Re: [ARSCLIST] REVOX A77

["Richard L. Hess" <ArcLists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Diederick,

It's very hard to say. Check eBay prices and then halve the highest one,
but there are many issues:

Mark I, Mark II, Mark III, Mark IV?

The Mark III and Mark IV have better hum shielding between the capstan
motor and the play head.

Mark III and I think Mark IV were available with optional
Dolby.

I've seen Studer A810s and A807s go on eBay for prices similar to A77s,
and please allow me to suggest that the professional models were worth
the difference when they were new. You can get good and bad in any
flavor.

I had four A77s and sold my two high-speed models several years ago when
I started "collecting" Sony APR-5003vs and Studer A810s and
A807s. I still have my MK III Dolby unit and a beater 1/4 track MK I. I
sold the HS MK 1.5s (I did some of the MK II-->MK II conversions
myself) for $125 each--but that was to friends.

Anyway, it all depends what you want to do. Also, most A77s, I think,
were sold as 1/4-track units. I converted most of mine to half-track
(NAB) units. So be aware of what the head configuration is.

Finally, I do think there is an improvement in sound from the A77 to the
A807, for example. I re-transferred some tapes I had done on an A77 when
I got my Sony APR-5003V. (I think the APR and the A810 and the A807 all
sound great).

One of the things with the A77 is that the tape path is not as robust as
the pro machines. One of the things that makes the APR so nice, is that
they hired someone (as I understand it) from Studer...

All of the pro machines have flutter idlers which seem to help with the
"clarity" of the reproduction...although that is still open to
debate.

Also, please check the availability of spare parts in your country (and
elsewhere--I've bought Studer spare parts from New Zealand, Canada, and
England, and Nakamichi parts from Turkey!)

Cheers,

Richard
http://www.richardhess.com/tape/
Glendale, California USA




At 12:04 PM 3/28/2004 +0200, you wrote:
> Dear
> Listmembers
>  
> Someone has got a REVOX
> A77 which he bought in the 1970's that he would like to sell.  What
> do you think would be a good offer to make him?
>  
> Kind
> regards,
>  
> Diederick
> Basson
> Stellenbosch
> South
> Africa