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What 1/2 track tape decks might you recommend for under $600?

D

dyscer

New Member
Hello! I'm opening up a new thread here. Thanks all who helped in my previous question about the digital transfer project.

I'm working on a digital transfer project with several 7" 1/2 track tapes from my college radio station. Do you have any recommendations for a half track tape deck with decent playback (it would be also be wonderful if I could play 1/4 track on it as well, although that's not necessary)? My budget is on the lower end for these machines--about $600.

Someone has offered a Sony TC650 in good condition for $400. I'd also like to know whether or not this is a good purchase in terms of resell value, ease of use, maintainability, and playback quality. I couldn't find any listings online for the same machine so it was a bit difficult to evaluate the price.

Thank you for reading!
 
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Half track mono or stereo?
Zillions of cheap, old consumer options in the former case.
Here's one, e.g.
Tandberg 92

P1020714 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

In the latter case, yeah, an MX5050 family member -- although 600 bucks might net you with a tired one, so be careful. These are nice decks in the sense that (at least most of them) have both half- and quarter-track playback heads on board (and half-track record heads). Pretty convenient for amateur use.

DSC_0092 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
 
Another suggestion I can offer is Teac A6100. 10.5 and 7.5 reel capability, 1/2 track + 1/4 track playback. I have a few radio station 7.5 x 1/2 track tapes and they sound amazing. Picked mine up recently for $400. Plugged it in and it worked perfectly, a hallmark of Teac A series decks. Folks go gaga over 1/4 track machines like RT909 and tend to bypass these amazing decks, lucky for the rest of us.

A6100_2.JPG
 
Teac A-3300SX 2-Track Master Recorder may be had for about that price. Built like a tank and will play 7" or 10.5" reels. A Tascam 22-2 is a 2 track machine that only plays 7" reels. The issue with any of these is condition. How many tapes do have to convert?
 
Thanks so much for all the replies (and sorry for getting back to you all so late)

I'm currently looking at a Teac A-3300SX-2T for $400. The listing says that the source switch has a slight issue" but otherwise records and reproduces perfectly.

I have a few shops nearby that work on tape decks, so I could potentially get the deck fixed up if necessary. I've looked around to see what exactly a source switch is but I'm not finding a good answer. Do people have any thoughts as to whether it's worth it? Ideally, I could just use the machine without paying extra to fix the source switch (I may take the machine in anyway though).
 
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A source switch has 2 positions, when set to "Source", you`re hearing the LP, CD, whatever is providing the signal source which is being recorded, and in the "Tape" position, you`re hearing what is being recorded onto the tape. Switching between the 2 positions allows you to compare the sound.
There are lots of parts available for Teac decks.
 
You can get good Teac machine for less than that price but be aware they are not likely to be restored at that point. A restored and recapped deck is going to have a lot of labor time in it and then that will be seen in the cost of the deck. A deck restored by a Technician with a warranty is the best bet but not the cheapest. E bay deck are all broken no matter what they tell you as I have seen many of them here. One was listed as restored and when I looked at it the unit did not have a single thing done to it it was all original from some crook in NY. I told the client to send it back. Besides the fraud the heads were 90% worn out.
He ended up buying a A6300 from me for less money with a warranty and it worked well..
 
Revox A-77 or Revox B-77 HS. If you want a mechanical challenge but that had great electronics. Ampex AG 600-2 or AG 500-2/4 HS. Belts and tires are issues to be faced with the 600 belts will be the challenge for the 500. I have a F-4460 with Ampex 600-2 record and erase heads with a 1/4 trk playhead with a shift kit for playing back two trk tapes. Belts and tires are the issue for it, too.
 
MaxxVolume said:
A source switch has 2 positions, when set to "Source", you`re hearing the LP, CD, whatever is providing the signal source which is being recorded, and in the "Tape" position, you`re hearing what is being recorded onto the tape.
Click to expand...

CLOSE - but no cigar !! In the TAPE position, one hears what HAS BEEN RECORDED onto the tape, NOT 'what is being recorded onto the tape'.
 
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