Calling all REVOX Linatrack users!

[Pio1980]

Yep, the motorboard. I think I see a bit of 'sway' on the publicity shot on the example at TVK. Nothing in the service bulletins AFAIK for the alloy plates as a retrofit for the B795.
Re the mat, I'm assuming the newer type mat is either a pricey NOS or simply unobtanium, the Technics lower end mat would seem an acceptable alternate upgrade.
My only long-term concern would be the tracking motor availibity. I haven't seen any online trouble or concern of it but the manual and bulletins mention possible related problems re false cueing triggering due to malfunctioning due to excessive current draw, if I understand correctly. Does anyone know if the tracking motor is off-the-shelf available or custom OEM?

 

[boyerd001]

B795 Bases/Motor Boards

Hi All -

If you look at "Section 5/2" of the ReVox B791/795 Service Manual, it will list the 2 different Base/Motor Boards used in the B791/795 series. I had thought that ALL B795s had the composite motor board, but apparently the later B795s went to the same motor board (aluminum) as the B791s. I got a B795 several years ago off eBay for "extra parts" and it had the composite motor board - it also had the bellows tonearm damper though. Apparently when ReVox introduced the B791 in 1982 (3 years into B795 production), they decided to upgrade the B795 to an aluminum motor board as well as the piston damper tonearm lowering mechanism (they also changed the tracking IR LED in the tonearm assembly to a much more powerful one as introduced in the B791).

Except for the B795 I picked up off of eBay for "parts", I've never owned a B795 - my "stable" is 2 B791s and a B790!

If you want to upgrade the bellows lowering mechanism on an early B795 you can still get the part from ReVox at $125.00 USD!!! A less expensive way is to find the left hand tape tension mechanism from a PR99 tape machine that has been "parted out" (OUCH!!!). That mechanism usually will sell for $10-30 USD and will have the piston assembly within it.

I have a attached a picture of the "Version 2 Mat" ,from a B291, but it is the same as the B791's "Multi-Ring" mat.

As to the earlier cartridge discussion, I've got a AT150MLX on one B791 (VERY nice), a Shure V15V-MR w/JICO SAS on the B790 (sweet!) and a Grado Gold with CUSTOM EXPERT STYLUS "PARATRACE" NUDE FINE-LINE diamond on the last B791 (VERY, VERY SWEET!!!). I'm not much into measuring the turntable's resonances, if it sounds good to me I let it alone.

Hope some of this helps,
Dale

 

[Pio1980]

Consolidating collective info here is a very good thing, it all helps current and prospective owners.
Fellow on BT had several Sonus Gold F/S, possibly a fine candidate for this TT. I still have several NOS Digitracs on hand that sing beautifully in this TT so I'm not int the market myself.

 

[radkrisdoc]

Wow, I didn't know that the 795 came with an aluminum "baseplate" too. Well, that seems to be a not too easy fix though - watch ebay like a hawk for a broken Revox that has the metal baseplate?

Personally, if it was me, I would upgrade the whole TT with something heavy and solid like slate or granite if it came to that.

That motor is rock steady and is worth it

 

[dlaloum]

Are the aluminium baseplates straight metal or alum bonded with a composite for damping purposes?

 

[steerpike2]

And when both base-plates were available on the same model, would there have been any price difference? The 795 was sold concurrently with the 790, as a cheaper altenative. AFAIK, the later 795 is no different to the 791 EXCEPT it lacks pitch control - all other parts and specs identical.

My 795 base plates are not damped or otherwise coated, just Nextelled.

Every Revox casting on any product I've seen bears the logo "INCA" - anyone know who or what that means?

 

[dlaloum]

And when both base-plates were available on the same model, would there have been any price difference? The 795 was sold concurrently with the 790, as a cheaper altenative. AFAIK, the later 795 is no different to the 791 EXCEPT it lacks pitch control - all other parts and specs identical.

My 795 base plates are not damped or otherwise coated, just Nextelled.

Every Revox casting on any product I've seen bears the logo "INCA" - anyone know who or what that means?

In theory, the composite baseboard should sound better, as the material is inherently damping.... whereas standalone aluminium is not.

But I have wondered for a long time whether the choice of Nextel as the "finish" was related to damping properties of Nextel?
It is a soft textured finish, my instinct says that it most likely has damping properties, but I have no evidence.

bye for now

David

 

[Pio1980]

And when both base-plates were available on the same model, would there have been any price difference? The 795 was sold concurrently with the 790, as a cheaper altenative. AFAIK, the later 795 is no different to the 791 EXCEPT it lacks pitch control - all other parts and specs identical.

My 795 base plates are not damped or otherwise coated, just Nextelled.

Every Revox casting on any product I've seen bears the logo "INCA" - anyone know who or what that means?

There is an precision investment casting company in Scotland formed in 1969 called INCAMET, perhaps them. OTOH, the Germans have extensive experience precision casting alloys like Elektron and such (Mahle, for one) not to mention the Swiss where the Thorens and LENCO TTs were produced.
In theory, the composite baseplates should be the sonically superior, all else being equal, but as I posted in another thread these TTs are particularly compatible with sonically non-reactive carts like MM/MI of the free-pivot type that wouldn't induce excessive vibration into the structures, so who knows for sure without extensive comparative auditioning with all else exactly identical including the mats.

 

[Pio1980]

Wow, I didn't know that the 795 came with an aluminum "baseplate" too. Well, that seems to be a not too easy fix though - watch ebay like a hawk for a broken Revox that has the metal baseplate?

Personally, if it was me, I would upgrade the whole TT with something heavy and solid like slate or granite if it came to that.

That motor is rock steady and is worth it

I find the baseplate more 'lively' when tapped than I had expected as is the gantry cover, which may be removed without affecting function. Dunno without direct comparison whether the alloy baseplate is different with liveliness one way or another.

 

[Pio1980]

A fellow AKer in Britain got me set with an alloy baseplate to compare with the composite one, and while very rigid it is also incredibly lively in a gong-like manner as-separated from the rest of the mechanism. I think it may need help with damping as I don't see just mounting everything up as doing much to damp the resonance modes. While I thought the composite plate somewhat lively this thing is really more so from what I'm seeing, the composite plate is thicker and seems 'deader'. It may be better sonically as well than an untreated/undamped alloy plate. Swapping it out will be somewhat more involved than I expected as the composite hardware is too long for the thinner alloy plate and I do not know if spacer washers were used to tweak the motor plate alignment as with the composite plate.

 

[Pio1980]

Having both versions of the baseplate in-hand, I indeed find the alloy plate considerably more 'lively' than the composite. So having either is a mixed curse, the composite tho' problematic as noted is sonically the better option once corrected tho' I suspect some of the advantages may be assigned to the alloy plate with judicious damping perhaps using Dynamat or Roadkill damping sheeting on the underside.
The very lively gantry cover is best left off for best sonic results tho' it's possible that the damping sheeting could help if there is sufficient internal clearance. External application would work best but be unacceptably unsightly and possibly introduce unwanted LF resonance if a lot is used

 

[steerpike2]

I've just bought a third B795. I though it was an early-ish one since its serial number is 2001. Apparently that makes it the 1000th produced.
It does not have the piggyback circuit board for the improved end-of-side switch off, yet it does have the aluminium cylinder cueing damper, and it has an all-aluminium motorboard.

I notice that on all of them, the serial number for the arm gantry has nothing to do with the serial number for the motor board.