  I already tried sanding, which helped prevent slipping, but all of the rubber has just hardened with age just like the carburetor couplers on our bikes.  I'm going to give the "Rubber Renue" a try as soon as I find some.   As I recall, the platen mat was never soft.  Sure makes sense a soft one would help, though.  Have to shop.
 I found a Yamaha P-350 belt drive model that sounds pretty good for doing recordings, in the mean time.  But, I would like to restore the Gerrard to it's former glory.  I'll clean and replace all that grease/glue if I can get rid of that roller rumble.

Cheers,

Well while you are at it, check the rubber mounts on the motor. Look at your spindle bearing and grease it. Clean out the old gook with Lighter Fluid if you have it. If your changer works at high platen rpms, you still have slippage on the drive wheel. You can take a turn or two off the spring attached to the wheel to ensure better contact.
I like belt drive or direct drive tables since you do have those drive wheel issues. Happy Listening.

[BobbyR]

TwoTired,

I actually never got the Sansui 5000, but that was the hot ticket 10 miles north of DaNang in the summer of '68.
A few years ago I did acquire a hand made Berning EA2-150  tube amp made in the 80's--all open everything just sitting there--great sound, too.

I think Sansui has a deal with every PX in Southeast Asia. Akai was also popular. 1968 was a bad year in the Nam.

[Bob Wessner]

1968 was a bad year in the Nam.

No argument from me on that one.

[gerhed]

A lot of good guys never got to enjoy the bikes like we have.

[BobbyR]

A lot of good guys never got to enjoy the bikes like we have.

Don't forget Wives and Mothers.