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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
dtorc OP
101 posts
 

Got it - thanks!!

dtorc OP
101 posts
 

Thanks, @skids, for the service manual! I'm sure it will come in handy...

skids's avatar
skids
119 posts
 

You are welcome.

jnovak's avatar
jnovak
496 posts
 

It would be worth it to contact Jim at Reel Audio. I sent my Revox 215B cassette deck to him just this year. It sounded good so I thought. It sounded stellar when it came back! He cleaned, lubricated and changed out caps that needed it. Calibration was done too, Besides shipping it cost me under $400.00 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,698 posts
 

This makes no sense to me,

everything ought to be physically the same, alignment, positioning of heads and tracks, reel tables height, electronics also identical, hmmmm

Any clues from the VU meters when playing? 

Any error, wear, alignment, bias, ought to be the same for either pair of tracks, it's the same heads in same position reading them.

Maybe talk to, or write to Jim, asking him what he thinks it could be.

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