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My new TT - Revox B790

SaSi

SaSi

Seriously Illogical
With a lot of searching and patience, I finally got myself a new TT.

Revox B790 in mint condition with Ortofon MC20 and Ortofon T-30 MC Pre to go with. The needle is said to be in "reasonably good condition". All for about 300 euro, a very reasonable price for such a TT in European e**y

I know it's kinda silly to ask after the fact, but what do you think about the combination? I don't have doubts about the B790 or the MC20 by themselves, but do they go well together?
 
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Hi sasi,

The ReVox B 790 is my favorite linear tracking turntable of all of them. Don't know how they do with a Ortofon MC cartridge though. Let your ears decide. They are the ones to make happy! Enjoy!
 
In my knowledge, Revox TT does it better with high compliance cartridge, such the Shures, ADC ecc.

Regards, Paolo
 
I suspect the same, although I have seen several of these with MC carts (that are typically low compliance for reasons I now forget). I do have a Stanton 681EEE-S that I can also try - when the TT arrives.

Although I have read that it is a PITA to change carts on these decks.
 
Don't know about the table but the MC20 that came with my PS-X75 sounded pretty good to me. But no match for a new Denon DL-103. Never knew how many hours the Ortofon had, but could have been on its last legs.

Congrats on the table, very nice ! Hope you can figure out the cart changing...
 
Hi SaSi -

Congrats on the B790 - I'm a big ReVox fan and you've got a great TT (I've got 2 B791s!) although they don't seem to get much praise or press in the US.

The arm is designed for a high compliance cartridge since its effective mass is only 4 grams. I use an AT150MLX in one table (for good quality vinyl) and a Grado Gold in the other (for poorer quality disks) and they both seem to work well - the AT being the superior cartridge sounds unbelievable in this table. Any Audio Technica cartridge would work well in the B790, especially the AT440MLa.

For servicing and adjusting the TT, you can get a B790 Service Manual from Studer at: ftp://ftp.studer.ch/Public/Products/Revox/Revox_B790

The instructions for cartridge changing can be found here: http://www.revox.name/

Go to the bottom of the page and click on the link "Online document collection for download" and on the next page download the document "Linatrack Tonarm Plattenspieler Montageanleitung" - this is the manual on how to change cartridges in the Linatrack tonearm. They refer to an "alignment gauge", but that isn't available anymore - the 2 important dimensions are to make sure that the stylus tip is 20mm from the tonearm mounting surface (4mm shim is needed with the Audio Technica cartridge) and 10mm forward of the mounting screw centers. This latter dimension may be hard to achieve with some cartridges, but for most there is enough "play" in the cartridge mounting lugs to achieve it.

Lastly, the Revox TTs have a cartridge weight limit - about 7.5 to 8 grams with the "lead" counterweight. You can use heavier carts, but you will have to add weight to the back of the arm - I had to with the AT150MLX (8.5 grams) by using a brass strip between the cartridge adjusting screw head and tonearm rear surface. The AT440MLa would be fine, it weighs in at only 6.5 grams while the Grado Gold is only 5.5 grams.

If you have any questions on using the B790 feel free to eMail privately and I'll try to help you out.

Dale
 
Dale,
many thanks for the insight on the TT and cart mounting. I have the service and operation manual from the studer ftp site. I will most likely contact you when the unit arrives and start "working" on it.
 
Cool score - Euro designs are always fun :)

For most modern TT's, cartridge weight is a pretty important factor. I'm looking to buy a gram scale so I can get the numbers for older cartridges that are not published (I have about 8 or 9 in the stable right now). I need to build light shell/cartridge combo's for most of my stuff, but need to go the other way for 78s (use a Stanton shell with add-on weight).

I think the MC's are mostly low compliance because of the need to reduce flex wear/stress on the coil leads internally (the coils are in motion). Big movements leads to lots of wire flex. MM's can flex all over the place as the only thing moving is the magnet on the end of the stick - no wire flex stress.
 
I think the MC's are mostly low compliance because of the need to reduce flex wear/stress on the coil leads internally (the coils are in motion). Big movements leads to lots of wire flex. MM's can flex all over the place as the only thing moving is the magnet on the end of the stick - no wire flex stress.
Click to expand...
That is most likely correct. I think it is not only flexing the wire (actually it isn't flexed - just has some extra length to allow movement), but it is the mass of the coil that is bigger than that of the magnet, so the moving mass with the stylus is larger hence the compliance is lower.

Just lot's of sleeping knowledge from years ago waking up - gradually.
 
Hi sasi,

The Stanton 681 EEE-S Mk II and III work superbly on ReVox turntables. You'll like this combo. Superb in the tracking department. :tresbon:
 
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