Reel to Reel tape question


We don't seem to have a tape forum here, but analog is analog, so I'll try it here: Does anyone know why it is that my fully refurbished Revox A77 makes my four-track, 7.5 ips tapes sound better after I flip them over? Meaning, on side ll? There is a greater clarity, more dynamics - just a better sound after it plays through side l, and I flip it over. I thought that it might be the tape deck warming up, and so it sounds better because it has been on longer for side ll. I then turned it on, let it sit for an hour, and then played it, with the same result.

 

Is it a matter of alignment, perhaps? Any other thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

David

dtorc

I don't know but I did read that there might be a few reasons, including uneven head wear. Is it the same with prerecorded and recorded by you tapes ?

Any other thoughts?

@dtorc You might try winding the tape from one end to the other and back again before playing the first side. See it that makes a difference. 

Maybe clean and demagnetize the heads, and adjust azimuth on the heads, if you can.

Thanks for your ideas. The gentleman who sold the deck to me was a taskmaster - he basically said that he wouldn't sell me the deck if I wouldn't promise him I'd clean it after every use. I did promise, and I do clean it each time. His name was Jack Clark, and his place was JM Technical Arts. 

 

I only use prerecorded tapes, as the machine was modified to work with 15ips 2 track tapes as well as 4 track 7.5ips tapes, and the recording head was removed to accomplish that. 

 

I like the experiment of forwarding it through, and then trying it again on Side l. I am thinking of buying the (somewhat expensive) test tapes that allow a technician to adjust the heads. My local bench guys say they can't adjust the heads because they don't have the proper test tones anymore. I figure i'll buy them, and they'll be no more excuses.

 

It seems to me that the equivalent of azimuth could be at play here. Good suggestion.

 

David