Reel to Reel

Dertonarm,

i saw your response to my post over on the 'Absolute' best cartridge' thread regarding my reel to reel comments. i had asked....

have you investigated newer RTR transports with improved ss output electronics?

you responded....

I am pretty accustomed to the younger generation Studers too.
The improvement in speed stability and reduced vibration does not really make up for loss of dimensionality and low level dynamics compared to the C-37 - especially not when running at 15ips.

your answer did not really speak to my question....have you heard newer transports with improved output electronics (such as the Cello circuit)?

i thought that making that point on that thread was not the right thing to do (as you noted) but maybe here on this thread you could more specifically answer my question.

my opinion is that the very best transports combined with improved output electronics can be every bit as good and likely better than the most 'loved' and 'revered' 60's RTR decks. they would have more dimentionality and low level dynamics.

why
model t

a better analogy would be a Prius verses the Concorde.

transportation for the masses, verses as good as it gets.

Sam and Miles,

currently i have switch wired into the heads on my Studer A-820 (by Ki Choi) which allowed me to try Charlie King's Cello circuit a few weeks back. Rich Brown brought it over. it sounded wonderful thru RCA's.....and i'll likely purchase it when i can afford to. the Cello compared to the stock circuit revealed a layer of grunge in the stock circuit. the Cello had a lower noise floor and better micro-dynamics. the mids openned up more and more bloom and decay.

it was also set up for XLR but it lost something of the purity in that mode. it's also probable that i'll have my Cello set up for the 50 ohm 'darTZeel' BNC output, as that will allow me to have any length interconnects.

i do highly recommend the Cello circuit. it is critical that someone quite capable do your head mods. i would not want just anyone messing around those heads.

i owned a Technics RS-1700 with the deParavicini mods (dPv-EAR) which was also very very good. obviously, Tim deParavicini wrote the book on tape deck mods as almost every good vinyl mastering studio (as well as the Tape Project) uses his circuits.

Sam,

i've spoken to Tim dPv regarding modding the Studer A-820. he was not too keen on it since he's never done one. it's quite a beast inside. we did speak about him doing my ATR-102 which he would be glad to to do as he's done quite a few of those.

my plan is to wire the ATR-102 so it can share the Cello circuit with the A-820. my only concern is whether the head EQ will be close enough to the Studer heads EQ to still work.

stay tuned.

no; i have not run direct from the Studer into my dart amps. maybe i should try it. the battery powered dart preamp is about as 'not there' as is possible in a volume control.....and better than my Placette passive RVC.

Jay,

last fall Rich Brown had brought the Cello over, Ki wired the switch into the Studer, and we listened. this was with an RCA connection. all was good but the bass impact was missing thru the Cello compared to the stock circuit. also; i desired an XLR connection since my RTR decks are huge and must be on the other side of my room....and i already own an 8 meter set of XLR interconnects.

Charlie made some improvements to the Cello and added an XLR output for me to try. in Feb Rich brought the Cello back. we tried the XLR; for whatever reason with the added transformer for the XLR 'in my particular system' sounded congested and lacking dynamics. we all preferred the stock circuit to the Cello with the XLR. you would have to ask Rich or Charlie why that was. when you are dealing with amplification of tiny head outputs everything matters.

OTOH thru the RCA all was now wonderful. and the lack of bass impact from last fall was gone. it was better everywhere than the stock circuit. my only agenda now is to substitute the darTZeel BNC connection for the RCA and then finding the do-re-me for the purchase.

hopefully that more clearly explains things.