Newbie in R2R - Need some advice

[dcc]

OK. Let's face it. I am rookie, a newbie in R2R. My sole experience with R2R goes back at looking at my father playing with his Revox G36 (he actually had two units).

I am tempted by the big jump and I have the following choices:
- A Studer A80 MK II with very low hours (less than 2000) but that needs to be fully serviced (I have at technician nearby my place who can do this)
- A fully refurbished Studer A810 (about the double of the asking price for the Studer A80)
- Waiting until the Horch House issues its new Prosumer Revox which is based on a Studer B67

My listening room happens to be my living room so a Studer A80 might look like a bull in a china store. The Horch House's Revox would certainly be the best fit for that purpose.

Considering my musical tastes and the price of the software mean that I won't get a big tape library. However, the price of the hardware is still relatively cheap as the asking price for the A80 is less than what I paid for my cartridge.

My gut feel drives me to the A80 MKII but some advice would be welcome.

Note: I live in Continental Europe and all my choices are driven by proximity as I don't want to send stuff overseas for repair and maintenance.

[c1ferrari]

Hi dcc,

I would suggest if you don't anticipate committing to a mechanical and electrical refurbishing/reconditioning of the A80 MKII, then the A810.

HTH

Regards,

Sam

[Joe Pittman]

If you have time to wait until the Horch House machine is available, we can only speculate how good it will be. Meanwhile both A80 and A810 are highly coveted. If the Studers are in good shape, they have good resale value. You can get a Studer now and recoup most or all of your investment if you decide to sell later. I have an A810 and it is an excellent machine. If the new Horch House machine can equal or surpass the A80 or A810 I will be impressed and interested in it. An A80 in excellent condition is about as good as it gets.

[MylesBAstor]

OK. Let's face it. I am rookie, a newbie in R2R. My sole experience with R2R goes back at looking at my father playing with his Revox G36 (he actually had two units).

I am tempted by the big jump and I have the following choices:
- A Studer A80 MK II with very low hours (less than 2000) but that needs to be fully serviced (I have at technician nearby my place who can do this)
- A fully refurbished Studer A810 (about the double of the asking price for the Studer A80)
- Waiting until the Horch House issues its new Prosumer Revox which is based on a Studer B67

My listening room happens to be my living room so a Studer A80 might look like a bull in a china store. The Horch House's Revox would certainly be the best fit for that purpose.

Considering my musical tastes and the price of the software mean that I won't get a big tape library. However, the price of the hardware is still relatively cheap as the asking price for the A80 is less than what I paid for my cartridge.

My gut feel drives me to the A80 MKII but some advice would be welcome.

Note: I live in Continental Europe and all my choices are driven by proximity as I don't want to send stuff overseas for repair and maintenance.

Go with the Studers. You won't be sorry. (BTW Marcus Kuhn, one of the best Studer repair guys, is in Europe.)

Not to cast any aspersion but the stock Studers will be better than the new stock Horch House. You are talking about pro vs prosumer machines. The new Revox/HH will probably be closer to a PR99. Plus you hope they stay in business and parts are obtainable; you know Studer parts are readily available. That said, there is a little bit of learning curve with the Studers while the Revox/HH is more plug and play.

Probably the price of the two Studer units will come out the same when you take into account repairs. But I would go for the A80 Mk.2. You might also want to think about--if you go the A80 route--having them put in the Flux Magnetics ER heads.

[dcc]

Go with the Studers. You won't be sorry. (BTW Marcus Kuhn, one of the best Studer repair guys, is in Europe.)

But I would go for the A80 Mk.2. You might also want to think about--if you go the A80 route--having them put in the Flux Magnetics ER heads.

Hi Myles,

Many thanks for the feedback. I followed your advice and I took the plunge on the A80 Mk.2. I just need to find the time to go and pick it up before Christmas. I already contacted the technician for arranging the service.

Time to get some tapes as well... I need to make a shortlist to start with.

From there, I will explore what are the options for upgrading the unit (heads, preamp, ...). I will certainly revert to the Audionirvana Community for some advice as this is unchartered territory for me.

I will report back once It is hooked to my system.

[Bruce B]

Was this the A80 RC model or the VU model??

[dcc]

Was this the A80 RC model or the VU model??

It is the RC Mk II model with VU meterbrige. I bought it from a recording studio that did not use it anymore.

[dcc]

I drove down to Paris to pick the A80 and brought it immediately to my tech on my way back to home. This was a long day with a 7 hour drive. I used to live in Paris and God knows that I love that city but the traffic jams can be awful there.

The tech will perform a full check of the unit and has proposed to perform a full service and overhaul. I should hear back from him in about 10 days time. I already told him to go ahead. I reckon that it will take a couple of months before enjoying R2R in the house. This leaves me some time to buy some more tapes...

[MylesBAstor]

Once you hear tape, there's no going back! Congrats on your new acquisition!

[topoxforddoc]

I drove down to Paris to pick the A80 and brought it immediately to my tech on my way back to home. This was a long day with a 7 hour drive. I used to live in Paris and God knows that I love that city but the traffic jams can be awful there.

The tech will perform a full check of the unit and has proposed to perform to full service and overhaul. I should hear back from him in about 10 days time. .

It will be well worth the 7 hour drive and 10 day wait. Prepare to be astonished at how good proper 15 IPS tape can be.

Joyeux Noel

Charlie

[c1ferrari]

That's wonderful -- enjoy!

[astrotoy]

The fellow who just bought my Bottlehead Technics + BH Prepro drove from San Diego to the Bay Area and back! on Sunday to pick it up. He stayed here about 3 hours, leaving his home at 4:45AM and arriving back home at 9PM. Total driving time was slightly over 13 hours, total distance was nearly 950 miles. He did it alone! Tapeheads are a dedicated bunch.

Larry

[dcc]

The fellow who just bought my Bottlehead Technics + BH Prepro drove from San Diego to the Bay Area and back! on Sunday to pick it up. He stayed here about 3 hours, leaving his home at 4:45AM and arriving back home at 9PM. Total driving time was slightly over 13 hours, total distance was nearly 950 miles. He did it alone! Tapeheads are a dedicated bunch.

Larry

It was a father and son trip but I did all the driving... You need to get used to the traffic in Paris which can be intimidating for someone who has not experienced it like I did when I was living there.

You don't always have the chance to visit a recording studio. My son got the full visit. He was quite impressed by the Trident 24 channel mixing console and the Otari 24 track recorder, not forgetting all the vintage guitar amps. I also needed a good hand for removing the A80 from its trolley and bring it into the car.

[dcc]

Yesss....

[MylesBAstor]

Yesss....