DBX Expander

DBX is no substitute for properly functioning equipment.

A 1 band DBX will be more prone to audible "pumping" than a multi band DBX, particularly with noisier recordings (tape recordings are often more prone to "hiss" than other sources).

THe secret with the DBX expanders is to have the levels adjusted properly and to not overdue it.

You may need to adjust the levels differently for different input sources with different inherent levels or even recording by recording.

When properly applied and adjusted, a properly functioning 3BX can help deliver more lifelike dynamics into otherwise compressed and artificial sounding recordings.

I've never detected any inherent coloration from the DBX itself, but of course interconnects used can make a difference so these have to be considered as a factor in the resulting sound.

I've not heard the DBX, but agree with an r2r tuneup. I recently bought a very lightly used Revox cassette deck with a boogered up $4.00 balance trim pot and am incurring additional expenses for parts and the attendant labor charge for new pinch rollers, capstan shaft resurfacing, align/clean/lube. The heads are out of spec and will also be replaced. At $260, the heads parts cost accounts for about half the total outlay. For comparison, my speaker cables cost more than this tuneup.

A certified Revox tech is doing the work.

The worth of a properly reconditioned tape source is up to you, but if you're serious about using and holding on to a classic machine, you ought to consider the expenditure. The experienced service shops for tape gear will likely become nearly extinct in our lifetime...

Thanks for all of your responses!! this is a wonderful site that I learn from each time I visit.

I have had the A-4010S reel to reel completely reconditioned, cleaned and aligned by a knowledgeable professional and I believe it sounds as new but...I'm sorry to say, just not as good as my CD or LP rigs. I've considered coming off the playback heads with RCA's to a Bottlehead tube amp but I'm told by a sound guy that a 3BX is the way to go and actually will give me better sound. Thing is he has the 3BX for sale and it has been totally refurbed but he wants $ 700 I think this is steep????
Thoughts???

Markus1299

$700 is a lot.

I paid between 2-3 hundred for mine on Ebay.

Ask a lot of questions before buying used though. These units have been around for a while. Make sure everything sounds good, no noise or distortion, switches and adjustments work cleanly, etc.

First - $700 is ridiculously high for a 3bx. The best 3bx, which is the DS series, can be bought for $250 (or less) on Ebay very easily and I've never ever heard of one needing to be "refurbed". So now I'm a little suspicious of your tech guy's ethics.
Second - the heads on a 4010s should never need alignment from what I understand. They are totally fixed by attachment to a base plate. Moving them around once they have wear on them (without resurfacing them first) can screw up your playback, and possibly your tapes. You can also check whether your tech did this by popping the cover off and seeing whether the locktite glue on the set screws has been disturbed/cracked.
Read these two links carefully. Note in the 2nd thread that there are potential preamp issues:

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2/vintagetx/
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-96374.html