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Tape project on the cheap... Anyone use Fisher amp tape head input with Otari MX5050?

Sam08861

Sam08861

Super Member
Hey Folks,

Not sure if I'm posting in the right place, but I've recently almost finished restoring a Fisher 500B that has tape head inputs. I've also fully restored an Otari MX5050 Mk III - 2 that is capable of playing 1/2 track 15ips tapes available from the tape project.

A lot of folks are bypassing the Otari's pre-amp and going with very expensive tube preamp/amps from the provider of the tapes.

Was wondering on if anyone has yet to try a direct from tape heads to tape head input on a Fisher unit? (using balanced xlr to rca cables)

I'm not sure of the reputation of the built in solid state pre-amp on these 1980s Otari small studio down-mixing/radio station units and how they stack up against the Fisher's tube electronics.
 
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Try it both way's (make sure you use the Tape Mon or Aux with the MX5050's preamp and not Tape Head).and see. If the phono/Tape head section on the 500B has been redone, it should be pretty flat for riaa/nab. See which one you like better.
 
larryderouin said:
Try it both way's (make sure you use the Tape Mon or Aux with the MX5050's preamp and not Tape Head).and see. If the phono/Tape head section on the 500B has been redone, it should be pretty flat for riaa/nab. See which one you like better.
Click to expand...

Thanks Larry, you just gave me a great idea. In thinking about how to audition the two more easily, I'll install some A/B switches to toggle between the XLR outputs via the Otari pre-amp and plain old RCA jacks for the tape head direct so I can preserve both functions. Time to order some parts and perform the surgery on back panel of the Otari. (Adding RCA jacks for direct from tape head and switches to send signals via built in pre-amp as is stock. I'm sure someone has done this already so searching the various archives now.)

I haven't yet redone the RIAA section on the Fisher but did order all of the various silver mica caps, etc. some time ago. Once I get the Otari tape head direct to RCA mod done, I'll tackle the 500b.

Any suggestions on wire type from tape heads? (to potentially shield from interference, etc.)

Sam
 
split the signal inside the otari to a 2 jack rca board, then regular RCA CABLEs. Take some old RCA cable cut the ends off and use the shielded cable between the split and the RCA Jacks.
 
You may need to unhook the tape head from the other preamp in order to test it though. If the input of the on-board amp is connected to the tape head it may load it down and cause the performance to suffer. Same goes if you're using the onboard amp, make sure its not connected to the Fisher's input.

Maybe the thing to do here (if there is room) is something like the main out / preamp in jumpers on receivers. Bring the tape head connection out directly to a pair of RCA jacks, and have inputs to the on-board head amp out next to them. Fit jumpers to run the onboard preamp, lift them and connect as needed to use an outboard preamp.
 
Hmmm, I have that same Otari but it needs work. Who's got a 4-track head (the one in mine vanished before I got it) for the head assembly?
 
Well, the wiring from the tape heads proved pretty simple but I've found a problem on the 500b left channel not working correctly. Thanks for the help and advice here and I'll start a new thread for the 500b.

For those contemplating this, I couldn't really tell much difference between the otari pre-amp and the fisher direct to the tape head input. Will retest when I have both channels going correctly.
 
Hey BobbyBluz,

I've seen the head block with heads for the mx 5050 on ebay every so often and JRF Magnetics has various heads. If you can find the one that is 2 channel, it comes with 4 heads, including 1/2 track and 1/4 track for playback with a 2T/4T switch under the head block cover to switch between the 2. PM me if you need any of the manuals and I'll send you what I have.
 
I don't know if you'd be gaining any sound quality bypassing the 5050 preamp and going into something like the C500. I also think that The Tape Project and Analogue Productions are using IEC playback equalization, this you will be loosing on the C500.
 
The output jacks of your machine may be rewired to allow the playback head to be connected directly to an outboard reproduction amplifier that has CCIR/IEC1 playback equalization necessary for play of the Tape Project tapes- our own Bottlehead Tube Repro amp, Eros Tape Head Preamp Kit or another amp of your choosing.
 
Thanks 4-2-7 and from listeining to the the 1 good channel my initial conclusion is the same that there isn't improvement. I totally forgot from the FAQs that the repro amp needed to be IEC as opposed to NAB, so thanks for the reminder. Having this switchable on the Otari is nice, so thinking I'm going back to stock for now.

Have you tried the tape path mod? If so, any perceivable difference?
 
Sam08861 said:
Having this switchable on the Otari is nice, so thinking I'm going back to stock for now.
Click to expand...

Or at least have the capability in a stand alone amp.

Sam08861 said:
Have you tried the tape path mod? If so, any perceivable difference?
Click to expand...

I don't know how far I'll take it...

Here's mine
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/otari-mx5050-bii-2.751572/

I got this as well
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/tascam-tsr-8-8-track-help.747950/
 
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