First Review Of The Ballinger Tape Deck

basic model starting @ 10.000 euros

earlinarizona said:

https://stereo-magazine.com

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Thanks - it looks to be an impressive machine. Unfortunately the measurements show a very poorly aligned machine - it really needs calibration. And they should not have ended the sweep at 20 kHz ...

microstrip said:

Thanks - it looks to be an impressive machine. Unfortunately the measurements show a very poorly aligned machine - it really needs calibration. And they should not have ended the sweep at 20 kHz ...

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Just read the review. Looks very impressive, particularly since it is not vaporware. However, I would have thought that the review machine should have been calibrated. The price looks like it is competitive what a new semi-pro to pro machine would cost in today's dollars. Looks like (from reading the technical specs on the www.ballfinger.de website in my not so good German) that you can buy three of the four versions in either 1/4" or 1/2" varieties, with different choices of speeds. Doesn't look like the machine can switch between 1/4" and 1/2", but I may be wrong there. I like the fact that I can switch head blocks on my ATR-102's in a minute or two to play both 1/2" and 1/4" without needing two machines.

Selling it factory direct eliminates one level of price margin, but buyers would need to have some reasonable local places to get their machines serviced, rather than having to ship back to Germany, especially if not in Europe.

A really bold move.

Larry

No AD7524/7528 for setting gain of OP Amps? So still relies on potentiometer? Must have lots of them.

Several of our analog fans will be disturbed to learn that the speed of the capstan motor is controlled by a PLL (Phase Lock Loop) including a digital loop filter. As I often ask, if it is good enough for driving the top reel-to-reel machines tape capstan, why isn't it good enough for turntables?

The cheapest ballfinger has a belt drive , the top machine has a direct drive motor.
The basic version is heads out direct .
But all machines are highly configurable/ modular designs.
I might contact Them in the not so distant future and see if i can arrange a listen.
The basic version is around 10 K and the topmachine Both play and record is around 24 if im not mistaken.
From the pics it looks like a well made product

It’s nice that there is a full review on the Balinger tape deck, now it would be nice to have a full review of the UHA tape decks