Ok , look what the cat dragged in.

[kcin]

While not to the stature of some of the machines here. I read enough and observed enough that the Otari MX 5050Bii was on my radar. This will be a diversion no matter how good it is I'm not going to invest heavily in this format and I certainly wasn't looking for a studio quality unit- too big and the cost of tapes is hideous.

I'm too committed to vinyl. So this local Otari came up and it was reasonable as it came with some new tapes, pre-recorded ones, take up reel and the hubs + no shipping. So I need it like a hole in the head but you confounded tape heads have gotten me curious.

I've experienced R2R over 30 years ago & know what is possible - I will run this for a while and see whats up. It is in pretty good shape. I will likely get it tuned up mechanically- I will handle the electronics . There are a couple of very qualified local studio type techs that work on R2R in the area. I hate learning about servos and mechanicals on stuff I've never seen before so this will go to a pro . I will investigate building my own tape repro in the future as it really isn't that complex .

[user510]

I've had a couple of those. MX 5050 BII - 2. Two track but with a 4th head that can play back 4-track tapes. (but not record 4-track)
Excellent machines imho.

3 speeds. There is a switch on the back, just under the back cover that switches speed between hi / low. Set switch to hi and your two speeds are 7 1/2 ips and 15 ips. Switch to low and your two speeds are 3-3/4 to 7-1/2s ips.

But the built-in tape head preamp is the limit and must be by-passed. For a while Doc B (Dan Schmalle) at Bottlehead was doing the conversion on these players, but after a while he stopped doing it.

I have one remaining MX 5050 BII-2. It is a sort of project so when I get around to it I'll find a way to do the head bypass and tape-head preamp thing. And it won't cost a ton.
-Steve

[MylesBAstor]

Resistance is futile! Famous last words!

Congrats great choice for starter deck,

[kcin]

just a bunch of enablers here

[astrotoy]

Great starter deck. I had an Otari MX5050 BIII as one of my starter decks. I think the stock electronics were much better than the other semi-pro competitors.So getting or making an external prepro is not quite as urgent as say one for the Technics 1500 series (which I also had). People have tweaked the mechanics a bit. I got a replacement capstan roller from George Athan, and Bottlehead made (maybe still makes) a little kit that you can install yourself. If it doesn't have the four head block (with the little switch to toggle between 1/4 track and 1/2 track playback, that would be a good investment to allow you to play the old commercial 1/4 track tapes as mentioned in post #2. I found an unused one on ebay for $125 or so. If the heads are worn, John French can relap them for not too much money. The budget busters are all those wonderful tapes.

Have fun, Larry.

[kcin]

I've had a couple of those. MX 5050 BII - 2. Two track but with a 4th head that can play back 4-track tapes. (but not record 4-track)
Excellent machines imho.

3 speeds. There is a switch on the back, just under the back cover that switches speed between hi / low. Set switch to hi and your two speeds are 7 1/2 ips and 15 ips. Switch to low and your two speeds are 3-3/4 to 7-1/2s ips.

But the built-in tape head preamp is the limit and must be by-passed. For a while Doc B (Dan Schmalle) at Bottlehead was doing the conversion on these players, but after a while he stopped doing it.

I have one remaining MX 5050 BII-2. It is a sort of project so when I get around to it I'll find a way to do the head bypass and tape-head preamp thing. And it won't cost a ton.
-Steve

Thanks those kits are still available I will pick one up

[jcmusic]

I didn't start with an Otari deck I had a couple Akai's, Revox, a Sony. Once I got serious about tape (The Tape Project) that's when I got my first Otari MX 5050 BII-2. Did all the mods got the Bottlehead Tube Repo and rest is history as they say. I moved to a Studer after being so impressed with the Otari and would still have it had UPS not destroyed and then lost it!!! I still have my Otari and enjoy it everytime I listen to it...
Recently loss my Mom so I been playing those Motown tapes and others that she liked. Nancy Wilson, The Beatles, Tom Jones, and Lou Rawls. Seriously considering adding the Flux Magnetic Heads to my Otari instead of investing in another Studer or other deck... The Otari is absolutely the best bang for the buck out there in R2R machines!!!

[kcin]

Sorry to hear about your mom.

Your experience with the Otari is a good testament to the overall enjoyment and value this deck can bring.

[jcmusic]

Sorry to hear about your mom.

Your experience with the Otari is a good testament to the overall enjoyment and value this deck can bring.

Thanks so much for your thoughts, it is a day to day thing I have to deal with!!!

[RoadDawgWest]

Congratulations on the new deck. Interested in following your journey on building your own tape repro.

[kcin]

I've started to assemble some parts

[Ki Choi]

Feed that cat more food!

[kcin]

[cpreal]

Thanks those kits are still available I will pick one up

I have an Otari with the Bottlehead kit and I wired the playback heads (after the 2/4 track switch) to a pair of Cardas jacks on the back. Then I added another pair of Cardas to the input of the internal playback amp so that It can be connected for biasing. You could also wire directly to the 2 track head, but you would lose 4 track functionality.

[kcin]

How do you like the de Havilland? Do you run it through your pre or can you go direct?

I've already ordered some Neutrik RCAs that will that I will wire direct in -after the switch is a good idea. New caps for the power supplies and new pinch roller and take up arm are coming in as well as the bottle head kit. I 'll get the mechanisms lubricated aligned at a local shop after I do the caps and wiring.

i should be up and running in a few weeks.

[cpreal]

The de Havilland sounds really nice, and is very versatile. I have run it both ways. Volume pots are separate for left and right, which is inconvenient for direct use. It has no muting circuits, so you have to make sure you turn them down when switching it off, or you will get a loud pop.