Jdza,
Does this imply that a block head with original heads coming from a A80 RC should not be used in a A80R ?
I'm not that familiar with the RC but AFAIK the R and RC are identical save for lay out. The R has a seperate card cage slung below the transport electronics while the RC has the same audio electronics next to the transport electronics. It is the A80 (VU) that is different.
Studer specs the same (200mH) repro heads for R,RC and A81R . Head specs for the A 80 VU differs wildely through the various models (Mark I -IV)
A80 RC
A80 R
A80 VU
And finally sort of off topic but two things re the A80R/RC: Firstly they sound vastly better without the meter bridges (Apparently measurably so). Be aware though that one cannot simply disconnect the bridge but a change has to be made to the output card.
Secondly,my system is unbalanced. I used to always simply connect my Studers through Cardas adapters or even worse cables wired for RCA to XLR (Especially bad for A810). Then I tried a Jensen transformer interface. I could not believe the improvement in sound. A 80s are like tanks ,they, ll work with anything if they have to but the sound did jump ahead with the transformer. The A810 however went from sounding broken to being a genuinely beautiful sounding thing.Inspired I found some old Gardners broadcasting standard transformers and had them wired up for duty. Another incremental improvement.After 7 years of use with Balanced to SE adapters my BAT VK P10Se SP phono pre received the same transformer treatment. Noisefloor dropped and the sound also improved significantly