Revox C278 1/2" 8-track

[WopOnTour]

I have an opportunity to purchase a Revox C278 for ~$200 (in very good operational shape) which I believe is a newer 8-track 1/2" tape model.
Is there any real audiophile use for this R2R? (I'm not a recording engineer and dont want to purchase a technical nightmare )

There seems to be very little info on it on-line.I was able to find some data about possibly converting it to 4-track.
Could it maybe be used unwind old 8-track tapes onto a reel for playback? (Have access to lots of 8-track tapes but no decent player)
What you R2R guys think??
WopOnTour

[goldear]

Its an excellent machine, but it is basically useless for home audio purposes due to using 1/2" tape. The 8 track heads tracks are more than twice as wide as those found on 8-track tape cartridge. It is something that recording studio would find useful, but that you probably would not. Also, its slowest speed is 7.5 ips, and 8 track tapes are 3.75 ips.

[WopOnTour]

Thanks
I figured that might be the case
What about these? (assuming similar functional condition)

Sony TC-366 $100
Sony TC-558 $140
Teac 2300S $120
Akai GX1900-D $50
Revox PR-99 $200

WOT

[vincei]

I'd be all over that Revox C278 if it was in good shape and cheap, but that's me. Not really a consumer friendly machine though. If you can find a 1/2" 2 track, then we are talking...

[vinyldavid]

Pr-99. Go. Now.

[vincei]

Pr-99. Go. Now.

+1 agreed.

[WopOnTour]

Thanks!
I'll look into the Revox at daybreak!!

The same guy also has this listed...
Sony/MCI JH110 half-track (stereo) uses 10"reel-quarter inch tape,3-speed 71/2 15 & 30 ips $450 (spare parts unit as well $100)

[SaSi]

+1 agreed.

+1 more.
The PR99 (if it is MkII or MkIII) are excellent machines and very friendly in use and service. There is an abundance of spare parts for B77 and almost all the critical parts are the same on the PR99.

I like the MkII more than the MkIII, although MkIII should be newer and perhaps in better condition.

But $200 is an excellent value for money, even if the machine needs some care, provided it is functional.

The most expensive part to replace (and most critical) are the two heads. They tend to create a flat (mirror) area and many decks are sold with 3-4mm mirror width. These heads are virtually scrap, although they do sound good for non critical applications at 15ips

[goldear]

$200 for a working PR-99 with good heads is a good deal! :thmbsp:

I would probably vote for the PR-99 too. My only hesitation on the PR-99 is that it is a high-speed half-track machine. Consequnetly the maximum record time on one of these is 90 min for a 3600 foot reel. If you are OK with that, then go for it.

The Sony TC-558 is a pretty decent consumer format machine, if it is working (that is a key though). An 1800 foot reel will record for 3 hours on this machine.

It features Sony's super long-lived Ferrite and Ferrite heads, tape selector controls (which allow it to record on a wider range of tapes without recallibration), and auto-revers recording and playback. The achilles heel to this machine is a pinch-roller mechanism that needs to flop back and forth which often can fail on these.

[Garrard201]

I also vote for the PR-99....DO NOT buy the TC-366. Unless it's free. : )

[dread31]

Revox, my man, Revox.

Dave

[jblmar]

I'd go for the Teac.:yes:

Ron

[vinyldavid]

Here's a real stupid idea...make an offer for all these (assuming that they are the same seller), and just bring 'em home! See what works and what doesn't and keep what you want. If I could, that's what I would do.

[WopOnTour]

I spoke to the guy with the Revox today
The old fellow says the PR99 in a "mono full-track" unit used in a radio station some years ago. Does that make sense?? I searched the net and couldnt find ANYTHING that mentioned a "mono" PR99
Thanks for the advice tape-heads (lol no pun intended, well OK- somewhat intended)
WOT

[WopOnTour]

Here's a real stupid idea...make an offer for all these (assuming that they are the same seller), and just bring 'em home! See what works and what doesn't and keep what you want. If I could, that's what I would do.Good suggestion.I might just do that- although apparently the Sony/MCI JH-110 will require a truck to move (HIS words, no kidding!)
WOT

[goldear]

I spoke to the guy with the Revox today
The old fellow says the PR99 in a "mono full-track" unit used in a radio station some years ago. Does that make sense?? I searched the net and couldnt find ANYTHING that mentioned a "mono" PR99
Thanks for the advice tape-heads (lol no pun intended, well OK- somewhat intended)
WOT
Did you say Mono full-track? That's starting to not sound so good to me. :no: That means that this recorder wasu used in an AM radio station, and will only record and play in MONO. So even if you get a set of stereo heads for it, it will still lack the stereo electronics to record or play a stereo signal. :thumbsdn:

[goldear]

Good suggestion.I might just do that- although apparently the Sony/MCI JH-110 will require a truck to move (HIS words, no kidding!)
WOT
He's not kidding. MCIs are giant rolling machines. They weigh about 200lbs too! You had better check that this machine isn't mono as well.

MCIs are impressive pro machines, but they can have some significant issues after this many years of use. Be prepared to replace about a hundred capacitors to make it reliable. This machine has some serious potential, but its not unliketly to be realiable until you put a lot of work into it (I know this from personal experience).

Personally, of the bunch, the Sony TC-558, and the Teac A-2300 are the best options. The 558 is really a very nice machine when it is working properly, and the Teac is nice too and is an almost bulleproof design. Unfortunately I have not found the 2300s to not be be the best tape handling machines, and the controls are somewhat clunky.

[SaSi]

I spoke to the guy with the Revox today
The old fellow says the PR99 in a "mono full-track" unit used in a radio station some years ago. Does that make sense?? I searched the net and couldnt find ANYTHING that mentioned a "mono" PR99
Thanks for the advice tape-heads (lol no pun intended, well OK- somewhat intended)
WOT

It does make sense. There is a full track / mono variant of that deck. As already said, it won't make too much sense to get that, as you probably prefer stereo.

One can convert a full track/mono into stereo, but that needs an all three head replacement, oscilator/record amp/play amp replacement PCBs and you still remain with a slightly altered front panel and main audio board that are wired for REC/PLAYBACK monitor. It still has two VU meters, but the left shows record and the second shows playback.

It would make a great machine to produce calibration tapes, though, but you can do that with just using the proper heads on a normal machine.

[KentTeffeteller]

Hi,

Yes, you could buy a PR 99 mono machine as many AM stations needed a full track or 1/2 track mono. Avoid the MCI for reasons of repair and maintenance difficulty. They are a nightmare for even pro technicians to maintain and repair. The Teac is likely your best bet of the offered decks if heads are fine and motor bearings.

[WopOnTour]

Understood (and yes I've confirmed the MCI is mono as well!)
I'm going to go look at the Sony 558. I'm just looking for a decent starter deck... (although I DID own an old Rat Shack/unRealistic reel to reel in the early 80s lol)
THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE GUYS!
WOT

[philcib]

The most expensive part to replace (and most critical) are the two heads.



But heads can be re-lapped. A capstan motor OTOH might run you upwards
of $500. Is Nortronics still in the replacement head business?

[goldear]

But heads can be re-lapped. A capstan motor OTOH might run you upwards
of $500. Is Nortronics still in the replacement head business?
Heads can be relapped IF they are not too far gone. If they are too far gone, then they are useless.

Nortronics is not in business any longer. But some stocks of Nortronics heads may be still obtained from the former vice-president of Nortronics.

[SaSi]

But heads can be re-lapped. A capstan motor OTOH might run you upwards
of $500. Is Nortronics still in the replacement head business?
My comment on prices and costs was focused on the PR99 but it is valid for Revox R2R in general. Each brand has their own pricey bits.

A Revox capstan motor can be had for $10~25. A reel motor pair for the same amount. ALL the B77/PR99 audio cards for ~$50. The special to PR99 audio cards are certainly more rare, but I found the two for $25 combined.

Nortronics - as stated - is out of business, but I got two replacement heads for almost $200 incl. shipping. Genuine Revox heads "as new" are pretty seldom to come across, and when you do, be prepared to spend $200~$300 to get them. Worn ones can be had for less than $50 including the nest.

Relapping IS a solution, provided the heads are not totaly worn out. IMHO, 4-5mm flat mirror on the head equals a useless head. 2-3mm is good and such heads sell upwards of $100. Such heads show loss in high frequency and also generate tracking instability that can be measured and heard with test tones but are much less audible with real audio.

[steerpike2]

>The old fellow says the PR99 in a "mono full-track" unit

Well, not much good for home / hi fi use then - it will only record one channel (left OR right), and wont even play vintage tapes recorded on domestic mono machines. Probably only good as a donor machine if you're fixing up another PR99/B77.

The B77 and PR99 came in several *hundred* variants, depeding on the number of tracks, channels, speeds, etc.