Flux Magnetic or Nortronics Heads?

[jcmusic]

I am thinking about adding new heads to my Otari MX 5050 BII and was wondering wish of these is the better for the Otari? Anyone have either or both to compare? The title should read Nortronics Heads!!!

[Rob]

Flux Magnetic or Norditrac Heads


Ive heard of Flux Magnetics but I didn't know Norditrac not only made fitness equipment but R2R playback heads (?) I only have experience with JRF Magnetics aka Nortronics, and they were considered the 'proper' drop in for the RS1500 head stack.

[jcmusic]

I mistakenly said Nordtronics instead of Nortronics!!!

[astrotoy]

My experience with my old Otari MX-5050 BIII was buying a new head block for it on ebay. It originally came with a 2 track head block (3 heads) and I bought a 2/4 track head block to replace it on ebay (it was about $100 IIRC about 4 years ago), so I could play both 2 and 4 track tapes (stereo only). The new head block came with a switch between 2 and 4 track play. It still would only record 2 track. When it came to relap the heads, I had JRF do the that. I also have bought heads from Greg Orton (Flux Magnetics) for my Ampex ATR-102. He makes the heads that ATR Services sells in their head blocks for the ATR-100 series. I've only had JRF do relapping, not provide new heads. I didn't know that JRF was also known as Nortronics.

Larry

[MylesBAstor]

My experience with my old Otari MX-5050 BIII was buying a new head block for it on ebay. It originally came with a 2 track head block (3 heads) and I bought a 2/4 track head block to replace it on ebay (it was about $100 IIRC about 4 years ago), so I could play both 2 and 4 track tapes (stereo only). The new head block came with a switch between 2 and 4 track play. It still would only record 2 track. When it came to relap the heads, I had JRF do the that. I also have bought heads from Greg Orton (Flux Magnetics) for my Ampex ATR-102. He makes the heads that ATR Services sells in their head blocks for the ATR-100 series. I've only had JRF do relapping, not provide new heads. I didn't know that JRF was also known as Nortronics.

Larry

Not exactly. John bought up the last remaining supplies of Nortronics heads a while ago.

[jeffy]

I was told by John that I got the last Nortronics heads that he had left for my Technics R to R, which was two years ago.

[astrotoy]

Thanks for the clarification. Does John make heads himself or just relap? Are there other sources of new heads (not NOS) other than Greg (Flux Magnetics)? I know ATR Services uses Greg's heads for their new head blocks for the ATR-100's.

Larry

[JCOConnell]

you can edit the title of the thread

[jcmusic]

you can edit the title of the thread

I couldn't figure out how to do it..

[JCOConnell]

I couldn't figure out how to do it..

if you go to the first post, edit it, there should be a box with the subject line you can correct/edit

[MylesBAstor]

Thanks for the clarification. Does John make heads himself or just relap? Are there other sources of new heads (not NOS) other than Greg (Flux Magnetics)? I know ATR Services uses Greg's heads for their new head blocks for the ATR-100's.

Larry

I don't think John makes heads.

It depends on the machine when we are talking new heads. For instance there's FM heads as well as another source from Europe (distributed by Brian Tucker in Chicago) for Studer decks. Plus IIRC, Studer heads. There are Nortronics heads for machines other than Technics too.

Not sure where Greg Beron is having his heads made.

Sure Ki and others more up on it than I am.

[astrotoy]

I don't think John makes heads.

It depends on the machine when we are talking new heads. For instance there's FM heads as well as another source from Europe (distributed by Brian Tucker in Chicago) for Studer decks. Plus IIRC, Studer heads. There are Nortronics heads for machines other than Technics too.

Not sure where Greg Beron is having his heads made.

Sure Ki and others more up on it than I am.

Thanks, Myles. My impression, when communicating with Greg last fall, was that he fabricated the heads himself. I had him make a 4 track stereo playback head for my 1/2" headblock on my ATR-102. He mounted the new playback head in the headblock (which already had 3 heads and a small switch to go between the Ampex electronics and any external electronics. He moved the heads around so all four head fit and put in another switch so I can go between 4 track stereo and 2 track stereo playback, and still go between internal and external electronics for either play back head. Of course, I can still erase and record in 2 track stereo.

Larry

[MylesBAstor]

This is something that Rene LaFlamme's of Nagra/2XHD recording did with Nagra machine's headblock. He had a custom made headblock fashioned out of carbon fiber to reduce vibrations.

[Bruce B]

You mean "René Laflamme" ??

[Tunes]

Yes, that is René Laflamme's Nagra T Audio deck with carbon headblock cover (made by Andre Theriault - tonearm designer popular among Kronos owners - and headbock mounted rca connectors. René now has a bottlehead tape pre (on the left side). Not sure what tape heads he uses on this Nagra.

[MylesBAstor]

Yes thanks. Brain fart.

[MylesBAstor]

I am thinking about adding new heads to my Otari MX 5050 BII and was wondering wish of these is the better for the Otari? Anyone have either or both to compare? The title should read Nortronics Heads!!!

Unfortunately was far from a perfect experiment here when I had the Nortronics heads vs. the FM heads with Nick's tapestage. But I would say the FM heads definitely sounded better. Quieter yet, more linear bass and better soundstaging.

That said, some of your decision will be determined by your electronics and their gain. All things being equal, I would go with the lower inductance FM heads rather than the higher inductance Nortronics. They are just a newer, more modern design. Each head is personally checked and comes with it's own performance specs. But lower inductance = lower output. OTOH, lower inductance makes the heads less sensitive to the length of the wire from the headblock to your electronics.

Either choice is a huge improvement over the machine's stock heads. As I understand, one place made all the heads for the Japanese machines. Upgrading will decrease the noise floor, increase the resolution and markedly improve the machine's frequency extremes.

[jcmusic]

Thanks Myles...