Teac 2300-SX: low input on right channel

[johncool]

Hello to all of you!

I've just purchased a TEAC 2300-SX and while it's in very good shape, and plays beautifully my old reels, I've found out that when recording the right channel get a really low input. When hearing through "Source" everything's ok, the VU meters are well balanced, but when hearing through "Tape" the left channel is OK, but the right channel gives a pretty low output.

I cleaned up the heads throughly but no progress towards this problem. I can somehow compensate the problem by "unbalancing" the channels input, but this is something I'd like to avoid.

There's little or no distortion in the recordings, so I can't figure what's wrong. Can somebody give me a clue?

Thanks for any forthcoming help.

[Twenty20Man]

have you checked the recording head for wear, Demagnetized the heads after that you need to have someone look at the signals with a scope

[70salesguy]

No help for your problem, but that is a nice unit!

The Teac units always had such a nice feel to them and the design is clean! :yes:

Hope you get it resolved and enjoy it for a long time! :thmbsp:

[Doug Olitsky]

have you tried deoxing all switch contacts, perhaps some schmootz is in there

[johncool]

Thanks for all your suggestions. As for the recording head I can't see any visible wear (all of 3 heads look pretty good, at least comparing to my old Philips N4402).

I don't have any means to demagnetize the heads, so if I can have a piece of advice on where and what to look for... I'm from Portugal and R2R is pretty dead in anywhere around here.

I surely like this TEAC, it's such a well-built R2R unit and records/plays with a beautiful sound. I missed this analogue feel since my Philips died (10 years ago) and the TEAC sounds a lot better. :music:

But I really want to fix this problem. So if anyone can give me some guidelines on how to demagnetize the heads, I'd be thankful.

[johncool]

It's been a while since my last post but I wanted to give you a quick update on the subject and, once again, I'd like a little piece of advice if you can.

I've discovered that my problem of low input of the right channel was due to a bad(?) reel, a TDK AUDUA. I've purchased a Maxell UD-35/90 and now everything sounds well balanced and crystal clear.

What I'd like to enquire is about the BIAS and REQ EQ switches. They have 2 positions ("1" and "2" :P) and when I turn them to the "2" position I get a significant drop on both channels plus the higher frequencies take over the lower ones. If, as I suspect, the "2" position is for the High Output reels (such as my Maxell described here), is it supposed to equalize the recordings like this? :saywhat:

Also, I've purchased a couple of Ampex' 407, new and unsealed. Now, I've read a lot about shedding on these tapes and so far so good, but are they prone to shedding sooner? Because I really like their sound (I guess even a little bit more than Maxell), but I'd like to be certain about this (?) forthcoming problem?

Thanks for all your help and sorry about my late update.

[ShaneR2R]

It's been a while since my last post but I wanted to give you a quick update on the subject and, once again, I'd like a little piece of advice if you can.

I've discovered that my problem of low input of the right channel was due to a bad(?) reel, a TDK AUDUA. I've purchased a Maxell UD-35/90 and now everything sounds well balanced and crystal clear.

What I'd like to enquire is about the BIAS and REQ EQ switches. They have 2 positions ("1" and "2" :P) and when I turn them to the "2" position I get a significant drop on both channels plus the higher frequencies take over the lower ones. If, as I suspect, the "2" position is for the High Output reels (such as my Maxell described here), is it supposed to equalize the recordings like this? :saywhat:

Also, I've purchased a couple of Ampex' 407, new and unsealed. Now, I've read a lot about shedding on these tapes and so far so good, but are they prone to shedding sooner? Because I really like their sound (I guess even a little bit more than Maxell), but I'd like to be certain about this (?) forthcoming problem?

Thanks for all your help and sorry about my late update.



I own a Teac A2300S like yours. When using the UD Maxell tapes I set the Record EQ/Record Bias to high and everything always sounds good. One way to get it right or to your listening pleasure is to start a recording then monitor it on the tape side of things and play around with the switches till it sounds ok. Headphones work well for this, in fact I recommend them any time you record. I bought a mint in the box pair of Teac headphones from the early 70's and they sound awesome, I hear every little sound that is recorded.

[johncool]

I own a Teac A2300S like yours. When using the UD Maxell tapes I set the Record EQ/Record Bias to high and everything always sounds good. One way to get it right or to your listening pleasure is to start a recording then monitor it on the tape side of things and play around with the switches till it sounds ok. Headphones work well for this, in fact I recommend them any time you record. I bought a mint in the box pair of Teac headphones from the early 70's and they sound awesome, I hear every little sound that is recorded.

Hmm... it's not that the sound isn't good on the High position, but it sounds weird to me. It gives a higher output on higher frequencies and the lower ones are very subtle. This is quite the opposite of what happens on the "1" position.

Also the dB drop I stated before only happens on Maxell reels, not on the Ampex ones, maybe because these are new I suppose.

But I'm also curious on the shedding question. Any thoughts on this?

[ShaneR2R]

Hmm... it's not that the sound isn't good on the High position, but it sounds weird to me. It gives a higher output on higher frequencies and the lower ones are very subtle. This is quite the opposite of what happens on the "1" position.

Also the dB drop I stated before only happens on Maxell reels, not on the Ampex ones, maybe because these are new I suppose.

But I'm also curious on the shedding question. Any thoughts on this?


Have you demag the heads yet ?? This can help to solve the sound quality issues.
Many Ampex tapes (I don't know all the years) shed the brown oxide after many yrs. Some Ampex was ok while others make a huge mess and can actually cause the transport system to stop working as this oxide sheds and builds up on the heads, etc. I have a reel of Ampex 406 that has not has this shedding problem yet. On the back of the box (at the bottom were warranty is mentioned) it says Quantegy Inc, so I may have a reel that was manufactured after the problem was fixed ? Check your reel box on the bottom to see if it mentions Quantegy. Maxell does not have this shedding problem, in fact I bought a box of Maxell (10 sealed tapes) from the 70's and they all play and sound perfect, no problems. The newer Quantegy tapes will not shed as well as the new RMGI tapes should be good on longevity.

[ShaneR2R]

Also you can record hotter on Ampex and Quantagy tape than you can on Maxell so there will be a slight difference in sound, loudness, etc. This could be part of your problem, among other things. I am only assuming though.
I usually allow the meters to peg past the 0 to +3 when using Quantegy. with Maxell I only go to maybe 1+ if I can help it. You could peg it past and all could sound fine, but there is a difference in quality.

[johncool]

Also you can record hotter on Ampex and Quantagy tape than you can on Maxell so there will be a slight difference in sound, loudness, etc. This could be part of your problem, among other things. I am only assuming though.
I usually allow the meters to peg past the 0 to +3 when using Quantegy. with Maxell I only go to maybe 1+ if I can help it. You could peg it past and all could sound fine, but there is a difference in quality.

Unfortunately what I feared most has happened: lost of shedding from both my Ampex tapes :sigh:
I had quite a nasty time cleaning the heads, pinch roller, tension arms and such.

I'm now using one old tape my father had lying around here (don't know which brand, but not Ampex because he never bought one of those)... the recording is poorer because the tape had been recorded over and over. But at least it's not shedding.

Damn! No more Ampex for me! :gigglemad

EDIT: Yup... I have those old nasty Ampex 407. Serves me right for not reading things carefully...

Thanks for the advice 'though ShaneR2R :thmbsp:

[johncool]

Hello again guys. After my previous experience with the Ampex tapes, I grabbed myself some new EMTEC tapes and for now everything is great (no dropout in whatever channel, no distortion, etc...) but now something weird happens: Everytime I have the monitor on "Source" I always get a reading through the VU meters (considering the source itself is putting the sound in my amplifier), even if the recording is not enabled :confused:

I can't guarantee this didn't happen before, but I believe it didn't. I believe this can be caused either by my amplifier ou my R2R. Have my TEAC developed a glitch in the electronics?