I picked this at an estate sale recently - a partially serviced Kenwood 700M and a bunch of other stuff They were only asking $50 for this amp because it was partially disassembled.
Lights, filter caps, and some other things were replaced. The original NEC transistors are still present surprisingly, and I see no burn marks anywhere.
I wonder if this can be salvaged.
Ive been building this system for about a year and am just about done here!
My vintage audio hobby is very constrained, I am 15 so budget is a large concern, so is the “parent tax” - meaning the the nicer stuff has to go downstairs. The room is also not ideal with some horrid placement of my equipment that is subject to change soon when we renovate this place.
So far, my system is composed of a Nagra IV with the Chinese QGB adaptor, Otari 5050III, Empire 208 converted to take a Linn mount arm, McIntosh C28, ADCOM 5500 and Klipsch Fortés.
I picked up this SX700 from the owner of a local studio for pretty cheap. I believe this is a 2 track variant based on the heads, the owner pretty much gave it to me due to the physical condition and visible corrosion
I was going to part it out for the non worn heads but I’ll be damned! These crowns are like roaches, they refuse to die! This one plays just fine and even holds decent frequency response except for the 50hz bump typical of these machines.
Not much info on crowns I see except for Chuck Ziska , this model soundwise is the best deck I’ve ever heard even compared to the esoteric Stellavox machines I dabble with.
That’s my 1960 Empire 208 with a Jelco arm and Sumiko cartridge. Empire turntables always looked so cool to me - like they came out of outer space. This one here was made the exact day they started producing them 1/15~/60.
I’m 15 and a bit of a hifi fanatic, mostly into tape but this turntable might have brought me back.
I’m a sucker for spinning things! My (bedroom) system composes of a Nagra IV, Modified Empire 208 (casting dates say it is of the first 20 made) with Jelco arm, Kenwood KA6004, ADCOM 5500, Klipsch Forté and Otari 5050.
I started this hobby as someone who fixes this type of gear, everything I own (except the fortés which are “new”) has been through my shop!
I know most Savers and Goodwills like to auction off their equipment but they missed this!
I found a $20 Magnetophon 12 10.5” machine configured for 2 track 7/15ips! It’s in very poor condition but the heads are ferrite and aren’t shot yet, the transport mostly works except for a stuck relay at the moment. It even came with its monogrammed binder with an English service manual (will be digitised). According to the literature it is a miniaturised M15, I’ve seen the M15 and they do feel pretty similar and share parts but the M12 is much smaller. I hear these are common in Europe but I have never seen a US model.
Don’t discount your local thrift stores. I’ve been going for a year and this is the first decent stereo related item.
Hey y’all,
I’m 15 and an absolute junkie for Reel To Reel decks. When I started this hobby a few years ago after “stealing” my grandfathers Studer models I of course stood by my belief that Swiss engineering was the best. However, 3 MX5050s later and an MTR, changed my mind! The MTR beat my B67 and B62, the Otari sounds almost as good as the Nagra in fact.
Any other Otari fans?